Coffee shop quandary

Poll reveals students support placing a new coffee shop in vacant space

In the April 9 issue of The Appalachian we asked our readers to voice their opinions regarding the upcoming departure of Tradewinds Coffee House.

Based on the e-mail responses we received last week, it is clear students want the space currently filled by Tradewinds to reopen as a coffee shop in August.

Students, however, are not the ones charged with making this decision. A committee met earlier this week to begin discussing possible uses for the afore referenced space, the first step in the decision-making process.

As part of a story entitled, Tradewinds four year stint in student union to end May 31, Dave Robertson, director of student programs, said university officials would definitely try and keep a coffee house in the space.

After the strong feedback we received from readers calling for a coffee shop, we feel this should be the top priority for the committee as they begin discussions.

The lead story in the same issue also mentioned the possibility of Appalachian Food Services being sold the right to occupy the space, a move we strongly oppose. Based on the lukewarm response students gave to the repackaged Blue Ridge Cafe this year, we fail to see a Food Services facility as a viable replacement for Tradewinds.

While an overwhelming majority of those who responded to our inquiry supported the continued brewing of coffee in the space next fall, a handful offered a different plan to university officials.

As reported in the March 6 edition, the university powers-that-be plan to build a student union movie theater in the space currently occupied by outdoor programs, sending that department to a temporary home until its scheduled move into the new recreation center in 2004.

Some readers suggested converting the Tradewinds space into the theater, allowing Outdoor Programs to remain a student union tenant until the yet-to-be built recreation center is completed. We feel this too would be a viable option for university officials.

Appalachian State students responsibly voiced their opinions when called into action. Now it is time to challenge university officials to take the collective voice of the student body into consideration.

"Drinking licenses" promote responsibility

James Nix

Alcohol has been demonized by our great country and because of this, the United States has set limitations on the consumption of alcoholic beverages. These limitations have ranged from complete prohibition (back in the 1920s) to the recent prohibition of minors. The current laws do not allow anyone under the age of 21 to enjoy alcoholic beverages.

Why 21? What makes a 21 year-old that much more responsible than an 18 year-old or even a 16 year-old?

According to the United States, an 18 year-old can vote for their leaders, die for this country in war, and legally destroy their respiratory systems with tobacco but not responsibly enjoy an alcoholic beverage. A 16 year-old can drive an automobile and drop out of school, but not responsibly consume beer or wine.

This seems a little mixed up to me.

In Europe, children are brought up drinking wine at the dinner table. The European Union is even currently making Sweden reduce its alcohol laws.

What makes the European young adults so much different than American young adults?

Europeans are more educated on the matter of alcohol, that's the difference. My former roommate is from Yugoslavia. It is part of his culture to drink wine. He would face serious penalties here in America, the land of the free, for doing something he was brought up to do responsibly.

Education is the key in my opinion.

Granted, there are plenty of people (over and under the age of 21) that cannot handle the responsibility of drinking alcoholic beverages. There are also plenty of people who cannot handle the responsibility of driving a car.

I think the current way that the government handles the issue of alcohol is doing more harm that good.

The current system is simply not fair to those under the age of 21 who can responsibly drink alcoholic beverages. Police officers waste too much valuable time issuing citations and arresting under age drinkers who are obviously not a threat to society.

Because of this, I think the government of the United States should start a system to license people to drink, much like the current drivers license system.

This would allow more people to be better educated about the use of alcohol and its effects.

A young adult could get a "learner's permit" at the discretion of that individual's parents. This would allow the young adult to consume alcoholic beverages under the supervision of their parents.

In order to get this first license, the young adult must pass a test on the responsible use of alcohol.

The next step would be a full license, which the individual must have on them in order to purchase alcohol at either a store, bar or a restaurant.

Because this license is a privilege, it can be lost, just like a driver's license. Police officers would issue citations due to irresponsible use of alcohol, the same way they now do to speeders and reckless drivers.

The drinking license would greatly cut down on irresponsible people doing irresponsible things under the influence of alcohol.

My idea could or could not fix a lot of alcohol related problems in this country, but I feel it would be a lot better than the current system and that it's worth a try.

Revaluation of university toleration

Kara Hodge

MTV has started a campaign enforcing tolerance for all members of society called "Fight for your Rights." The station has made numerous commercials, and produced movies based of true accounts on gay men, minorities and religious groups.

While this campaign is noteworthy and a smart move for the music television station, I find it sad that it takes a two-year campaign to enforce awareness and tolerance.

The reason I am writing about this has to do with something that bothers me greatly on this campus -- respect for others.

The week before Easter Break, there was a large wooden cross that was planted in the middle of Sanford Mall. Christian organizations on campus received permission to have it stand there and those who were members of those organizations carried rocks to symbolize their sin.

On Good Friday, the rocks were to be set at the foot of the cross in order to symbolize the sin that Christ carried for the world.

I know this campus is highly liberal in its beliefs. I also know that although we live in the South, Christianity is slowly (and sadly) being fazed out of everyday life.

But what I cannot understand are the things that I saw that were done to that cross last week.

It was vandalized with angry notes, it was climbed on by students playing frisbee, it was spit on by a few angry lookers and it was yelled at by a few local atheists. Rumor has it that a gay and lesbian organization on campus would leave pink rocks at the cross in protest.

One of the main reasons I came to Appalachian is because it seemed to be an unprejudiced and respectful environment to live in. Maybe I was wrong.

We call ourselves a tolerant and peaceful university. Give me a break. The minute the name Jesus is mentioned in a history, sociology or even a religion class, he is bashed by professors and students alike.

How has it become a norm that Christianity is seen as something bad? It is a religion that invites everyone to join (read Romans 10:8-11) and it has shaped our very government and moral codes.

We sit back in our classrooms, local coffee shops, dorm rooms and apartments and act like we are so open-minded and bash the average W.A.S.P. (white anglo-saxon protestant) or whoever we are offended or challenged by.

I'm not saying that every Christian is tolerant of others. I know quite a few Christians that are obnoxiously closed-minded.

My point is the division between groups on this campus makes me sick. Yes, we have different organizations because this university is filled with different students when it comes to race, ethnicity, economic status, religion and interests.

The respect for each other is what I am addressing. The cross on Sanford Mall last week made me realize it. There is not enough respect for each other on this campus. There is not enough tolerance.

When is the last time that you didn't join in on the conversation that bashed the hippies, calling them "dirty" and labeling them with unnecessary stereotypes?

When was the last time you didn't laugh under your breath or roll your eyes at the kid in class who talked about his religious beliefs or his culture?

When is the last time you didn't label a sorority girl or frat boy with a name like "slut" or "alcoholic"? Did you ever consider that they may not fit that label at all?

When was the last time you didn't snicker at the gay man or look in disgust at the lesbian?

When was the last time you didn't laugh at the joke that was racist, prejudiced or sexist?

When was the last time you were respectful of those who are different from you?