U VIEWS The Campus Dialogue
Viewpoint
Give me a G.O.D.D.A.M. scholarship now!
In an age of multicultural education and divisive labeling of different groups, I've decided to create a pigeonhole of my own. How will I accomplish that?
1) Since I am one of only six or seven males on The Daily Cougar staff, I consider myself Genderly Challenged.
2) Never having been one to exactly look on the bright side of life, and clinging fast to the Hobbesian nature of human existence as solitary, poor, nasty, brutish and short, I suppose one could add Optimistically Challenged.
3) I've never been a God-fearing Christian. As a matter of fact, most times one could label me an atheist. Therefore, I'm Deistically Challenged.
4) Some months ago my gastroenterologist found evidence of the beginnings of an ulcer in my upper digestive tract. I had to stop eating spicy foods altogether. I feel that I am now Duodenally Challenged.
5) Being somewhat aquaphobic, I've never learned to swim. I can't say what it is exactly, except that it was caused by some twist in the helix of my DNA, leaving me Amphibiously Challenged.
6) Finally, I'm taking a very difficult statistics course. I spend most nights until 3 or 4 a.m. working out equations that invariably give me the wrong answer. I have found myself, again through a cruel twist of DNA, to be Mathematically Challenged.
Most importantly, I am an American and fiercely proud of that fact. So now I am a Genderly, Optimistically, Deistically, Duodenally, Amphibiously and Mathematically Challenged American.
I've devised a plan for myself, and others similarly afflicted (I mean differently abled), to get our problems on the public agenda.
First, I'm writing to members of Congress, imploring them to at least consider the difficulty with which we live our everyday lives — in a world of people with hope, swimming skills, a messiah, no ulcers and a basic grasp of the workings of algebra.
I have also formed a coalition, using the ever-popular acronym of G.O.D.D.A.M. Americans. It's time we stand up and get counted. We've been quiet long enough, allowing ourselves to be run roughshod over by mathematicians and insane Christians wearing rose-colored glasses.
I will stand and shout from every corner, "I am a G.O.D.D.A.M. American!" And then I'll scream, "Can I have a scholarship?" Ray Rowden, The Daily Cougar, U. of Houston
The views expressed in U. Views are those of the authors and not necessarily those of U.Magazine.
Gallery
Jon Nilsen, The Minnesota Daily, U. of Minnesota
U-Mail
"No dykes" bar gets no sympathy
Regarding the Lower Deck Bar and Grill near the university [U. Magazine, Aug./Sept. 1993], Ms. Rankin's ideals do not reflect a majority of Norman, Okla., residents, only a small percentage of simple-minded hillbillies who are intimidated by others' lifestyles that do not exactly match theirs. Erin Casey, sophomore, U. of Oklahoma
Wake up! If we take rights away from gays, we close so many doors. The more doors we close, the more the human race dies. Benjamin A. Hunter, freshman, Northern Michigan U.
In your article on Cola Rankin, she is quoted as saying,
"Sexuality belongs in the bedroom, not in public." Really?
Then what is she doing holding a ladies' night designed to
attract men? If she ever succeeds in confining sexuality to the bedroom, her business will go bankrupt. Michael Galvin, graduate student, Colorado State U.
As of press time, the Lower Deck was out of business due to what Ms. Rankin terms "an errant business partner," and loss of financing as a result of media coverage. — ed.
About last issue...
Cyberpunk is not just another word for counterculture. It's about technology, tomorrow's tech usually, and what society is doing with it. Cyberpunk has been around for over 10 years now. The fact that it is suddenly trendy disturbs a lot of people who were into it from the beginning. Scary thing is a lot of us were 10 years old then, and are U. readers now. Racheline Maltese, senior, George Washington U.
In "Package bombings a constant threat," the story identifies "Cal Tech, San Luis Obispo..." It should be Cal Poly. Hiok-Tiaq Ng, graduate student, Carnegie Mellon U.
U. regrets the error. — ed.
I just read the article on alternative comics. You missed the point. Image Comics is mainstream and not alternative. Chris M. Cavers, class of '93, U. of Houston
Regarding the article on Robert Downey Jr.'s political movie The Last Party: Downey does nothing more than regurgitate the paranoid lies of Hollywood and the media establishment. Students are embracing a strong family, an empowered urban America and a government that protects those who cannot protect themselves. Downey may try to be a spokesman for our generation. However, he does not speak for the majority of it. Brian Casey, senior, U. of Wisconsin, and Executive Director, Wisconsin College Republicans
You can now reach us on INTERNET: umag@well.sf.ca.us
U-MAIL: Address your correspondence to Letters to the Editor, U. Magazine, 1800 Century Park East, Suite 820, Los Angeles, CA 90067, fax it to (310) 551-1659 or E-mail to umag@well.sf.ca.us. All Senders: Include your name, year, school and phone number for verification. Internet users should also include permission to reprint their submission. Letters should be 200 words or less. *U.* reserves the right to edit submissions for length and clarity.
RESULTS FROM LAST MONTH Has political correctness gone too far?
Opinion Poll
YES 85%
NO 15%
MATT RAGLAND
DAILY NEWS, HI
Calls: 303 From:119 campuses Yes:258 No:45
I think the PC movement has taken away from the First Amendment. When you're always worried about offending someone, it really takes away from freedom of speech. Timothy Brodt, senior, U. of Southern California
THIS MONTH'S QUESTION Do you suffer from information overload?
(800)6 U-VIEWS
We need to make political correctness more consistent. If we're going to say African American, we need to say European American.I find it offensive that I have to call my neighbor African American, but he can call me white Conja Summerlin, junior, U. of Missouri, Kansas City
No, I don't believe PC has gone too far. I do believe we forgot what PC is.
It's sensitivity and awareness to other people and different cultures. It's not this purely political thing. Ray Perales, junior, Cal State U., Long Beach
I am short and have a receding hairline. I do not consider myself vertically challenged or follicly challenged. I consider myself short and with a receding hairline. Scott Immel, senior, U. of North Dakota
*The U. Student Opinion Poll is a sampling of comments from college students across the country. The toll-free number invites responses to questions posed to students each month in the pages of *U. The National College Magazine*. The poll is not scientific, and percentages are figured on verbal responses received each month.
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U.Magazine
OCTOBER 1993