PAGE TWO ROGUE NEWS MON., JAN. 25, 1971 In light of the great deal of controversy which resulted from the November special edition, the Rogue News staff wishes to print the following message to the students and faculty: In setting out to publish the Rogue News as new editors and staff we had one basic question which had to be answered. WHAT DO WE WANT TO ACCOMPLISH BY PRINTING THE NEWSPAPER? We answered the question on the basis of the following: The Rogue News is paid for to some extent by student body funds, it is called a student newspaper, and is distributed to the students. So we felt that the Rogue News should be a voice of the students, printed for the benefit of the students, not the teachers or school board. So the question could be answered simply in that we felt it our responsibility to publish a newspaper which the students could read, enjoy, and agree or disagree with. Most of all we wanted the students to feel involved with the newspaper. Once having made the decision we found it involved a hard course to follow. It would have been far simpler to ignore editorial issues, bag the features, and stick with straight news stories and sports. But that would have been copping out on our duty. Sure, nobody would have found anything to disagree with or take exception to, but then nobody would have bothered to read the paper either. It has been a long, hard road since the beginning of the year. We have made failures, which perhaps the special edition may have been one, and displeased several people. However, we feel that to the extent we have achieved the sought for goal. The letters to the editor column is evidence of some student involvement. Away Genes by Kathy Nidever With winter sports thoroughly under way, there emerge certain individuals who go out of their way to support the teams. Neither rain, snow, sleet or hail can detour these hardy persons, for their main goal in life is to support the team, win or lose. They are commonly referred to as bleacher bums, and are sometimes the cause of a few assorted mishaps. They not only show up at the home games, but most certainly are present at the away ones. They believe in a remotely obscure idea called school spirit. Because the athletes take time out of their lives to participate Editor-in-Chief Assistant Editor Business Manager Sports Editors Ted Reporters Lois Hill, Jerry Scannell, Advertising Managers Photographers Advisor g We appreciate the support of our principal, Mr. Smith, who has stood up for us in the face of many dissenting voices, and we appreciate the faith he has in us to do what is right. But in order for us to continue on the rocky road we need the help of the students. Those who are discontented with what they see in the paper should feel free to write and be heard. If there are suggestions for improvement, which we are sure there are, we want to hear them. Most of all, we would like to know how you personally feel about the Rogue News, and what future course you would prefer us to continue. As it is the student newspaper done for the benefit of the students, then involvement is essential. We want to do what is best, but it can't be done unless others let us know what best is. ( The Funky ( Thumb of Award s Our Funky Thumb of Fate award goes to our beloved Marcia Wixey and Betsy Hester for loving our beloved Rogue Newt. Count Too! in these sports they feel they owe it to them to skip the latest movie or party and travel to give the athletes the moral support they need. These people are not those who are obligated to go they do it just for fun. They are not the parents or managers, or cheerleaders. They are just common, every day students who can have just as much at a game or meet or match (whatever) as anywhere else. This small minority should be saluted (all five at the Klamath Falls game) for taking their time to show how much they appreciate our athletes and their endeavors. lb"00" ) CHOLASTICj THE ROGUE NEWS P""" Connie Bulkley Kathy Nidever Kacey MacGraw Neuenich wander, Hugh Simpson Deniae Balog, Linda Brown, and Larry Taylor Kacey MacGraw, Jerry Scannell Denise Balog, Kacey MacGraw Clifford Brock To the Editorializor: When I finally came across the last copy of the Rogue News 1 was surprised to find my home in one piece after returning from California. It has been brought to my attention that if it were not for the high illiteracy rate of Ashland High students and faculty and our alert administration the principal of which had not even received a copy of the paper, my home would have been bombed and I would not have been allowed to return into this state. KC MacGraw, a typical pinko journalist jumping on the come-lately club bandwagon of the new press, wrote the article "Class Studies Negro Problems," and directly misquoted me and misconstrued the facts while sitting in the same classroom where the discussions took place. KC's misquotes were bad enough, but it was the Radiclib (sic) editor that hurt the worst. Connie Bulkley, Miss Nattering Nabob of Negatism 1970, inserted into the "article", "Charles Crutchfield, dressed in a white sheet as a KKK member . . ." That is a direct lie! Never at any time during the discussion did I state that I was a member of the Ku Klux Klan. Another matter that needs to be made crystal clear is that I am not, and have never been a member of the troglodytic leftwing black studies class. I don't want to sound like a hopeless, hysterical hypochondriac of history, but I feel that the whimpering isolationists on the Rogue "News?" staff, so typical of the mulish obstructionalists of today's press, should check their facts before presenting them, and that the editor-in-chief, Connie Bulkley, should confine her comments to the editorial sections. It would be interesting to find out of Miss Bulkley is related to an ex-editor, a Mr. Roundtree (sic). It seems as though they work in the same mysterious way. Charles M. Crutchfield To the Editor: In response to the letter by Betsy Hester, in the November 25 Rogue News. While Miss Hester lavishly praised the Vista volunteers, Nader's Raiders, and Go-1 9 kids, she lumped together Weathermen and Black Panthers, without investigating the singular merits of the latter group. What mention did she make of the Panthers' Free Breakfasts for Children, People's Health Clinics, free clothing programs, and Liberation Schools? The Panthers, albeit a minority, are nevertheless hardly the destruction "crazies" that Miss Hester's over-generalized emotional appeal would haveus believe. Also, while it may be true that students "banned homecoming bonfires at nine high schools in the Portland area . . .", I can hardly see this as anything more than a token response to the environmental problem. Undoubtedly, many (most?) of these students continue to use their electric toothbrushes, drink their Colt .45 in no-return can, and fill school parking lots with their Mustangs, '62 Falcons, and Harleys. Miss Hester states that our generation is not morally beyond redemption. Very well; 1 would say simply hypocritically so. Larry Taylor Junior, AHS Madame Editor: I am writing in response to the last letter to the editor written by -Miss Kathy Shepard in the latest issue of the Rogue News. First, Miss Shepard -understand me that all that is about to be said is nothing intended against you personally, unless you take it that way. It just seems to me that you wrote your article in hopes that there would be some refutation on the point, and being a debator - I couldn't resist the opportunity! Now then your letter somehow reminded me of the story of Scrooge maybe because it was around the Christmas season. Perhaps you remember the story of the old geezer who never seemed to enjoy anything except money. Well, it seems to me, Miss Shepard, there are some distinct Scrooge characteristics in you. Your attack aginst the 'poor journalism' evidenced in the "Special Edition" of the Rogue News shows: 1.) You seem to miss the point of why a school newspaper exists, and 2.) Perhaps you drew too many quick conclusions on what was written. About my first point, the whole idea of instituting a school newspaper is to give the kids some insight into what is happening in and around our school. The news, most of the time, is on the 'light' side and sometimes even silly. But that to me is the way it should be. A school newspaper isn't supposed to be composed of earth-shaking national and international tragedies. That you can get out of any local or state newspaper. What articles are printed in a school paper are strictly about school activities and if these articles are written with a little 'creativity' and 'imagination' than who's to criticize? Secondly, I'd really like to challenge those statistics you presented about 95 to 99 of the students not caring to read about these 'silly evnts'! As we say in debate. Miss Shepard, you've produced faulty-evidence! Unless you're contending that you, personally. constitute 95-99 of the student body (nothing intended personally) then I'd take another look at those 'facts'. I didn't, unfortunately, write this letter on my own initiative. 1 had several individuals express to me their wishes for me to respond to your faulty accusations. Now, to that second point of drawing 'quick' conclusions. You expressed your opinion that drinking isn't something to be proud of and statements like, 'Latest statistics show that 100 of the students prefer drinking to going to school', isn't something that should be printed in a school newspaper. Well, it seems to me it's all in how you interpret the statement. Just because 100 of the students prefer drinking to school doesn't necessarily mean they prefer drinking 'booze', (although that point is def initely debatable!) So perhaps Scrooge sou Id examine her conscience a time or three if she feels guilty about reading statements like that. And, as for your anticipated heart attack by Mr. Brock - all I can say is if he did have one - her certainty recouperated fast! In conclusion, I'd simply like to commend Miss Bulkley and her staff for putting out, what. in my opinion, is a tine newspaper. Miss Shepard should realize that it takes a lot of hard work to be as 'imaginative' and 'creative' as our editor and staff are. Hopefully - Miss Shepard -you will try to sec my point of view as I have tried to see yours. Sincerely. Cathi Cialati To the Editor & Staff: Can we the students of Ashland Senior High stand by and let Miss Shepard insinuate that the Rogue News delivers meaningless messages of mediocroty to the masses? Admittedly the Rogue News does not concern itself with matters of international importance. However, how topical can a senior high paper be? Most of our student body does not even watch Issues and Answers, lit alone want to see a reprint of it on the pages of our beloved Rogue News. Would any of our students be interesting in pooling their funds to purchase Kathy a subscription to the New York Times? We must owe her that much, simply as a bonus for seeming to have such sophisticated taste that she has left the Rogue News and the rest of the student body behind. Miss Shepard also staes that she seriously doubts that even 5 of the student body prefers drinking to attending school, despite the statement to the contrary which appeared in our beloved newspaper. "Statistics show that 100 of our student body prefer drinking to attending school." Well, Kathy, let us put it this way, "It was not that I loved Ceasar less, but loved Rome more." Did Miss Shepard go into the field to receive her information, as she states that she represents the majority. So far, we have found no one that she has polled. In our opinion, while Miss Shepard may carry a lot of weight, her poll doesn't. After a random sample in the cafeteria, our team discovered that out of 70 people polled, 58 preferred drinking to attending school, one preferred watching soap operas, and the other 1 1 were too far gone to care! We greatly appreciated hearing that Miss Balog and Miss MacGraw set a record of "tooling the main" 51 times. It gives the rest of us something to aim for. Besides, we seriously doubt that the majority of the student body sits at home on Friday and Saturday nights waiting for Kathy Shepard to call. In conclusion, let us salute the journalistic endeavours of Miss MacGraw, Miss Balog, and Miss Bulkley, and the rest of the staff of our beloved Rogue News. With sincere thanks to those who helped us with our poll -Barb Peters, Lise Hoffman, and Karen Olson and the masses, written and adapted by Marcia Wixey, produced and directed by Betsy Hester.