Page 98 - Phoenix1999-2000

Thursday. February 10, 2000-Page 6 COMMENTARY Staff Rocker puts first amendment to the test Co-Editors-In-Chief Edward Schultheis discusses the Laura Beth Kelley '01 After taunting New York fans during the am completely for the First Amendment, but Jenifer D. Sirkis '01 playoff series with the Mers, Atlanta pitcher implications of John Rocker's there are exceptions when a person had no right to speak out in such a manner and in ~:e:~~;:~:~~:~:~~~~~:~:e~~;~~~:~~~~ outrageous racist comments. Managing Editor such a public forum as Sports tltnstrated, Matthew Thomas '01 other racist remarks in a recent edition of said about? Has the sense of decency and The question of punishment now moves Sports Illustrated. His tirade brought swift respect just gone down the tubes in the past into the spotlight. Does the punishment of action from Major League Baseball's com- years? What protects the people that John one month away from baseball fit the News Editors Staci George '03 missioner, Bud Selig, and Rocker was sus- Rocker so harshly criticized? Certainly, the "crime?" Should he even get a punishment Fran~esca Saylor '00 pended until May I Major League Baseball Association is at- from the MLBA? While my answer on that However, Rocker feels that the punish- tempting to rectify that situation. is not so clean-cut, I do believe that he should ment was unjust and that he should not be While Rocker has the legal right to feel be punished in some form or another. What Features Editor Kate Esposito '01 punished for his "misguided speech." Does' anyway he wants and to speak his mind, he worse punishment is there then being he have a point? should have the "common" decency to con- branded a homophobic, xenophobic, racist, John Rocker and advocates claim the trot and contain himself and not offend so which he certainly exhibited in his state- Assistant Features Editor statements he made are protected by the First many people. You see, since he gave the in- Shauna Dominguez '02 ments? Amendment, therefore he should not be pun- terview in Sports Illustrated, he was not Imagine how the atmosphere will be like ished for his opinions. speaking as just a regular guy, but rather as a Commentary Editor when he walks out of the bullpen at Shea Edward Schultheis '03 Th?f~5'pposed to Rocker's case claim member of the Atlanta Braves organization. Stadium facing the Mets. There is no greater that he is an employee of the Atlanta Braves This means that he is reprehensible for his punishment than being hated, which John organization and can be punished for any actions. Assistant Commentary Editor statements made because they reflect the or- Among some of his inappropriate state- Rocker certainly is by a vast number of Matt Hurff'03 people. . ganization. menrs were references to one of his team- He can hide behind the First Amendment Does the First Amendment really differ- mates who he called "a fat monkey." He also but that only hides him from the law; he cer- Sports Editor Mike Yestramski 'OJ entiate between the two, or is it rather an all- made comments about New Yorkers and for- tainly cannot hide behind it when it comes encompassing umbrella to protect any and eigners stating, "How did they get into this to what people think of him. all "misguided speeches?" country anyway?" The reason that the MLBA suspended Assistant Sports Editor If the First Amendment really does pro- While these statements are governed by Chris Anastasia '02 him? So that they were not hated also for tect everything anyone may say, then what the First Amendment, it certainly does not letting it slip by with only a slap on the hand. protects the people that the things are being mean that it is right, fair, or even ethical. I Not a great reason, but a reason all the same. Photographers Trang Dam '00 Erin Owen 'OJ Writing Center's focus is questioned by Phoenix Staff Writers WMC students know they can use the The Phoenix discusses possible Kristen G. Fraser '00 Writing center as a supplementary source changes to the WMC Writing -rratton of the Writing Competence Test. This statistic shows that current WMC stu- Dan Gadd '00 for guidance about papers completed in Greg Lederer 0 I their classes at WMC. Center dents, especially first-year students, most- David Lee '03 definitely need the extra help they can r~- in, or setting up an By simply walking Cathy Pendorf '02 appointment with a tutor, help is easily the Phoenix, that due to the desires of some, ceive at the Writing Center Sarah Radice '01 the Writing Center may be shifting its focus We understand professors teach mul- Michael Stokes '00 available; something that is unique from to accommodate new technology including tiple sections of the English composition labs on campus. all the other computer web-site design and learning computer soft- Nykole Tyson '03 However, with recent developments class and assisting all students with their Lisa Dale Van Auken '02 within the Writing Center, it appears that writing skills is difficult. This is why the Michael Wiles '03 While it is always good for students 10 Writing Center is a perfect complement to its future as a place for students to get in- be able to use the most updated technology, any teacher aid. dividual attention and help with their writ- we at the Phoenix believe this might not be Distribution ing is uncertain. Improving the Writing Center is a ben- Rich Suchoski '00 in the best interest of all students. eficial goal. However, it should not come In our front page story about the dis- This is evident by the 33 percent failure at the expense of students who desperately missal of Mark Honeycutt, it appears to rate of WMC students on the last adminis- need the help it offers. Student Adviser You tired of the monotonous winter yet? Megan K. Martin '01 Graduate Assistant Whose bitter about the cold? Lisa Dale- Van Auken longs for Vince Chesney room .... apparently, it had something to do Forgive me if I was nostalgic when I re- the transformation of winter to with an ice sculpture ... member Christmas. It just that all those Adviser spring. Yet there is a final afffictlon that we must Terry Dalton candles, and foods, and wines, and lights, and all face: Jan. Term. While Ican hardly suffer conversations, and songs worm their way world a stale shade of brown-gray. the drudgery of the January season at home, The Phoenixis published biweekly. The under my skin and don'tleave until the trees The sun barely looks down on the drab opinions expressed do not necessarily rep- start turning green again, landscape, unless it's to bounce bright, stab- with the ammunition of friends and trans- I cannot to help fend off boredom, portation resent those of The Phoenix staff, the fac- Iam left toying with remnants of Christ- bing light off mountains of dirty snow, mak- even begin to fathom the restlessness of the ulty, or the administrators ofWMC. mas long after the happy holiday atmosphere ing driving a painful experience. And the season if I were stifled in a dorm room. The paper welcomes free-lance submis- has faded from the department stores and sionson Macintosh disks in most word pro- waters of our great land stop in their tracks So I'd like to send a message out to the been replaced by pastel pink and purple plas- to protest the sorry season, like a child hold- students who weathered Jan. Term. To those cessortorrnats. Theeditorreserves the right tic grasses. ing her breath hoping her parents will give of you who didn't make it: You arc justly a to edit for clarity, length, and libel and to Yes, even after the last burnt-out Christ- in to her requests before her face turns too martyr, and will not be forgotten. At least publish as space permits. All submissions mas lights have fallen from the last ice-en- icy blue. not until the leaves come back. (exc1udingself-addresseddiskenes)become crusted railings of the last house on my street, And as if that isn't bad enough, there is To those of you Who got through it: Con- the property of The Phoenix and cannot be Christmas stays with me. the dullness of activity. Did you even put a gratulations. returned. 'But thank God it does. Because a few moth in the refrigerator? No? Maybe a Although it must have been a long strange Please include a name and phone num- weeks after the Christmas sales have made glowstick then? berforverification. Names will be withheld way for New Year's extravaganzas, it seems Well anyway, when January comes, it's trip, you got through it somehow. Is it a co- incidence only by the discretion of the Editor-in-Chief we are punished for our orgies of overspend- like the world turns into a giant refrigerator, in the winter? that the local liquor stores thrive Am;1just think. Even though ing and gluttony with two months of barren, and it makes us all sleepy and slow, much we're only half way through the season, The PhnenixckJes not discriminate based frozen isolation. January and February are get slower People on age, race, religion, gender, sexual orien- the revenge of a jealous God. like our winged friend. Or maybe it's just be- there's Look still room for optimism. eyes hard ahead. Squint your when it gets colder. tation, national origin, condition of handi- For most of us, January is sandwiched cause there's nothing to do. enough peering into the future and you might cap, or marital status. between two intense semesters of schooling, Shops close early, days get shorter, and break a sweat and think yourself into being and no matter how many times we go through the swings of neighborhood parks sway only warm. Mail to: it, the shift from the holiday-induced chaos when gusts of winds blow in from the north. 7heP!wenix of December to the tundra-Jike wasteland of Cabin fever is the only thing that runs ram- Or just continue to dwell in the cozier WMC, 2 College Hill memories our forgiving friend December, January is enough to leave even the most pant. It makes people desperate for activity. and stoke your memory fire with Yule logs Westminster,MD21157 misty-eyed winter snow bunnies shivering For instance, I'm not exactly sure whose (410)751-8600 with anxiousness. and bourbon. FAX; (410) 857-2729 First, we face the dullness of the weather. bright idea it was to buy my grandfather a As for me .... I'Il try to get through it by I'm hoping writing commentaries. E-Mail: phoenix@wm:Ic.edu Leaves have io~ggone and turned the entire table saw for Christmas, but.J wasn't sur- typing will keep my fingers warm. all this prised when I heard he was in th~.:mergency