The Rice Thresher (Houston, Tex.), Vol. 79, No. 19, Ed. 1 Friday, February 7, 1992 Page: 2 of 24
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2 FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 7. 1992 THE RICE THRESHER
OPINION
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Ad denies genocide of Holo-
caust; printing promotes cause
We, as editors-in-chief, decided not to accept a full-page advertise-
ment from the Committee for Open Debate on the Holocaust ICODOH]
in accordance with the Thresher's ad Policy, The Thresher reserves the
right..to reject objectionable copy. The Thresher will not accept adver-
tisements which discriminate on the basis of race, sex, creed or national
origin...."
The ad asserts that the Holocaust did not occur. Additionally, it states
that a massive Zionist conspiracy has suppressed the real facts concern-
ing the Jewish people in concentration camps during World War II.
Deciding whether or not to print the full-page ad from the Commit-
tee for Open Debate on the Holocaust [CODOH] is more than a
simple designation of advertising space. Many conflicting issues
merit recognition and discussion.
This matter becomes more critical as the number of eyewitnesses
to the Holocaust dwindles. Members of the Thresher staff lost family
in concentration camps. Printing the ad would blunt the horror of
those deaths and insult anyone whose family was affected by the
Holocaust.
We cannot ethically encourage denial of genocide. Questioning
the Holocaust's existence legitimizes the debate and reproduces the
environment of denial that allowed the acts to occur in the first place.
By submitting this ad, CODOH Director Bradley Smith wants to be
recognized as a legitimate scholar as worthy of debate as any other.
This man does not deserve that recognition.
We cannot run this ad any more than one from the Ku Khix Klan
denying slavery's existence. We might as well advertise that Martin
Luther King, Jr. committed suicide. We do not, and will not, wittingly
print deceptive advertising, be it for a pizza parlor, political candidate
or fringe group.
Refusing to print the ad is not a matter of freedom of speech. We
are not tearing down CODOH flyers at the gym or preventing the
posters' distribution. However, simultaneously, there is no require-
ment that we actively promote this issue. We do not deny Smith's
right to discuss or distribute his opinion, but we will not be used as his
means to do so.
We do not limit our advertising strictly because our views do not
concur with those in any ad. While we have differing views on
politicians, we accept campaign ads. We address both pro-life and
pro-choice rallies on campus. If Smith visits Rice, we will cover the
lecture or debate as we would any other issue that directly affects the
Rice community. Until then, the advertisement holds the same
significance as any other ad that trivializes murder.
The ad itself is written in the guise of an actual opinion or news
article. The text is misleading in fact, style and layout. In his ad, Smith
addresses "anyone on campus" and accuses academic administrators
of trying to "rid the campus of ideas which are disruptive to the
university," The inherent implication in these statements is that
Smith is a member of the Thresher staff, not the director of a national
political organization.
There is no excuse for compromising our journalistic standards in
return for $310. If anything, the payment should make us more
cautious.
Ultimately, we are responsible for the newspaper and its contents.
We will not lend the credibility of The Rice Thresher to such decep-
tions.
Ann Zitterkopf and Harlan Howe
Editors-in-Chief
Ann Zitterkopf, Harlan Howe
Editors-in-chief
Chad Carson
Managing Editor
NEWS
Leezie Kim Editor
Eric Carmichad, Kraettli Epperson
Assistant Editors
John McCoy, Sam Cole, Lawrencia
Mason, Jean Kosela, Eric Hahn
ARTS A ENTERTAINMENT
Shala Phillips Editor
Ross Grady Columnist
Dorry Segev, John Schwartz, Jeremy
Hait, Stan Hsue, Kevin Mistry, Terzah
Ewing, Chepe Lockett
PHOTOGRAPHY
Chris Sonnebom Editor
Eric Hahn Assistant Editor
Barbara Solon, James Ya
SPORTS
Peter Howley Editor
Tim Lam Scoreboard
Randy Block, Lynanne Foster, ItfvaRahl,
John Akers, Marilyn Moore, Theo
Mallinson
© COPYRIGHT 1992
David Mansfield
Business Manager
OPINION
Mark Schoenhals Editor
ShaOa Dewan, Henry Mahncke, David
Metzler
BACKPAGE
Heidi Huettner Editor
M. Waaz Cartoonist
FEATURES
Shaila Dewan Editor
PRODUCTION
Josh Denk Production Manager
Thomas Anderson, Laura Atkinson,
Geroge Dauenhauer, Jean Kosela, Jer-
emy Hart, John McCoy, Steve Rodrigues,
JoannaTse, Rostamanc Hirshimou, Bill
Mark
BUSINESS
Shane Speciale Ads Manager
Chris Cowles Asst. Bus. Manager
George Nickas Ads Production
Keith LaFoe, Adrian C. Liserio, John
Schwartz, Circulation
Phone: 527-4801
Tha Rica Ihrsshar, tha official Mudantnawspap^ at Rica UntosrsltyslncalMA, Is pubKahadsach Friday during
tha achool yasr. axcapt during lamination parlodi and holidays, by tha studanta o Rica Untvorsity. EdtorW and
buatoaaa offtcaa an locatad on tha aacend floor of tha Lay Studant Cantar, P.O. Bos 1893, Houston, Taxas,
77351. AtMrtlalnt Information awl labia on isqjaat Mat aubacrlpUon rata par aamastar *15.00 domastle,
$30.00 tntamatkmal via first dM mal. Norvaubacrtption rata: first copy traa,aacond copy *1.00. lattars to tha
ad*or must bo rscatoad by S pjn. on tha Monday prior to publication. Unsignod adltorials raprasant tha ma|orty
opMon of tm Ihraahar E(Mortal Staff. Al othor ptocaa raprasant tha opinion of Via author. Obviously.
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Don't overlook advantages of new calendar
To the editors,
I want to offer some additional
considerations with respect to pos-
sible changes in the calendar. I do
not doubt (well, not entirely) that
some students wish to work as many
days as possible during the summer,
though I suspect that a survey would
reveal that most do not enter the
work force quite as early and eagerly
as last week's editorial implied. But
that argument granted, other factors
are being overlooked. Let me list
some of them.
Rice's current
calendar is a real
burden for faculty
during Christmas
season. They
spend time
grading papers
instead of
enjoying their
families.
1. The factors discussed in the edito-
rial and news story concerned only
the effects on students. That is un-
derstandable, since the Thresher is a
student publication, but students are
only one part of the Rice community.
The opinions and needs of faculty
and staff, a large (and more perma-
nent) segmentofthecommunityalso
deserve consideration.
2. Starting school in mid- to late Au-
gust works a hardship on many fac-
ulty and staff Because HISD is not
yet in session, those with school-age
children must arrange for chikicare,
often at substantial expense. A mid-
August starting date also restricts
the time available for scheduling va-
cations with children and grandchil-
dren, for whom the end of August is
often a good time, since most
scheduled summer activities (camps,
summer school, etc.) are over by
then.
3. December is, for professors with
any substantial number of students,
simply a dreadful month. This past
semester, grades were due on De-
cember 26. On Christmas Eve, at
least half the members of our depart-
ment spent much of the day grading
papers in their offices instead of en-
joying their families. I would be sur-
prised if the others were not working
at home for at least part of the day.
On the day after grades go in, usually
after a frenetic race to the deadline,
work must begin to have syllabi and
other materials ready when students
return—after a respite professors do
not get to share. I talked to numerous
other professors who agreed that
Rice's schedule is a real burden at
this time of the year, taking much of
the joy out oftheholiday season, lam
not exaggerating.
4. Air-travel costs, particularly for
international students and others fly-
ing considerable distances, could
often be reduced substantially by
delaying the start of the spring se-
mester a week or so, until holiday
fares go down.
5. August typically features the hot-
test weather of the year. A substantial
savings could be effected simply by
keeping the colleges closed for an
additional week. In addition, why
subject everyone to the beastly heat
when running a bit longer into May
would be more comfortable, even with
semesters of the present length? Es-
pecially when nearly all other schools
wait until September to begin.
6. Having a schedule that matches
most other American universities
would make it easier for professors
to attend scholarly meetings. I virtu-
ally never get to attend the annual
meeting of the American Sociologi-
cal Association, because it usually
falls during the first week of classes,
a bad time to be absent from a large
introductory course. Other profes-
sional societies hold meetings after
Christmas, producing a similar
crunch for professors in other disci-
plines. A revised schedule would also
make it easier for students to coordi-
nate vacations with friends and fam-
ily members from other schools.
7. In talking with a few students, I
have the impression that standard
summer jobs are not really available
by the first week in May, that stu-
August typically
features the
hottest weather
of the year.
Closing the
colleges for an
additional week
would save
money. May is
more comfortable.
dents typically spend several weeks
waiting for the positions to open up.
Even if that is not the case, a shorter
semester would permit a more hu-
mane winter vacation period and still
allow a net gain of at least one week.
In the front-page news story about
possible changes to the calendar, it
was noted that this is an issue that
comes up every few years. These, I
believe, are some of the reasons. This
is an idea whose time has been here
for agood while. Iurgeyouto support
it now.
William Martin
Professor of Sociology
Heterosexual women
increasingly suffer AIDS
To the editors,
The Montrose Clinic estimates
that 60 percent to 80 percent of
Houston's gay men are infected with
HIV, the precursor to AIDS. The
statistic is startling, but not too far
from our stereotypes. Now try this...
in 1990 women accounted for 11.5
percent of all AIDS cases in the U.S.,
up from 3.5 percent in 1981. Since
1988 women have been the fastest
growing AIDS population in the U.S.
Specifically, heterosexual women's
infection rate is now increasing by 34
percent each year. These numbers
may shock you. Despite lack of
awareness, U.S. women are at risk
and at risk in unique ways. Inform
Buy your
valentine a
condom.
yourself, and buy your valentine a
condom.
Julie Graves
Dorie Allen
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Zitterkopf, Ann & Howe, Harlan. The Rice Thresher (Houston, Tex.), Vol. 79, No. 19, Ed. 1 Friday, February 7, 1992, newspaper, February 7, 1992; Houston, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth245804/m1/2/: accessed May 1, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Rice University Woodson Research Center.