September 29,, 2004 for certain if men have invented all the machines she was thinking of. Also, women do seem to enjoy the superior strength of men when they want something heavy moved. The next male trait that is attacked is hunting prowess. Yes, it is true that domestication has elim- inated the need to hunt. However, in direct response to Ms. Noosbig’s letter, I do not know how to use a bolt gun, and so, I would still pre- fer to have someoné else kill, clean, and package my meat. I'll go out on a limb and say that most slaughterhouse employees are male. Which would still make men necessary to the meat-gathering process. Finally, Ms. Noosbig mentions the male need to do glorious battle with one another, and earlier in the article she had mentioned 700 megaton penis extensions. I would like to rebuke this with a contro- versial statement of my own, and claim that women are indirectly responsible for the male need for battle and glory, as well as penis extensions of the explosive nature. Men fight one another to prove their prowess as mates, in other words, to get laid. The bigger and more spectacular the fight, the bet- ter chances of getting sex. When J. Robert Oppenheimer was witness- ing his life work, the atom bomb, come to fruition, somewhere in the back of his mind, he was thinking that now he could score with any woman on the planet, because he had the power of atomic weapon- ry. And that is what all of the male gender’s violent and aggressive activities can be traced back to. Women find power sexy. Men find ways to be powerful to get with women. If that means killing babies in order to prove they are more powerful than the next guy, men will do it. If it means making a 700 megaton penis extension, which by the way, is a wonderful term, then men will do it. If all the women of the world united and told their men that there would be no more sex until the world was a Utopia, with peace, prosperity, and adequate resources for all, the world’s problems would be fixed in a week, tops. Please fell free to take offense to this statement, as I am no doubt stepping on toes. I’ve rambled on for a while, so I will finish up with one more coun- terpoint: Should the human race reach a level of genetic mastery ~ whereby women could fertilize their own eggs, such as the spiders in Ms. Noosbig’s article, we would cease to be the human race. Women could not call themselves women anymore, as that term would -become obsolete. And while one day an asexual reality might becomé the norm, for now, women are stuck with men, and men with women. I sug- gest we learn to love each other, and just try to be content with all of our flaws. : From Josh Herzog Letters Continued Dear Editors of the Board It has come to my attention that because of a recent article on the opinion page in the news paper, NUGSS has become upset and demanded are traction as well: as an apology with the big or else “we will pull your funding” mantra. While the NUGSS board has every right to feel how ever it wants it has no right to dictate Over the edge’s content.I feel for you guys but you are on a very dangerous slope. 1 know that there is considerable benefit to keeping on NUGSS’s_ good side;however NUGSS by passing a resolution that violates, contracts they have signed, NUGSS’s own By-Laws, its Constitution, and the Canadian Charter of rights and Freedoms demonstrates that at © least on this issue they have no respect for the freedom of the Press. As the harassment board feels that this is a non issue anda simple disclaimer for the opinion page is advised. You MUST not back down and give in to NUGSS's demands. I say this as not only a former editor, who has fought for the paper before, but as some one who is ardently opposed to muzzling of ‘the press and giving into black- mail.Thank you for listening to my Concerns From Colleen (O’Grady) Mahoney >> Former News Editor Editor, Unfortunately I read the last issue of Over the Edge and found something rather disturbing. I find that it is wonderful that the newspaper allows the students to express their feelings towards events and conditions within the school, but what I find disappoint- ing is that some people express these opinions without actually thinking or supplying a full argu- ment for their opinion. I am speaking of the “Men in the Modern World” submission and while I hope this is a joke, I am sin- cerely afraid it is not. Now if the author of this less than charming article had done her research, she would have refrained from claim- ing that only men cause wars, and only men destroy societies. Obviously someone needs a really simplistic history lesson in order to realize the fault of her bantering. All of what I’m about to say is from my prior knowledge and conversations I have had with others for I have not done enough research to prove more and I apol- ogize for that in advance. So obvi- ously men are the only ones to cause war because we are most often the rulers, but lets consider the 18th century. I'll start my spiel regarding sadistic women with Catherine the Great, This glorious Russian waged wars against the Ottoman Empire and invaded most of the Eastern- European states, attempting genocide or exile of every Ottoman from their homelands. Oh but let’s keep this modern so that we parallel shall we. I’m sure you feel that Margaret Thatcher, a prime minis- ter of Britain, had a penis because she was just as involved in the Cold War politics and arms race, as anyone else. She also less than dis- couraged the murder of many Northern Irish, and didn’t take too well to even the peaceful protests against her, as evident from the Mounted Police opening fire on one by her orders. The only advances that Margaret Thatcher made on British culture were mili- tary technologies oh but she’s just an exception isn’t she? No, next I will discuss Golda Meir, This glori- ous Zionist ruler didn’t seem to care about Arab needs, but violently conquested the Arab nations in order to expand Israel. Funny because I’m almost sure that Golda Meir doesn’t have a penis either. Then theirs Bloody Mary, oh and Queen Isabella who promoted the Spanish Inquisition. Sorry I jumped back to the past, my bad. But because I'll let you do some of the research and think about just how horrible men are in compari- son to women, I'll just give you names of some others. Research Indira Ghandi’s exploits, and Tz’u- Hsi’s as well. I'm sure you'll find that they have absolutely clean records and did nothing that you are claiming that “only men do”. If you do find yourself incapable of performing the necessary research regarding the women I have men- tioned in this article, perhaps think of keeping an uneducated opinion to yourself next time. Forl am sure that when you expect “men should be forced into non-existence” you plan on doing so with giggles, sun- shine and flowers, and not with the big guns or “phalluses” you claim only we use. Regarding your last question I’m not so sure what answer you are assuming men would have to that question. Unless you have been living in a hole your whole life you must real- ize that some men would prefer either sex of alien to abduct them or some would’be more inclined to a male alien and some to a female alien. We aren’t all the same. So I ask this student and all students of UNBC in the future, to actually support their opinions with some- thing intelligent or keep them to yourself. But I do thank you for making yourself look like a jackass for mine, and many of my col- leagues, some of which are women’s amusement. Owned. From Adam Cullum Dear OTE Editorial board As a former Editor (Photography, Ad manager), I am always pleased to hear that you are continuing to publish though provoking and interesting articles. We tried the boring but safe route once, but nobody liked it (us), and nobody read it (not even us, usual- ly): The paper should generate public debate, at times. NUGSS, on the other hand, has no business interfering in the con- tent of the paper, at least not offi- cially. The contract with OTE, and the NUGSS bylaws state this clear- ly. Unfortunately, to apologize or retract an article in the paper, whether expressed as the views of OTE or the author, would be to yield editorial control to the politi- cians -- never a good precedent. Remember to stay cool -- they have short attention spans. From David Mahoney >> former Photo Editor Hi everyone, It has come to my attention that NUGSS is trying to flex their puny little muscles and make Over The Edge do things that they do not necessarily want to do. They real- ly don’t have the power, authority and really any business to freeze your funding until you do what they say. ‘Over The Edge has editorial autonomy and should not give any ground on that front. Student news papers across the country have fought for the right to say whatever they want (within the laws of slander and libel and such) and not have to be a puppet of the student society on campus. By caving on this issue, you will be setting a bad and powerful prece- Still Opinion Page 10 dent for the future. How you handle this situation is up to you (I would suggest hav- ing a meeting with the offended party, without NUGSS, and mak- ing sure that the person who raised the stink in the first place feels that they have a voice, possi-. bly suggesting a well written letter to the editor to voice his/her opin- ion on the matter), but unless you were planning something before NUGSS stepped up and started bullying I would suggest telling them togo blow it out their butts (now would be a good time to bring out the “bad cop, crazy cop” routine. It would help to take along’ copies of both your and their con- sititutions pertaining to the matter at hand. But I have begun to rant and such and trust you to use your judgements on this. All the best, Andrea Miners >> Former Editor in Chief PLEASE NOTE: These letters do not necessari- ly reflect the opinions of Over the Edge or UNBC. In particu- lar, just because a letter is signed by a former staff mem- ber, doesn’t mean the current members necessarily endorse their opinions. Learn your way } British Columbia Open University | Can’t get the courses you need? Earning the post-secondary credentials you need is not always easy—from getting into the classes you want to balancing school work with other commitments. The BC Open University offers over 500 distance university and college courses, many of them open for registration throughout the year. Transfer the BCOU credits you earn to the program of your choice or apply them to a BCOU Credential. www.bcou.ca 1.866.282.BCOU ao /BCOU British Columbia Open University BCOU is becoming part of BC’s newest university in 2005.