The J-TAC (Stephenville, Tex.), Vol. 157, No. 13, Ed. 1 Thursday, April 29, 1999 Page: 2 of 12
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Lessons to be learned from Littleton
Time to act is now or we could be next
As a guy, society expects me to be strong - not show my emo-
tions. Most of the time, I fit the mold to a tee. I rarely, if ever, cry,
especially at those sappy movies that women get so worked up
over, I try to be tough and keep everything inside, not to show that
I too can have feelings. Few things move me to the point of show-
ing my emotions.
One that did move me was the recent tragedy in Littleton,
Colorado. Sure, I've watched in shock at the newscast showing
other school shoot-
ings and tefror in
other nations. But this... this senseless
loss of life hit hard. To hear kids
telling the stories of watching their.
classmates die right before their eyes
is too much. Guys pressing their shirts
against a teacher's chest, trying to
stop the bleeding - knowing help could
not get into the school to save hislife.
To hear a parent's account of seeing
their son on television, laying motion-
less on a. sidewalk outside of the
school dead from the gunman's rage.
I can't even put into words the sheer
emotion and feelings of sadness, anger
and helplessness over why and how
such a tragedy could occur in a place
like Littleton, Colorado. Attitudes like
that of Brownwood superintendent
Don Martin are part of the problem.
Martin was quoted in the April 22
issue of the Brownwood Bulletin say-
ing that "incidents of this nature are
regional tragedies." How can a school
administrator be so naive and unaf-
fected by the shootings in Colorado to
think that our region is in some kind
of protective bubble where school shootings cannot happen? We cannot be blinded by
our history of nonviolence in this area. Just this weekend, four students in Wimberly
were placed in custody after a similar plan was discovered that could have led to
numerous deaths.
These shootings are not happening in the large, gang-infested cities that we associ-
ate with much of the nation's crime. They are occurring in smaller, middle American
towns, not used to facing much crime at all, much less these horrendous school shoot-
ings. Places like Pearl, Mississippi; Paducah, Kentucky; and Jonesboro, Arkansas are
the back drops for these shootings. Who knows where the next one could occur?
Stephenville, Texas could be the next headline on tomorrow's newspaper if we don't
take action. No comi^uK'ity can act as if they k're^rniffiun^^ffie^ibl^ncfe't'hat'ociu^s 1
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Election rip-off
Dear Editor:
I am writing this letter in regards to the previ-
ous student elections. I was appalled to see that
the winning candidate for Texan Rider was
working an election booth in the Student
Development Center on Tuesday, April 20 from
ll:00-noon.
I can not comprehend how the University
and the Dean of Students could allow a candi-
date to work an election booth when it violates
Article 6, Section L of the election code. The
code clearly states that "Student Government
Association members who are seeking an office
of position that is elected by campus wide vote
shall be prohibited from working the polling ,
place."
Furthermore, the list of workers for the booth
was posted in the Dean of Students office, I
think it is a disgrace to Tarleton State University
that a fair election can not take place. The lack of
regard for election rules by the administration
and SGA maybe the reason why the majority of
students do not bother to vote in campus elec-
tions. The students may feel that elections are
not fair and apparently pre-decided.
Anonymous
Bible bashing not appropriate
Dear Editor:
I appreciate your giving all sides and opin-
ions space in this paper. I am also glad we live
in a country where readers are free to discount
wild, imaginative theories such as the opinion
"The Bible Only Contains Words; It's Better to
Believe in Yourself" found in the April 22 edi-
tion of the J-Tac. It seems Ms. Wood of OSU has
more time on her hands than she knows what to
do with.
I do not know what "revisions" to the bible
she is referring to. She does not give details
about them. All I know is that the Bible I read
has not been revised because of a defect in the
original transcript. You also state that the
almighty did not make it plain and simple the
first time, so humans had to fix it. You're being
a little presumptuous there aren't you? The fact
that the bible no longer has credibility in your
mind reflects a flaw in you, not God. Thus, if
you want to just believe in yourself (an imper-
fect human) over God's word (perfect), be
my guest. People like you who decide that the
Bible has errors and thus can Be discounted are
I
usually trying to appease his/her conscience.
You think that it would be easier to do what you
want if you could simply discredit the Bible's
validity and the commandments therein. You
attempt to do that with articles like these. I hate
to burst your bubble, but persons have been try-
ing to burn, discredit, or otherwise destroy bibli-
cal content for numerous years. It hasn't
worked yet.
You say in the next to last paragraph that if
there is doubt cast upon God and his validity, let
him provide his own words. He already has. He
said, "Faith is the substance of things hoped for,
the evidence of things not seen." If you were not
so intent on justifying your position by discred-
iting the Bible, you might could see things more
clearly.
Carl Meyer
Graduate Management Major
words deserve respect
Dear Editor:
I am writing this letter in response to the arti-
cle, "The Bible only contains words; it's better to
believe in yourself," published in your April
22nd issue. When I read the article I was totally
offended that someone would want to print this
false account of the bible. I understand that my
belief as a Christian is not the only belief that
exists, in the world, and I respect the beliefs of
others but I think the article took it too far.
In respect to the author let me say that I am
glad that she has no problem expressing her
opinion on the issues, but as a Christian I don't
think she took the right approach by basically
challenging God to the validity of the Holy
Bible.
These were not mere scholars who wanted to
stir up something for people to believe in. These
were the disciples and chosen messengers of our
Holy God. These people, such as Matthew,
Mark, Luke, and Paul, actually witnessed' these
things they wrote about firsthand.
How if these things aren't true has man and
this world seen and done the things we have?
Because personally I don't think that I evolved
from an Ape. Those of you who want to think
that you did go right ahead, but to borrow a
famous quote, "As for me and my house we will
worship the Lord." Thank you for your time.
Scottie Ethridge
Freshman Ag Services and Development Major
all across our nation.
After such an event, we always want somewhere to place the blame. How could two
outcast kids enter a school and kill their classmates? How could they enjoy the experi-
ence to the point of laughing out loud at killing a black athlete who was simply tar-
geted because of his race and choice of activities?
The answers are not clear cut, and blame cannot be placed on one person or influ-
ence. We all have blood on our hands, and prevention is the key to stopping such
madness. Parents, school officials, local law enforcement agencies and even the enter-
tainment industry must all take a serious
look at how children of today are raised and
treated. Parents cannot afford to ignore their
children's subtle crys for help and should
keep guns out of the reach of their children.
School officials must take EVERY report of
pbtentiail violence on campus seriously. They
must strive to make sure that every student
feels part of the mainstream community.
Local law enforcement must work closely
with the schools arid parents to catch the
offenders before such tragedies occur. The
entertainment industry, always a scape goat
for blame, must take these criticisms seri- %
ously. The games children play, such as the
shoot 'em up computer game Doom, do
influence kids. It is training for the kids who
do go over the edge and commit such
crimes.
> V
None of these are aldne a reason that'"'
kids kill. But together they form a influenced
of children that must be caught. Tougher <£*
gun laws could help,prevent children's y;
access to guns.
Organizations like the National Rifle;>
Association must realize that these laws are*?
not aimed at taking away our right tp bear >
arms and hunt. They are aimed at the thou-***
sands of senseless deaths that occur every year in our country. NRA president
Charlton Heston comments on the tragedy show what is wrong with the now over the '
top organization. He said, "if there had been even one armed guard in the school, he
could have saved a lot of lives and perhaps ended the whole thing instantly," The fact
is that there was an armed guard at the school. By arming more citizens, we are not
solving the problem before it starts. We are just ignoring the problem and dealing
with it as it occurs.
In the end, only time will tell if we have learned anything from the fifteen deaths at
Columbine High School. By acting now, we can assure that those lives were not lost in
vain and that more are not lost in the future. Don't let our community be the next that
has t<? cjeel with .su/Cjh..'a tragedy,1 ' • . ■ ^ ...
More SGA information
There are two sides to every story - even in SGA
As I sat in the SGA meeting on Monday it became clear to me that
for the most part, the students who are appointed and elected to
SGA don't take their jobs seriously. I am in no way trying to take :
anything away from the students who attend the meetings, but
once the meeting starts, it quickly becomes apparent that most of
those present have not given any thought to SGA business since ■„
the previous meeting, I am not trying to place blame on others, as
it is obvious to everybody except for SGA's regular defenders who,
eloquently vent their defenses on this page - that we are all in
some way responsible for the lack of progress in SGA this year.
But that is not to say that SGA has served the students of Tarleton in the way that
they deserve to be served. In fact, for the most part, SGA has become bogged down
by a lack of attention, procedure, and knowledge of the way things need to be done.
Last week, my friend and fellow SGA member Justin Beam wrote a commentary
about who he felt was responsible for SGA's lack of progress. .1 am not attacking
Justin, but I wish to respond to his column because I am in serious disagreement with
its content. Last week Justin presented his side of the constitution story, now I think
that its time you heard mine, and then you can decide the truth.
In the SGA meeting on April 19, Jeremy Cuellar made the motion that SGA accept
the third final version of the proposed constitution. He says that Lowe tried to stall
the vote. I cannot attempt to speak for Mr. Lowe's actions, but I did not witness this
taking place. The constitution committee admitted that they made changes on the pro-
posed constitution since the previous meeting. Lowe asked for a copy of the constitu-
tion that we were about to vote on and was told that they had not made copied to pass
out to the Senate members.
In effect, this committee was asking SGA to vote on a constitution that they had not
seen and that they were not going to see. I heard Lowe speak against the acceptance
of a flawed document; I heard the Dean of Students and SGA advisor Rusty Jergins
speak against the acceptance of a flawed document along with Student Body President
Troy Morris, Lowe attempted to amend Cuellar's motion by sending it to the newly
elected SGA members in the fall. When Lowe's amendment failed, it became clear that
the majority of the room was going to approve a document that they had never seen..
Yes folks, there was a coup taking place, but it did not involve Lowe and his lack-,;
eys. The coup involved the constitution committee's attempt to get a constitution
passed that they could not produce for members to review before voting, Mr. Beam
said that four student stalked out of the meeting, robbed SGA of a quorum and side
that they knew more than anyone else. Well, as one of the four who walked out, I
think that I can safely agree with Mr. Beam's assessment. Student government is no ^
different than any other form of government.
The object is to work within the rules to help the advancement of the student body-
at Tarleton. John Lowe knew the rules well enough to know how to help the student
of Tarleton. The constitution committee's final constitution would have allowed the
president of the student body the right to reject any bill he or she did not agree with.
Oh yes, this vague document said that the president had to either veto the bill or pass
it on to the Dean of Students, but it did not say how long the president had to do this.
Mr, Beam, on April 19, the SGA did act democratically. More than half of the mem-
bers did not want your constitution passed, otherwise they would have been at the -
meeting to support it. Yes, it is a shame that SGA has to attempt to operate under a
flawed document for yet another semester. But for the record, this year's SGA did not
observe the existing document, and I bet that next year's SGA will ignore it as well. I
feel that the April 19 meeting proved how I am fighting to help Tarleton, and I can <
only wish that the other members of the SGA took their jobs as seriously as I take -
mine. For the most part/ many of our actions do not really effect the students of this!
university in a major way. But someday, something truly important could come before
the SGA, and Mr. Beam's constitution could have prevented the student government
from truly serving the students of this university. As a student government, we
should work yet another year on a constitution, and we should make-sure that we are*
going to have one that allows all the students* a voice in their student government.
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The J-TAC (Stephenville, Tex.), Vol. 157, No. 13, Ed. 1 Thursday, April 29, 1999, newspaper, April 29, 1999; (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth141954/m1/2/: accessed July 11, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Tarleton State University.