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Ban Bush's proposal to eliminate chemical weapons good idea A proposal is just a proposal and is not a contract, but in some cases of international negotiations, a proposal is as good as gold. And President George Bush has found a nugget. Bush's plan to begin the elimination of chemical weapons for the world is a good one. It is a plan that is needed. Chemical weapons are not only a "scourge" as Bush calls them, but they are the most heinous invention since nuclear weapons. But unlike nuclear weapons, which are targeted for military as well as civilian targets, chemical weapons are solely and exclusively used to take out large populations of civilians. They are a nightmarish idea and should never have been developed, but since they were, they should be banned forever. Bush's three-point plan is a fine first step in eliminating these scary weapons. There may be a problem with getting a world-wide ban, however, because some third world countries neither care what the United States or Soviet Union say nor heed what would be good for all. A 40-nation conference at the United Nations has been trying to come un with a ban for vears. but it is now finallv looking toward endorsing Bush's plan. The problem is there is no exact data as to who has the weapons and how much they have. Either way, though, the plan should begin the process of convincing the world to get rid of its chemical weapons. Bush's proposal to the United Nations calls for a elimination of 80 percent of chemical weapons in the United States and Soviet Union at the same time. Then if the 40-nation conference signs a treaty banning chemical weapons, the other 38 countries would begin destroying weapons in eight years, during which the U.S. would destroy 98 percent of what it has. And after that eight years, the U.S. would destroy the rest of its arsenal if every other country did the same. This is a bold step for an American president. This is the first time a president has thought about what is good for the world and not what his own conservative party thinks is good for the U.S. Bush should be commended for the idea, and the world should follow suit. If this kind of spirit of cooperation continues, maybe one day these countries can discuss destroying nuclear weapons as well. *WE MIGHT NOT BE BUILT ALIKE, BUT WE SURE DO _THRIV^ /~~ ~ T^\ * MnrTi The Gamecock T?. \ ^ x * ? ' * ''>''< ? , Editor in Chief Assistant Photography Editor WAYNE WASHINGTON JULIE BOUCHILLON Managing Editor Viewpoint Editor HAL MILLARD JEFF SHREWSBURY Copy Desk Chief Datebook Editor KATHY BLACKWELL JAN PHILLIPS Assistant Copy Desk Chief Comics/Graphics Editor ROBYN THOMPSON R0B LANE News Editor Graduate Assistant KELLY C. THOMAS ' KRISTIN FRANCIS Assistant News Editors Gamecock Adviser D. R. HAYNES ERJK COLLINS JEFF WILSON . _. Director of Student Media Carolina Life Editor ED BONZA ROBERT THOMAS Production Manager Assistant caronna Lite Editor LAURA S. DAY LYNN GIBSON Assistant Production Manager Sports Editor ra.Y BURGOS CHRIS SILVESTRI Advertising Manager Assistant Sports Editor MARGARET MICHELS BRANT LONG Assistant Advertising Manager Photography Editor JEFFREY B. THOMPSON TEDDY LEPP Letters Policy: The Gamecock will iry to print all letters received. Utters should be, at a maximum. 250 to 300 words long. The writer should include full name, professional title if an employee with USC or Columbia resident, or year and major if a student. An address and phone nuiqber are required with all letters sent. Guest editorials should not exceed 500 words. We reserve the right to edit letters for style or possible libel. The Gamecock will not withhold names under any circumstance. , l|jg[ ALREM! Students in sexi I kind of picked up It': when I saw the story in ""n* you i The Gamecock Friday. Eil It seems the majority So of residents in USC's ^ sexual stalags, Douglas ' agre< and Burney, have knov voted that they want %- mS "ighi the barbed wire fences - sex. down. It They sent their vote R 1 sonj to the Student Senate, ^ caus< which did something to ch for a change, and sent Stephen Mik it to the Student- " It Trustee Liaison Com- Gllllfoyle frien mittee, the members of your which voted to send the d the proposal to the Board of Trustees, giving it hour an endorsement aiong ine way. m They're using the system here to tell state the c Rep. Mike "The Intolerant" Fair, R-Greenville, oven that they neither appreciate nor want his intru- havii sion into their lives. 77 But they are willing to compromise, unlike they the Board of Trustees last year, or the Ecology 77 Committee. fc Mike wanted overnight, opposite-sex visita- j tion gone all over campus immediately. The twQ ^ Ecology Committee said let's just phase it in ft, slightly. tre? Either way, some students lose immediately and all lose down the road. show _ Board should care about us A petition is a To the editor: ?rotest Gust as I am glad the Student-Trustee is a form of Prot Liaison Committee has decided to Through exis ? r_. 1 .?. approach the Board of Trustees concerning the visitation policy at 0 ?* Truste Douglas and Burney dorms. Now hve to the ideas, what about the other dorms? [?ns , stu< I also take offense at the insinu- n' currer ation that the students last year wou not in were "just protesting." Did we not attempt to go through the appropriate channels with petitions and letter-writing campaigns? Perhaps Cfn#lA|i students were not made aware of the more appropriate channels ? m and is that not the job of the Stu- WflO SC dent Government president? Protesting WAS the last resort by a In ^ immoi1 small number of students in an ef- President Rona fort to get the Board of Trustees to ^ listen to the students' views on - ? front oaee stor\ morality legislation. c - ? ~ c Secondly, President Holderman on SaPL 15-acc says. "The students haven't ^ fmgers showed any protest or destruction -f0 on^e a?a" in the dorms, and I think they're ?on acting responsibly." Imagine that e via m . - student in college acting like over the s,,ual adults. Imagir.s if we were treated Ramsdale did n in the same manner. the best she con r I ^ KlM&KOcH lal stalags sa; s kind of like a loaded question ? "Do >till beat your wife?" ther way, you lose. me of the students lost. ell, the residents in these dorms have A they want Fair's ban out because they / what he doesn't ? opposite-sex, over: visitation has nothing to do with morals or has to do with studying with the only perrou know in your English class, who, bej they weren't smart enough as an embryo oose the right sex, has to vamoose when 5 Fair says so. has to do with being able to treat your ds of the opposite sex just like the rest of friends, instead of having to shoo them out lormitory door when Mike Fair's witching strikes. his twisted view of the world, students of ipposite sex who "visit" with each other light can't be doing anything other than ig sex. iese students have told him he's wrong. But are willing to make a real compromise, ley've agreed that the students who signed >r the sexual stalags, knowing of the ban ? iking it, should not be penalized. One or floors should be set aside for students who : at the sight of the opposite sex after dark. ieir vote and the method of handling it ' a maturity and thoughtfulness that His Su like to note that tions of options and tii m of protest, as it ously doubt anyone < ot support or even have handle the situatioi it visitation policy. The true sell-out wa form of peaceful those doing the most o peaceful assembly plaining right now. If est.) dents lived off campus, ting channels and have to sign a lease , members of the some privileges. No pet es were not recep- ren and special perm feelings and opin- large parties are comm ients. If they had in such leases. When it visitation policy lease, whether it was y existence. tutional right or not, y< Jennifer Layden give up some privileges Inglish sophomore USC rents each do M nn/\U AtujAnf l_a* /\f V ifcj r\ri aft cam muuuii. j^a^u ui u Llo l/IlCo is totally independent of JJ rviii- one 0211 only 258111 fill UUl * the privilege of living < the student agrees to tl al words of former the contract. Otherwise Id Reagan, "Well, have chosen to live < ;ain." Because of a right? r in The Gamecock usations are flying, ^ach student was gi j b i ~ r?. r.,.u ua^i anu a unuict. c.6 pointing. The subtime" Therefore' if a studc tittle if any contra! anf ** ' i ~ ?,? lease and still signed it, ion. Marie-Louise .... . ,,6 7 dividuals sold out. Il ot sell out. She did pointless for them to l ild given the limita- now and point fingers y no to Fair preme Morality Fair is lacking. Finally, they are also using the system to correct a wrong that the system did them. The vote should have been one to everyone else against Fair. It's not right for any government entity, such as the board, to control behavior that is not harmful. It's O.K. to pass laws against murder, theft, etc., because those crimes hurt others. But to stop students from studying together under the pretext of teaching a moral lesson is wrong. If you want want to teach us morals, Rep. Fair, then set an example. I know you disagree, but rfiorals can't be legislated, because morals are learned, not forced. If you want the few students who have sex on campus to stop, then tell us about how you were a virgin when you married and about how wonderful your marriage is now because of it. Tell us why you are such a healthy guy and we're such a heathen lot Tear.h 11s hut don't use the law and the rules to make us be like you, because I for one don't like you and don't want to be like you. Three cheers to the students in Bumey and Douglas ? you've been put through some trouble because of this proposal, but you've kept heads and are acting like the fine young men and women that Mike Fair and his rules say you aren't me. I seri- else when the decision was their slse could own. 1 better. Ms. Snelson, I address you once is done by again: do you think it is fair to f the com- charge a lawsuit against the unithese stu- versity when the cost of defense they would will be absorbed by the entire stuforfeiting dent body? Lawsuits are expensive s, no child- and often long. Give us a break, lission for Tuition is high enough already. I'd ion clauses like to see the money go to betteryou sign a ing our programs, not to bickering our consti- with undergraduates. I'm certain it )u agree to sounds really neat to take a stand few what you believe in, but who are you willing to step on? rmitory to The ^ulion is nti,rto wrong, but so is slander and suing the * tonocen!- If y?" wa,nt 1? hun ne that for u,c university poacy, uun i sign, 3n campus, housing contracts next time. If le terms of enough students refuse to accept they would f^e terms of the contract, the houselsewhere, department will be caught in the middle. There will be two options at this point: 1. to change the ven a con- visitation policy 2. cooperate, takich student ing a loss of income while dealing i decision, with the expense of maintenance. * nt did not The cost should be on housing, not >ns of their the students. Here I issue a chalthey as in- lenge to you as individuals ? : is totally don't sell out next time, turn around Sharon Simmons Rucinacc coninr ai someone uu?,,vm ??.*??#