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a
SENATE GOESI N A NE
could tell them they're full of crap." He
,b~ I L I 'I IL ' sllsnrs~e~5~;i~i~s~ allow each student to decide for himself added, "Thank god there is no agency that
whether he wishes to join a particular oversees what people write or say. Once
organization."
you start making regulations as to what's
He added, "There can be no democracy
obscene and what's not obscene, what you
unless you trust that individuals are
can and can't say the next step is
intelligent enough to make their own
oppression."
decisions." The senate also discussed recent clashes
David Greene, recently elected Polity
among senators and what should be done to
Treasurer said, "We are at an institution of
remedy them at the October 30 meeting.
higher education and if we are here to
Slepian said, "It frustrates me a lot that
maximize freedoms, I think it's a
there is so much infighting in Polity. We
contradiction in terms to stand in favor of
spend too much of our time dealing with
an organization that discriminates."
Leonard Shapiro, the Polity lawyer also each other. The student government is a
spoke at the Senate's previous meeting of check on the administration, we should not
be fighting with each other."
j October 30. Shapiro discussed freedom and
Sophomore representative Nadia Chanza
Scensorship in the context of a university
J and American society at large. With said, "I think that some senators do not
Iun reference to freedoms guaranteed in
the respect each other." Commuter Senator
constitution he said, "These freedoms are Ron Nehring said, "There should be a level
by Joe DiStefano like the KKK coming on campus." He said essential, without them we'd have no of professionalism which is conveyed
that now that the recommendation has country." here...I think we all have an idea of what
Military recruitment has because a major passed, he will look into legal action that Shapiro said, "With respect to your professionalism is."
issue at universities around the nation Polity can take if the military continues to school's freedom of speech you have a Senator Jerry Canada read a letter
because of the military's refusal to recruit recruit on campus. tremendous amount of latitude as far as alleging that on October 24 he saw Senator
homosexuals. At the Polity meeting on Senator Richard Cole said, "If we freedom of speech is concerned, freedom Vinny Bruzzese, "use his foot to deface
November 6, the Senate approved a disagree with the military's decision to not of the press, and freedom of religion." He one of Rahul Rametra's campaign posters."
recommendation opposing military recruit or allow homosexuals in the added, "Every freedom has its limitations. Rametra was running for freshman
recruitment on campus. Last year, the military, it's our duty to change the rules, There's no freedom to interfere with other representative at the time. Canada's letter
Senate overwhelmingly approved a similar and the way to do that is to lobby your people's freedom and that's where the limit recommends that, "Senator Bruzzese
motion. Since the senate has new members government." comes in." should be removed from office and
this year, president Dan Slepian said that Non- discriminatory recruitment was also Although he discoursed on freedom in permanently stripped of his Polity
he thought it would be fair for this year's discussed at the October 30 Polity Senate general, it was obvious that the Senate privileges. If Canada's statements are true
senate to consider the issue. meeting. The meeting featured a guest invited him to speak to clarify censorship then Bruzzese is in violation/of Polity's
According to Slepian, the issue arose last speaker, Dr. Ernest Van Der Haag, a issues relating to freedom of the press election bylaws which states, "Any student
year when a homosexual student came to distinguished scholar at the Heritage which arose at a past Senate meeting when allegedly impeding the election process,
the University Senate to tell them that he Foundation and a contributing editor of the a motion was made to take away the funds such as ripping down campaign
thought the military's policy of not National Review . Haag stated, "I think the of the Stony Brook Press. literature....will be brought before the
recruiting homosexuals was unfair. The army is stupid not to accept homosexuals He said, "One does have the right to Judiciary for disciplinary actions such as
University Senate then formed a committee because history has told that homosexuals publish seventeen columns of straight removal of voting rights, ineligibility for
on nondiscriminatory recruitment. Shortly. make excellent soldiers." He added, obscenities, the difference is you have the election status. and the forfeiture or
after, they stated that they were opposed to "Stupidity is certainly not choice to read that paper or not." disqualification of other Polity services."
the military's recruiting on campus, on the unconstitutional." Referring to Van Der Commuter Senator Steven Mauriello asked Commuter Senator Richard Cole said,
grounds that the military should not be Haag's use of the word "stupid" to describe Shapiro, "...if it would be possible to "He's [Bruzzese] done a lot of good things
allowed to recruit on campus because of a the policy, LGBA co-chair Brandon Rush impose restrictions upon what they would for the Senate. This is too trivial or not
university policy which bars any group accused Van Der Haag of, "Making light of like, what the community in general would enough evidence to really go forward with
which discriminates on the basis of race or an aggressively hateful policy." Rush like to see and hear?" Mauriello made the this type of action." He suggested the
sexual preference to recruit on campus. added, "We're not talking about denying point that since students are paying an Senate, "...make some kind of verbal
Slepian said, "The military is staying on access to a recruiter just because we activity fee which in parts funds the reprimand." Since then, Canada has
campus because President Marburger said arbitrarily disagree with them." campus student media they should have dropped the charge against Bruzzese in
that's the way it's going to be." He also Haag argued that the military should be some say as to their content. return for a apology which Bruzzese
said that, "...saying we're in favor of allowed to recruit on campus because Shapiro stated, "You are not buying the addressed to the senate.
keeping an organization on this campus barring them from recruiting prevents right to censor the newspaper, they could
that discriminates in any way shape or student from making their own decisions say whatever the hell they please and you
form in my eyes is endorsing something about the issue. He said, "You should
moomm
white." This
mirror again."
Jeffries touched upon the issue of the
controversy surrounding his speech at
stated that, "...a combination of the real phenomenon which Albany after which it was alleged that he
estate dealers, and the bankers, and corrupt effects the majority was Anti-semitic. He said that this was just
construction people, have pulled the wool of people of color in a smoke screen in order to attack the
over your eyes and you're worrying about this country is a curriculum of inclusion, something which
me? You better start worrying about problem of the he has not been a part of since 1989. To
yourself and worrying about this nation existence of two attack the curriculum of inclusion because
before the whole thing sinks..." souls in one body. of statements made by Dr. Jeffries during
Jeffries then went on to perform a This existence of a his speech at Albany is a ploy to stop the
libation. He explained that a libation is an "t w o - nes s", incorporation of multi-cultural education
African ceremony that is typically explained Jeffries, into the system. This is merely a smoke
performed before any important event comes about from screen, created by the people who are
such as a wedding ceremony, a funeral, or being an African (or opposed to new curriculum, in order to
a crowning. The purpose of the libation is Asian, Latino, or divert the public's attention from the real
to ask for support from the ancestor spirits Native) living in a issue - the failure of our present Euro-
of the ancient Africans in order to He blamed much of this on the media white supremist society. Therefore, while centric education system.
strengthen the individual(s) performing the which he said portrayed Africans and white society acknowledges the existence Dr. Jeffries spoke for three and a half
libation and give them "vision for the Latinos as criminals which produces an of the African person as an African, it also hours, but as far as the audience was
future." As Jeffries performed the libation image in the minds of law enforce.ment forces Ihem to assume a white identity, concerned he could have spoke for twenty
he recited verses praising the agencies when it comes to dealing with this is the cause of "two-ness." This "two- hours, nobody wanted him to leave. His
accomplishments of the African people these groups. Due to this media-created ness" is what causes people such as captivating style and obvious wealth of
starting with the ancient Africans who image, Jeffries stated that therefore "you Michael Jackson to go through countless attention had many leaving the lecture
started life on this planet, began are assumed to be a criminal element when medical procedures in order to achieve a asking themselves if this was really the
civilization, and spread it to the rest of the the police encounter you...and you are white appearance. Jeffries said that there is same man who the media has made into
world and ended with praising the assumed to a criminal element when you a process that takes place within the some evil Anti-semitic monster.
--
with African countries. The speakers
TNT TOIL ET
~u ~ I) ~ ~ ~ ~~ ~~ d)
Exploding Bowl Claims
with Bob Beakman No Casualities
by Bob Beakman often you find yourself saying, "Gee, is the participants were not so lucky. together, hubby was of course fully
that a urinal or a Ford Pinto?" It is for A neighbor of mine, who we will call prepared donning dress socks, dress
Perhaps in the past, man's best friend these very reasons the following story will the toilet woman, recently suffered a slacks, a dangling lipid sack called his
was the dog, but in this century it has been scare millions. similar peril. It seems that during dinner gut, and a grin. In his vain attempt to near
the toilet. Better known as the pot(ty), the In a story sent in by alert reader Jethro one evening last winter, the sound of the crash site, he lost his footing in the
dumper, flush-o-rama, and my personal Lichtenbaum, Ms. Miriam Smeek of the shattering glass came from upstairs. Upon rushing tide and fell, landing directly on
favorite- the log flume, the toilet is a most Netherlands had been faced with her toilet inspection, it was found, the tank of the his coccyx bone, and causing what he
revered and wondrous object. Providing a exploding, not once, but twice in the last toilet had gone awry, sending shards of later described as testicle wrenching pain.
neat comfortable squatting place for the two years (I'm not kidding). It seems her porcelain careening off the wall and floor. In the most humanistic move of the year,
daily soul draining, as well as a cool toilet has developed the nasty habit of The toilet woman, in an exclusive the toilet woman offered her hurt husband
resting spot for the face after many-a- blowing to smithereens on somewhat of interview, told me of the horror. "Water nothing but hysterical laughter.
morning hurler, the toilet has been an annual basis. In an off the record was rushing down the stairs like fuckin' Is there a moral to this story, probably
anointed in reverence in the description of interview, Miss Smeek told The Press, "I Niagra Falls." She went on to say, "Damn not, but on the off chance that there is be
lifes daily activities...bowing to the didn't mind the water, but I feared for my toilets, ain't made like they used ta." Here sure to use the proper protective gear
porcelain god, laying cable in the trench genitalia" (of course this was in Dutch so comes the really sad part. It seems her when using any tool where there are nude
of doom, blowing chow down the river she might have actually said "No thanks, I husband, whom much like all good parts of your body against potentially
Quai, and hurling chum at the whirling hate maple syrup). Luckily, no one was husbands was sound asleep when this took explosive devices.
wizard of rectum rinsing. Man, in his injured by the initial blast or the fallout place, was rushed to the scene. Expected, P.S. Never ask your wife for help if
reverence for the toilet, has also shaped it following that incident. In an unrelated in a Merlin like manner, to wave his you have just made a fool of yourself. All
like nothing else on this Earth. It is not incident occurring much closer to home, magic wand and snap the toilet back she will do is laugh.
I U
The
by Darko Mrakovcic
arsaw Ghettos favouring an "integral Yugoslavia" (i.e. Great Serbia) and
Most American media (and consequently the American its impressive federal army to the democratic republics.
public) are coping very well with the shocking news from Croatia would not have minded being supported by the US
This is part H of the Serbo-Croatian conflict Central Europe. Even more, the desperate struggle of the instead of Germany ( then the American influence in the
viewpoint that was strated last issue. virtually unarmed Croatian people for its very Balkans would not have been undermined).
existence in the face of the ever fiercer attacks by the On Nov.8 the Me Neal- Lehrer News Hour also aired a
powerful Serbian war machine and massacres footage of the British Independent TV in which the
VICIOUSNESS OF THE committed by the resurrected Serbian facist (cetnik) following very indicative assessment was given: one of the
SERBIAN-CROATIAN WAR units is already being perceived as a natural and inevitable main reasons for the Serbian-Croatian antagonism is the
Dubrovnik, the world's best preserved medieval walled state of affairs. In view of the almost frenetic alertness and fact that "during the WWII Croats fought on the German
city is serving its purpose again. Although the surrounding outbursts of compassion for Kuwaitis a year ago, it is side, while Serbs fought for the Allies". In response to the
residential areas are still defended by the Croatian national interesting to observe how resignedly and more rationally letter by Mr Armus it must be said that this statement is
guardsmen, they might be soon forced to retreat to the the American public is reacting now to the Croatian crisis. totally false: firstly, this antagonism was caused long
inner city whose fifteen feet thick walls offer much better Of course, this is easily explained by the absence of "vital before the WWII by Serbian despotism after Yugoslavia
protection from an enemy infinitely superior in firepower American interests" in this case, but it is still impressive was created in 1918, and secondly, it is a blatant
and also in numbers. Since the Serbian (or "federal") army how well orchestrated the mainstream media are : last year distortion of history (the word "lie would be equally
has so far more or less refrained from bombarding the the American moral standards were praised in unison, this good, but it is not used by people prepared for an
invaluable cultural treasure in the city center, those 50,000 year that issue is consistently suppressed. Given the facts argumented discussion) to say that in WWII Croatians
inhabitants of Dubrovnik who had failed to evacuate that media both shape and express the public opinion and were fascists and Serbians were anti-fascists. On the
prior to the siege have found refuge within the city that moral categories do influence the electorate, the contrary, it is true that in both nations there were both
walls, while their homes are being shelled by howitzers American position on Croatian tragedy could be partially fascists and anti-fascists and that among Croatians the
and naval artillery. This number includes thousands of ascribed to the notorious lack of dynamics (or a not too preponderance of antifascists was even more convincing
refugees from the surrounding villages which were subtle totalitarianism) in the political life of this country. than among Serbians. In this context a long quotation from
looted and burned by the invading Serbian troops. In other words, if there were real opposition parties on the an interview with a leading Jewish intellectual in Croatia
(After seeing such barbarism, even the overzealously political scene, they would have already scored points on Slavko Goldstein (a dissident both before and after the fall
impartial BBC reporter from Belgrade Misha Gleny the moral aspects of the Croatian crisis. of communism in Croatia) in the August 23 issue of the
admitted that this unprovoked Serbian invasion of an Croatian weekly "Globus" would be pertinent (the
ethnically very homogeneous Croatian area can only be ARE THE EC SANCTIONS REALLY DIRECTED translation is as literal as possible, and thus awkward):
characterized as a clear case of a most brutal aggression.) AGAINST SERBIA? "One can often encounter comparisons
Thus, almost the entire population of the Dubrovnik The main factor which determines the American and between the (wartime) 'Independent State of Croatia' and
county has been confined for forty days to the area British attitude towards Croatia seems to be a belief that a the Third Reich, but I think that they can not withstand
within the city walls of about 1 km in diameter. Water process of complete democratization of Eastern Europe critique. The Germans actually elected Hitler and in a
has been rationed to five liters a day per family and the would be very turbulent and, if successful, could lead to great majority followed him long enough. No one can say
food supplies are also very scarce. According to a BBC the emergence of new superpower, namely continental that Croatians in a great majority elected (the 'ustase'
reporter, the defiant mood in the city was correctly Europe. Because of its strong social-democratic traditions, leader) Pavelic and followed him long enough. He was
expressed by the mayor when he answered a question it could even have some ideological differences with the brought in from outside and installed into power by
about the possibility of surrender by saying : "Never, US. More importantly, it could be economically superior outside (the Axis) powers. The picture becomes much
never, never. We will rather starve to death or fight to the to the States. Of course, the confrontation between these clearerwhen one realizes that Pavelic came with 300
last man in case of an assault on the inner city by an two superpowers would most likely remain limited to the 'ustase' and until December31. 1941 collected only 16,000
overwhelming force." economic sphere, but still, the Anglo-Saxon leading role members of 'ustase' units. If that is compared with the
Despite these bleak prospects, Dubrovnik for the time would be challenged. On the other hand, if this process of number of 85,000 'domobrani' (regular troops) who
being looks like paradise when compared to some other democratization is slowed down and kept under control, representedaforcibly mobilized 'silent majority' and with
Croatian cities which are not under UNESCO's protection Eastern European countries will not join the club of the the number of about 40,000 members of the armed
as a part of world's cultural heritage. Vukovar is the most prosperous Western countries, but will remain an attractive resistance in wartime Croatiaat the same time (of which
striking example. This town on the Croatian bank of market and a source of cheap labour. Thus, Mr at least one quarter were Croatians), one can discern the
Danube used to have a (predominantly Croatian) Eagleburger in the interview on the McNeal-Lehrer News attitude of an average croatian towards the (fascist)
population of 60,000 before Croatia declared Hour clearly states that the very probable further escalation regime. The number of Croatiansin 'partisan'units (the
independence last June. Then most of its Serbian of the Serbian aggression of Croatia does not have to armedresistance) increasedsteadily and at latest by 1943
inhabitants (who made less than one third of the concern Americans : since "all the participants are exceeded greatly the number of 'ustase'."
population) evacuated the town purportedly because of a intent on killing each other" the West does not have any It should be added that by 1943 the number of Croatian
fear that they might become second class citizens or even moral obligations to stop the war. Instead, it should just 'partisans' actually exceeded the number of fascists
existentially threatened. But in July such evacuations in wait until all the mischievous "participants" exhaust (ustase') and regular troops ('domobrani') put together.
many parts of Croatia turned out to be reliable precursors themselves by the war. There is an obvious logical flaw Thus in 1943 the regular troops were no more the "silent
to all-out attacks by combined forces of Serbian rebels and in this argument, namely the cynical accusation of majority".(Actually they fought very inefficiently and
army reservists. onsequently some Croatian civilians Croatians (of "being intent on killing") in spite of the many of them defected to anti-fascists.) The Croatian
(especially women and children) also evacuated the town admission that Serbians are "the worst of the bunch" capital of Zagreb alone gave 20,000 anti-fascist
and an efficient defence was organized (most of the and that "the principal fault" lies with the aggressive 'partisans', which was more than 10% of its almost purely
Croatia's illegally purchased anti-tank and anti-aircraft Serbian imperialism. This flaw is awkwardly covered by Croatian population in 1941. Similarly, the Northern
weapons were shipped to those eastern regions). After vague imputations that Croatia is also "irrational" and "has Adriatic region (the native region of the author of this
opening skirmishes m early August, an all-out assault on its own little agenda". Perhaps Mr Eagleburger would not article) gave 80,000 (exclusively Croatian) anti-fascist
Vukovar followed on August 25. Soon the town was cut even mind if Serbia wins the war and creates the kind of fighters who, among other things protected the Serbian
off from the rest of Croatia. According to Croatian order that suits most the US , namely a resurrected minority in the Velebit mountain range from the fascists
reporters from the frontline the Serbian losses in this totalitarian Yugoslavia with an even worse Serbian
ongoing battle have been enormous : about 4,000 dead,
('ustase'). (Since the letter by Mr Seth includes an almost
domination. In accordance with that, the long awaited EC explicit personal denigration, perhaps a personal defense
150 tanks knocked out, 30 airplanes downed etc. Although sanctions (determined in the shadow of the NATO of the author would be in order: if the Oct. 1 article were
this is impossible to check, there is ample evidence that meeting) clearly do not have the objective to stop the war indeed offensive (obviously to the relatives of the victims
this campaign has been catastrophic for Serbia (the as soon as possible : they include reinforcement (instead of of the Croatian fascists), then it would be offensive to the
commander of the army corps engaged in this operation lifting) of the arms embargo of Croatia and thus increase author himself since his father's brother (who joined
was killed in battle, the numerous Serbian deserters speak the military imbalance which is the main cause of 'partisans' just like the father and 300 more inhabitants of
of a lack of motivation and low morale in spite of the aggression. (Serbia is not hit by this embargo since the the author's home town of 2,500 people) was killed by
enormous superiority in both firepower and manpower). entire Yugoslav military industry is concentrated in 'ustase'.)
The response of the war lords m the "federal" army high Serbia.) Furthermore, the only sanction which could be In summary, the Serbian nationalists within the federal
command to this situation was more than predictable for important in the short term, namely the oil embargo of administration and diplomacy managed to ascribe all the
anyone who has an idea of their political record : Vukovar Serbia, has only been mentioned as a possibility. In
has been leveled to the ground and the ruins are still positive characteristics of Yugoslavia which won
addition to that, it has only vaguely been promised that sympathy in the Anglo-Saxon world to Serbia, while
being bombarded by multiple rocket launchers, air-force, sanctions will be applied selectively and will not hit
heavy artillery from the Serbian bank of Danube and Croaia was portrayed as an insignificant "region" with
Croatia. In conclusion, the main message to Serbia ineradicable primitive fascist tendencies which can only be
gunships on the river. Although pounding the ruins sounds conveyed with this sanctions seems to be the following : it controlled within a Yugoslav framework. (Of course this
irrational, there is some logic behind it : most Croatian nas been given one more chance to put the unarmed
guardsmen use cellars as shelters and get out only when was not necessarily taken seriously by foreign politicians,
Croatia "in order" by a radical escalation of war, but the but it served as the base for a useful "moral" argument.) In
the bombardment stops, i.e. when the infantry and tanks time for this operation has been limited since it is too
attack. The fact that 13,000 starving civilians, including reality, Croatia is the most prosperous (along with
embarrassing for the West to continue to tolerate the Slovenia) and the most cultured part of Yugoslavia and
2,000 children, also hide in cellars which are now being aggression for too long (after all, the contradiction
systematically destroyed by artillery fire, does not seem thus the strong Yugoslav anti-fascist resistance which
between the Western public opinion and the actions of the tied up to 20 German divisions to that region, the
to concern the Serbian generals. (Incidentally, the West could result in a boost for the opposition parties in all
"federal" army did not grant a safe passage to a Red Cross Yugoslav opposition to Stalin and the liberal tendencies
Western countries.) towards democratization should be mostly counted to
convoy which was supposed to evacuate women and WHAT DOES THE CROATIAN GUILT
children from Vukovar.) It was only the commander of the Croatian credit (It was not accidental that the 'partisan'
CONSIST OF? supreme commander Tito was a Croatian.) The absurdity
besieged "federal" troops in the barracks in the Croatian There is no doubt that the principal Croatia's fault is its
capital who distanced himself from the intense of the identification of the present-day Croatian state with
pursuing independence in spite of the failure to obtain a the puppet wartime state is best seen from the fact that
bombardment of the ruins of the Vukovar hospital by 500 permission for that from the West, more precisely from its
kg bombs and cluster bombs. (In addition to a few hundred wartime anti-fascist fighters almost without exception
Anglo-Saxon part. The fact that Croatia did obtain even an support the present-day Croatian leadership and many of
wounded Croatian guardsmen and Serbian POW's, there unequivocal support from Germany, Scandinavian
are also mothers with new born babies and other civilians them even hold mportant positions (e.g. the president of
countries, Poland, Italy, France etc. only adds weight to its Croatia was a 'partisan' division commander). The Serbian
m the cellar of this hospital. Surgery is performed without fault (as explained above). Of course, the fact that Croatia nationalists often try to discredit them as former
anesthetics and various epidemics are rampant due to a has not made the choice of its allies is irrelevant in this communists. In connection with this it should be said that
lack of medical supplies.) context. (Mr Eagleburger plays down this fact by stressing although the Croatian wartime anti-fascist movement was
the "irrationality" of Croatians and accordingly he organized by communists, it later included a quite broad
"forgets" to mention that some remarkably rational people spectrum of parties, most notably the very strong social-
WHERE IS THE OUTRAGE? in the West had made a foolish miscalculation by democratic party (HSS). In any case, the Croatian
The Stony Brook Press'- , :page 6
"-^ ^,^'"• i ,•*- '"7\ ' , . ' ' -, •:
I I -- I I I I - VIEWPOINT
of Croatia
communists were on average of a much less totalitarian Serbian politics clearly Serbia's attempt to produce a casus belli, i.e. a
brand then Serbian communists- this is even true of the It is certainly true that the dominant Serbian party led pretext for an all-out attack on Croatia).This move of the
present-day reformed communist parties. by the Serbian president Slobodan Milosevic has never EC dismayed Croatia and forced it to frenetically
A less vicious, but more effective accusation directed at been intentionally supported by EC. intensify its acquisition of arms, this time as a real
the present day Croatian leadership is that despite its It was too obvious that this "Socialist party" was the old preparation for war.Thus,it could be said that the
antifascist past it distorts the history by misrepresenting communist party reformed in the worst possible way: crucial moment which started the spiral of events
the proportions of the 'ustase' (Croatian fascist) genocide instead of abandoning totalitarianism, chauvinism was leading to the war in Croatia was Europe's inability to
against the Serbian population. The most controversial added to replace the communist "internationalism".The understand that multiethnic communist empires
statement is the one given by the present-day Croatian change in name only made it more transparent that this inevitably had to disintegrate - either orderly or
president Frano Tudjman to a Swedish journalist in the new political creation was just the well known explosive violently, and only after that possibly reintegrate on a
early seventies. He claimed that the official Yugoslav combination of extreme nationalism and "socialism", i.e. voluntary basis.
figure of 700,000 Serbian victims in the death camp national-socialism. In spite of Croatian efforts to acquire more arms through
Jasenovac run by 'ustase' was totally arbitrary and it In the search for a party in Serbia which would secret channels, the quantity of weapons they amassed did
should be corrected to about 40,000 so that the total figure deserve its support the EC made a cardinal mistake by not impress the EC.The Community was still convinced
(including Jewish and Croatian victims) should be about discarding the not quite marginal Democratic party. The that Croatians could be forced to give up their sovereignty
70,000. This statement is often impertinently compared reason for that is very simple: at that time it was not clear in the face of infinitely superior Serbian military force. But
with the Neo-Nazi denials of the 6 million figure for the to EC that democracy in Eastern Europe is inseparable that was a totally wrong judgement : for Croatians there
victims of the Holocaust. But the differences are all too from disintegration or at least loosening of multiethnic was no way back.When Croatian leaders spoke about
obvious: the figure for the Holocaust is the result of states like USSR, Yugoslavia or Czechoslovakia where Croatian determination to fight to the last man if
elaborate research of renowned historians of different many peoples were oppressed because of totalitarian necessary, it was not meant to be just a figure of
nationalities, while the 700,000 figure for the 'ustase' system. In view of the western politicians such speech. That has never been understood by the western
death camp was an assessment of the official Yugoslav disintegration was to be prevented everywhere at any analysts because they have not made the effort to learn
(meaning Serbian) pseudo-historians in service of a price: it was seen as a dangerous chain reaction which about the "Croatian super-Katyn": in June 1945 more
totalitarian regime. (Mr Tudjman was one of the most would necessarily not only destabilize the multiethnic than a 100000 soldiers of the regular army of the puppet
influential Croatian historians of that time and a specialist western countries, but also lead to a total chaos in the East. wartime state of Croatia were massacred by those units of
for the WWII. It is interesting that he spent a few years in But the Democratic party in Serbia considered that an Tito's partisan army which were dominated by Serbians.
labour camps solely because of this statement.) orderly disintegration of Yugoslavia was possible and The massacres occurred after the Croatian army
Unfortunately, some Western historians accept the official consequently did not oppose Croatian separatism( just like surrendered to partisans in southern Austria with
Yugoslav figures without reserve and thus get completely Yeltsin does not seriously oppose Baltic and even guarantees from British high command on fair treatment of
wrong ideas about the reasons for the Serbian-Croatian Ukrainian separatisms). POW-s.The victims of those massacres were by no means
antagonism. As an illustration, even nowadays in most Thus, in fear of sending wrong signals to Ukrainians, fascists, but conscripts which had fought against their will
Western encyclopaedias one finds the figure of 1.7 million Catalonians or Scots, the EC has chosen the Serbian and very inefficiently against the Croatian partisans. (Only
as the total Yugoslav death toll during WWIL But in the faction which would ensure the old style federal system in a small number of the 30000 strong volunteer Croatian
eighties due to democratization the Croatian and Serbian Yugoslavia. That was done in spite of the obvious fact that fascist ("ustase") units were among this large mass of
historians corrected this figure to about one million (before this faction consisted exclusively of unreformed POW-s. Of course, even among those fascists only a tiny
they did not dare to publicize such corrections). It turned communists from the federal administration and from the proportion could have been classified as war criminals.) If
out that the previously sacrosanct figure of 1.7 m was army officer corps, and that consequently it enjoyed hardly one takes into account these bitter memories from the
arrived at by an incompetent Yugoslav official in the first any support among the people. The EC analysts wrongly WWII aftermath and the fact that in communist
post war years by the following method: he simply assessed that this lack of political influence could be made Yugoslavia the Croatian separatism per se was considered
subtracted the post war census figure from the projected up for by the control of the army. But their main to be the most horrible crime, it becomes clear that in this
total population figure under the assumption of the usual miscalculation consisted in the following: while they war Croatians do not have the option of capitulation. The
birth rate ( he did not take into account that during the war thought that this federalism was characterized by a milder recent massacres of captured Croatian guardsmen and even
this rate was much lower, that in 1944 a huge proportion of and thus acceptable form of Serbian hegemonism, in civilians reinforce the conviction that a total defeat of the
the 0.5 m strong German minority in Northern Serbia left reality a huge majority of those "federalists", especially Croatian state would result in death of hundreds of
Yugoslavia etc). Most Croatian historians nowadays the army officers, represented a form of Serbian thousands of Croatians.Thus the Croatian determination to
operate with the figure of about 100,000 Serbian victims of imperialism every bit as radical as the national-socialist persist in their fight for freedom regardless of sacrifices
the Croatian fascists, although there is no consensus. But one. In fact, those two factions of Serbian imperialism are should not be treated as primitive fanaticism: it is not at all
the exorbitant figures exceeding 200,000 do not appear. ideologically identical, except that the pseudo-federalists irrational to prefer dying fighting to being massacred after
It should be pointed out that in the above mentioned use more subtle terminology. Although there is a power surrender.
interview the present-day Croatian president emphasized struggle between these factions, they have sufficient
that although the proportions of te genocide against common ground to cooperate very efficiently in their Overestimation of military power of the
Serbians committed by Croatian fascists had been greatly ongoing conquest of Croatia. Thus the pseudo-federalist "federal" army
exaggerated , it was still a horrible genocide and the faction used the few true federalists (like the federal prime
criminal character of the puppet Croatian state was not in minister Ante Markovic) as a paravent which enabled them Needless to say, the fact that the Serbian leadership
question at all. His motivation for rewriting history was to get the indirect support of the EC for shares this overestimation with the EC is one of the most
not to rehabilitate the Croatian fascists, but rather to Milosevic.Recently Markovic has finally openly admitted important causes of the war- every single aggression in
prevent (using the objective historical facts) that he had never wielded any power over the "federal" history was caused by the conviction of military
manipulations of the Serbian population by the Serbian army. He has also revealed there had been a close alliance superiority.The conclusions drawn from this
imperialist Ideologists and generation of hatred between Milosevic and the army high command for at overestimation by the EC after the war started were very
towards Croatians. Indeed, the arbitrary claims that least the past seven months. logical: in the interest of stability of peace in Europe the
Croatian fascists killed ten times as many Serbians Underestimation of Croatian inevitable course of events should be accelerated in order
than Serbian fascists killed Croatians were used a long preparedness for war to prevent a long lasting war which could destabilize the
time ago to create a perception of the Croatian Soon after the non-communist Croatian leadership whole region. In other words, regardless of ethical
separatism per se as a most horrible crime. (The assumed power in May 1990 it started acquisition of a very considerations and public opinion, EC should effectively
arguments were that, firstly, Croatia owes enormous limited quantity of arms. It was by no means a real military help the side which is predetermined to win the war, i.e.
war reparations to Serbia and, secondly, in an build-up and preparation for war against Serbia. Its only the Serbian imperialism. That is why an arms embargo has
independent Croatia the Serbian minority would be purpose was to prevent a reprise of the events in 1971 been imposed on both sides: given the complete Serbian
existentially threatened since Croatians are a when a reformed communist moderately nationalist control of the formidably armed "federal" army and the
"genocidal people".) Soon after Tito's death in 1980 Croatian leadership (very similar in ideas to the fact that the Yugoslav military industry which is
such theories gradually began to appear even in Czechoslovak leadership of 1968) was overthrown by the concentrated in Serbia is working around the clock, it is
Serbian media. This well coordinated accumulation of federal authorities. That coup was accompanied by violent clear that this embargo is going to hit only the poorly
hatred led to a new wave of Serbian ultranationalism clashes between Croatian students and federal army.In armed Croatian side. Many EC analysts probably still
(actually fascism) in 1987 with the ultimate aim of spite of that, the international community hardly noticed it believe that by helping Serbia it would be possible to
enslaving the "genocidal" Croatian people. (This since there was no armed conflict and it all happened either force Croatia to give up its independence, or to
objective resulted from the curious assessment by the virtually overnight. Consequently, the federal authorities make the agony of Croatia as short as possible in case of
Serbian imperialists that in the post war Yugoslavia the managed to suppress the Croatian spring without even an all-out assault by the Serbian army.
relatively prosperous Croatia was granted too much beina condemned, let alone punished by economic But the course of war so far has provided ample
autonomy by the Croatian nationalist Tito.) embargo.The new Croatian leadership in 1990 had good evidence that the "federal" army was greatly
It can not be stressed enough that this was the period of reasons to believe that the limited Croatian armed overestimated. The all-out attack has occurred and Croatia
the so called Croatian silence: after the brutal suppression forces were sufficient as a deterrent against the Serbian has not been overrun. It has turned out that not only the
in 1971 of a moderately nationalist Croatian reformist military intervention given the initial international non-Serbian conscripts but even many Serbian reservists
movement (very similar in ideas to the Prague spring) by support for non-communist Croatia immediately after were not willing to take part in the aggression - there have
the federal authorities, the Croatian Communist party was the elections. (Another convincing argument that this been widespread mutinies and draft dodging. Many people
dominated by hard-liners who enforced a totalitarian Croatian militia was indispensable was the situation in the in Serbia even believe they have been betrayed by their
system and brought the political life to a standstill. Many Albanian-populated Serbian province of Kosovo: totalitarian leadership: it forces them to take part in a
of these hard-liners were members of the Serbian minority Milosevic abolished its autonomy and introduced a reign senseless aggressive war with unrealistic objectives just in
since they were seen as more reliable by Belgrade. of terror with only verbal condemnations from the west.) order to distract their attention from the imminent
Therefore even the most moderate versions of Croatian But then EC realized that Croatia can't be dissuaded economic collapse and to prevent a social upheaval.
nationalism were not tolerated. In particular, the from its objective to transform Yugoslavia into a loose
avalanche of hatred in Serbia was definitely not confederation of sovereign states in order to prevent In conclusion, the contradiction between the
provoked, not even opposed, by any political group in the nationalist-socialist Serbia from restoring its hypocritical Communitiy's partial declarative support for
Croatia. The isolated attempts of Croatian intellectuals absolute domination in Yugoslavia. Since the Croatia and its supposedly pragmatic rational policies
like Mr Tudjman to stop it by questioning the myth of the Community was vigorously opposed to any disintegration directed against Croatia has greatly contributed to the
Croatian collective guilt neither slowed down nor process, its support for Croatia weakened and so the tragic outcome of a conflict which could have been
accelerated this momentous process-they simply went possibility of a Serbian military intervention became very resolved easily by a concerted international action against
unnoticed. real; it would not be exaggerated to say that EC gave the the national-socialist leadership of Serbia.
green light to what it thought was the reasonable federalist
MISJUDGMENTS BY THE WESTERN Serbian faction to use military force in order to make
POLITICIANS Croatia give up its independence.(The staging of an armed
Overestimation of the true federalist faction in rebellion among the Serbian minority in Croatia was
November11,1991 Page 7
'POLITY Mý
WANT TO HELP OTHERS AND
DEVELOP YOUR CAREER?
BENIORS!!! Then Come To The
Teleconference On Student
Volunteer Services On
Wednesday, November 13th,
Appointment 12:45 - 3:30 PM
our Portrait taken for the *Learn about student
ULA YEARBOOK volunteering.
taken Nov. 4-8, Nov. 11-15 *Discuss your views about
volunteering.
*Meet with representatives
from community
agencies to discuss available
positions.
WHERE:
Javits Lecture Center,
Room 105 & 106
NOW IS THE TIME
TO GET INVOLVED!!
The Committee On State University of New York at Stony Brook
Is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity
Cinematic Arts Educator and Employer
I \
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ADVEýRTISEC
THEN
ZPOLITYPAGE CAL'L.DAV
The Stony Brook Press page 8
GRE zII S
I
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SAB
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programming dub, funded by the Student
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Polity Association, Open To everyone
SAB
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programs a wide variety of events, activities
PAGE --
POLITY-!
TO ADVERTISE- ON-THE GREE
CALL'DAVID
a NOVEMBER 11,1991 Page 9
I I - I I -
--
Mim
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Welcome to the cartoon world of Jason Epstein, whose comix will be gracing the pages of the Stony Brook P ress
for what we hope will be many an issue to come. Jason is a Poli-Sci/History student who has been draviing
comix seriously for about the last 4-5 years. For the last year or so his politcal cartoons have appeared we akly
I Ill I _ II -1
_
with a steady flame of hope in their hearts, regardless of the consequences at the polls. disclose the TRUTH it must be the entire
by Imran N. Hosein - slaves who, even when they were being Women have a more powerful place in TRUTH.
Muslim Student Association lynched, swung from the branches of hope- the universe than is otherwise recognized The civil war on abortion which is now
hope that TRUTH and JUSTICE would because 'she', woman, is the weaker, and certainly going to take place in this country
What opinion can one possibly have of ultimately triumph. GOD is always with the weak. Men, in when the Thomas-strengthened-Supreme
the judicial competence of a judge Clarence Thomas, 'the best man for the fact, are the 'maintainers' and 'protectors' Court gets the chance to overturn Roe vs.
nominated to the US Supreme Court who, job', could have instead have said: of women. If this courageous black woman Wade, is going to be a national disaster.
when publicly accused of grave sexual "Serious charges have been levelled was speaking the TRUTH in her Those who make a commitment to
misconduct, demands a postponement of against me. I want to clear my name. I allegations against Judge Thomas, if hers TRUTH, even when they are liberals,
the Senate vote so that he could have a want to establish my innocence. Let me go was a cry for JUSTICE, then it is her calm cannot but eventually oppose abortion
chance to first 'clear his name' ? - who before a Judge in a court of law and have soft voice which will ultimately prevail. (opposing it in general while permitting it
then submits to an inquiry inito the my name cleared. I voluntarily waive my After all, has this not been the very essence in special circumstances). This is
accusation by a 'political' body, the Senate rights under the statue of limitations. Only of the black experience of slavery in this inevitable since TRUTH itself is in
Judiciary Committee, but then turns after I succeed in clearing my name will I land ? TRUTH will eventually prevail. It opposition to abortion; - God Himself is
viciously against that same body, accuses it allow my nomination to go forward. That will prevail in consequences of a process TRUTH and He has spoken against
of 'lynching' him, and brands it a 'circus' ? is in my own interest, in the interest of the quite different to the system of political abortion. So long as the conservatives
We confess to being puzzled. If a judge Supreme Court, and in the interest of the ethics embraced by the Republican Party. remain faithful to political secularism,
accepts a 'circus' as adequate to dispose of country." It was as simple as that ! TRUTH will prevail because that is in the however, they must eventually concede
grave charges of sexual misconduct The importance of the Anita Hill- very nature of the historical process. Every that it is the right if the woman to make the
levelled against him, will he not enter into Clarence Thomas affair lies in the black slave in his grave knows that. choice. Society should do, and in fact, can
judicial history as the greatest 'clown' of emerging demarcation which it is making If those whose supreme loyalty is to do no more, or can no longer do any more,
all times ? between those whose ultimate loyalty is to TRUTH find themselves, in the minority, than to assist women to make the right
Judge Thomas' name has not yet been PRINCIPLES and to TRUTH, and those like Senator Byrd who shone like the choice. And that involves not only a
cleared. He has no one but himself to who would rather worship at the altar of morning star, they should not be metaphysical education on the philosophy
blame for that since he failed to take expediency in order to maintain loyalty to disheartened. This is how it has always of sex and of life but, also, the fulfillment
appropriate steps to clear his name. Rather party, boss, race, political agenda, or even been all through history. But ultimately by the society of its moral and socio-
he found it expedient to refrain from nation. this minority has always triumphed ! economic duties to the individual. In order
subjecting himself to proper judicial There appears to be a lesson yet to be History is replete with evidence that for the State to assume the right to make
process to clear his name. He attempted to learned by those who savaged Professor expediency leads to corruption, including the choice on abortion the State itself will
extricate himself from the consequences of Anita Hill. In their manifest disdain for the corruption of the mind, and that corruption have to be in a state of submission to the
the grave charges levelled publicly against sincere and serious pursuit of TRUTH in leads to the garbage bin of history. Sacred Law which came from God. At
him by going 'fishing' for 'red herrings'. the matter against Judge Clarence Thomas, The time has come for all Americans least in Christian civilization, that is no
What a judge! He mounted a counter- a Republican U.S. President and who would rather give supreme loyalty to longer possible. (It is very clearly possible,
attack on the political forces opposing him. Republican Senators have given the world TRUTH - rather than to race or party or though difficult, in Islamic civilization.)
He condemned the 'leak'. He condemned an amazing and unparalleled exhibition of nation, to make that commitment in the Thus the secular political pendulum will
the Senate Judiciary Committee. He the politics of expediency. It was reckless silence of their hearts and to live with it eventually fall, not in Thomas' garden, but
condemned the process. He was loud and and dangerous. And it has sent a frightful regardless of the consequences. There is a in a recognition of the right of women to
vociferous in his indignation that his message to all those, in the Middle East lesson to be learnt in this matter. It is that make a choice while society exerts itself to
enemies had 'pinned' on him that which he and elsewhere, in Mr. George Bush's New we should diligently seek out the TRUTH the utmost to establish and sustain
could never possibly shake off. He World Order, who dare to believe in and courageously upheld it regardless of conditions which would ensure that women
cynically exploited the suffering of his TRUTH and JUSTICE. the consequences. are not forced to make choices which they
own race in using it to his own advantage TRUTH is more powerful an actor in the The Anita Hill-Clarence Thomas matter would otherwise not want to make. In
by crying 'Uncle! Uncle!' they are political process than is party politics. has not really been disposed of. Clearly all other words, if TRUTH is to prevail in a
lynching me!' A matter which related to History reveals that TRUTH ultimately the facts have not been revealed. Professor. secular society, it is women who must
values and to personal integrity was emerges triumphant. And why should it be Hill did a disservice to TRUTH in stopping freely decided to embrace TRUTH.
diabolically disposed of through an otherwise ? Isn't God Himself TRUTH ? short of full disclosure. She, perhaps, Thomas cannot, and will not do that for her
expedient 'Republican' resort to cynical If Democrats are to learn any lesson from exercised judgement as to what part of the !- nor can a society which insists on
secular political strategy. Therein lay this event they should publicly commit TRUTH she could, with least discomfort, political secularism. That is the price of
expediency. That strategy was a betrayal of themselves and their party to a supreme disclose. The lesson to be learnt from secularism !
all those black slaves.who lived and died loyalty to TRUTH and JUSTICE, Anita's experience is that when we
- -~ir;i-~s~
speaks mainly of how "she (the embarrassing. Why is he so
A Letter Pretzel Girl) assembled these
pretzels as I (Eddy) contemplated
interested in the Pretzel Girl? Do
you think Eddy is an idiot? No, he
U.S..
by Robert v. Gilheany
Gulf War Crimes forced hospitals to operate with out electricity and quarter of 1990. The top 5 oil companies made 4.8 billion
anesthetics. Wounded people had to get limb amputation in profits in the last quarter in 1990.
It's been a few months since Desert Storm and the with no pain killer or sterilization. They were forced to Some other interesting little known facts about
yellow plague that infested this country last winter. Since amputate the old fashion way, by tying the wounded down profiteering of the slaughter. Brent Scowcroft a national
that time on international inquiry has been set in motion to and gagging them (so they wont swallow there tongue) security advisor for Bush is a major share holder in the oil
investigate war crimes by the U.S.. and it's allies against and saw off the limb, needless to say a very brutally company that did the slant drilling for Kuwait so they
the people of Iraq.
The process in which 300,000
people were slaughtered last
m- painful procedure. could steal Iraqi oil. That was a major conflict between the
two nations. George Bush Jr. is
head of an oil company that has
winter by Uncle Sam's war executive rights to an oil rich
machine include the use of island in the gulf, that is
chemical weapons in the form of protected by American forces.
phosphorous bombs and The deliberateness of the Bush
NAPALM,(NAPALM burns the administration to get this war
skin off people). The allied forces started was evident when their
carpet bombed civilian population ambassador to Iraq, April
centers such as the city of Bastra Glaspie told Sadaam Hussein
that was totally destroyed. The that the United States would be
tactics used by the U.S.. at the end neutral in a conflict between Iraq
of the war were the attack and and Kuwait she said that the
slaughter of retreating and United States and Iraq "are
qlrrrAVndeiri o crldAr
friends". This gave a green light
During that war the U.S... to Iraq to start hostilities over
bombed hospitals, high-schools, problems they cannot solve
roads with evacuating traffic, and i:···
L~;~p~~
though peaceful methods i.e. the
a bomb shelter. It also bombed Arab league.
water purification plants, dams, President Bush had his
fertilizer storage houses that sent
toxic chemicals all over
population centers and a small
''"' popularity hit an all time high. In
America racismand clinging to
patriotism has always worked
nuclear power facility that sent for people like Bush. And the
radioactive wa-sitp int the
& % %.•, 4avwA v VV
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. .&nth "reanel
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atmosphere. When we look back at the circumstances of this war upon Iraqis worked But now Bush is down iin the polls
The effect of the bombing of fertilizer plants and dams some reasons why it happened are clear. At the time, the lets hope he doesn't go for that quick fix again.
has forced people into using polluted water from the end of the cold war was threatening the military industrial The tribunal of U.S... war crimes in the Gul f will be in
Tigras and Euphrates rivers. This in combination with the complex with a peace dividend of 60 billion dollars a year. coming to Stony Brook, in the student union Auditorium
embargo has created a crises in the treatment of sick and George Bush was sagging in the polls and he is an oil man Wednesday, November 13. It will be in two s essions 3-6
wounded Iraqis. Children have been devastated by the and the gulf war was great for the oil companies. Exxon pm. The guest speaker will be Philip Berrigan.
ruthless destruction. They have been dying over the last made 1 to 4 Billion in profits in the last quarter of 1990.
ten months from curable conditions such as Profits where also up for Texaco by 35% ,Shell 69%
diarrhea,typhoid, dysentary, and cholera. The embargo has Amaco 46% and Chevron was up over 400% in that last
-cange
African Ex
by Robert V. Gilheany Cash said that Botswana is not very involved politically a state democracy that won independence from Britain in
with the struggle of its neighboring countries. Botswana is 1966 with out firing a shot
For the first time the University of Stony Brook is Diamonds are Botswana's best friend.
setting up a student e xchange program with an Botswana boasts 3 of the 7 largest diamond
African nation. Stony Brook and the University of mines in the world. For those interested in
Botswana will start exchanging students as of the fall
boycotting South Africa, keep in mind that
of 1992.Then Stony Brookers can study abroad in
jewelry is a major source of trade for
Botswana and people from Botswana can come to Pretoria, Botswana jewelry is an alternative.
Stony Brook. The diamond exchange has fueled the
" Students have come to my office interested in this economy and some industrialization is taking
program" said Floris Cash,director of the Africana
place in that country.
Studies Program. Cash along with professor Frank
Northern Botswana has a large chobe
Meyers traveled to Botswana in early October to set
gaming preserve where people can drive
up the exchange program. The exchange program is
though the natural surrounding of the wildlife
set up though A.F.S. and the office of international
in its natural habitat. On the Northern border
programs. The African coordinator of the exchange with Zaire is the tallest waterfall in the world,
program is professor Nabontu Rasebotsa,a native of Victoria Falls.
Botswana Who received her Ph.d.. in English at Stony
The University of Botswana is located on
Brook in 1988. The program will start modestly with a the capital city of Gaborone, in southern
handful of students being exchanged with the hope Botswana, only 45 minute drive to
that the program will grow. Professor cash said she
Johannesburg, South Africa. Botswana is a
hoped that other African countries will become part of bilingual country, where they speak both
exchange programs with Stony Brook. Setwana and English.
Botswana is located in southern Africa, Just north of
South Africa and between Angola and Mozambique.
Being a front line state, a nation that borders South
Africa, Botswana has been attacked by the white
minority government of Pretoria in the past. Floris
We're Moving!
The PRESS meets every Wednesday
During Campus Lifetime in Central Hall at
our new location-Room 205
LI~~I ·LI - - 1 M
NUVEMIUBt 11,1991 Page 15
Comedy Shakespeare's Wa y
by Andrew Haggerty traditional" is that they do not bother trying as Flute/Thisbe, was especially good. He The sets and the costumes were pretty
to fake British accents and that they toss in went through more rapid-fire backstage cool, although I am not too sure about the
The Acting Company claims to be "unlike the occasional topical reference or two. For costume changes than Madonna, without advertised Hieronymous Bosch influence
any other professional theater in America," example, Andrew Weems (as Bottom) does missing a beat (I could not tell if he was on their design. I can not recall any Bosch
and I suppose that is true, at least to some a dead-on version of a grating George Bush using adhesive tape or not) All the actors painting where people were wearing
extent. I really can not think of any other whine-but please! Breaking new ground turned in solid, if unspectacular spandex, kneepads, or Keds, and if the
American repertory theater so seriously you ain't. Although some audience performances, which is not a flaw or insult woodland set was out of Bosch, then it was
devoted to "developing America's most members seemed a bit put off by the since an attempted spectacular weird even for him. It was a giant "thing,"
gifted young actors" and to "building up a modem elements in the production, they performance that does not cut the mustard no other term can adequately describe it.
coast to coast constituency for live should not have been because what they can do far more damage to a production My trusty companion afterwards said it
theater." They are certainly developing saw was actually a rather tame than a hundred snotty reviewers. Mr. "was like one of those things from that
such a constituency here at Stony Brook. Shakespeare, at least by todays standards. Dowling might have learned this lesson 60's movie, where people turned into huge
Their Two Gentlemen of Verona last fall If they had been in Central Park this from Christopher Walken, whose "Dice" cannibal trees." I thought it looked more
was probably the best production put on by summer, they would have seen a bunch of takes on lago made an unappetizing mess like a mutant 30 foot lobster. It was really
any visiting company last year, and it naked Brazilians bouncing around together, of Mr. Dowling's Othello at the Delacorte cool.
would surprise me to see anything this year reciting the Bard's lines in Portuguese Theater this past June. There were no such About the only one of Mr. Dowling's
done better than their recent A Midsummer iambic pentameter. If they were at Staller problems here. Jonathan Earl Peck doubled directorial choices that I could not agree
Night's Dream. If the University wants the Center this summer, they might have seen as Theseus and Oberon, his imposing with was the way in which the entire cast
Staller Center to become a major cultural some bizarre bit of Argentinian lunacy manner blending nicely with either role. came out in their street clothes for Puck's
center for Eastern Long Island, it is good to called I Hate Hamlet, which even Tom Socorro Santiago also did well in her final speech. Too cute. Some points do not
see that they can attract a group of the Stoppard might have thought was out of double role, Hippolyta/Titania. I could not need to be pounded home with a
Acting Company's caliber-a nationally control. Against this kind of contemporary quite get into Major West's Egeus, he sledgehammer, and the fact that the play is
known company with a reputation for competition, what the Acting Company did reminded me too much of Michael Jordan, "no more yielding than a dream" is one of
quality- because that is precisely what they was positively Elizabethan. Believe it, O or his Philostrate, he reminded me too them. The street clothes squelched the
have to do in order to fulfill their mission. ye students of EGL 243, I kid you not. much of Flip Wilson. The "star-cross'd illusion too quickly.
Thank God they can do it, because if there But whatever. Irish director Joe Dowling lovers," Terra Vandergaw (Hermia), Mark Whatever. The Acting Company again
was ever a place on Earth that needs a did a damn good job with the play, Stewart Guin (Lysander), Rainn Wilson turned in a fine slice of Shakespeare at a
major cultural center, it is this benighted expertly managing to create a careening air (Demetruius) and Angle Phillips (Hermia) reasonable rate (for students, at least).
land we call Suffolk County. of headlong tomfoolery without burying all performed admirably under somewhat Maybe next year I would like to see them
The only real problem I had with this A the text's deeper issues beneath the trying conditions. They had to do most of do one of the tragedies, to see how they
Midsummer Night's Dream, was with the clowning. And, just as important, these their acting in their underwear, since as can stretch themselves without relying on
waterheaded notices which appeared about deeper issues never got the best of the soon as the forest scenes began they were too much physical comedy. They have
it last week in the campus media: i.e., that clowning. The production was hilarious. promptly de-pantsed and de-skirted by the their clowning down pat, are they just as
it will be "a non-traditional presentation Andrew Weems and the other actors fairies. I though this was a nice touch, good at hacking each other to pieces?
that centers on the sensual discovery of portraying the hapless "hard-handed men" partly for reasons of semiotics, but mostly Again, whatever they do next year is fine
suppressed desires." Well, duh. "Sensual somehow suckered into doing "Pyramus because Ms. Phillips is a completely by me, I just hope the Staller Center can
discovery of repressed desires" is what and Thisbe" carried off their roles with beautiful human being with whom I am keep delivering quality goods on the level
Shakespeare had in mind. It is in the text. near maniacal glee, cracking up not only completely in love (thank you Mr. of The Acting Company for a long time to
You can not avoid it, this is not being the audience, but the other performers as Dowling). Jeffrey Wright's Puck was come.
radical. And what exactly does "non- well. No mean trick, considering how convincing as a mischievous woodland
traditional" mean anymore, anyway? I many times those other actors must have sprite, even if he did look like a refugee
suspect that what they meant by "non- seen them do the routine. Duanne Boutte, from a Living Color video.
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25) CALZONE... ........
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The Stony Brook Press page 16
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The show was at Westbury Music Fair, thus the rather got their wish. Sometimes (particularly
by Jay S. Amster at the Westbury Music Fair) such measures are necessary.
unexpected suburban crowd. The show featured Andrew
Tosh (son of the late Peter), Rita Marley (wife of Bob and They ran down their newest album, and also included some
Thin leather ties over out of fashion paisley button crowd pleasing performances of the songs they made
downs. Baggy black slacks giving way to tacky black mother of Ziggy), Marcia Griffiths (of the I-Threes) and
Bob's legendary backup band the Wailers. famous with Bob.
leather shoes. Insipid green fluorescent stirrers coming out
It was perhaps not too surprising (considering the venue) Despite the unlikely setting, the show turned out to be a
of fruity pink cocktails. That vituperative official stench of
that the audience did not feature any Dreads, nor was the beautiful homage to two of reggae's great legends, Bob
Long Island- hairspray. Marley and Peter Tosh.
A Thursday night at the Park Bench? Carringtons? No, usually ubiquitous odor of Jamaica's staple crop in the air.
no. This was in fact the scene at what was none other than It was, however, a charged evening. The show started the
the reggae event of the year: The 10th anniversary of Bob first two hour set with Andrew Tosh's unique entry on a
Marley's untimely death. unicycle and ended with a stirring duet by Marcia Griffiths
S V.ovember, 1, 19 lPage 17
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conflicts, but they are I'11-pinch-your-nose-so-there
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conflicts. Even Red Line, a mature and recent
work, is a recoilant violence not a retaliatory one.
._'And we see the quiet desperate aimlessness in
Gathering.
Christy was so much fun to be around and you
Sreally missed something if you missed her show.
MJXII
The Stony
Brook Press page 18
Photos by
Greg Forte
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Photos by Beeone
man. in collaboration with raw guitar Seattle,' and we don't care if the media
asically, the Seattle scene was a frequencies. A true garden of sound. machines are in L.A. We'll create our
act family-like network of musicians. Another one of the many Seattle bands own."
t of the Seattle bands were friends that fled the flock, Nirvana. Nirvana's "The kids of America should not cop to
hung out together. There were no current release Nevermind on Geffen is this belief that they have to conform and
tive vibes or competitions. The bands noteworthy, but it may not please all look a certain way, and sound a certain
plemented each other, and were all everyone. The album is definitely Seattle, way to get signed and ultimately have their
uced by Jack Endino. Hence, an but it lacks the madness of the band's dreams shattered any way. Only one band
ing musical dialogue was established former SUB POP release Bleach. The new in 10,000 is going to be GNR. So if you're
attle. SUB POP managed to capture album contains many good tracks, but it is going to do it anyway, you should do it
d perfect it, a coming together of certainly a bit more tame. This does not your way, and we always allow our bands
ts. Kim Thayil, Soundgarden's mean it is not a good album, quite the to do it their way," Poneman adds.
rist, stated, "the scene was already contrary. Let's just say its more accessible. Although much of SUB POP's talent is
; Bruce and Jonathan just packaged Sorry guys, but hey, MTV loves it; you moving up and out the label remains
dedicated to exposing the best underground
s far as the out-of-town artists are rock in the Northwest. And regarding those
erned, "they are the ones our artists acts that have hit the mainstream, it seems
ed with and raved about," remarked their newly found popularity has had a
:t. Pavitt believes it is important to minimal impact on the quality of the music
Slabel like a large family. Aside from they are creating. "World domination?"
)itation, Pavitt attributes much of the Maybe so. Sub Pop sound, Full On! Take it
c industries problems to the lack of for what it is, or just leave it be.
late contact. "Labels are working
with bands that are 3,000 miles away.
There's no continual interchange of ideas." For those of you who are interested in
brought to you by Trepp SUB POP establishes close relationships raw alternative rock, you might consider
with their artists. Mutual respect plays a know, "new music first." joining the SUB POP singles club. For
For many of us, the mid to late eighties key role in their professional relationships. So where do we go from here? Sub Pop only forty dollars a year, you would
marked a period of stagnation within the The indie way is based on friendship and sound is suddenly in demand, and no receive one very limited-edition, colored
rock scene. Excluding the emergence of faith. Perhaps this is why so few indies longer exclusive to Seattle. Many major vinyl single a month. The singles would be
the one hundred mile an hour thrash scene, have enjoyed the successes that SUB POP labels are very interested in the acts, as mailed directly to your home. Former
metal was as dry as the dusty fart that came has. well as Pavitt and Poneman. The two co- singles released by the club include tracks
out of your mother's ass. The Northwest, Although SUB POP has managed to owners have received many lucrative by-Sonic Youth, Fugazi, Godflesh, and
however, was home to a burgeoning expose a lot of hidden talent without the offers from the top hats in the big arena, Dinosaur Jr. "Hey, Loser, Wanna Find
musical revolution. A relatively small media machines, many Seattle bands are but they have not succumbed to the Some Action?" SUB POP singles club
group of informed people were aware of integrating into the mainstream. temptations. "For us," Poneman says, "the only for the headstrong!
this underground musical rejuvenation, but Soundgarden has just released their joy of what we do is not so much giving
the rest of us hadn't a clue. second album with A&M, Badmotorfinger. the public everything it wants, but
Bruce Pavitt, co-owner of SUB POP Ordinarily, one would assume this was a hopefully helping the public understand For more information contact SUB POP:
LTD., started laying the foundation for "sell out," but you can cancel that thought. what it needs. That's a pretty 1932 First Avenue, Suite 1103, Seattle,
SUB POP, the independent record label Soundgarden's latest is as intense as their presumptuous thing to say. but we're Washington 98101 or call (206) 441-8245.
responsible for the exposure of the Seattle earlier releases. The band has managed to hoping to stay, if not one step ahead of the
c-ene acs <erlCi aq s1n
1 TTR POCP I Tn
began in 1986. The label and their
offerings have together brought aggressive
rock back to college radio and, perhaps,
have made Seattle home of the alternative
rock scene. SUB POP launched the careers
of essentials like-Soundgarden,
Mudhoney, Nirvana, and Tad. SUB POP
has become the independent label to be
modeled after.
SUB POP was initially a fanzine with a
regional focus. Pavitt explains, "Music is
most interesting when looked at from a
regional perspective. All sorts of visual
artists, writers, and musicians are going to
be collaborating within the same
community." Pavitt started with regionally
focused reviews of independent records,
but he was soon releasing cassette
compilations which focused on lesser
developed territories. Pavitt considered
these cassettes networking tools.
Pavitt's efforts were successful, and they
drew attention. Pavitt eventually teamed up
with Jonathan Poneman, a Seattle DJ and u.'
promoter. Together, they signed SUB S