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Page 4A - The Daily Iowan -Iowa City, Iowa - Friday, November 7, 1986<br />
•<br />
Volume 119, No. 91<br />
c 1986 Student Publications, Inc.<br />
Problematic program<br />
Last month, members of the UI women's field hockey<br />
team were tested for drugs. This month NCAA-bound<br />
members of the UI women'S cross country team will<br />
undergo testing in preparation for upcoming competition.<br />
Eventually, the football team and other teams will<br />
also be tested. The testing of these sports teams serves<br />
as one reminder that drug tests are becoming as<br />
American as baseball and apple pie.<br />
Everyone is not in favor of testing, however. Last May,<br />
following the NCAA'a hearty approval of a national<br />
drug-testing program, UI Athletic Board of Controls<br />
reluctantly passed a policy for all UI athletes.<br />
"We were dragged kicking and screaming into this,"<br />
said Dorsey Ellis, UI Vice President for Finance and<br />
controls board member. Ellis, along with other members<br />
of the board, expressed skepticism about the<br />
legality of such testing, citing a possible violation of the<br />
Fourth Amendment concerning unreasonable search<br />
and seizures. Discrimination against athletes and the<br />
practicality of testing was also questioned.<br />
VI officials have not been alone in their hesitation at<br />
implementing tests. Many scientists, lawyers and substance<br />
abuse counselors have raised questions about<br />
the credibility, legality and purpose of testing. Still, the<br />
specimen bottle has quickly become the nation's latest<br />
symbol.<br />
While it is admirable that the NCAA is attempting to<br />
decrease the number of college-level athletes who<br />
abuse drugs, the tests pose several problems.<br />
Firstly, many of the drugs currently banned by the<br />
NCAA are prescribed by doctors. Allerest - a drug<br />
used to treat patients who suffer from hay fever - has<br />
been deemed illegal by the NCAA along with nearly<br />
3,000 other over-the-counter drugs. According to the<br />
national policy, athletes who test positive for one of<br />
these banned prescription drugs have two options -<br />
they may switch treatments or face immediate disqualification<br />
when they reach NCAA competition.<br />
"This is restricting the right of a physician to practice<br />
medicine," said John Albright, director of the UI sports<br />
medicine department. Albright, who is in charge of<br />
testing athletes locally, added, "They are assuming that<br />
physicians are not responsible people."<br />
The NCAA is physically harming athletes by forcing<br />
them to switch to less effective drugs. The NCAA has<br />
also overstepped its boundaries by interfering in a<br />
physician's job to prescribe proper medication for<br />
patients.<br />
Another problem is the legality of such testing, which is<br />
already being questioned by several athletes and<br />
universities across the nation. Officials from Georgetown<br />
University have said they will probably take the<br />
mandatory drug-testing issue to court because it violates<br />
an individual's rights to privacy.<br />
And finally, testing has fast become the nation's simple<br />
answer to the drug war. Education and counseling have<br />
taken a back seat to testing, causing many to wonder<br />
what purpose the program actually serves - are people<br />
being categorized and then helped, or are they just<br />
being harmfully labeled?<br />
For example, the. NCAA's drug program passed earlier<br />
this year, budgets a mere $400,000 for education and<br />
rehabilitation in the next year while $2 million will be<br />
used to finance tests. True, those athletes who have<br />
problems need to be singled out so they can be helped,<br />
but how can a person begin recovery when most money<br />
is being used to point fingers instead of fight problems?<br />
By objecting to the ridiculous list of prescription drugs<br />
currently banned by the NCAA, and including an<br />
education component in the UI's new program, board<br />
members have taken a firm stance against the tests. The<br />
VI should co'ntinue to show the NCAA and the rest of<br />
the nation how the drug war may most effectively be<br />
fought - education and rehabilitation are the solutions,<br />
not specimen bottles.<br />
Suzanne McBride<br />
Editorial Writer<br />
Good deed<br />
On Tuesday, the Iowa City Council received an insurance<br />
refund check amounting to $20,000 dollars. Pennies<br />
from heaven, indeed! Council members readily<br />
agreed the extra money could be put to good use.<br />
Already, there are citizens and groups lined up to<br />
receive it. An approximate amount for funds requested<br />
is well over $100,000.<br />
While groups lobby and the council debates as everything<br />
gets caught up in the bureaucracy of the moment,<br />
it seems there is an obvious use for the council's<br />
windfall.<br />
As the Christmas season draws near, it seems natural<br />
the council should embrace the spirit of Christmas<br />
giving. A food drive should be started for citizens who<br />
are not as fortunate as others. Toys and a variety of<br />
Christmas paraphernalia could be stockpiled.<br />
Then with all the splendor of "White Christmases,"<br />
reindeer on the roof and chestnuts roasting on an open<br />
fire, Iowa City could play the part of Old Saint Nick.<br />
What a thrill that would be!<br />
How about it [owa City? Is it worth it, or is this just a<br />
dream?<br />
Why not use it for the good of all instead of putting it to<br />
use elsewhere - good use true enough, but one that<br />
speaks to individual interest groups. .<br />
It's a cliche, but it is better to give than to receive.<br />
Jeffrey Sedam<br />
Graphics Editor<br />
Letters<br />
Face up<br />
To the Editor:<br />
How noble of VI Athletic<br />
Director Bump Elliott to take<br />
the responsibility for the misinterpretation<br />
of NCAA regulations<br />
regarding the use of<br />
complimentary game passes<br />
by the fiancees and other associates<br />
of Iowa athletes, resulting<br />
in the loss of the athletes'<br />
ticket privileges for the folloWing<br />
year.<br />
This act is simply an attempt<br />
by Elliot to save face after a<br />
colossal blunder on his part.<br />
It's very easy for him to do this<br />
in light of the fact that it will<br />
have no effect on his job situation<br />
or salary. It is unfair to<br />
punish the athletes for the<br />
mistake of an administrator.<br />
If Elliot has any doubts whatsoever<br />
about just who can and<br />
can't use these passes, it is up<br />
to him to talk to the proper<br />
individuals to get the specifiCS<br />
and inform the athletes of the<br />
proper use of these tickets so<br />
as not to violate NCAA rules.<br />
Perhaps every time an incident<br />
such as this occurs, the<br />
responsible administrator<br />
should give up his or her<br />
complimentary game tickets<br />
for the season. Then we'll see<br />
how quick the administration<br />
is to try and use the athletes as<br />
scapegoats in an attempt to<br />
pass off their own errors.<br />
Charles Protzman<br />
Unwelcome addition<br />
To the Editor:<br />
In a story I wrote called<br />
"Study abroad encourages<br />
understanding," (The Daily<br />
Iowan Oct. 27), Africa was<br />
referred to as the Dark Continent,<br />
words not used by me in<br />
the original article. The words<br />
Dark Continent were added<br />
during editing without my<br />
knowledge. While I realize the<br />
editing decision was innocent<br />
and no racial slur was<br />
intended, the fact remains, the<br />
Opinions expressed on the Viewpoints page of The Dally lowln lit<br />
those of the signed author. The DaHy Iowan, as a non-prllfil<br />
corporation, does not express opinions on these matters. '-•••••• __ ~<br />
The Dailv Iowan/Joseph Sharpnac:lt<br />
words Dark Continent seem<br />
negative to many people,<br />
including me.<br />
Consequently, I was surprised<br />
and disappointed when DI<br />
editors refused to print a<br />
statement in the corrections<br />
column, clarifying the fact that<br />
the words were not used by me<br />
in the original article.<br />
In a digressions column called<br />
"Criticism is always welcome<br />
as long as it has a signature,"<br />
(OJ Oct. 30), Managing Editor<br />
Kathy Hinson Breed said the<br />
OJ always welcomes criticism<br />
from readers willing to sign<br />
their critiques, but feels no<br />
need to pay attention to<br />
anonymous notes. I agree. Consequently,<br />
my name appears at<br />
the bottom of this letter.<br />
Unfortunately, it also appeal's<br />
on a DI article containing the<br />
words Dark Continent.<br />
John RobInson<br />
Whodunnit<br />
To the EdItor:<br />
In an editorial criticizing<br />
those who send in unsigned<br />
critiques or annotated corrections<br />
of spelling andlor grammar<br />
(The Daily Iowan Oct. 30),<br />
Managing Editor Kathy Hinson<br />
Breed commits a much more<br />
serious error than one of<br />
spelling or grammar,<br />
In her article "Criticism is<br />
always welcome as long as it<br />
has a signature," she slates "I<br />
suspect this person is a UI<br />
Paradoxes follow elections<br />
By Michael Humes<br />
governorships were impressive,<br />
especially if you're easily Democrats and Republicans from this year's campaign is<br />
advertising, but since the suring thing that emerged<br />
impressed. They may have lost both slung slime at each other that we can be surer than ever<br />
.----.,.--=---, Up until the Senate (probably making with equal verve and gusto, I before that there aren't many<br />
quite recently,<br />
I thought I chairman of the Judiciary the "charges" one candidate Many congressional elections<br />
Sen. Ted Kennedy, D-Mass., doubt it And, oddly, many of heroin addicts in Congress.<br />
would never Committee, which will cause made against the other were prominently featured candi·<br />
read a newspaper<br />
article sort of semi-literate troglo<br />
were false.<br />
in a firm and confident grasp,<br />
that body to begin sending the true at the same time they dates taking specimen bottles<br />
more improbable<br />
than one nominating scurrying back incumbent Republican Sen. into a convenient lavatory and<br />
dytes who Reagan has been In North Dakota, for instance, striding with stern purpose<br />
which<br />
home to brush up on their Mark Andrews accused his later emerging, flushed with<br />
jumbled an cave painting), but they feel opponent Kent Conrad of success, proudly brandishing<br />
account of they've more than made up for "having collected tax revenues their specimens before wait·<br />
The Uoors' Jim Morrison it by seizing the governor's for six years." Hideous though ing television cameras, with<br />
expOsing himself on stage and chair in New Mexico.<br />
that crime may be, Conrad has the whole ceremony appearing<br />
a recipe for pineapple Star Wars, aid to the Contras something of an excuse in that on the 6 o'clock news. (Yeah,<br />
upside-down cake. In the past and judicial nominees may all he was the elected state tax<br />
week, though, that story sunk be in trouble, but th~ Republicans<br />
will hold the reins of years, and it was his job to<br />
. commissioner for those six to see at dinnertime.)<br />
to second place in my heirarchy<br />
of unbelievability when power from Tucumcari to collect taxes. If Conrad had sional fauna will be interest.<br />
President Ronald Reagan said Albuquerque for the next four offered that defense himself, ing to watch. For years, Con.<br />
he thought the Republican years. That's something to Andrews would probably have gress has been full of snakes<br />
Party did fairly well on election<br />
night. ,<br />
claims he was only following going to be a Gopher.<br />
crow about, all right.<br />
countered with "Kent Conrad<br />
The reason for his satisfaction IT WOULD BE heartening to orders '" just like Hermann<br />
must lie in the fact that while think the change in the Senate Goering did at Nuremburg."<br />
his pal'ty lost control of the was the result of the voters<br />
V.S. Senate, the GOP's gains in rejecting negative campaign PERHAPS THE ONE reas-<br />
Viewpoints page every Friday.<br />
professor or instructor: He or<br />
she has a penchant for marking<br />
up the paper with a red<br />
pen as though it were a class<br />
assignment."<br />
She may be right but she may<br />
be totally wrong. Her statement<br />
is pure and idle speculation<br />
which betrays her personal<br />
bias that professors or<br />
instructors apparently take<br />
pleasure in correcting spelling<br />
and grammar errors and that<br />
professors or instructors have<br />
exclusive proprietorship of<br />
red pens. I find that many of<br />
my students find considerably<br />
more pleasure in catching me<br />
in a grammatical or spelling<br />
error than I ever find in correcting<br />
their mistakes. Many of<br />
our students also own red<br />
pens.<br />
Hinson Breed's supposition is<br />
prejudicial and inappropriate,<br />
especially in a paper that so<br />
frequently belabors the perils<br />
of prejudice ....<br />
Keene Swett<br />
UI Geology Professor<br />
Friendly hawkeyes<br />
To the Editor:<br />
I am an Ohio State UniverSity<br />
football fan. I have not missed<br />
a home game for 22 years and I<br />
have attended away games at<br />
all of the Big Ten schools<br />
except Minnesota. This past<br />
Saturday I was in Iowa City<br />
cheering for the Buckeyes. I<br />
was pleased with the OSU win,<br />
of course, but the thing that<br />
impressed me most was the<br />
allowee<br />
ALLOWEEN<br />
over in Wa<br />
S.D. As child<br />
elsewhere<br />
their costumes,<br />
sts and goblins cli<br />
k into their tombs,<br />
Idren around this fa<br />
'ng community prepare<br />
horrors to come.<br />
is a nightmare<br />
ncertainty and<br />
d of farm foreclosu<br />
bankruptcies.<br />
They hear talk about<br />
What will it be<br />
for South<br />
Dakota's<br />
farmers? Trick<br />
or treat?<br />
prices and no profits.<br />
athers return home<br />
empty trucks and thin<br />
lets after selling or stor<br />
rain at the elevator<br />
town. They play quietly<br />
the kitchen and they I<br />
.s they hear, "What's a<br />
o do to take care' of<br />
family?" And then t<br />
neak out to the barn<br />
SO 12 CHI1:DREN<br />
econd and third grade<br />
JlIade Halloween card~<br />
that's one thing I really want I sent them to Pres I<br />
onald R~agan. They w<br />
And the change in congres· ~ess~ges In the cards<br />
109 him they need help<br />
"in a hurry," wrote H<br />
Wall, an 8-year-old<br />
weasels and rats. Now, there'; farmer's d~ughter . "Th<br />
re not gOing very good<br />
ljiouth Dakota," wrote Ja<br />
Michael Humes is an Iowa City wriler. Richter, a 7-yea:,-0Id son<br />
His column appears on Ihe gram .farmer. T~ey n<br />
I more pTlces for their<br />
At dusk, the Dakota<br />
rops to the horizon, Ii<br />
giant pumpkin, and, as<br />
isappears, night fa<br />
uickly. In the fading Ii<br />
vacant farmhouses<br />
first-class quality of the Iowa orn shutters and<br />
fans.<br />
windows seem hau<br />
Around 50 people from Iowa White lace curtains<br />
congratulated me and my 9/lrough the windows:<br />
friends on the victory, wished ners of surrender.<br />
us good luck during the restor 1 deserted farmyards,<br />
the season and expressed ind blows through<br />
their hope that we would have cylindrical grain bins.<br />
a safe trIP back to ~olumbus .I makes a grievous sou<br />
have never experienced thiS like a phantom pi<br />
kind of courtesy before at a funeral hymn on<br />
road game and I hope Buckeye slightly off key.<br />
fans demonstrate this same<br />
kind of hospitality to our<br />
guests.<br />
Jim Mue.1ig I<br />
Columbus, OhiO<br />
Review reservations<br />
To the Editor: (<br />
I have more reservations I<br />
about the review of Momix<br />
(The Dally Iowan Nov. 3) than<br />
this space can contain. In fac~<br />
. the term "review" may be I<br />
misnomer for an article so<br />
lacking in artistic analysis and<br />
constructive criticism. presence is ominous, ec<br />
Considering the unrelenting . ing the ghosts of autu<br />
condescension extended, I past, the autumns<br />
suspect the reviewer prefeTl 1930 and 1940 when, i<br />
the insipid courtliness and ingle decade, nearly<br />
mishandled choreography South Dakotans m<br />
which characterized the prevl· away. More people<br />
ous week's performance ~isted in South Da<br />
(despite heroic efforts by some 1930 census than are<br />
of the North Carolina I 'n the 1980 censusdancers).<br />
Tastes do vary, bull compared to 690,178.<br />
the reviewer should have ack· projected figures for<br />
nowledged his/her lack of uggest that people<br />
objectivity.<br />
eturn. But can this be<br />
The reviewer should alsohavt more and more farms fa<br />
acknowledged reporting on I the wayside?<br />
program which had no een Mea 'Ilile, Heidi, J<br />
viewed in its entirety. ,Ie I Lanc .'remy, John,<br />
was absolutely no mem ... of Calvi, Nicole and<br />
the three major works pre- others wait for a letter<br />
sented ailer the intermission. the president. They wa<br />
an omission which is incom' answer. What will it be<br />
prehensiblc unless the South Dakota's farme<br />
reviewer abandoned the audio Trick or treat?<br />
lorium at the midway poinL AI<br />
one who remained until tbe ols Hatton is a graduate<br />
end, I can testify that the, in South Dakota State IlnllIAr~1l<br />
second half contained some or department 01 journa<br />
the most stunning perro!' mass communications.<br />
mance I've witne sed any' 1986 New York Times.<br />
where.