Over The Edge Page 4 OPINION | _April 7, 1998
Lying Laughing Crying in the Aftermath of the
April Fools Schism

By Paul Berard

To those who actually
picked up on the fact that
last week’s issue was,
indeed, the annual Over
The Edge traditional April
Fool’s issue, congratula-
tions. To those who did
not, you frighten me a lit-
tle. After all, one of the
most fundamental tools
of the student is to call
information into question
and make sure for your-
self that what you are
basing your thoughts,
views and opinions on
does exist.

However, with that said,
it comes to mind that the
end of the academic year
is here, just like an April
Fool’s joke where every-
thing turns horribly ugly.
Exams are not pretty
things to undertake.
Every year a select few
go absolutely nuts from
the increased stress of
approaching deadlines
and social expectations
that never seem to get
met.

In past week, with
papers being finished by
students all over campus,

some people have come
to the realization that
there is a definite prob-
lem with a lack of com-
puter terminals on the

UNBC campus. Several.

students complained that
it was “ridiculous” that the
university had blocked
out the large computer
lab for a high school
class during this time
period. They stressed
their complaint that the
university had failed to
meet their needs and
expectations during this
crucial time.

This semester has also
seen the birth and deci-
sive movement of the
Business ‘students who,
in their call for more
tenure-track professors,
have managed to divide
the entire university into
two colleges: the College
of Business and the
College of Everything
Else. Al students are
concerned about what
lies ahead for their edu-
cation and given the bud-
get that was passed this
year, they have good rea-

Catering

son to be.

The UNBC budget has
reached the point where
the amount of money
matches the amount of
the expenditures. This
means that the only new
financial growth we°can
expect fo see here lies in
the form of new students
to the campus. Of
course, that’s provided
that the number of incom-
ing students is greater
than the number of stu-
dents leaving, either
through graduation or
through dropping out of
school.

There are legitimate
concerns about what
building is going to be
built next at a time when
the private sector in
British Columbia is show-
ing minimal growth.
Campus monopolies,
such as the Innovative
Lines and
Pepsi/Grey Beverage
deals, are increasingly
under attack by students
who are fed up (pun
intended) with poor ser-
vice and the difficulty of

getting change on cam-
pus.

But along with all this
comes a new sense of
organization on campus.
Clubs have organized
more events in the past
eight months than they
did before. The opportu-
nity for students to make
the campus what they
want to see is still hap-
pening.

The summer will
undoubtably bring down
a few more
administrative decisions,
things that won’t make
sense on the outside,
things that might not
even make sense from
the inside. So, just as
advice from Over The
Edge, have a great sum-
mer, don't fret over the
exams too much and
make sure you sharpen
the pens and ready the
protest signs.

For the next round of
weird and _ wondertul
stuff.

choice’

x, byt I
o Friend
a wites ey

died...

and then LF was driving u the
oh el ge a — 4. ‘de

Dear Editor:

| am writing in regards to
the cover story of the latest
issue of Over The Edge. |
was disturbed by the feature
and found it to be both inap-
propriate and disrespectful. |
am, of course, referring to
the reference to Martin
Luther King Jr., and the use
of his famous “Il have a
Dream” speech, given
August 28th, 1996 at the
Lincoln Memorial.

Firstly, | understand that
this was the April Fool's edi-
tion of Over The Edge, and
that the intent of the parody
was humorous. That said, it
should be realized that
humor is subjective and what
is funny to one, is not neces-

sarily funny to another. -

LETTERS

“We are masters in our nonviolent movement”

Whether the cover feature
was humorous or not is irrel-
evant, | was disturbed and
insulted by it’s content, not
it’s intention.

My contention with the
issue arise from the correla-
tion drawn between Dr. King
(Martin Luther fork Jr.) and
his role in inciting violence.
From this feature it is obvi-
ous the writers at Over The
Edge view Dr. King as a fig-
ure who did nothing more
than “stir up trouble” and
“incite riots.” This is quite
untrue and frankly, disre-
spectful to his memory.

Dr. King was made famous
for his fight against injustice
through nonviolent protest.
He is characterized and
remembered for his peaceful
activism and philosophies,

and for accelerating human
rights as a government and
social priority. On the eve of

his assassination, Dr. King is’

quoted in his last sermon,
April 3, 1968:

“We don’t need any bricks
and bottles, we don’t need
any molotove cocktails, we
just need to say. . . “God sent
us by here, to say to you that
you're not treating His chil-
dren right.”

“We are masters in our non-
violent movement”

| was embarrassed to see
“UNBC’s Official Student
Newspaper’ imply that a win-
ner of the Nobel Peace Prize
incited riots. This publication
has disgraced Dr. King’s
memory on the 30th anniver-
sary of his death, almost to
the day. Dr. King incited

thought and action for the
good of humankind, not riots
and trouble.

It is obvious to all that walk
through the halls here at
UNBC that this school is
made up of predominately
white students. Would this
newspaper feature have
been received with such
apathy at a school that was
predominately ' African
American?

| have enclosed for you a
copy of the “I have a Dream”
speech. Perhaps your writ-
ers might find it insightful.

Ashamed,

_ -Jess Dunford
Undergraduate Student

sis Dr. King, this
‘information was. not previously
‘known at the time of produc-
tion. | would like to apologize
jon tee ot eee for