| Crowd Control
It's probably happened to all of us. You stand in line at The Main during the lunch-hour rush and all you want is an egg roll from the stir fry line. After you wait for 15 minutes, you find out they've been out of egg rolls since Friday. Or, you wait patiently for The Main employees to finish their personal conversation, only to be told that they won't start serving the Caesar's salad for 10 more minutes. Never mind that all the food is already set out and waiting to be devoured by hungry students. The Main seems to be notorious for bad food, according to students. But Chancellor Michael R. Ferrari is taking steps to improve one aspect of service in The Main: the long lines at noon. After he met Sept. 22 with Faculty Senate chairman Roger Pfaffenberger and Sara Donaldson, House of Student Representatives Academic Affairs Committee chairwoman, Ferrari said he thinks it is a good idea to make a move that would increase the number of noon classes. This would supposedly decrease the congestion in The Main during the busy lunch hour. Numbers taken from FrogNet indicate that close to 81 percent of the student body eats lunch on campus between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Donaldson said about 77 of 408 midday classes are noon classes. If these new noon classes were added, students could space out their schedules, which would make walking space possible at noon in The Main. Kudos to Ferrari for braving the lines (and the chicken strips) to see what we go through every day. And snaps to him for acknowledging the problem and for looking into possible changes. Now, let's see what he can do about those egg rolls.
A Greek farewell to a mentor Once upon a time, you were a slacker who got by on enthusiasm, high spirits and the benevolence of your fairy godfather, Jupiter. But since March, when wicked taskmaster Saturn started cracking the whip in your work house, you've become as ambitious as we Capricorns. After reading my horoscope in the October 1999 issue of "Mademoiselle," I have to admit I was shocked for two reasons. The first being that I was actually bored enough to read my horoscope, and secondly that it was entirely accurate. I don't know much about the planets and stars that are supposed to guide my fate, but I will admit I have often relied on luck to get me through. And I have always been lucky. Not that I haven't worked at things I've wanted, but I think many things have come a little too easy for me now and then. It was early March when it seemed my luck was running out. A joke, a smile and a simple excuse were no longer getting the job done. I was definitely slacking. My many commitments on campus, in classes and even at home were taking a far second to sheer procrastination. That's when my Saturn, actually Kristen Kirst, director of fraternity and sorority affairs, turned into my wicked taskmaster. She sat me down, looked me straight in the eye and informed me that I wasn't cutting it. My luck had run out. I've had the opportunity to work with Kristen a lot, since she was my advisor for two positions I held on campus. We have a great working relationship and have become friends along the way. I think that's why I really took it to heart when she told me that it was time to get my butt in gear. She told me I was wasting my talent, and she was sick of making excuses for the results of my procrastination. I'm not generally someone who takes authority overly well, but instead of being angry with her, she really made me open my eyes and see the error of my ways. You could say I had definitely been humbled. This impacted me more than a thousand insults or a million pats on the back. She helped me change the way I go about things. It worked, though. I started getting up earlier, being more productive during my waking hours and getting things done ahead of schedule instead of late with a lame excuse. Kristen has been many things to many people at TCU. She has been a friend, a confidante, a shoulder to cry on and sometimes even someone on which blame is placed. She has been all of these, but she was also someone who cared enough to lay it all on the line for me. Her impact on the students at TCU has been phenomenal. She comes into people's lives, cares about them and makes a difference. She's one of those people who leaves things a little better than she found it. She's leaving this week - going on to bigger and better things. For that I am happy, because she absolutely deserves the best. But there is a part of me who wonders who is going to be around when individuals need her to listen to their worries, to give them some great advice or, in my case, to tell them to shape up. She will certainly be missed at TCU, and her absence will be felt daily. I don't know what Kristen's sign is, but if I were an astrologer for a day, I would offer Kristen the following horoscope: You will have the same happiness you have brought into the lives of others. A guiding light will always burn bright in your path, and the sun will always shine on you. You will be given riches, not in gold, but in truth, loyalty and friendship, just as you have given those to so many people. And for all the rest of your days, your luck will never run out.
Kim Hinkle is a senior advertising/public relations major from Overland Park, Kan. She can be reached at (parottthed@aol.com.) In arms about gun control In Washington, D.C., House negotiators neared an agreement Friday on stiffer gun control and safety laws. The delay in passing the new law became apparent when a disagreement started over the details related to background checks on buyers at gun shows. The number of days allowed for a check on a buyer's qualifications to have a firearm is under dispute. Two hours of waiting can't compensate for a human being's life when the checks are performed incorrectly, happen to be inaccurate or are simply not done. The procedures for background checks vary from state to state. Some states develop and update their own database, while other states hook into the national database to perform background checks. A law should be passed that requires all states to hook into the national database. If there is one database for the whole country, then a more complete and detailed database can be established, maintained, monitored and distributed that give results to the gun dealers in a quick and complete manner. Of course, the easy way to solve the problem surrounding gun control would be to abolish all possession of firearms, but taking away guns is not possible because other countries have attempted this operation, and this resulted in civil wars. Besides, our Constitution gives us the right to bear arms; but this statement is misunderstood. Looking at history, the purpose of the amendment was to allow militia men to have control of arms at all times so they could protect the United States from foreign enemies, not to kill fellow citizens. Today, the right to own firearms is accepted as a given. But people take gun ownership and possession for granted. It's become a luxury when it should be a benefit that should be possible through trust and understanding. Owning a gun is a responsibility that can't be taken lightly. We must not take away the great amenity of owning a gun, but we must change and take control of the current gun control situation, and take away people's rights who abuse the right. Citizens who act responsibly should be granted the gift of owning a gun. Consequently, citizens who are mentally ill or unstable should immediately have the right taken away. From Arkansas to California and from Colorado to Texas, trepidation has spread across our nation. Now we must think of a different approach that will interweave safety into our society - a plan that will help exercise the correct, proper and legitimate rights given to the people of our nation. First, we must unite and join the many different state background databases into one national database. Second, until a new background check procedure is presented and established in each state, a flat three-day waiting period - the amount of days approved by the Senate - should be activated. Third, all guns sold should require the purchase of a trigger lock and/or gun safety. Because 750,000 guns are stolen each year, locking up guns would not only prevent immature and unwanted deaths, but it would ensure that mature gun owners could easily keep guns out of immature hands. To make our nation more safe against unsafe gun handling, a mandatory license should be issued to each gun owner after completing a class in firearms history, laws, purposes and ethics. Being equipped with a gun must require an individual to be a firearms expert. Careless and insensitive actions caused by poor decisions take away our freedom to live in a stable and secure area as our forefathers intended. The freedom of living in society without harm is far more important that having the freedom of owning a firearm.
Corby Miteff is a master of liberal arts student from Fort Worth. He can be reached at (mcmiteff@delta.is.tcu.edu). Letters to the editor Columnist contributes to culture peddled by mainstream music I was surprised by Steve Steward's article, "Progress lost to music rehash," in Thursday's edition. If MTV viewers are so disappointed by the lack of artistic innovation in current music, then why on earth do they "waste" their time (as Steward said) watching such commercial fluff? MTV's sole purpose is to sell an image and that image's associated product. When selling advertising time is the top priority, the network cannot afford to take risks with "art" or anything "progressive." Why is Steward so appalled by the very thing he's contributing to? From a business perspective, this practice of "music entertainment" is right on track. However, if one is seeking music for a glimpse into artistic expression and emotional depth, don't expect anything revolutionary from MTV. For those who take music seriously, shouldn't music be about music, not the manipulative, flashy images creating a visual rhythm? We're adults, right? We should not allow corporations to choose our personal tastes. They cater to people who follow, not lead. Instead of embracing this mindless culture, or feeling insulted by a corporation's peddling of their fabricated culture, why don't we think for ourselves and create a culture of our own? What a concept.
Ashlee Madeleine Burnette junior sociology and radio-TV-film double major
Those who do not like boy bands should opt for CDs I am writing to you about the article written by Steve Steward Thursday titled, "Progress Lost To Music Rehash." I have to say that I am very disappointed in this article. First of all, nobody is forcing you to watch MTV. It is totally your choice about what to watch. Secondly, MTV is focused toward the youth, ages 10-17, which is the biggest consumer group today. That would be why when you watch "Total Request Live," all you see are the cute boy bands and teenagers singing for their young fans. Rock and roll is making a comeback with Limp Bizkit and Kid Rock, but pop is still number one. I think the reason why pop is doing so well these days is because it does not induce violence or sex. It is pure clean fun. If you watch "TRL," you will notice that guys are now voting for the Backstreet Boys. So, turn off your MTV and turn up your CDs, and let me enjoy cute guys dancing around and singing their hearts out on "TRL" without having to read pathetic articles like this one in my spare time.
Kara Wiley sophomore marketing major
Kansas residents better off than columnist suggests I was appalled by Zachary Norris' statement about Kansans having a disadvantage by just being from Kansas. Who is he, a Californian, to judge us Kansans? Has he been to Kansas and seen the educational system? I highly doubt it. Should he check the facts, the Kansas high school average on the ACT is consistently higher than the national average. Norris says that teaching biology without mentioning evolution is like teaching United States government without mentioning the Constitution. Not quite. Evolution is just a theory: hence, the theory of evolution. The Constitution is the entire basis of the United States government, not just a small part of it. The theory of evolution is just theory: It is not 100 percent fact. You cannot prove it entirely. Just because the teaching of evolution isn't mandatory in Kansas schools does not mean that it will not be taught there. It only means that it is not mandatory to learn. The people of Kansas decided not to make it mandatory: It was not just the Christians. Concerned parents are the ones who called or wrote their Kansas State Board of Education representatives. Their votes are the ones that matter. Their children are the ones it concerns. Parents should have some say in the education of their offspring. Our state has clean water, clean air, relatively safe highways and little school violence. We score above average on national standardized tests. Children who get an education in Kansas will not have any problems adjusting to the next step, whether that next step is the military, higher education or the work field.
Jennifer Jewers freshman engineering major |
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