IGH-IER E IDUCATION The Mchigan Daily - Thursday, October 14, 1999 Trinceton professor clarifies controversial views By Richard Just 'the Daily Princetonian PRINCETON, N.J. (U-WIRE) - Just a month after Princeton University's most contro- versial professor began teaching a handful of students in a graduate-level seminar, Peter Singer made his public debut in front of hun- dreds Tuesday night as he attempted to clarify his much-maligned views. With public safety officers stationed at each of McCosh 50's doors, Singer and Wellesley College professor Adrienne Asch traded amiable yet intellectual barbs for almost two hours on topics ranging from abortion to disability rights. Singer proved quite blunt in addressing the charges of groups that have called on the univer- sity to rescind his appointment. Mentioning Not Dead Yet several times by name, the utilitarian ' bioethicist wasted no time in addressing the dis- ability-rights group's specific criticisms of his Hundreds hear bioed*cist at public debut work. Singer read two e-mails he received from par- ents who regretted allowing their disabled chil- dren to live. He also repeated an argument that he has used repeatedly throughout his career - that the widespread belief in the sanctity of human life is little more than a cultural construct that ought to be reconsidered. "Philosophers, I think, have a professional obligation to think critically about things we often take for granted," he said. "I think that it's one of those beliefs we have that does not stand up to critical reflection, providing that critical reflection is not based on a particular religious perspective." Asch, who is blind, repeatedly chided Singer for assuming that disabled infants will not lead productive lives. She argued that infants' dis- abilities are only one of their characteristics and will not necessarily play an important role in determining future happiness. "The mistake that many people make is (believing that a) disability will stunt the life process of the individual and burden the family, with no redeeming other benefits, with no redeeming other attributes," Asch said. The Wellesley professor also upbraided her opponent several times for not spending enough time with the disabled. If Singer knew more handicapped people, she said, he might be per- suaded to reconsider his positions. Singer proved capable of returning the good- tempered vitriol. Late in the debae, he repi manded Asch for brushing aside a quesion about whether the lives of disa bled inlmis 're more or less valuable than the lies of amm a Asch twice emphasized that her opposiion to Singer's ideas does not preclude her from sup- porting his right to teach at Pnceton. She devoted a considerable portion of her opening remarks to praising Singer for his serious con- sideration of difficult issues. "Philosophers, I think. have a professional obligation to think critically about things e often take for granted," he said. "i1 think that it's one of serious consideration of dificult issues "It is a field in which reasonable people can disagree," Asch said of bioethics. "if there is a monster, iis not Peter Singer, but it is the views: that he holdsw" ard the end of the debate, \sch responded to an cudence questin about hether the umj- , ersity should rescind Smngers appointment with an abrupt "no" But she quckly qupified her answ cr bx sayinlg tha if disabled imda duals were treated i P h as much respect a other A\merican minorities, anti- Singer groups might be taken more seniousy \X hile both professors said they are pro- cho ice. Sinuer sai d he favors a bort ion rig ht s because he does not believe the potential of a ba by or a fet us to grow into a sel laware human is ethic ll significant ile therefore drams ittle moral distinction beieen abortion and intanti- ci de. A1sch said she is pro-choice because she believes women have the preroatixe to decide whether or not to carry their babies to term. IIn the mix 1 Game systems provide addictive entertainment a ] DANNY KALICK/Daily Justin Fitins scratches a record on a turntable at the Neutral Zone on South Main Street during his weekly disc jockey class yesterday. College students at ris or d evelop gamblig problems By Jon Allison Daily Collegian UNIVERSITY PARK{ (U-WIRE) - Bob Massino never thought he'd see the day. Pennsylvania State University's Massino, a junior, grew up in Norristown, just outside of Philadelphia. A devoted Eagles fan, he loathed their bitter rival, the Dallas Cowboys. But there he was, watching Monday Night Football, cheering for the Cowboys, hanging on every play. His reason was simple. He had money on the game. "It's really no big deal," he said, cheering as an errant Atlanta Falcons pass ensured Dallas would cover the point spread. "Usually, I see a game I like, wager about $25 to $50 on it, and just go for * it," he said. Massino joins a surprising num- ber of college students who wager money on sports each week. Many of these students bet on horses, go to casinos, play poker or buy lottery tickets. A Harvard University medical study last year revealed that nearly 50 percent of college students in the United States and Canada spend time and money in casinos. Factor in sports betting, horse racing, letto tickets and other forms of gam- bling and that number approaches 87 percent, said Frank Murtha, psychology "Problem gambling is nothing new, but rather something that's been grossly understudied - Frank Murtha Center for Counseling and Psychological Services psychology intern at Pennsylvania State University By Jonathan Murray Daily Northwestern EVANSTON (U-WIRE) - For an hour or more every day, Northwestern University first-year student Paul Flaig becomes a Tenchu Stealth Assassin. Instead of a sword, he carries a video-game controller. Punching buttons at a furious pace, he advances to another level of the game. If Flaig is not playing Tenchu, a Sony PlayStation game, he is transporting himself into Metal Gear Solid or Twisted Metal I. After an hourlong mental vacation, he returns to reality. Flaig is one of many students at Northwestern who own a video game system or use one regularly. His hobby follows a decade-long national trend of teenagers and college students increasing their time in front of video games, said sociology Prof Bernard Beck. Many students spend hours each week playing games. But games do not distract Flaig from homework, he said. "It's a social activity that's as fun as any other board game or other activity," Flaig said. "It's a good way to relieve stress too:" N'eastern student saves man from fire By Mike Trocchi Northeastern News *BOSTON (U-WIRE) - Philip Chigos was hungry, so driving around Middlebury, Vt., with a friend he was visiting at 4 a.m. in search of food was- n't out of the ordinary. But when he came upon a burning residence, Chigos, a junior at Northeastern University, jumped into action and saved a human life. In the early morning hours Sunday, Chigos raced to the burning structure, 6" knocking on the windows, wondering if someone was trying to get out.. 61 1 Chi "I ran up to the house, banged on the window, screaming my lungs out," said Chigos. "I decided to run around the house, still screaming and yelling." Middlebury resident Tom Edgerton was sleeping in the basement and, according to his sister Carolyn LaRose, woke up determined to quiet down the passer-by. "There was someone outside the win- dow," LaRose said Edgerton told her. LaRose said her brother opened the door of the basement and "the heat just blasted him." "I told him the place was up in flames," said Chigos. And the situation got even scarier, he added. Edgarton "said two folks might be in the build- ing. I ran to the front of the house and hammered in the windows," he said. The other two residents of the multi- family home were out at the time, so no one was injured. Chigos said he was taken aback at the size of the fire when he arrived at the house. "I'd say about a quarter of the house was on fire. The front porch was completely charred," he said. After the fire department arrived and doused the flames, Chigos said he was asked to give a statement of what he saw and then he left for home at around 6:30 a.m. Looking back at the situation on Tuesday night, Chigos said he is thank- ful no one was hurt or injured. "You become very involved," he said. "You want everyone to come out unharmed. "That fire was cookin'. It must have y been going for 10 to 15 minutes." LaRose, the sports information director at Middlebury College, was, thankful that Chigos acted the way he did for her brother. She has been trying to track him down for the past few days and hones tn thank him directly /T , 7 47 iurc - "I'!- BAND MEMBER Even though most students who play games use Platation or Nintendo 64, some such as sophomore Scott Medlock, still make use of the original 8-bit Nintendo system. 'it's not complicated," he said. "You've got three buttons instead of eight. You don't need all that other complicated stuff" Medlock plays games on his computer more often, but dab- bles with his Nintendo for an hour or so weekly. Last year lie didn't bring his system., but he and his neighbors played video games at midnight one day each week. Neither Medlock nor Flaig said that video games interfere with their coursework. "Whatever floats your boat, as long as it doesn't hurt you." Medlock said. "As long as it's not detrimental to your health or grades," it's harmless. Many parents raise their eyebrows at the violent content of some games, such as the popular James Bond: Goldeneye. The game places players in scenarios from the movie with the mis- sion of killing a progression of enemies, Players choose from weapons including small handguns, compact missile launchers and fully automatic machine guns. intern in the Center for Counseling and Psychological Services. Murtha is working on a dissertation on problem gambling. Problem gam- bling often develops much like any other addiction - taking complete con- trol over one's life, all the while destroy- ing relationships and personal liveli- hood in the process, he said. "Problem gambling is nothing new," he said, "but rather something that's been grossly understudied." Murtha attributes this to the fact that problem gambling is not as clear an addiction as drugs and alco- hol. Often the signs gambling is becom- ing a problem are within the individ- ual. "When you can't get it (gambling) off your mind, and it is all you can think about, then it is clearly now problemat- ic," he said. Murtha notes that problem gambling is most common in students with a high disposable income - upwards of $200 a week. It is also frequent in students who carry a low-credit total for the semester, allowing more time to bet. "If they (problem gamblers) have the extra time to gamble, they certain- ly will take full advantage of it," he said. Junior John Arent realized gam- bling was a problem in his life. After gambling for six years, dating back to his time in early high school, Arent now understands the hazards of gam- bling. "My father always told me, 'there's no easy way to make money,"' he said. "It took me a while, but I finally real- ized how true he was." Both Massino and Arent believe gambling is like a high, something risky that gets the adrenaline going. "I never try and bet outside my limits - to go way up or go way down," Massino said. "I know when enough is enough." .d- ..... x r t' jb y' l xX ..,.._... f "22 ' 1( / J . ,. R o±: