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Demosthenian Meeting for the 30th March, 2000
With the Masters starting this week, I should keep you informed how
our own Mr. Rivner is performing. Paired off with Mr. Woods, we
thought he may have done ok. Not the case I’m afraid. After the
first hole he was 9 above par. By the 9th hole Rivner was in the
19th hole trying to drink away his sorrows. Well, while sat at the
bar he saw the letter from his grandmother in the pocket. It asked
him to send a recent picture of him. After last night’s shananigans
Rivner pulled the naked polaroid of himself out, cut it in two and
put one half in the return envelope. Unfortunately, as he was a
little drunk he had got mixed up and put the lower half in the
envelope. This is ok though he thought because his grandmother has
bad sight. Well, Mr. Rivner gets a phone call later in the week
from his grandmother. She said “Asher, dear, I’m glad you’re doing
well, only, you really need to change your hair style because it
makes your nose look small.” Mr. Rivner wasn’t the only one who got
bad news this week. Mr. Slone, our resident financial wizard (Even
if he wasn’t our financial wizard, he is now).. Lost over $5million
this week on the wild rollercoaster ride that was the Tech stocks.
When asked what happened, he said, “Mr. Goodhew reconmended
investing in his rival company, so I did.. Unfortunately, PK’s e-PK
lost $40 on the share on Tuesday, and declared bankcrupcy. I think
it was a late April fool’s joke. I’m not talking to Mr. Goodhew
now.
The meeting was called to order with three first time guests and two
second or third time guests. Two applications for membership were
accepted. The theme of the evening seemed to be sex and nakedness
with Ms. Boggs talking about her belt, I mean skirt, and Ms. Dunham
talking about the social implications of being naked.
Ms. Bennewitz gave her weekly financial committee report and we
moved into new business.
Mr. Slone began by explaining how he takes a pill every morning to
keep his blood pressure down. He went on to say how medical
research could be covered up when Universities work with
corporations on research. He also spoke about the limit to academic
freedom and free exchange of ideas. He presented: Be it resolved,
Colleges and Universities should no longer be allowed to accept
grants from corporations. Respectfully submitted, Jeff Slone.
Ms. Bennewitz has seen the huge files on CEOs in the Presidents
office. Companies pay more money than any one individual.
Mr. Dick said that competition is good in the academic setting. We
wouldn’t have the great buildings and teachers without the
investment from corporations.
Mr. Patton asked if we were in competition to build the best
buildings or get the best education.
Mr. Goodhew explained how Sun Microsystems infiltrated his classroom
saying to the class how Microsoft was an evil empire. UGA allows
corporations to take over the classrooms and this risks the freedom
to teach.
Ms. Frawley said is not right for corporations to withhold pertinent
information on drugs and shouldn’t infringe on the public interest.
Strings are often attached to the donations and they sometimes
violate freedom of thought.
Mr. Wells said that UGA students should take particular interest in
corporate funding as UGA is really a research school, but also state
funded. It should be the state paying, not partisan factions.
Mr. Rivner informed us of Trinity college and their founding on
Kodak, also Duke on big tobacco. They are leading research
Universities now. Companies donate to look good.
Mr. Childs asked where all the funds would come from without
corporations. Why not distribute the money more fairly, not just in
the science areas?
Mr. Kennedy (Guest) said that it costs $1Billion for basic UGA
maintenance and HOPE can’t pay for it all. All is fair when UGA
takes a cut of the pie from the corporations.
Mr. Miller wanted the resolution changed from “corporation” to
“government”, but not likely to happen. He doesn’t want to live in
a culture of fear from powerful corporations.
Ms. Phillips (Guest) said that research means nothing unless someone
uses it. Students are not interested in research, but students
are.
Ms. Arnold’s salary and research comes from corporate grants but bad
things have happened from corporations granting money. People need
to think outside the box, but the companies restrict that.
The resolution was called and failed 10 to 16.
Mr. Pyrdum then grabbed the floor spoke of how America is the
opposite of what the world used to be. The 7 deadly sins are
supposed to prevent movement to heaven, he presented: Be it
resolved, In America, the seven deadly sins (lust, greed, gluttony,
sloth, envy, wrath, and pride) are virtues. Respectfully, Carl S
Pyrdum III
Mr. Dick said that sex and violence are the way that things work.
Revelations is really the rise and fall of people. It’s a cycle and
he supported the resolution, it has to happen.
Ms. Arnold said that normal people lie somewhere between the 7
deadly sins and the 7 cardinals.
Ms. Boggs described how she loved the 7 deadly sins. Not quite
virtues though as she has guilt when she hurts someone’s feelings.
Mr. Goodhew asked us to stop thinking about ourselves. We think
less of people who behave in ways that condone these sins, such as
obesity. These aren’t virtues because we don’t look up to them.
Mr. Ramsay asked when these sins haven’t existed. They are
necessary in our lives because we operate under these sins.
Ms. Dunham said the concept of virtue is overrated. The 7 deadly
sins reflect human nature. If we weren’t naughty once in a while
the world would be boring.
Mr. Callahan said that this is the country where whenever you turn
on the TV you can find the glorification of evil acts. Women, sex,
money, and power are the defining things in life.
Mr. Slone said that the presenter would have us believe that these
things are less evil. He leaves out the truly extreme examples and
what would you believe, Clinton featured in many of them!
Mr. Goggans said that lust doesn’t necessarily pertain to sexual
stuff. He learned about the 7 deadly sins by learning from his
life.
Ms. Spears (Guest) said that the sins were all extremes, they are
virtues though as our country seems to advocate making these things
extremely important.
The question was called and failed 7 to 19.
Ms. Webb then got the floor and said that there was a traitor in the
midst of women. “Ways to touch a naked man” and “How to turn a man
on with a rock” seemed to be popular with Cosmo. Playboy is a more
intellectual magazine whereas Cosmo just tells its readers what to
do and wear. She presented: Wheras Cosmo is the most sexist
magazine ever, be it resolved that women need a magazine as
intellectual and non-sexist as Playboy. Respectfully submitted,
Mary Webb.
Mr. Dick said that Cosmo treats men as fools. Men are just sex
objects apparently. It doesn’t teach women how to talk
intellectually. It is sexist, to men.
Ms. Boggs said that Cosmo is sexist towards women. Cosmo tells
women how to please men, and it’s the woman’s job to be flexible.
Ms. Mikell wondered why women still buy it if it’s sexist, because
everything is bright and colourful. It’s different from a textbook,
like TV, it’s an escape.
Mr. Patton said that Cosmo amuses him. No one really believes the
quizzes. He was scared of the rock-pleasuring article!
Ms. Moultrie said that Playboy is full of feminist messages.
Playboy is awesome for men. Men need to read it as it provides all
the information (and pictures) that they need.
Mr. Callahan subscribes to Playboy and reads the articles. Playboy
can be sexist, but is a goldmine!
Ms. Kravig said that whenever women wear low-cut tops they are
supporting the Cosmo image. LIFE magazine however is a perfect
alternative, even with nudity!
Mr. Rivner said that Playboy is poisonous garbage. Not only does it
control our minds, but it’s also headed by a woman! The pictures
aren’t first class either. Read Maxim instead.
Ms. Wilson, the satirical one, said that Cosmo deeply pertains to
the world and it speaks to women’s issues.
Ms. Arnold likes Cosmo. It’s not sexist, just stupid. Still no
basis to say that Playboy is any better though. We need to offer
women something better.
Mr. Ellington (Grad of 1984) questioned who was sexist, the
magazine, or the reader? Ways that people choose to enjoy magazines
show the sexism in the reader.
The question was called and failed 6 to 13.
We then adjourned subject to Mr. Alsen’s wonderful Critic’s report.
Now for a small joke:
There was a Demosthenian standing along side a busy road chanting
"88, 88, 88, 88..." until a PK brother came up to her and said,
"that looks like fun, can I try?" The Demosthenian said sure so the
PK chanted, "88, 88, 88, 88.." "Well," said the Demosthenian, "that
is fun. But what is even more fun is if you say it in the middle of
the street" So the PKer said "OK" and stood in the middle of the
street. "88, 88, 88, 88‑" BAM! she was run over by a car, completely
flattened. Along the side of the road, the Demosthenian began to
chant, "89, 89, 89, 89...”
Respectfully Submitted this 6th Day of the wonderful month of April,
2000,
Karl
Goodhew |
University of Georgia 