Over the Edge Jan 24, 1996 page 7 Lin

In an emotional stupor
the other day, I realized
that a large majority of
my columns have been
quite negative. I
pondered this for a bit
and came to the
realization that Iam
likely in some ways a
negative person. You
know the beer is half
empty instead of half full
kinda thing. Reading
some of the letters to the
editor, I get the
impression some of you
may feel the same way.
But don’t forget Iam a
person just like you. If
you cut me I bleed...but I
am likely to cut you back.
I can be charming...if I
want to be. I can love...if
you let me. AndI can |
fight...if you push me.

I am friendly and
personable (ask anybody)
but I am not docile and I
like to confront things. It
gets my rocks off to find
injustice and expose it to
the bone. And when I do
this I do it well. But this
week I am going to try
something a little
different.

I have never trusted or

Poison Pen

accepted people in positions
of authority. This is for
several reasons but I guess
the main two are: 1 Froma
very young age (12) I
decided that the only
person that knew what was
best for me, was me, and
anyone who stood in my
way was an obvious enemy.
2 From a very young age
(8) persons in authority
(teachers, principals, police,
etc...) have lied to me,
cheated me, harassed me,
and generally done their
best to make me fit some
sort of an ideal they
had in mind for me. I was
expelled from every school
I attended for the most part
because I didn’t play the
games certain people
wanted me to play. I’ve
watched police smack 15
year old kids around for
what seemed like sheer
enjoyment. And every time
I had to deal with one of
these so-called authority
figures, they out and out
lied. Sometimes it left me
feeling as if I had been
raped. Often times it just
left me helpless.

All of this led me to
believe that the police and

others in authority were
evil people that should
be avoided (if not
covertly attacked).
Recently however,
events have proven me
wrong (will wonders
never cease). On two
separate occasions,
someone in authority
not only treated me with
the respect that I
deserve but also gave
me a break.

In October, I was
caught receiving
something I shouldn’t
(or at least, something
the university thought I
shouldn’t). Totally
busted, with no way out
but straight down the
toilet. For this slight
transgression, I was
summoned to Tracy
Thompson’s (head of
security) office to be
disciplined. I went in
with an antagonistic
attitude and was slightly
rude. To my surprise,
Tracy was very straight
with me about the
possible consequences of
my actions. She never
lied and she treated me
in a fair and respectful

manner. In fact, I would
go so far as to say she was
quite friendly. Well,
needless to say, with a
life’s experience of having
people in these positions
try to bury me, I was
floored to be treated like

something other than a

long-haired punk. With
this kind of leadership, it
is no wonder that the
security staff at UNBC is
so efficient and respected.
. The second occasion I
was surprised at someone
in authority actually
being nice was a few
weeks ago. A police
officer pulled me over
almost immediately after
I left the pub. He asked
how many beers I had
drank, to which I replied,
“oh, just one.” (Ya right,
just one.) Well, I wasn’t
totally drunk or anything,
but had he used a
breathalyzer I very well
could have been over the
limit. Instead of acting
like some jack booted
thug, the officer was
polite and respectful. He
then said, “Why don’t
you just park the car and
I will call you a cab.”

Ian Lorenz

Shocked again! Not only
was he not harassing me
or lecturing me, but he
was actually going out of
his way not to screw up
my life even though at
that point it would have
been quite easy for him to
do. I told him I thought
parking the car was a
fabulous idea and “thank
you so much”. After
which he let me pet his
police dog.

I have to say BRAVO to
both Tracy Thompson
and the nameless police
officer who showed me
that not all people in
authority behave like
little dictators or spineless
betrayers. Every now
and then it is good to be
proven wrong. It is
people like these that are
most effective when
dealing with real
criminals and out-of-
control situations because
they have earned the
respect of those around
them. People in authority
who don’t give respect
and compassion get none
in return, making their
job infinitely harder...just
ask my high school
principal.

THEATRE NORTH WEST PROUDLY PRESENTS...
| OLEANNA

David Mamet's controversial play about a college professor accused by one of his students of sexual harrassment. Is he perpetrator

or victim? Directed by Theatre North West's Artistic Director Ted Price and starring Canadian Actors' Equity members

Michelle Porter and Don Thompson, this performance is to be one of the best in Prince George. Performances are scheduled
to run from Monday through Saturday January 24 - February 3 at 8 PM in Theatre North West's Parkhill Center Theatre. Tickets for
Oleanna are available at Mosquito Books or Studio 2880. To order by phone call 563-2880. Student and Seniors $14.50

weeknights/$16.50 weekends; Adults $16.50 weeknights/$18.50 weekends.