national flag. Are we,
as one melting pot of
individual cultures, no
longer believers in
true diversity? Or is it
that because we are so
diverse, we fail to real-
ize what plucked the
stritgs so ourances-
tors' hearts to create
this wonderful nation?
Although many
would say America
has many strengths
and weaknesses,
:1 would we not rather
say that throughout it
all, our national flag
has been a symbol of
what the entire world
has sought to be?
Stand up and honor
our nation's flag.
A.J. Werner,
sophomore, Embry-
Riddle Aeronautical
U., Ariz
Get ting9
to U.
OD on sarcasm
[Welcome to U. 1995], but I found the
information insightful. How do I enter
these contests? Can I write for U. Maga-
zine? How?
Beckie Cheungfreshman,
U. of Caifornia, Davis
Editor's Note: For more info on our con-
tests, seepage37ofthis issue. Ifyou'dlike
to writefor U., sendclips andmstory ideas to
Frances Huffman, Editor, U. The Nation-
al College Magazine, 1800 Century Park
East, #820, Los Angeles, CA 90067-1511.
Preview blues
I am upset with the [coverageof] the
new Ron Howard film, Apollo 13 [May
1995]. This is by far one of the greatest
rescue operations ever. Due to an explo-
sion, mission control, as well as the
astronauts, had no idea what was wrong
or if the capsule was able to be brought
back. They were not lost in space, as you
were led to believe by [the] comments. I
am a movie fan. This is a story that is
long overdue in being told, and it should
not lose its significance by people misin-
terpreting the story.
And an added ":!#@ to whoever is
responsible for the caption in the photo-
graph ("Riding mower, space shuttle. Same
difference, right?"). Space travel is not
something to be taken lightly, much lessto
be made finsofPItewas far from funny.
Todd Christopher, junior,
Ohio State U.
I'm wriiting in regard to your May
student opinion poll, "Are you pro-
choice or anti-abortion?" The polling
revealed 57 percent pro-choice and 43
percent anti-abortion. But upon reading
the students' comments, I noticed an
incredibly high number of anti-abortion
views printed in comparison with those
pro-choice. To be exact, I found only
three statements, out of the 12
expressed, to be consistent with the 57
percent pro-choice. Are the people in
charge of the polling subtly revealing
their own opinion? Or do you just feel
that because anti-abortionists have been
so loud, outspoken and sometimes vio-
lent in expressing their beliefs, you need
to give them more space in your maga-
zine? It greatly disturbs me that you can
so easily distort the information that's
been given to you. Is this what your
magazine has come to? I hope not.
A.E.B., senior, U. of Houston
I would like to make a suggestion for
you when preparing an opinion poll.
When you ask the question, "Are you
pro-choice or anti-abortion? you are
already, by means of the way your ques-
tion is phrased, biasing your readers.
"Anti-" causes a negative emotion in read-
ers, whereas "pro-" causes a positive feel-
ing. 'Pro-abortion" and "pro-life" would
be more appropriate. You would be omit-
ting the "anti-" bias-producing word. I
would suggest that you repoll your readers
using languageethatis consistent with an
unbiased philosophy of journalism - one
that promotes objectivity, not liberalism.
Actually, when you really analyze the
situation, "pro-choice" denotes that a
choice is available for all involved. How-
ever, the baby is given no choice in an
abortion. Consider the possibility that
you and your staff could have been
aborted babies as a result of the misguid-
ed irresponsibility of the parents.
J. Kim Cook, grad student,
Texas A&M U.
The naked truth
Just because Tom Carter has never
seen a naked woman before doesn't
make it obscene [U.-Mail, May 19951.
I'm sure that the young woman in the
photograph was shocked to learn that he
considers her a barnyard animal. I hope
that Mr. Carter doesn't make this his lat-
est crusade in his ongoing effort to make
a name for himself in right-wing circles.
Get off the soapbox and start working
on solving real/problems.
Robert Fernandez, senior,
U. of South Florida
If you believe in God (Judeo-Christ-
ian, and 75 percent of us do, according
to the poll), and you believe that
humans are created in God's image, then
fisding the human form "obscene" is to
find God's image obscene as well. If ya
don't like the merchandise, the fault lies
with the manufacturer.
Simon Rubenstein, senior, UCLA
Land of the free
I read "Banner Yet Waves" [May
1995], and I was appalled that so many
people find it difficult to acknowledge our
O,4d What's
y our ve rCieCt?
Guilty: 57 %
Innocent: 31 %
Not Sure: 5 %
Don't Care: 4 %
Other: 3 %
I think O.J. is guilty, but
America is drawing this thing
out so much that he'll proba-
bly get off. Phillip Kraft,
junior, U. of Maryland
Just because he was a wife
beater doesn't mean he's a mur-
derer. Megan Hollmann, junior,
U. of Maryland, College Park
Guilty as sin. Tim Smith,
senior, Eastern Michigan U.
If he were a Hispanic man
who worked in a diner, he'd
already be convicted and in
jail. Perhaps this trial will
prove one thing: that money
can buy anything in this coun-
try, even justice. Stacey
Cohen, junior, U. of Alabama
I don't believe anybody
could be so stupid as to leave
that much evidence around,
Chenoa Sykes, grad student,
U. of Cincinnati
When was the last time
you saw an innocent man
fleeing from a crime scene?
Dennis Dobbs, senior, U. of
Minnesota
I think that Nicole's best
friend, Faye Resnick, did it.
Jennifer Logan, freshman,
Sam Houston State U., Texas
Three letters for you: D-N-
A. He's guilty. Katherine Pat-
terson, freshman, Kent State U.
My verdict is: Who cares?
Nick Rupp, grad student, U. of
North Carolina, Greensboro
I hope that justice will
[prevail] and that if he's guilty
he'll be dealt with severely. If
he isn't gull let him go and
let's move on. Gregory Casey,
sophomore, Grambling
State U., La.
This
Month's
Questicon
Should the
80016U-
VIEWS
686-4397
ExL w63
Nothing is
for Everyone
Experts say our generation values
nothing, knows nothing and will
become nothing. What's the problem?
Nothing is the great natural
resource it once was. Nothing is a wise
investment. Nothing lasts forever, and
an ever-growing slice of America has
nothing to call its own.
Nothing is in our wallets, in our
leaders, in our media. We're given
nothing every day, and every day we
have nothing to show for it.
Our very dollar -the essence of
American being - is backed by debt,
backed by nothing. What do Wall Street
traders really trade? Nothing. Hog
futures? Hogs that do not yet exist?
Nothing.
Nothing is keeping American indus-
try alive. U.S. companies are producing
nothing in America; U.S. auto makers
are selling nothing at a fair price; and
we're exporting nothing to Japan.
Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich
has promised nothing for public broad-
casting, nothing for the arts and noth-
ing for education. In return, many
Democrats say Gingrich is good for
nothing. Interesting.
But the Republicans creditsthe
media for nothing. I think they're right.
The entire media-created and media-
sustained idea of Generation X is based
on the premise that we do nothing.
"There's nothing to it," media execu-
tives say. I agree.
The mega-hit fixture of NBC's entire
programming week - Seinfeld- is a
self-proclaimed show about nothing.
The satirical wit of syndicated colum-
nist Dave Berry is about nothing.
Angst and indifference are nothing.
The collective cultural derivative of an
aborted Pearl Jam tour - nothing.
(Nothing should be written in stone.)
What dowe have after eight months
of the D.J. trial? Nothing.
Kato Kaelin. Joey Buttafuoco. Puck.
These people did nothing. And their
message is simple - nothing guaran-
tees a successful Hollywood career.
Late-night infomercials are nothing.
"You too can make nothing by doing
nothing at home. Send nothing for our
new self-help video 'You'll do nothing,
and you'll like it.' Just call 1-800-
NOTHING."
Scholars, politicians and half-kooky
columnists, all with sweeping psycho-
babble stereotypes of our generation.
All - nothing.
So next time someone tries to lump
you in with everybody else, just tell 'em
that nothing is for everyone.
"Thanks," you say?
It's nothing.
By Robert Manker, Assistant Editor
ILLUSTRATION BY BRYCE MORGAN, ARIZONA STATE U.
4 U. Magazine August/September 1995