The Pony Express (Carthage, Tex.), Vol. 46, No. 4, Ed. 1 Tuesday, November 14, 1995 Page: 2 of 8
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2 - The Pony Express
Commentary
Curfew would take away right of public assembly
"Be in before the streetlights come on!" This is what many
kids heard when they were little. Now these kids are young
adults, and some are attending college. They thought that the
move to college would give them instant acceptance into the
adult world with no curfew. Now many colleges are
considering instating a curfew.
Panola already has a loitering rule. It states that a student
cannot be outside the dorms or walking on campus after
midnight. This is a step towards theestablishmentof a curfew.
It seems as though colleges are speaking in forked tongues.
On one hand you're an adult, and on the other you're not.
Many students came to college expecting to be free of their
parents' domination,butnowtheschools aretryingtooverstep
their boundaries by regulating the students' activities.
What else can society do to minimize college students'
rights of becoming an adult? Many students have had the
right to an early drinking age taken away in Louisiana. Now
therighttostayoutatnightwithouttellinganyone where they
will be is being threatened.
After the establishment of a curfew, campus society would
resemble a state of martial law. Campus officials would have
to police the actions of all of the students. This would waste
valuable time and money.
Many students at the college level have to hold down jobs
to help pay for their education. To make a curfew would put
these students in violation if they had to work late, and they
would be punished for something they cannot control.
If this happens, campuses might as well have signs posted
that read. "Big Brother is watching." The administrators would
have the power to decide who parks where or what students can
wear to class.
A curfew would also limit the amount of study time for
students who have to work late at night.
The library closes at 9 p.m. and no visitors are allowed in the
dorms after midnight. No men are allowed in the women's
dorms after 10 p.m. The same is true for women in the men's
dorm.
After 10 p.m., there is no place for men and women to study
together on campus. Students havetodrive5miles to the PitGrill
to study together, and this is really not an appropriate study
environment.
Many supportersof curfews say "What could you possibly do
at 2 a.m. that you can't do by midnight?"
At2a.m. you can geta wholenewperspectiveon things. Some
of the best ideas come to mind when it's late. No one is around
and distractions are few and far between. Young adults have
had an entire day to analyze their problems, and things just seem
clearer at that time of night.
Curfews would be a stepping stone toward the corruption of
a free society.
Taking away students' freedom to exercise the right of public
assembly whenever they deem acceptable is to put shackles on
them. This also contains their creative ways to celebrate life.
Matt Buxman
Assistant Editor
Politicians should work for the American public
The chorus to the song "We Need a Hero" could not
be more true when speaking about today's political
system. Politicians have become business oriented
and made a profession out of getting elected.
Politicians go out hoping to get into office to receive
the high salary and extensive percs that come with the
title of elected official.
They are entrusted with the job of making laws that
will benefit the nation as a whole. Yet, it seems that all
politicians are interested in are the special interest
groups and their own party's concerns.
Politicians spend over a year on the campaign trail.
They make promises to the American public with
which they rarely make come true.
Everyone over the age of 10 can remember the
infamous statement, "READ MY LIPS, NO NEW
TAXES!" made by George Bush in 1988. This became
a media fiasco and one of the worst campaign promises
ever made.
In the early 1820's, Andrew Jackson initiated the
use of the "spoils system." The "spoils system" is a
play on words to mean to the victor go the spoils.
When Jackson used this system, he promised
positions in the government to those who would help
win the election of 1828.
Until that time, the office sought the man, but thanks
to Jackson's "ingenuity," now the person seeks the
office with his/her weak and false promises.
These "professional politicians" promise things like
no new taxes or being able to cut the national deficit by
taking pay cuts (none of which would go through).
They try to play on public opinion to get into office,
but in the end, that play on public opinion gets them in
trouble by the next election period.
The politicians waste the voters' time for the first part
of their term, and then rush to make good on their
"Politicians have become business oriented and made a
profession out of getting elected,"
__Matt Buxman
promises knowing that it is too late. Then they are
voted out and another political scam artist takes their
place.
Did society lose all of its great thinkers in the formative
years of this nation? Are they waiting in the wings for
another revolution of some kind? If this is the case,
what can be done to spark this revolution?
If there is a great mind with a plan to save this nation,
please step forward and take your rightful place in the
fabric of the American political system. Show the
people in charge how to restore the prestige and glory of
a once great political system.
Matt Buxman
Assistant Editor
LetterTo The Editor
Rules should apply to everyone, all the time
Dear Editor,
Recently Panola College's newly formed Student Court heard
its first case concerning a student being removed from the men's
dorm for possession of an alcoholic substance. Before appealing
to the Student Court, the student was going to be removed from
the dorm, still keep his meal ticket and be able to move back into
the dorm next semester. After the court's meeting, the panel
decided to let him stay in the dorm, clean the dorm for two hours
daily, study the student handbook and then write a letter of
apology to the president of the college.
Although I would like a cleaner dorm, I agree with the original
decision to kick the student out of the dorm even though the
alcohol rule isn't directly stated in the handbook. Don Clinton and
Brent Gee warned all dorm students that any alcoholic container,
full or empty (consumed in or out of the room), would result in
expulsion from the dorm. I had an empty bottle in my room but
after hearing about the rule, I threw it away. This way I would not
be caught and thrown out.
By not kicking the student out, the court makes it sound like if
a student is caught with alcohol in his or her room, and he or she
appeals to the student court, they will receive a slap on the hand
and told not to do it again. Some punishment.
I think I'll go out and buy a case of Bud and party down because
I can write a paper over the handbook and fake a letter of apology
to the president and feel no regret. I don't agree with all the rules
that govern the dorms, but unless I want to get a job and rent an
apartment, I must live under those rules and I would want those
rules enforced on me with no exceptions just like everyone else.
I'm glad that the Student Court has been used and hope it will
be used again, but to all the members but one, think before you
decide. If anyone has a problem with this, please contact me and
I'll be happy to argue with you.
Starr Kendall
"She’s in my English class so i know her. I also
know she wants us to look at her so she can
ignore us.”
News Briefs from Around Texas
Basketball recruit gets sports program. Interim
prison sentence Chancellor J. B. Whiteley is
expected to submit to the
(Blinn College: The Blinn Board of Regents a proposal
Log) A former Blinn basket- to maintain only two major
ball recruit, indicted on kid- sports at each campus,
napping charges, was sen- Whiteley said factors to be
tenced to 20 years in the considered include the costs
state prison for the offense, as related to the benefit for
The Washington County the college. He also said the
Grand Jury indicted 19- number of people being
year-old Jamie L. Stewart served by the program will
for allegedly kidnapping also be considered.
Sadie Emery in August. The
first degree felony carries a Selena scholarship
maximum sentence of life in is established
prison.
Varsity sports could
face major cutbacks
(San Jacinto College: San
Jacinto Times) San Jacinto
College could be facing cuts
that would affect its varsity
(Del Mar College: The
Foghorn) A Corpus Christi
television station has en-
dowed a scholarship at Del
Mar College in honor of
slain Tejano singer Selena
Quintanilla-Perez. A $3,000
check was recently pre-
sented to the college by sta-
tion officials. By establishing
an endowment, the station
has ensured that Del Mar will
be able to honor Selena for
years to come in the form of
a scholarship. The first full
$250 scholarship should be
awarded next fall.
Students could face
financial aid cut
(Tarrant County Junior
College: The Collegian) Con-
gressional threats to financial
aid and proposals for a $100
per semester computer-use
fee for UTA students were re-
cently discussd at a town
hall meeting. "The meeting
was called to raise awareness
about movements in Con-
gress to cut financial aid and
to reassure students about
our commitment to not raise
fees more than necessary,"
said UTA President Dr. Rob-
ert Witt.
Summer excursion to
China is planned
(Lee College: The Lantern)
Lee College English Profes-
sor Dr. Sunny Xiao-yang
Jiang will conduct a cross-
cultural course to China. The
focus of the course is an in-
tensive study of a foreign
culture. Lee College will of-
fer credits in sociology, hu-
manity, business manage-
ment, history, geology, En-
glish, foreign language and
culture. The trip, planned for
next summer, will cost about
$2,500 per student. A $500
deposit is due by February of
next year.
KC establishes new
non-profit foundation
(Kilgore College: The
a non-profit corporation de-
signed to promote and sup-
port the college, was initi-
ated this semester. The Ar-
ticles of Incorporation were
approved by the KC Board
of Trustees in November.
Director of the foundation is
Dr. Peggy Coghlan, vice
president and chief aca-
demic officer.
Recycling program
cleans up UTA campus
(University of Texas - Ar-
lington: The Shorthorn)
UTA has started selling its
leftover paper and alumi-
num under a newly laun-
ched recycling program.
Widespread support for re-
cycling has been expressed
for some time by the college
place grant, awarded
through the North Central
Texas Council of Govern-
ments, allowed the program
to start.
UTT lecture series
features variety
(University of Texas
Tyler: The Patriot) The
1995-96 Distinguished Lec-
ture Series will feature ex-
congressman Jack Kemp.
Kemp will kick off the series.
Other speakers include
Cokie Roberts, ABC News
special correspondent; and
Bill Moy-ers, award winning
broadcast journalist.
Flare) The KC Foundation, community. An $8,112 work-
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The Pony Express (Carthage, Tex.), Vol. 46, No. 4, Ed. 1 Tuesday, November 14, 1995, newspaper, November 14, 1995; Carthage, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth591817/m1/2/?rotate=270: accessed July 18, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Panola College.