OCR::/Vol_104/WLURG39_RTP_20010917/WLURG39_RTP_20010917_001.2.txt S "578 . 755 R5552. ._ .. V, [5 Q-+‘i\x:tIrI.» I321: l'tt‘l~I Wtltlii 1? 'P.«.<;I-1 at fl ‘~:-. t.\'~. 5.3 A 1. l.i1:>l§{i< ass \t3’&l..I:-ié.a mi»: (3 L3! L24 in} W&L a/umnus presumed dead; friends mourn I’ BY MIKE AGNELLO ASSOCIATE EDITOR ‘ Washington and Lee has . likely suffered its first casualty of Tuesday’s terrorist attack on the World Trade Center and ~ 0 Pentagon. James Gadiel ’00 worked for bond brokerage firm Can- tor Fitzgerald floor of Tower One of the Trade Center. He wasnotlisted among the company’s JAMES GADIEL _ . :00 SUIVIVOIS on an 6I1’lCI'- ' gency web site. A representa- ‘ tive at New York’s Crisis Cen- ter said Gadiel was not treated at any area hospitals and is still missing. In several interviews ’ it this week, New York City res- cue workers said, at this point, there is little chance of finding ‘ any survivors. I Cantor Fitzgerald was one of the companies that . suffered the most employee casualties. Of the more than ‘ 1000 employees, fewer than 400 survived. CEO Howard T Lutnick said he does not know how to handle the situ- " ation. “I have to do something ‘ for the 700 families,” Lutnick said. “Seven hundred fami- lies. Seven hundred families. on the lO3rd ' Gadiel, originally from Kent, Conn., was an econom- ics major and a member of Sigma Nu fraternity. W&L’s Lambda chapter is already mourning his death. Chapter Chaplain Ben Segal led the chapter in prayer before dinner on Friday. Sigma Nu National Headquarters sent a dozen white roses to the house. Chapter President Matt Jacobs was Gadie1’s “little brother” during his freshman year. Sigma Nu and several other fraternities at W&L as- sign older brothers to mentor pledges, and flie relationship resembles that of two brothers. Jacobs said Gadiel’s probable death has devastated the chapter. “It’s been tough, espe- cially for the older guys who knew James better,” Jacobs said. “We’ve been leaning on each other.” Segal said he admired Gadiel’s easygoing personal- ity. “He had a lot ofpoise emotions canrunhighinafra- ternity house, and he always stayed calm and was able to keep a level head,” Segal said. Jacobs said he is grieving intensely, and will miss Gadiel. “He was the first one to make me feel really welcome at (Sigma Nu),” he said”(Gadiel was) a really car- ing, nice guy, a stand-up indi- C T’ TIME FOR REFLECTION. A silent vigil before Lee Chapel drew hundreds of participants, including students, professors, and community members. The event was held the night of the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center and Pentagon, when many students were still in shock, worried about family in New York or Washington, D.C., and angry about the assault on their country. The next day, students moved quickly to organize Red Cross aid, blood drives and counseling programs. Reassurances from former students poured into the Alumni Office, forcing a seven—day work week on Colin Tate ‘O1, Asst. Dir. of Alumni Programs for Online Communications. National tra e for schools, cit Lexington college students reactpatriotica//y to tragedy BY LATRINA STOKES STAFF WRITER An outpouring of patriotism and sup- port in the local community mirrored na- tionwide sentiments in the aftermath of last week’s terrorist attack. In the hours immediately following the tragedy, some Washington and Lee faculty cancelled classes or led discussions on the loss of life and students’ sense of insecurity. A specially-tplarined prayer and wor- ship service hosted by Generals’ Christian Fellowship Tuesday evening began a string of religious services, including a meeting held by W&L’s newly developing Unitar- ian Universalist organization. “Our meeting has different people with different expectations coming together and collectively and spontaneously praying,” said GCF President Brad Wiginton. “Afterwards, we had a worship time and it was great to see people giving a sacrifice of praise.” Community members scrambled to donate blood to victims in New York and Washington, D.C. However, the Red Cross . suggests that students participate in Chi_ Psi’s late October blood drive, now that local centers are full. W&L Peer Counselors are also avail- able to help. - “An important factor for Peer Coun- selors in reaching out to other students is that we are trained with sensitivity and eyes to see symptoms of grief and hurt,” said’ Berdine Edgar, Peer Counselor president. At the Virginia Military Institute, Cadet Counselors are fimctioning in much the same way. Their first priority was to get cadets in contact with family members in the affected areas, said senior Magnus Nordenman, ca- det-in-charge of the counseling staff. A call from the Virginia National Guard has directly involved five cadets with national efforts. In Lexington, patriotic displays are ev- erywhere: American flags have appeared in store windows and on car antennas; red, white and blue ribbons abound on shirt fronts. Despite such shows of unity, some fear that their religious beliefs or backgrounds will make them the targets of discrimina- tion or violence. Arabs and Arab Americans have re- ported incidents of prejudice across the country, stemming from the hijackers’ iden- tification as Muslims. “Anybody who treats Muslims nega- tively because of the insanely despicable actions which took place is ignorant,” said W&L senior Shazi Niazi, founder of the Muslim League. “Hatred is the source of such devastation and has never done any good in this world.” Niazi said that the negative stereotype has also affected other Muslims who fear that the league may be extremist. VMI cadets are likely to react just as any other students rriight, said Colonel Dale Davis, director of international programs at VMI. , “I think the cadets at VMI are sophis- ticated enough to differentiate between terroristsand Muslims," Davis said. He added that studying the language is impor- tant in recognizing that the country has al- lies as well as enerrries in the Middle East. The carnage did not leave the W&L and VMI families unscathed. Chris Edwards ‘00 of W&L lost an aunt and uncle aboard one of the hijacked flights. Jonah Glick ‘90 of W&L lost his brother Jeremy. Among the missing are: VMI alum- nus Lieutenant Commander David Will- iams ’9l, presumed dead; W&L alumnus James Gadiel ’00, presumed dead; and W&L alumnus Rob Schlegel ’85. “We’re keeping our fingers crossed,” said Rob Mish ’76, director of alumni l;\FOGRAPHIC BY KATIE HOWELL/T/Jr Rir1g—rrm1 Phi on the Rat Disciplinary Committee, one being the Although Acting Public Relations Director Chuck Steenburgh would not comment on a third dismissal, Ca- det Captain Michael Zanetti confirmed that the president of the Honor Court was also dismissed Friday, in relation ' “The class was shocked by the position the adminis- tration took,” said Zanetti. “The cadets were high rank- The dismissals have jeopardized the status of the dis- missed cadets’ military appointments to the Marines and the Air Force. Disrriissal is typically grounds for with- drawal of a commission, Steenburgh said. If the appoint- ments are withdrawn, the cadets may have to enlist to re- pay the U.S. Department of Defense their scholarships. Steenburgh added, however, that each individual service can evaluate the disciplinary actions of VMI and deter- Four other cadets received penalties of a lesser na- Cadets interviewed on the streets of Lexington said. VMI administration acted radically to promote a positive public image. Almost twice as many rats, or freshmen, have withdrawn this year in comparison to the same time “It’s wrong,” one third classman said. “Everyone’s pretty upset, because (the administration) did not follow ‘ I can’t say it without crying,” vidual, and we’re all better for he said. having known him.” ‘ . . . . I . . .. .. . Slll(l€I1tS Illlllllly , Dismissals of 3 first classmen trigger widespread Corps disobedience ‘ president. l , to Thursday’s dismissals. ' ing, well respected and had excellent track records.” ‘ . 9 F l‘ mine whether or not to retract the commission. ture and remain at school. Q ‘ Fir Prioro The Ring-tum last year. BY ALISON TRINIDAD It NEWS EDITOR usual disciplinary action.” - F In an act of student protest at the disrriissal of three cadets, most of Virginia Military Institute’s Corps of Ca- dets refused to march in a scheduled parade last Friday. “Our brother rats have been wrongfully dismissed. Because of this, your leaders have decided to take action,” said Mark Grigsby, first, or senior, class president, to the Corps Thursday evening. “We will be stepping up, taking control andpolicing our own.” , According to a statement released by VMI’s of- fice of public relations, one cadet was suspended for a year and two dismissed on Thursday for “disciplin- ary reasons related to the training and discipline of new cadets.’’ , “VMI’s Ratline, (when) properly administered, be- comes a cherished part of the experiences of every VMI cadet,” said VMI Superintendent Major General Josiah Bunting.’ “When cadets who are responsible for adminis- tering this system, however, step over the carefully pre- scribed lines of conduct that are established for them, our reaction is swift and, in some cases, severe.” Cadets argue, however, that the “lines of conduct” were not clearly defined and that the disrriissals were ir- regular and abrupt. _ “We had no time to defend ourselves,” said one of the disrrrissed cadets. “We were already hung and executed before we stepped into that room.” The dismissed cadets were both first classmen and Zanetti said that each branch of cadet government acted to alter campus life at VMI to demonstrate the ca- “ dets’ displeasure with the adrninistration’s decision to dis- miss. The rats were taken out of the ratline Thursday after- noon as the first instance of protest. Steenburgh said sus- pending the ratline is the customary way to express disap- proval. Yet, that evening, rumor of a step—off spread through the Corps. A last-ditch bargaining‘ method used by the Corps, a step—off is when the Corps refuses to participate in or ac- knowledge the military and regimental procedures of VMI. The Cadet, VMI’s weekly student newspaper, reported that ' the Corps has not stepped off in over a decade. First-class leadership called the entire Corps to at- tend a meeting Thursday night in Jackson Memorial Hall, a meeting that faculty and administration were not invited ‘ to attend. 7 Honor Court President Shawn Joyce addressed the_Corps. “It is our belief that administrative control has reached dictatorial proportions, in effect undennining the mission of the Institute, which is to produce honorable men and women confident in the functions and attitudes of leader- ship,” he said. “The administration has essentially removed the ‘leadership’ aspect from our Corps leaders, from the SEE VMI, PAGE 2 SEE REACTION, PAGE 2 Work-study wages jump 60cents Few returning students aware of change; Minimum wage remains $5.15 BY IMRAN NAEEMULLAH STAFF WRITER Life just got a little richer for Washington and Lee’s work— study students. This year, the University announced an increase in work-study wages from $5.15 an hour to $5.75 an hour. The work—study program provides on—campus jobs that are tax—free and funded by a federal grant matched by a 25 percent contribution from W&L, said Associate Director of Financial Aid Kim Ruscio. Students must qualify for the job by demonstrating financial need. Over 300 W&L students are participat- ing in the program this year, said Ruscio. Those students work everywhere from Evans Dining Hall to Leybum Library to the Office of Student Financial Aid itself. The present minimum wage of $5.15 in Virginia was set in 1997. The first increase since then, the raise has generated a positive reaction among the student body. ‘“It’s great. It’s good to know that wages have gone up,” said senior Joey Ajayi. “Of course, prices have prob- ably gone up as well. Still, the increase is welcome.” Work—study supervisors are also supportive of the wage increase. Vicki Sessions, circulation supervisor for Leybum Library, appreciates the work her employees per- fonn. “We couldn’t run the library without them,” she said. “They deserve the increase.” Ruscio noted that the increase equalizes the pay be- tween work—study positions and those jobs on campus that students can apply for regardless of financial need. Sophomore Ian Mcllroy said the wage increase brings pay up to parity with non-cainpus part-time jobs. “I’m very happy about the increase in wages,” said Mcllroy. “IfI can make $6.15 an hour bagging groceries, I shouldudefinitely be able to make $5.75 an hour here.” Ruscio said the increase in wages has not put a strain on the work—study budget. While there is obviously a finite number of j obs the University can provide, there is presently no need for a budget increase, she said. University wireless project progresses as planned Access from fraternity houses expected online by end of Fall Term BY MEG HASTON STAFF WRITER Washington and Lee students should be able to access the Internet from anywhere on campus by the end of this year, said University Computing Direc- tor John Stuckey. This assurance rests on the success of the wire- less project at W&L, a project that involves install- ing “access points” at key places on campus so that a student with the proper technology can access the web without a cable. The process is simple: a wireless card the size of a credit card is installed into a student’s laptop. Wireless technology uses radio waves, not wires, to transfer information between computers through a network of access points. Through this setup, the student can access the web from a carrel in the li- brary, a dorm room and even outside. This new technology is already installed at the law school, where students are finding the wireless Internet access “very convenient,” Stuckey said. Fraternity houses are next on the wireless docket, with expected completion set for the end of Fall term. “What we’re trying to do is enhance the cover- age of the campus,” Stuckey said. To accomplish this, a network signal installed in the Sigma Chi frater- nity house will allow the other fraternity houses to utilize the technology. University Computing has al- ready installed access points in the library and sci- ence center. ‘ While many students have found the new tech- nology convenient, it is not without its disadvantages. Stuckey calls the technology “hit and miss,” noting that students must be within a few hundred feet from an access point and that obstacles in the path of the access points may reduce the efficiency of the sig- nal. Additionally, the wireless connection can at times be slower than a wall connection; the more students using an access point, the slower the connection. The project has also proved to be expensive: around $100,000 so far. As this technology improves at a rapid rate, the equipment will need to be updated frequently, which will add to the cost of the project. The wireless cards are also pricey; they can cost a student anywhere from $100-$180. “I think it was inconvenient to pay so much money to buy the wireless card when I only use it in the library,” said freshman Mackenzie Morgan. When the project is completed, students will be able to use both wireless and hardwire wall connec- tions. The project is not an exchange, Stuckey said. Students will be able to choose the connection that suits their personal preference. ’ OCR::/Vol_104/WLURG39_RTP_20010917/WLURG39_RTP_20010917_002.2.txt PAGE 2 N EWS ELRODME.\l0RlAL IN MEMORIANI. Hundreds of students, staff, faculty and Lexington area residents honored the latejohn W Elrod, W&L’s president who dicdjuly 27 . MEG FmuuRA/ T/Je Riizgrzwr P/22' VMI from page 1 Steenburgh said. Although VMI administration did not confirm that Joyce E mail news briefs to Love Your Body Day Rockbridge Valley NOW and tl1eW&L Office of Health Promotion is sponsoring a video and discussion on Wednesday, Sept. 19 in Noithen Auditorium. “Redefining Liberation” shows how advertising pro- motes unhealthy body images. Freshmen who attend can swipe their ID card for the Customs Program. Play to address gender issues In the hope of heightening awareness of gender is- sues and misconceptions, the Dean of Freshmen and the Office of Health Promotion have invited a one-man play, “Crimes Against Nature,” to illustrate the absurdities and contradictions of the “ideal man” and “ideal woman.” The performance will be held in Keller Theater of the Lenfest Center at 8 p.m. on Thursday. Freshmen who at- tend can swipe their ID card for the Customs Program. W&L president search committee chosen Confirmed members of the new committee are: Harlan Beckley, Brian Murchison, David Partlett, Mike Evans, Larry Peppers, Randolph Hare, Mike Pleva, Linda Hooks, Chair Lad Sessions, Suzanne Keen, Bob Strong, Stacy Mcboughlin MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2001 ‘O2, Cecile West-Settle, David Millon, Tom Williams. Barbara Taylor of the Academic Search Consultation Service (ASCS) in Washington, D.C., was hired as the ' University’s Presidential Search Consultant. Taylor will begin her work with the University immediately. She will be on campus September 17 - 19 to meet with the Presi- dent, Rector of the Board J. Frank Surface, members of the Presidential Profiling Committee to begin the development of the presidential profile. An open forum is scheduled Wednesday, Sept. 19, from noon to 1:30 p.m., in Lee Chapel, for the W&L com- munity to express its views on the presidential search. iicketed for mourning Lexington police ticketed first year law student Kim Bryant late Tuesday evening for parking in a yellow zone on Washington Street. Bryant said she parked illegally because no legal spaces were available to attend the si- lent vigil in front of Lee Chapel for those who lost their « lives in the terrorist attacks in New York, Washington and Pennsylvania that same day. W&L students and faculty gathered by the hundreds, sharing thoughts and prayers with others, seeking emo- tional support from their peers. Director of W&L Security Mike Young said that the University did not alert the police of the vigil, making the city’s officers unaware of possible parking problems. Bryant had an agreement with W&L Security until her disability sticker arrived, but the D-Hall side of Wash- ington Street falls under Lexington Police jurisdiction. Bryant will have the opportunity to protest her ticket when she appears in court. cadets who have proved their merit over the course of the past three years.” Joyce informed the Corps that, until administration readmitted the dismissed cadets, the Honor Court would not conduct status checks and would leave_ the Officer of the Day decertified. That means that cadets on confine- ment can walk freely through town and that the random checks on proper uniform or “rat knowledge” are not con- ducted. Joyce emphasized, however, that non-adniinis— trative violations of the Honor Code, such as lying, cheat- ing or stealing, would still be prosecuted. The Honor Court is responsible for teaching and en- forcing the honor code. It pervades the every aspect of VMI life and depends on the vigilance of every cadet, was disrriissed on Friday, cadets said that he was expelled due to the actions taken by the Honor Court on Thursday. Discussions between cadet leaders, alumni and ad- ministration continued throughout the weekend. Zanetti emphasized the need for Corps unity. This was not to be a step-off but a step—up. “This isn’t for someone’s rank, this is to salvage cadetships,” he said. “We want to bring our guys back.” But disobedience at VMI will not be tolerated, Steenburgh said. “As a military institute, (the refusal to march) was a substantial infraction of regulations,” he said. “It’s unfor- tunate that the Corps decided to do that. There will be consequences.” 24 Today 8:30 p.m.——-Java at the GHQ. Jon Shain. Tuesday, Sept. 18 ' 8 p.m.+Faculty Recital. Chris Magee, trumpet. Keller Theater, Lenfest Center. Wednesday, Sept. 19 Noon—Open forum, sponsored by presidential profile committee. All mem- bers of Washington and Lee community invited to participate. Lee Chapel. Thursday, Sept. 20 10 a.m.—Study Abroad Fair until 3 p.m. Stemmons Plaza (rain site: Great Hall, Science Center). Friday, Sept. 21 7:30 p.m.—— Film So- ciety. “Best in Show’/’« (USA, 2000). Directed by Christopher Guest. In English. Rated PG-13. Troubadour Cinema. 7:30 p.m.—Second City, national comedyl improv group. Keller The- ater, Lenfest Center. Saturday, Sept. 22 Fallbegins. INFOGMPHIC BY KATIE Ho\mi./ T/ie Ringmm Pbi REACTION from page 1 programs. “We’re pray- ing for all our alumni in those areas, and hope they get a sense of com- fort soon.” The W&L Alumni Office has no official word on either Schlegel or Gadiel. U.S. President George W. Bush has di- rected the country to go on with business as usual, just as W&L ad- ministration and faculty has urged students to carry on as closely to normally as they can. That means that Ca- reer Services will be con- tinuing with its plans for recruiting in the New York area, said Career Services Director Beverly Lorig. As of Friday, no em- ployers had contacted the office to cancel a visit. Anderson consult- ing kept its scheduled visit last Friday, but there is no guarantee that other companies will. “Many of the firms are dealing with the trag- edy,” Lorig said. “They’re in the midst of it. Recruitment is not a priority.” Businesses all over the world will be watch- ing American stock mar- ket, which reopened to- day. 0 Mike Agnello, Katie Howell and Alison Trinidad also contributed to this story. 1:30 n.m. Tnursrlav. Sentemlier 20. 2001 as 15"” ei!l"'5 A dramatic comedy, directed by Barry Levinson, looks at the changing times of the mid—50's and focuses on issues such religion, race-and class distinction. one of the characters attends W&L. law school. Front lawn nain site: Iloremus ltvm gee FIIEE movie, HIEE sot! drinks, HIEE nolleorn. Sllonsorerl mi Ilillel. Bring a liIanIiet.pg 5 OCR::/Vol_104/WLURG39_RTP_20010917/WLURG39_RTP_20010917_003.2.txt MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 17,2001 Sliii“t5li“ifiD1ToR1AL 'I‘uesday’s events in New York City and Washington, D.C. caused undue amounts of pain, shock and horror to the Washington and Lee community, this country and the world. Students, most of whom know somebody in ei- ther place, consoled each other and tried to make sense of these heinous crimes against humanity. The mettle of our university, and more importantly our great nation, is being tested. Since most of our generation came of ma- ture age, our country has been bitterly divided between blacks and whites, for or against abor- tion, even hanging and dimpled chads. The American dream, that sense of unruffled opti- rnism that allowed us to achieve a dispropor- tionately high number of great things, seemed to have disappeared. Kids killed each other in school, and parents murdered their children. American unity, in decline since the late 1950s, vanished in the bitter generational conflict over the Vietnam War and had never recovered. All this came to a screeching halt Tuesday. For the first time in a long while, every Ameri- can stood up and took notice. Hardened CNN correspondents, known for their stone counte- nances, openly wept when interviewing family members of those still missing. People all over the country organized blood drives and donated literally tons of food, clothing and medical sup- plies to aid the New York rescue effort. Politi- cians who previously were not on speaking terms stood together, denounced the atrocities, and agreed to back the president, finishing off with a spontaneous rendition of “God Bless America.” The evil men who perpetrated these odi- ous crimes underestimated our ability to re- bound, and they will soon see our determina- tion to strike back. . If any good can come of these tragedies, it is the newfound sense of perspective they have given us. We will think twice before whining about our stressful class work, or how our world is going to end because we did not get that choice internship. Most importantly, we will realize that there is a world outside of Lexington, and people need our help. To the W&L community: give clothing, blood and prayers to those in New York and Washington. Every little bit helps. To the rest of our nation: stay strong. We must not recoil in fear, because that is precisely the aim of terrorism. We should instead show those guilty for these atrocities that despite all our shortcomings, we are a nation united against evil aggression and the slaughter of innocent people. We must not rest until terrorists every- where understand that the resolve of the Ameri- can people carmot be broken. prohibitive. No human life is too insignificant to avenge. For the second time, we must bring truth to Linco1n’s immortal words: that the gov- ernment of, by, and for the people shall not per- ish from this earth. No challenge is too great. No fear is too J Matthew Mcbermott Mike Agnello Alison Trinidad Brett T. Kirwan Andrew Latirner Amy Blevins Jeremy Franklin Dave Crowell Katie Howell Meg Ferrara Editor-in-chief Associate Editor News Editor Opinions Editor Asst. Opinions Editor W&Life Editor Sports Editor Asst. Sports Editor Layout Editor Photo Editor Photographer Paul Seifert Charlie Tonelli Business Manager Circulation Director The Ring-tum Phi is published Mondays during the undergraduate school year at Washington and Lee Univer- sity, Lexington, Virginia. The Washington and Lee Publi- cations Board elects the Editor-in-chief, but The Ring- tum Phi is otherwise independent. The Ring-tum Phi welcomes all responsible submis- sions and letters. All submissions must be in the University Center, by 5 pm on Friday to appear in the following week’s edition. The Ring-tum Phi reserves the right to edit subn1is- sions for content and length. Letters and colurrms do not reflect the opinion of The Ring-tum Phi Editorial Board. Ad- vertising does not reflect the opinions of The Ring-tum Phi or its staff. This newspaper observes current court defini- tions of libel and obscenity. The Ring-tum Phi Mailing Address: University Center Washington and Lee University Lexington, Virginia 24450 Street Address: 31 Washington Street Lexington, Virginia 24450 Telephone: (540) 462-4060 Fax: (540) 462-4059 Email: phi@wlu.edu http://phi.wlu.edu Annual Subscription Rate: $30 THE Rm;-Tort PHI PINIONS 44l\I .. A At.‘.xL'.n. i.‘ OPlNlONS EDIIOR FMAIl:KlR\X/ANB@\)VLlJEl)U Fighting a wr we must wn On Tuesday morning, the United States was attacked by a faceless enemy, one who hides in darkness and commits his evil on unsuspecting, innocent civilians. As Prime Minister Blair commented, this was not only an attack on America, but an attack on our way of life, on our very civilization. And as President Bush has said several times now, the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Penta- gon were acts of war. Moreover, in this war, there can be no middle ground; there is no chance for peace without victory. The barbarians who struck us so deeply have shown that they have nothing but abiding hatred for America. This is truly total war. There will be no end until either we or they are utterly destroyed. America has already attempted to fight terrorism without total commit- ment. Following the 1993 attempt to topple the World Trade Center and the 1995 bombing of the Murrah building, Congress passed the Anti- Terrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act of 1996, which made financially liable the countries that supported terrorism. Unfortunately, the Act was not enforced and when Stephen Flatow in 1998 attempted to sue Iran, in retrbution for his daughter, Alisa’s, death in an Islamic jihad bombing, he faced Clinton Justice Department law- yers in court. At the anniversary of the Pan—Am 103 bombing, President Clinton bit his lip and reminded the mourners that he felt their pain, but achieved only a weak compromise that sent the two men di- rectly responsible to The Hague for trial, while leaving Libya blameless and any other country that may have been responsible. The re- sult of these half- hearted attempts to defeat terrorism and our general sense of invulnerability was Tuesday’s hor- rific destruction. Unless America, in conjunction with a global coalition, acts swiftly and forcefully to defeat terrorism and the governments that sponsor it, we can expect nothing but to be drawn into a never-ending conflict, like that be- tween Israel and the PLO. We have a target. The evidence against Osarna bin Laden, an exiled Saudi millionaire, is mounting. Presi- dent Bush has named him as the prime suspect in these attacks. Those who have been identified as the perpetra- tors have been connected with his or- ganizations. Secretary of State Colin Powell’s mission to Pakistan has resulted in Letters to the Editor E 0 statement on terrorist attacks Dear Editor, RIGHT or THE AISLE BRETT T. KIRWAN ‘O4 (bumpy OFASSOOA TFD Acts or WAR: Atrocities like Tuesday’s bombings will happen again unless America commits to total war. that country demanding that the Taliban turn over bin Laden, who has been living in Afghanistan since 1996. The Taliban government of Afghani- stan, a radical Sunni Muslim sect de- spised by many other Muslim states, has long aided and harbored bin Laden. Without its complicity, attacks like this could not take place. The Taliban must be treated as an equal enemy of the United States. As long as the governments which support ter- rorism exist, so will terrorism. A war which truly seeks to destroy terror- ism must also destroy the corrupt re- gimes in Afghanistan, Libya, and Pal- estine. Many of TV’s talking heads, however, have argued that the best way to solve our problem is to cap- ture and execute only those directly responsible, perhaps bin Laden and his lieutenants with a few members of the Taliban thrown in for good measure. However, this gingerly approach has already been tried against aban- doned Afghan camps and a Sudanese aspirin factory. Pinpoint cruise mis- sile strikes conducted from hundreds of miles off-shore or miles in the air will not suffice. We must strike hard with the full force of our military. Fortunately, in his weekly radio address, President Bush revealed the govemment’s plan to conduct a long, heavy but carefully constructed re- taliatory attack. He also stated America’s intention not only to exter- minate the animals responsible, but also to destroy their homes, busi- nesses, places of worship, govem- ment buildings, and military institu- tions. The American public must recog- nize that we are in a total war, much like World Wars I and H but also very different in that our enemy is too cow- ardly to face us. Instead we must hunt them down like dogs, drive them from their dens, and ensure that this will never happen again. The cost may be high. Additional American lives might be lost and in- nocent civilians might be killed in the countries we target. Nevertheless, we must do what is necessary to achieve final victory of terror and its practitio- ners. We must be ready to fight with the attitude voiced by Sen. John McCain on Thursday, ‘‘I say to our enemies: We are coming. God may have mercy on you, but we won’t.” Sincerely, Please answer your call to duty, whatever it may be. The Executive Committee of the Student Body The magnitude of the terrorist attack on America on September 11, 2001, has become evident to each of us, no matter our age or background. We at Washington and Lee University often speak of our community, but on this day our community became much larger. Today, when we speak of our community, we refer to one nation, unified in a cause to save lives, protect one another, and punish an aggressor. We, as members of this greater, united, American commu- nity, have a duty to all who have fallen, to the families of these individuals, to those who laid the framework of this mighty country, and to all of those who will follow, to do everything within our ability to aid in the restoration of our country. Just as General Robert Edward Lee understood his duty to his country after the Civil War in aiding though education in the restoration of a broken land, we must now realize our duty to our nation in its time of need. Do not ever allow yourself to believe that you cannot make a difference; you can and you will! There will be many calls to duty over the next few days, weeks, months, or even years. But the most immediate calling for all of us is to give blood. We strongly encourage every able member of our community to give blood at his or her soonest conve- nience, even if this is a week from now—it will still be needed. Death row inmate seeks correspondence Dear Editor, I am a male prisoner on death row at Arizona State Prison and would like mail from anyone who would like to write and who would enjoy receiving letters from mein retnm. I am with- out family and have already been in this cell for over 17 years. This life has been a hard and lonely one and I would be grateful for any company anyone would care to give. Please feel free to talk about or ask whatever you are curious about. Being a condemned prisoner, I am kept strictly isolated and locked in my cell. Anyone interested please write: Michael Correll #5 1493 Arizona State Prison/P.O. Box 3400 Florence, AZ 85232 Sincerely, Michael Correll Editor is Note: The Arizona State Prison confirmed that Michael Correll is indeed a long-time death row inmate. His case is currently under appeal. PAGE 3 Orientation needs Improvement “Customs” system is adequate, but informal interaction is more valuable “Confusion” is the key word in the first few weeks of life as a freshman. Challenges are thrown in our di- rection every minute of every day, both in class and out. So many new experiences hit us so quickly and the days are so packed with discovery that time even seems to slow down to accommodate it all; the passing of these last two weeks has felt like two months. The situation can easily become overwhelming, especially once classes start. As much as we’d like to believe otherwise, we freshmen do need guidance in order to process the deluge of infor- mation. Thus, the university is saddled with the delicate and diffi- cult task of familiarizing new arrivals with the nuances of campus life, not only on the social front, the most pressing concern at the outset of orientation, but also academics and athletics. On the whole, the university does a respectable job, yet there is definitely room for improvement. Orientation can inform us of the basics of col- lege life, from the polices of the Honor Code and the three strike system to when the dining hall opens and how the university card works. For the most part, it does these things well. These sorts of things are easily digestible in as- semblies and organized discussions, and they must be shared in order to make sure everyone is one the same page. However, there remain certain things that, no matter how hard the administration, upperclassmen, and alumni spend and plan, just carmot be taught in an assembly. While I cannot blame the university for trying, I can say that tolerance carmot be learned from a single two-hour play. Dean of Freshman Dawn Watkins has the right idea in spreading out these lessons over a longer time period with the new Customs program, yet only time will tell if students are willing to participate in what can now only be called an experiment. I would not expect it to succeed wildly at the outset; rather, it will take at least a few years of fine-tuning before it be- comes an institution. Neither can a slew of orientation programs auto- matically instill a palpable sense of community. It does not matter how many times speakers have issued their numerous warm welcomes to the university commu- nity or how many times we are all gathered in the same room, I still feel as if I have a long way to go until I have found my place at Washington and Lee. I don’t have the fanatical devotion to the school that I’ve noticed in alumni, yet then again, I haven’t had time to get involved in the school affairs. While it is by no means a failure on the part of organizers, it is just some- thing that cannot be accomplished in such a short span. Communities are built over time. Once again, the attraction of an extended program becomes clear. Yet as I’ve found, orientation doesn’t begin and end with school-sponsored events. My greatest re- source for knowledge of the “ins and outs” of W&L has been informal conversations with upperclassmen, such as dorm counselors and the brothers I meet at fraternity parties. All have been helpful and willing to talk with freshmen, and while it may seem like common courtesy to them, it means so much more to an inse- cure newcomer like me. Additionally, there were the pre-orientation out- doors and outreach programs, and while I regret not participating in those events, I do know that nearly everyone who participated took with them the valu- able insights of their group leaders. Whether they real- ize it or not, upperclassmen shape the freshman orien- tation experience more than just about anything else. Keeping that point in mind, it is clear that the Big Brother and Big Sister pro gram is an aspect of orienta- tion worthy of further attention. While I appreciated what my Big Sister had to tell me, I wish that I had been in contact with her sooner. Other freshmen mentioned to me they never got in touch with their Big Brother or Big Sister, which makes me believe that the entire program could be in need of (at best) a little more rigorous discipline or (at worst) a comprehensive overhaul. Ultimately, the lesson I learned from observing fresh- man orientation is that oftentimes the informal means of communication proved more useful than scheduled ac- tivities. School-sponsored events can only go so far, and it’s the one—on-one communication that the under- classmen truly need during those first few steps into life at Washington and Lee. Because of all the support I’ve received, I’m looking forward to a great four years here with more anticipation than I ever could have expected. " DOE—ETED FRESHMAN ANDREW LATIMER ‘O5 TALKBACK: areour feelings about the new tailgate? “The food is deligh .” -Peter Moore ‘03 “Iwishthatthereweremorepeople.” -Thaxton Mauzy ‘02 “Best ever.” -Pres. Boetsch ‘69 “Greatoppoitunityto socialize.” -Austin Calhoun ‘03 -Anne Richey ‘O3 OCR::/Vol_104/WLURG39_RTP_20010917/WLURG39_RTP_20010917_004.2.txt PAGE 4 - 700 C lal9’s forum for hate Religious right leaders Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson have the tragic events of Tuesday all figured out. Falwell joined Robertson on his television program, the 700 Club, to deliver a message that is among one of the most frustrating things he has ever uttered. “I really believe that the pagans, and the abortionists, and the feminists, and the gays and the lesbians who are actively trying to make that an alternative lifestyle, the ACLU, People for the American Way —— all of them who have tried to secularize America - I point the finger in their face and say, ‘You helped this happen.”’ That’s right, these two believe that all those named have forced God “to lift the curtain and allow the enemies of America to give us probably what we deserve.” With Robertson sitting—in as Falwell’s yes—man, nodding at every uttered word, the two continued to blame others. Apparently the United States federal court system and others are also to blame for the secularization of America as they continue to drive God out of the public square. The Constitutional protection of separation of church and state apparently doesn’t matter. Abortionists are to blame because, “... when we kill 40 million innocent little babies, we make God mad.” Reaction to the comments thus far has been anything but positive. Ralph G. Neas, President of People for the American Way called the remarks “absolutely inappropriate and irresponsible.” He went on to add that the remarks were clearly against President Bush’s plea for national unity. A spokeswoman for the American Civil Liberties Union said the group, “will not justify the Falwell- Robertson remarks with a comment.” There has also been universal LEEr OF CENTER , ,, COLWITFSY C J AMEN! Falwell, well—lORTs EDITOR EMAIL: ERANI