Political correctness for all; equality for none
All analysis and no play makes Jack a dull boy
A Humble Suggestion
It’s your school; it’s your paper
When the going gets tough, the tough go to Denny’s
Lift embargo and let Cubans stand on their own two feet
Doug Donaldson
Cento Writer
From June 17 through 29, I traveled in Cuba with Dr. Rick Axtell, religion professor at Centre College and member of Witness for Peace. Witness for Peace is a politically independent, faith-based organization committed to nonviolence. Witness for Peace supports justice, liberty and endurable economies in the Americas.
Our delegation met with hospitals, policlinics, government officials, agricultural co-ops, schools, biotech specialists and foreign affairs representatives. The purpose of our delegation was to increase understanding of Cuban reality and culture while also educating ourselves on U.S. and Cuban policy, specifically concentrating on the 40 year food and medicine embargo imposed on Cuba.
Pre-embargo relations between the United States and Cuba are something I have neither time nor space to address. In regards to the Embargo issues, I will say both parties have been repeatedly disloyal to each other. The U.S. embargo policy towards Cuba is without merit and is only detrimental to the people of Cuba while having little or no effect on the Castro government.
This embargo was placed on Cuba with the intention of undermining the Castro regime. 40 years and eight American presidents later, Fidel Castro remains in office. This policy was made when the former USSR was aiding Cuba in challenging U.S. interests in Central America. The Soviet threat no longer exists, but the embargo remains.
Some that support this embargo still argue that the people will eventually overthrow Castro. When I talked with many Cuban citizens in Havana and Pinar Del Rio, I found no evidence to support this. Although most Cubans only make $10 a month, they have housing, education, health care and food provided for them for free. No one is starving in Cuba, but because of this embargo the people of Cuba feel the negative consequences, not Castro and his bold regime.
Hospitals and policlinics in Cuba provide adequate healthcare and medicine for the citizens. The medicine and equipment cost 3 to 4 times what it would if these products could be purchased directly from the U. S. Shortages are the norm because of the excessive cost involved.
This adversely affects health care quality, which in turn hurts the Cuban people. The Castro government effectively diverts the blame to the policies of Washington.
A member of our delegation became very sick and had to go to the policlinic for treatment. Upon arrival he was immediately given an IV and medicine. The doctors gave him medicine that the U.S. has refused to sell Cuba. Even though he was capable of paying and his government's policies had increased the cost four fold he was charged nothing. This is just one glowing example of the kind and generous attitude of the Cuba people.
The Cuban people are simply amazing. Never once did I run into anyone rude or unfriendly. While lacking many things considered in the U.S. as essential, they enjoy the simple things in life like good smells, sharing and dancing. Their attitudes were dominated by happiness and smiles.
I do not intend to make the U.S. look like the devil, nor Cuba an angel. It is great that U.S. citizens have nice cars, houses and other comforts available in our country. We must, however, appreciate how extremely fortunate we are to live where we live. On the other hand, Cuba cannot entirely blame the U.S. and the embargo for their problems.
The Castro government and economic system have many inefficient elements about them. For over 40 years individuality and self-improvement in Cuba have taken a back seat in order to "work for the common good." We have many governments based on this misguided theory fail miserably in the past several years. Even Fidel Castro is beginning to allow the citizens of Cuba to experiment in a small way with Capitalism. I say lift the embargo and let Cuba stand on their own two feet. This would improve conditions for the Cuban people. It would also free the United States from any further blame for the weak economy and rash conditions in Cuba. No longer would Castro be able to blame the U.S. for economic difficulties created by his own government.
Some may feel that issues such as the Cuban embargo aren't what we, as American citizens, should concern ourselves. On the contrary, issues such as these are something in which America and her people need to become involved. Most of us are fortunate enough to have sufficient resources and above average technological advances available. Therefore compassion and consideration for the less prosperous of the world should be heavily stressed in our society. As a community, we should evaluate our views and our political leaders’ views on the issue. By making an effort as a small community, making our voices heard, national changes in policy will become closer to reality. Back to top...
Political correctness for all; equality for none
Colleen Harris
Cento Writer
As upperclassmen know and freshmen will discover, Centre is big on issues recognition. Gender Equality Week, Celebrate Every Body Week, Diversity Weekend...the list goes on. And on. On the Politically Correct scale, we rank pretty high. In the interests of political correctness, I would like to propose an additional week. Let's call it, "Recognizing Double Standards Week." Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to recognize and point out double standards wherever you see them.
For example: Why, if women are so hell-bent on attaining equality with men, do not more of them lobby to be forced to register for the draft when they hit eighteen? Honestly, the country might benefit from having a few more women on the front lines if we ever go to war. (How would the enemy look after blasting a bunch of girls? Hey - there is a double standard we could use to our advantage)
Why do movies get blamed for promoting violence but musicians are immune from such criticism?
Remember the scene in the film The Program when the football players lie down in the middle of traffic to psyche themselves up? When a bunch of idiot high school students tried it, the scene was cut from the movie. However, nobody blames rap stars when drive by shootings, drug deals and prostitution occur. Hmmm.
Do not you love how stars like Rosie O'Donnell are proponents of gun control, but make sure human moose that bear weapons protect their children? So, really, the message is not "guns are bad," but "guns are bad unless you can afford to pay someone else to use them for you." As for the Million Mom March against guns - maybe they should spend less time marching and more time educating their children not to use guns, no?
Gay Pride days and parades are fine and dandy, but straight pride comes across as homophobia. Can't we all just get along?
Have you ever wondered why the U. S. takes umbrage at the genocide in Kosovo, but does nothing while China commits genocide in Tibet? Well, maybe not, since the whole Tibet thing is not all over CNN. Maybe if they were a little closer to Europe our government would be more concerned. Of course, now that China has our nuclear technology (whoops), it is probably prudent to stay out of it.
Speaking of which, isn't it funny that the country that sold arms to Iran and Iraq and accepts campaign donations from foreign countries wants to limit your right to arm yourself? (See Amendment II, Constitution of the United States of America)
Another double standard only recently recognized: Making cracks about overweight people is perceived as in bad taste, but calling thin people anorexic and bulimic is only now being recognized as uncouth. (Hint: Cracks about dessert consumption or the lack thereof are not appreciated by anybody.)
And take a look at your own Centre College campus. Fraternities are subject to disciplinary action if their social advertisements allude to or mention alcohol or inebriation, but lewd sexual suggestions pass without complaint.
Is there really a need to mention the Walk of Shame and the Walk of Fame? You know, the morning trip back across campus where men puff out their chests in anticipation of notching a bedpost, and where women are supposed to surreptitiously abscond to their rooms and hope they haven't been seen. HUGE double standard. (Of course, I suppose it also depends on whose room you're coming from.)
While Centre doesn't really have a twenty-four hour student facility where we can study, hold late night gab sessions, etc. (no, dorm lobbies don't count, at least not without pooltables), we can put forth the effort to raise untold thousands to sit a bug on the library lawn. (Hey, but it's a tunneling bug, man. Those are so much cooler than just regular bugs!)
And while Centre Dear coddles some of her sports teams (not that they don't work hard, they all put in the utmost effort when they play on behalf of the College), some teams are forced to cease play at twilight for lack of a glow in the dark game ball.
Or lighting, but I hear that campus lighting is kind of flimsy anyway. I guess the college figures that rowdy fans might take it into their heads to rip down lightposts.
Come on guys, we're not THAT uncivilized, are we? Back to top...
All analysis and no play makes Jack a dull boy
Amy Winters
Cento Writer
During the fall of my senior year of high school I came to Centre as a prospective student with my dad. I was really, really nervous and I met a lot of nice people, both faculty and students, that helped me out a lot and made me feel totally comfortable about coming here. My big worry upon perusing the course catalog, however, was that no creative writing major was offered. Since this is such a small school, that didn’t come as a surprise. I was assured by the professor whose class I sat in on that a “Creative Writing Experience” would be available to me through an English major. I was told by the people in admissions that if I tailored my schedule to the right classes I would barely notice the difference.
All of these people were incredibly friendly and helpful, and I would not trade coming here for anything, but I simply do not feel that those statements were true in the end. I love this college. I have enjoyed a lot of academic experiences here that I would have sorely missed elsewhere: ceramics classes, Art History, the inexhaustible fountain of knowledge and trivia that is Mike Hamm. I simply think there is room in the English department for a more comprehensive Creative Writing program than is now offered.
There is a lot to learn about poetry, for example, before you can write it. It takes all the practical and technical skill that ceramics does. A poem must be assembled in much the same way that a pot is created—there has to be a plan, a structure, a vision. One does not take an Art History class, look at slides of Greek vessels, and know how to make pottery. You must also know how to make the clay, how to mold it with your hands, how to smooth out the marks that overzealous fingers leave. It takes a while to find a style of your own, and it takes a lot of practice before you can make something beautiful. Why should it be any different for poetry, which is surely a form of art as well? Can a student learn to make a poem from just looking at the polished, anthologized works of others?
My English professors are shaking their heads right now and thinking that most of their students will not be poets. (Hell, I most likely won’t be one either.) The English majors here at school now will work for myriad publications. They will also be lawyers, teachers, ad execs, speechwriters, college professors. Would it not be invaluable then, to be teaching the well-crafted, creative, anecdotal essay, organized from start to finish, shot with earnestness, humor and passion? These qualities and this kind of writing are essential to every one of the above professions. This kind of instruction brings out spontaneity and creativity that young people may not know they have. Once people embrace the side of themselves that can make something from scratch, the possibilities are endless.
By now you probably think that I have forgotten that Centre does offer one Creative Writing class. It is English 28, taught in the woefully short Winter term, usually by a visiting professor. I took this class during the winter of my freshman year. This spring I will be beginning an independent study in poetry. I am grateful to have the opportunity for both of these classes. However, I received one blanket evaluation at the end of the term for all of the work I did in English 28. The professor then went back to wherever visiting professors come from. No lasting rapport was ever established between student and teacher. The great advantage to this class setup was that students had the opportunity to truly share their work and thoughts. I learned a great deal that term from talented student writers like Jim Higdon and Alex Wulff.
Though I am ecstatic that a Centre professor is willing to work with me, when I do my independent study this spring I will not have the same kind of opportunity for mutual exchange. Why not always have a Centre professor teach the Creative Writing class? Or have a creative writing exchange, worth a credit hour and supervised by a professor? You could meet once a week to give assignments and exchange ideas for revisions.
The school literary magazine has an excellent staff and turns out a great product each year, but its purpose is to display a finished product rather than to hone a craft.
There are 36 English majors in my class and the numbers will grow each year. By the time these students graduate I am confident that they will be able to analyze anything put in front of them in a neat 1000 word essay. I am not so sure that they will know what it feels like to make a real piece of writing that they are proud of, something to make them put to paper those lush, secret parts of the creative mind. A professor does not have the ability to turn every student into a poet, but each student has the potential to truly understand a part of the larger creative world if he or she is given the chance. Back to top...
Ed Hatfield
Cento Opinions Editor
Another year has begun and we, the whole lot of us, students, faculty and all, are now a week and a half into the fall term. By now the majority of us have found our stride. That is, we are again accustomed to taking notes, digesting lectures and dining at Cowan. The early term lull has subsided; things are in full swing.
All students likely know the lull of which I speak. It is those first few days of class where little is done and little attempted. The routine is no doubt familiar; role is called, syllabi received, syllabi read, points elaborated upon and an early dismissal.
There is, it would seem, a tacit agreement between students and professors that all concerned will enter the water one foot at a time and wade before swimming. Both parties have their reasons. Professors are likely encumbered with departmental issues, room logistics and other pitfalls faced in the world of academia, while students are busy recovering from the first weekend back. Though perhaps professors need recovery from the weekend too.
Do not misunderstand, I am not by any means suggesting that we dive head first into the semester. I only mean that perhaps we could do better.
As students at Centre we are fortunate to attend classes that are small in number and led by accomplished academics that enjoy teaching. Those students inclined to do so often come to know professors outside of the classroom as well as in. But more can be done to this end.
I propose that the first day of each semester could be used by professors to introduce themselves to their students as both an academic and a person. They might begin by telling where they are from, how they grew up, about their family and so forth. Professors could be as forthcoming, even as hokey as they wish, bring in slides, poke fun at photos taken of themselves in the ‘70s, whatever. In the latter half of their lecture they might talk about their academic career, where they did their undergrad and graduate work, what they wrote their thesis about and what most interests them within their discipline.
If such an approach were taken, students might feel more inclined to visit professors during office hours and both parties would likely develop a better rapport with one another. Some professors do this already and I expect more would if they believed students were interested; and students, I believe, are interested.
Before concluding I would like to qualify the above statements. In pitching the idea to my friend Dave he said only that I should "be humble". I hope this will not be received as criticism, but merely as a suggestion, a humble one. Back to top...
It’s your school; it’s your paper
Daron Mills
Cento Sports Editor
Ladies and gentlemen of the Centre College community, it has been months since I have last graced you with one of my enlightening, yet controversial (i.e. the ill-fated Danville Police article) opinion pieces regarding some aspect of the exuberant "Centre experience," and how we as remarkably immature young adults are affected. First and foremost, I must make it abundantly clear of whom the audience is that I intend to reach with my wise words of wisdom. This article is not intended for one of my fabulous, but overly critical English professors to dissect (note the amount of run-on sentences and the few expletives that are sure to follow). This is for all of the cynical students, faculty and staff members, who love to complain about the style and content of the Cento.
Let me take you through a typical Thursday afternoon in which a bimonthly issue of the Cento has come out. Walking along, listening to Snow’s "Informer" in my portable disc player, I decide to grab a bite to eat at Cowan before going to my weekly NRA meeting. As I sit down, I am interrupted by some half-wit girl, who believes she knows me well enough to point to the Cento and say, “This article sucks,” as if I actually wrote the damn thing.
Prior to tripping her on her way back to her seat, I reply, “Thanks for reading the Cento!”
Next comes one of my beloved fraternity brothers. “I can’t stand reading the Cento—it’s like reading the National Enquirer.” Prior to adding Ritalin to his mashed potatoes while he leaves to tinkle, I shrug off the comment with a fake smile and a swift punch to the nose.
The next day, I am told by one of the coaches that I have neglected to properly cover their respective sport or that I have disclosed some “private” information that happened to be sitting out in the public for everyone to see? Here’s a bit of advice for every athletic coach. The day you sign my check for the Cento is the day you can actually tell me what I can or can’t publish.
Let my spiteful remarks and excessive rambling act as a sign of the bitterness I have attained since joining the Cento staff in 1998. It is not that I am opposed to criticism; I just feel that if it is not constructive, then it is not necessary.
If the half-wit would have told me she found the article offensive because of its crude nature or language, then I would certainly respect her opinion. In this instance, she would be giving me a valuable argument to relay to the staff and take in consideration when planning future publications. I wouldn’t even know how to properly respond to the fraternity brother who believes the Cento is like reading a tabloid other than extending a challenge to him and anyone who shares similar sentiments.
I challenge anyone and everyone who feels they can write just as well, if not better, than the members of our staff to submit your own work or ideas to be considered or published in the future. I issue this challenge to remind everyone of the intentions of the Cento.
As staff members, we set out to create a publication that: a) appeals to the concerns and desires of the Centre community, specifically students, b) creates opportunities for aspiring writers, photographers and editors to showcase their talents, c) performs as an outlet to recognize the abilities and talents of members in our community that may otherwise go unnoticed.
In other words, this is just as much your college newspaper as it ours. By submitting quality work, you give us the opportunity to be more selective about the material we publish.
Personally, I feel that the Cento is a remarkable outlet for me to get my opinions across to a large audience, or, to be quite frank, gives me the opportunity to bitch to the masses. There is a sense of power and accomplishment I feel after every publication, knowing that something that I have worked extremely hard on is going to feel you have something positive to contribute to any of these groups, get involved and reap the benefits and personal satisfaction that accompanies making positive contributions Otherwise, what is the use of complaining if you are not willing to make the effort that’s necessary for change? Always remember that this is your school—this is your school newspaper. It’s up to you to make the difference.Back to top...
When the going gets tough, the tough go to Denny’s
Adriana Elizabeth Melnyk
Co-Editor in Chief
I like to consider myself a pretty sociable person. However, at Centre, this has led to a slight drop in GPA when it comes time for buckling down and studying.
Over the past couple of years I’ve discovered where I cannot study. I cannot study in the library. The library follows Cowan as the second largest social mecca on campus, not to mention the fact that it’s far too quiet.
I cannot study in my room. Even though I live by myself this year, it is far too distracting to read in my room. Think about it: Even the most dedicated of students can entertain him or herself with something other than homework when immediately surrounded by a stereo, computer, television, magazines, telephone, video games and, the biggest procrastination culprit in my world, a cozy and inviting bed (unless, of course, you’re Jason Beare or Mark Sprowl).
I cannot study outside. For ten minutes out of every hour, the academic buildings open their doors to release a flood of students over every lawn on campus, the Quad being one of the most heavily populated. Even though some of these students are mere acquaintances of mine, there seems to be something about having my nose in a book that provokes passersby to stop and start a conversation.
I know other students might argue in defense of finding a great study atmosphere at Wal-Mart, in a dorm lobby or on a campus bench. However, I’ve devised my own strategy, by no means original, for concentration on my studies. When the going gets tough, the tough go to Denny’s.
The Denny’s study obsession began for me in high school, but it has now carried over into my college career. Where else can you go to get a mid-week sober grease fix while slurping down an endless supply of hot coffee that costs a measley $1.09?
However, few seem to appreciate the true beauty the Denny’s culture offers. Allow me to enlighten thee.
I walk in, glasses clad and backpack slung over a shoulder, and the first person I see is Z. Z has earned herself a prime spot in my heart.
Z is an older woman with short gray hair, glasses and a wrist brace, and she constantly sports a gigantic smile. In addition to knowing the perfect moment to offer a refill and a Laffy Taffy-esque joke, she shares family stories and advice with Centre students. She rejoices in our academic triumphs and sympathizes with our defeats. I know her as nothing more than Z, but I still feel as though I’ve known her a lifetime.
Aside from the many other fabulous and unique waitresses that patrol the late night Denny’s crowd, there is always someone else with whom to speak. I’ve met intoxicated Danville residents, other sociology majors, factory workers and a managerie of other people with whom I’ve had wonderful chats.
However, there is also something to be said for the 24-hour restaurant bond shared with familiar Centre faces. I’ve been afforded the opportunity to become friends with many students who I probably wouldn’t have met otherwise, and it is always nice to have a familiar face at a nearby table when I can no longer handle whatever choice piece of literature I have the pleasure of reading that day.
By now each reader has probably realized my vast love for this establishment that most only pass via car or visit when intoxicated. I have found my haven, and I have been happier with my grades since I have done so.
Yet I will leave my readers with one final warning: Denny’s has a distinct odor that lingers on clothing after one leaves. My advice to the Denny’s dwellers is to change clothes before an eight o’clock class or classmates might stay away. I’m serious. Back to top...