The J-TAC (Stephenville, Tex.), Vol. 173, No. 3, Ed. 1 Thursday, February 8, 2007 Page: 3 of 12
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Opinion
February 8, 2007
THE J-TAC
Page 3
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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Time for healing
I am a new faculty mem-
ber here at Tarleton State
University and since the first
day I set foot on campus, I've
been impressed with the po-
tential of this university. The
potential for growth, enlight-
enment and positive change
is virtually unlimited. When
I say that this institution
stands on, the very cusp of
greatness, I don't believe that
is an exaggeration.
This past week we have
witnessed that this place we
call Tarleton is not a "perfect"
environment. We are a com-
munity of imperfect people,
and imperfect people have
a tendency to do imperfect
things. The actions that were
committed in order to mock
a particular ethnic group,
African Americans, brought
shame and embarrassment
to the entire Tarleton family.
My question is simple. What
have we learned from this
experience?
It is my sincere hope
and prayer that we can find ,
out a lot about ourselves
with regards to this unfortu-
nate mishap. Dr. King once
said, "the ultimate measure
of a man [or woman] is not
where he [or she] stands in
moments of comfort and
convenience, but where we
stand in times of challenge
and controversy." Where do
you stand today?
We are a family here at
Tarleton. We may not all
look, act of believe the same
way, but for the most part,
we have a common bond
that unites us. There re-
ally should be an unwritten
"code of honor" that binds us
closer together. No culture
represented here at Tarleton
should ever be denigrated or
subjected to ridicule. In light
of our current dilemma, the
question then becomes, so
what should we do?
I am an African American
male, who, like many others,
is enjoying opportunities
that were not available 30 or
40 years ago. But how then
should we proceed? It should
be clear that no one can com-
plain if they have not become
actively involved in making
positive changes. We should
learn from the past, so as
not to continue to make the
same mistakes in the future.
And we should become op-
timistic because the alterna-
tive perpetuates much more
of the same. Only by taking
the high road, building real
relationships and breaking
through old stereotypes, can
we turn things around. To-
gether, just like family.
Our plight is a glass half
full. The hoped for "dream"
that Dr. King believed in is
not complete, but those who
are willing to continue to
work for positive change will
find it well worth the effort.
In the end, whether some
like it or not, we are a family.
We may not be where we'd
like to be, but we are making
progress, sometimes even
when we can't see it.
Calvin H. Lawrence
Assistant Professor of
Educational Leadership and
Policy Studies
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Americans share common legacy
I have a dream that the day will come when the Bruthers
and the Bubbas can gather together in comraderie to re-
member my'day. I have a dream that there will no longer
be a black or a white America, but that we will be joined
together in brotherhood.
The day will come when we can share a common legend
of our early days of a struggle from humbleness and proud
poverty to rise together in one nation under God where love
for one another can overcome the color of the pigments of
our skins. And, former cowboys and cowgirls will unite
with former laborers from the fields of America to sing a
song of our common heritages. My hope is that sharing our
heritage, rather whether it was in a sod hut or a slave's crude
quarters, can be remembered without rancor on the part of
either. Let freedom and joy ring out across the mountains
and prairies because WE ARE ONE AMERICA UNITED
TOGETHER IN BROTHERHOOD! My hope is that at the
next MLK party, both blacks and whites can celebrate the
day together.
Luther Butler, M.A.
Mandi Roberts/The J-TAC
Jeremy Pelz (right) embraces Donald Ray Elder at the
university forum last month.
Corrections & Clarifications
There was a few errors in the Feb. 1 issue of The J-TAC.
i
• On page 1, in the lead article titled "President Mc-
Cabe addresses fees at student hearing," the cost in-
crease of tuition and other fees was 35 percent, not
the reported 40 percent. Furthermore, the statament
regarding the student service fee increase is unclear.
The fee-increase of $1 or $14.90 per semester hour, is
applicable to only 12 hours (or $178,80 total).
• On page 8, a student was mistakenly identified as
Lerrie Bryant. She is Kerrie Bryant.
AKHIL
KADI DAL
LETTER FROM THE EDITOR
Looking at the paper this week, you
will notice some articles still highlight
the "MLK" racism scandal here at Tar-
leton. For every 10 of you familiar with
the scandal, I'd bet there are at least five
who are sick of all the media coverage,
I'd even bet that there are already
some readers questioning why The /-
TAC continues to run stories on this
====== controversy. In one, all-encompass-
ing answer to this — the story is still
relevant. If it wasn't the media super-blitz of the past few
weeks, it was the coverage of the university-wide forum or
the recent Unity Rally that has kept the story in the public
spotlight long after the initial story broke.
So why is Tarleton receiving all of this media coverage?
Ifs no secret that similarly-themed "MLK" parties have been
held at other universities across this nation — University of
Texas and Clemson University, just to name a few. So why
does it seem that everyone is making a big deal about Tar-
leton when this has happened elsewhere? It might be that
the national media is adamant on portraying Tarleton as a
backwoods Texas school that is somehow representative of
racism in rural Texas. Of course, that is wrong. During the
Unity Rally for example, reporter Jim Douglas from WFAA
in Dallas spoke of Tarleton being "a little wiser [by the expe-
rience] and ready to teach the rest of [the world] a lesson or
two,., [about tolerance]." Maybe that's what it took, an ut-
terly tasteless party to bring about change. Maybe in the pro-
cess of all this media coverage we are emerging the poster
boys (or poster people?) of racial tolerance and understand-
ing.
But before we start patting ourselves on the back, con-
sider this.
The J-TAC recently received a letter detailing the story of
a Tarleton State University alumnus who walked into a Fort
Worth post office. She attempted to label several of her pack-
ages with a Tarleton State University address label. When
the postal worker (who was African-American) saw the la-
bels, he froze and gave her a stern look.
It was only after the alumnus explained that she was "not
proud of all the shenanigans [at Tarleton]," was the postal
worker satisfied, and ended up thanking her.
"It just goes to show that, yes, people will remember,"
the alumnus explained to a friend. "Maybe I shouldn't use
those address labels for a while, even if they're free."
Wishful thinking may cause us to hope that the media
coverage over our university dies down, but realistically,
we may have to live with the consequences of an errant few
Whenever we venture out into the real world, whether it's
a shopping mall, wearing a Tarleton sweatshirt or a job in-
terview with Tarleton State University listed on the resume,
we should be prepared for those who've only heard of our
school because of this event and now have a negative image
of the school, .
The reputation of Tarleton will now be tested through
every one of us, I'm sure the administration gets letters call-
ing for them to take action to prevent racism and hatred, but
it's up to each one of us — Tarleton students — to show that
we are not some gang of racist, intolerant hoods. We have to
show the country the real Tarleton values we're all proud of.
"Bleed purple?" Maybe. But, maybe thafs not enough any-
more. Maybe bleeding red like the rest of humanity will be
more important when we venture out into the outside world
that rests beyond our campus.
, It'll be a heavy burden for us to carry in the next few
months or maybe even years. But, hey we have a responsibil-
ity to be poster boys now, aren't we?
The J-tac
Managing Editor
Akhil kadidai
Feature Editor
Erik Walsh "'*'
Sports Editor
Mike Cedeno
J-TAC Staff
Amber'Barron
Kenneth Brisendine
Ashley Cagle
Harrison Fleming
Bethany James
D'Leesa Keys
Francisco Reyes
Mandi Roberts
Ellen Straehan
Katy Thompson
Copy Editor
"Heather Parker
Advertising Manager
Rachel Riewe
Advertising Assistant
Christina Coleman*
Student Publications
Director
Jim'Looby
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J-TAC. Written permission
must be granted for repro-
duction of any portion of The
J-TAC.
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The J-TAC Is published on
Thursdays during the fall and
spring semesters with the
exception of University holidays
and examination periods.
Office: Barry B, Thompson
Student Center, Room 20
Telephone: (254) 968-9056
Fax: (254) 968-9709
E-mail: jtac@tarleton.edu
Mailing Address:
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Office of Student Publications
Box T-0440
Stephenviiie, TX 76402
Editorial Policy
The deadline for submission of
opinion/editorial works is noon of
the Monday before publication.
Letters to the editor should be
typed and signed. Letters can
either be hand-delivered, mailed,
or sent via email to:
jtac__ opinion @ tarleton. edu*
Please include a phone num-
ber, student ID number, classifi-
cation and major. Anonymously
signed letters or letters signed
under a pseudonym or "pen
name" will not be published.
Letters should be limited to
250 words. The J-TAC reserves
the right to edit letters for con-
tent, length and grammar. The
J-TAC also reserves the right to
refuse to print any letter deemed
to be in "bad taste".
Opinions expressed in The
J-TAC are not necessarily those
of Tarleton State University or
The Texas A&M System.
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The J-TAC (Stephenville, Tex.), Vol. 173, No. 3, Ed. 1 Thursday, February 8, 2007, newspaper, February 8, 2007; (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth142147/m1/3/: accessed April 27, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Tarleton State University.