Opinion

Tunnel painters should grow up
My Turn
by Mike Daniels
Sports Editor

Ever since I’ve been attending this school and writing for The Appalachian, one of the biggest issues on this campus has been the controversy over homosexuality, specifically the paintings for and against it, that seems to pop up every year in the tunnels below Rivers Street.

This controversy stems from actions taken by both sides of the debate. Some people in the homosexual community feel it is necessary to have what they call, a National Coming Out Day to tell the world about their sexual preference. Some Christians feel it is necessary that they put up retaliatory messages that condemn these people’s actions in the name of their God and tell them they are sinners.

My solution to this problem is a simple one; both sides should just shut up and stop painting in the tunnel if no good is going to come of it.

Now I know that everyone has the right to free speech in this country, but does that mean we must always use/abuse that right? I have the right to walk through the middle of Harlem with a sign that says "I hate n------" like Bruce Willis in "Die Hard With a Vengeance." Does that mean I should exercise that right? Of course not.

I don’t know why homosexuals need to have a day when they tell the world of their sexual preference. Why don’t we just have a television coming out day for guys who secretly watch "Melrose Place" and "Baywatch" but are too afraid to tell anybody?

Or how about a day when everybody just declares to all their friends and family whether or not they masturbate? I just don’t see the logic in coming out and making declarations to the world for no real reason, and not expecting some reaction.

I think even more blame should fall on the Christians in this debate. These people continually seem to think that they should run this country and that their moral beliefs should be everybody’s moral beliefs.

Hello! Remember that little thing called the Constitution that is always being used to shoot down much needed gun control laws? It also says in there that there is no official state religion in the United States, and that no law can be passed that would adopt one. Many Christians seem to forget this and think that Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, atheism, and other viewpoints and moral standards don’t count.

Did you know that in 21 states, homosexual oral sex is illegal and in 14 states (including this one), and even heterosexual oral sex is illegal? These laws were most likely written by a bunch of conservative old Christian men who thought that it was their moral obligation to enforce the standards set forth by their Bible.

It’s too bad there isn’t an amendment in the Constitution banning laws such as these, because they have no place in this country. One belief that I hold firm to is that every person has the right to do with their own body as they please. If some guy wants to smoke eight joints, snort some coke, and then have sex with another man, nobody, not I, the government, religious fanatics or anybody else, has the right to stop him. And we shouldn’t expect him to listen to laws that says he can’t do that, if that does not fit his set of moral beliefs that are the ultimate government of his own body and whoever consents to have sexual intercourse with him.

Now I’m not saying that Christians don’t have the right to their views, because they do. It’s just when they try to impose and enforce them on others that I have a problem.

I think that maybe instead of bashing gays for having a coming out day, Christians should simply have one of their own to take pride in their religion and share that pride with other Christians, much like the gay community is doing. After all, Christianity is supposed to be a religion based on love and forgiveness to all, and this country is based on the idea of freedom to all.

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Roommates! They can make or break your year
Matt Bielejeski
Columnist

For those of us poor, lost souls who live on-campus, roommates are a way of life. Sometimes, they can be a great help; giving advice, notes from a lecture you missed, or letting you use their computer when the lab is full.

Sadly enough, roommates that you haven’t met before you move in together can be a bit on the annoying side, if not altogether psychotic.

Gavin Rossdale of Bush said, "It’s the little things that kill." If he only knew how right he was.

Usually, the person you are thrown together with at least resembles a human being, hopefully a college student. Your music tastes may be as opposite as country compared to death metal, but you can get along.

The first big thing that roommates have to decide on is room space. Who gets which bed, who gets which drawers, closets, and so forth. Decisions like this pale in comparison if you and your new roomy are on different time schedules.

Scenario 1: You tend to wake up late (or as late as possible with your neighbor’s music blasting your eyes open) and turn in late. On the other hand, your roommate likes to get up at 5:30 a.m. to go jog or some other godforsaken activity that takes too much coordination at that time of day.

Due to their rising this early, they need their Z’s. Incidentally, when you bump into your door at 3 a.m., he is sound asleep.

You planned to be quiet as a mouse, but the minute you turn the key in the door, a blazing shaft of light from the hall pierces his eyelids, momentarily waking him enough to mutter, "Close the @&$% door!" and then fall back to sleep.

Scenario 2: It’s 5 a.m., and you are sleeping like a baby. You are suddenly awakened by the sliding of a closet door and the gushing sound of water running down the sink. You try and try, but you just can’t fall back asleep. Doomed to a day of falling asleep in class, you stare at the ceiling for four hours, wondering where your Smith and Wesson is.

As far as I can see, conflicting time schedules are the biggest problem. Of course, having a roomy who continuously spits his tobacco juice in a paper cup that he hasn’t emptied since the beginning of the semester is a close second.

Un-hygienic roommates tend to drive students up the wall. Hygiene is a very personal aspect of someone’s life. You expect to be able to use the sink in your room (if you are lucky enough to have one) to brush your teeth without incident.

Confucius once said, "Wise man check water flow down drain before brushing." Obviously you are not Confucius. The drain has been clogged up by him dumping the ashes from some illegal substance down the drain. Instant clog, instant pool of used toothbrush water. Where’s the Draino?

There is a cure to all the roommate woes, however. Room changes can be made for next semester. But if you do, do it quickly, because time is running out. I’m not sure exactly how to do it, but either Residence Life or Housing has a lot more info than I do.

You could, however, stick it out with your roommate until the end of the second semester. Just don’t come crying to me when your roommate decides to have an indoor sumo mud-wrestling tournament when your 25-page paper is due the next day.

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Campus Perspectives

"Who are you going to vote for in the Presidential and Senate elections?"

Heather Bruland Junior "Clinton because he is more in touch with the future and people our age. He's been there four years. Gantt for Senate."

Robert Rice Sophomore "Clinton, because Dole doesn't represent most of my ideas. Gantt because I hate Helms."

Karen Mutters Sophomore "Clinton. He has more experience, no one else is as good. Harvey Gantt. Helms is an old fart."

Shawn Grindstaff Senior "Perot. It takes a businessman to fix the countries financial problems. Helms is a man of action."

John Kolessar Senior "Dole, because we need a change. Helms, he's the best Senator in the U.S."

Photos and text by Jessica Baumgart

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Floridiots not that bad
Viewpoint
by Ric Beard
Columnist

Some call them Floridiots. Those driving challenged people who happen to have Florida license plates.

It is granted I have seen some of these people make some idiotic decisions in traffic. They’ll pull out in front of an oncoming 18-wheeler. They’ll cross two lanes to make a turn instead of showing some patience toward noon traffic.

A woman I talked to at a print shop suggested that she might call General Motors to find out if they’ve forgotten to put turn signals on their cars over the past few years.

To all the people who have used this term so inconspicuously over the past few years, I have some bad news. The best way to point a finger is often to do so while looking in the mirror after you’ve brushed your teeth in the morning.

I have been paying special attention to people who irritate me in traffic lately (it is not an uncommon occurrence) and the majority of them did not have Florida plates screwed to their bumpers.

That’s right, folks. Good ol’ down home, North Carolinians' seem to have joined the sour ranks of the driving impaired.

I have been cut off, screamed at, and even flipped the bird on one occasion because I didn’t let some joker rewrite the traffic laws to suit his own schedule.

Back at ya’ buddy! The pen, or in this case, the keyboard, is definitely mightier than the sword!

I know that there are quite a few Floridiots out there. Everybody knows this. I often wonder if the Division of Motor Vehicles even bothers with eye exams any more. The problem isn’t so much that people can’t see oncoming traffic but is instead that such thoughts are nullified by the fact that they can’t even see the speedometer right in front of them. They’re either driving at either 20 over or 25 under.

So the next time some idiot cuts you off in traffic, check out their liscence plate. Instead of complaining about people’s driving skills, we should probably start donating eyeglasses.

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Our Opinion...

Clinton best choice for president in 1996 race

The editorial staff of The Appalachian is proud to announce our endorsement for the upcoming presidential race.

We believe that Bill Clinton is the best candidate for president as he is pro–choice, supports tax breaks for families with college students, has made efforts to improve the Federal Financial Aid Program and believes in community service programs like Americorps.

Clinton is definitely the popular candidate due to his skill at public speaking and down–home appeal. However, we don’t support him for his image, rather, we do so because of his stance on the above issues.

Clinton realizes that pro–choice doesn’t mean pro–abortion. He has decidedly kept the government away from Roe–vs–Wade and has pledged to keep abortion safe and legal. We think that this is important as every woman should have the right to choose what to do with her body.

Clinton’s tax break idea is a good one. If he is re–elected, the future of financial aid will be secure. What this nation needs is for future generations to be able to go to college without tremendous economic hardship. Clinton’s support of Pell Grants and the Direct Loan Program is outstanding. Clinton understands that education is the key to a free society.

Clinton’s support of Americorps (which has suffered tremendous budget cuts under the Republican Congress) is promising. The whole purpose of the program, taking the youth of the nation and helping them to improve education and the environment in exchange for a small stipend is an excellent endeavor. Such programs boost the sense of social responsibility among youth which promises a brighter future.

Clinton is definitely in touch with today’s America. He is an active man who has shown good leadership and strong foreign policy.

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Recent crimes should inspire cautious behavior 

Complaining about how ASU Police don't do enough has become a bad habit of many students here at Appalachian. We think it's time for students to take responsibility for their own safety.

What seems to have shocked many students even in light of the "Peeping Tom" in residence hall showers and the recent rape, is that a male has become a victim right here on–campus.

The crime situation at ASU is definitely less serious than that of bigger schools in urban areas like UNCC or NC State. The problem is that we take this for granted and forget that it's really up to us to keep ourselves safe.

First of all, it's pretty obvious that you are more likely to be the victim of a crime when your guard is down. When walking out to your car, don't just hop in without looking in the backseat. Don't walk alone after dark, but if you must do so, at least look around you and be aware of your surroundings.

Second of all, don't do anything to impair your judgement such as drink alcohol before walking across campus during the day or at night.

It's getting less and less safe here in Boone. We all need to step back for a second and really think about what we should do about this. Crime prevention is the key.

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