University of North Alabama - Diorama Yearbook (Florence, AL)

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CUT THAT OUT Censorship is a hot topic on campus md across the nation as artists begin to fight for their rights BY TARA WHTITLE « ' i June 6. music history was Tiade. For th« first ttme in America, it became iBegal to sing a song. U.S. District Court Judge Jose Gorualez. Jr. . mled that the afcum As Nasty as They Wanna Be by 2 Live Crew was iih ene, and therefore not pro- 1 by the First Amendment ijuarantee to free speech. In CiiKinnati. Ohio, the district Momey ' s office indicted the Con- temporary Arts Center and its direc- tor Dennis Barrie on misdemeanor obscenity charges for displaying a photography exhibition by the late Robert Mapplethorpc The jury acquitted Banie and the galery. stating that the photographs wore artistically valuable and there- fore could not be classified as obscene These two prominent events have ignited a debate over the state of censorship in America The First Amendment of the Constitution stales, XMn ess shaD make no law abridging the freedom of speech With this in mind, many people are strongly opposed to the idea of censorship. Allen Voss, a junior from Lawrenceburg. Tenn., said. Our country is based upon the idea that we are free to do whatever we choose as long as we don ' t interfere with the rights of others. No one forces people to buy or listen to music such as that performed by 2 Live Crew, so they should be able to sing about whatever they choose. English major Brooke Perry agreed, quoting the time-honored maxim. That government is best which governs least. According to Jay Webb, the issue is not so easily resolved. Many people have different ideas on what censorship is Some say it is not selling the records, while others see not playing a song on the radio as censorship. Further complicating the issue is the matter of record labeling For years the Parents ' Music Resource Center, headed by Tipper Gore, has lobbied Congress for mandatory labeling of records containing sex- ually explicit and or violent lyrics. While the PMRC has not found success in the form of national legis- lation, many record companies have begun voluntarily placing stickers reading Parental advisory, explicit lyrics on many recent releases, such as Prince ' s Graffiti Bridge and Warrant ' s Cherry Pie. Even scattered record labeling has caused dissention. Sophomore Ashley Savage said, I don ' t think it should be up to some bureaurocrat or the PMRC to decide what is offensive and what is not. That decision should be left up to each individual. However, Webb said that, when It comes to record labeling, censor- ship isn ' t the real issue. Many artists don ' t care about the Constitution: they just care about their record sales. It all boils down to money, not morals. The debate over censorship will cool in time, however. Americans will find some other issue to grap- ple over and they will forget about nasty records and dirty pictures. But not for long. ' smmmi WARNING IABF.1,S .vion ih.-v- .ilNmi ir,v.T . ■1 dii tttni()! iu .ipjvabt ' i.fnw ilTnidj t», M.irV A. IXXNONG OVER a Sktcad OOxmcr compact dtK k BaHy Fiaaonar CXComa ' t muric hat not ipmkad conttovmy. bul het acnont (tuch a rcfu ig to tpptm on Saturday Nighl Live ' w(h comedian Attdrcw Din day) have (Ptioto by Aithut Kiifcby) MC.i ' t- ' ■ ' 125

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FLOR-ALA ASSOCIATE EDITOR and music critic Arthur Kirkby picks up a copy of the con- troversial 2 Live Crew album As Nasty As They Wanna Be to review. Two versions of the album were released in an effort to subdue protests against the recording ' s allegedly obscene lyrics. (Photo by Mark A. Casteel) THOUGH CONTROVERSIAL, a few tapes considered suspect by conservatives are availa- ble at local video stores. (Photo by Mark A. Casteel) 24

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v, ■ KjVA :i,v. 1l.V . ' ■■-»v . ' ,v CRISIS IN THE GULF Yhe biggest U.S. military buildup since Vietnam sparked concern for peace in our time BY MIKE WAi ■■fi ' Jfi-Y 7r- -m I his will not stand; this will not stand, this aggression against Kuwait. These words, spoken by President George Bush in response to Iraq ' s invasion of Kuwait, officially signalled the beginning of the American military buildup in the Persian Gulf. In early August, Saddam Hus- sein, president of Iraq, invaded Kuwait, a small country that lies on Iraq ' s borders. Afraid that Hussein would attack other countries in the Persian Gulf region and thus con- trol a large percentage of the world ' s oil, President Bush acted quickly. He amassed United Nations support as well as the support of other coun- tries and implemented his military stragegy known as Operation Desert Shield. When President Bush ' s military operation went into effect the week of August 13, 50,000 American servicemen were sent to Saudi Arabia as blockades were organized to stop most import and export ships from doing business with Iran. With these military buildups. President Bush quickly drew his line in the sand. The military buildup has been the greatest since PHOTOGRAPHS of ASN Michael Spencer, Danny Williams and Lance Corporal Timothy Bradford adorn a table a Southside Baptist Church Church members set up the table to recognize the three of its members who are In the Gulf (Photo by Mark A. Casteel) the Vietnam War. Many students who serve in a Reserve or National Guard unit found that the Persian Gulf Crisis was a threat to them. How did stu- dents feel about the crisis? Junior criminal justice major Molly McHen- ney, a former sergeant in the U.S. Army and a member of the National Guard, did not see it as a threat. If my Guard unit was called, I would go. It would also make me proud to serve the U.S. because I made a decision to join the Guard. Some students feel that war is frightening, no matter how pre- pared we are. Tim Price, a junior criminal justice major and a second lieutenant in the Army National Guard said, War is something that we have been trained for, but if war broke out, we would be scared because we ' ve never been in that situation. However, all students are not in agreement that the U.S. is correct in their reaction. Alex DeJarnett, a junior, said, They are calling it a crisis. I really don ' t see that it is a crisis right now. I don ' t feel that we are justified in our action. The only reason the U.S. is there is to pro- tect its money interests. Tommy Martin, a sophomore and a Spec 4 in the National Guard took an all-or-nothing approach tc the situation. We need to exert some military force in the Gulf or get out, Martir said. Faculty members join students ir their feelings about the Gulf Crisis Dr. Clark Mueller, associate professor of history and politica science, said, Saddam Hussein ' ; action is unacceptable and his rea sons are not valid. In this instance our presence is justified but w should move out of the regior when this conflict ends. Dr. Jimmy Riser, associate professor of English and a Vietnan: veteran said, I know we must pro tect our oil interests but I can set some parallels to Vietnam. W( might be trapped into staying in th( region for an extended amount o time. The cold war is over but there an new threats to peace. With Presi dent Bush ' s Operation Deser Shield, along with support, it is tc be hoped that Saddam Hussein ' ; actions will discontinue and peac« will linger. FEW THINGS are more encouraging to the ■troops than letters from the Slates, Beth Ingleright, Stephanie Wilson, Stephanie Moore. Tammy Burlingame, Stephanie Reed, Sandy Goode, Annie Taddeo and Beth Tutw gathered their pens and paper to put th encouragement into writing. (Photo by H Stokes) 26