Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, November 20, 1995 TAG: 9511210001
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A-4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
Thank you, Lazarus, for hanging in there. But downtown belongs to the B's now - banks, bridges, bums, and the '60s-style beatniks or yuppier former beatniks.
I think the absence of those store windows reflects how far society has fallen. We don't all wear baggy pants below our waist, but we do dress up less. And that sometimes affects the way we think and act.
Bring back the glamour.
DELORIS A. KING
ROANOKE
Women's Rugby was misrepresented
IN RESPONSE to your Oct. 30 article, ``Still scuzzy after all these years'':
The article grossly misrepresented the Virginia Tech Women's Rugby Club and the more than 20 other Virginia Rugby Union clubs that came to this year's Ed and Sandy Lee Tournament. Rugby is often portrayed in conjunction with the active social life that's associated with many club activities. But once the pitch is taken in the state cup tournament, it's the tireless hours of practice and preparation that make a team victorious - not beer and bawdy songs. All teams that made it to the cup had to compete for limited slots, and all should be noted for the effort and talent that took.
A Rugby match is a hard-hitting, full-contact 80-minute match. And while it may not be a sport for the weak, there's a great deal of skill and finesse involved.
Your writer was very irresponsible in her techniques and with the article's content. She interviewed the team president and coach, and both provided her with much positive information that she didn't mention. She later approached a group of young college women - nervous about the games to come - and began to joke with them about the sport and the team's program. She didn't introduce herself as a reporter, and she goaded the young women to joke with her.
Suggesting that this team won the state tournament under the circumstances she suggested is preposterous. The team has followed an intense running program, and spends hours of work each week under the guidance of two men who have dedicated their time and knowledge to our betterment on the playing field. We have attempted to foster team unity with potluck dinners on nights before matches. The work we've put into being able to represent our state in the upcoming Mid-Atlantic Rugby finals was treated negatively, and teams that worked just as hard but didn't make it as far were laughingly dismissed.
Also, in none of the songs our club sings do yeast infections figure as a topic. The journalist didn't catch the gist of the song lines. Absolutely no men are members of our club, and we wonder how Rugby clubs could be considered all-male when eight women's clubs played in the tournament. The headline on the article was insulting and unfounded.
ELISABET B. FAGERSTEN
Senior member, Virginia
Tech Women's Rugby Club
BLACKSBURG
Let governors try for a second term
I, TOO, wish to thank The Roanoke Times for not endorsing the candidacies of Sen. Brandon Bell, Trixie Averill, Jeff Artis and Newell Falkinburg, as per their advertisement that ran in your Nov. 6 newspaper. Instead of succumbing to partisan election hyping, you tried as always to judge the candidates on their past record and/or political contribution to the welfare of your Roanoke Valley. Doing such, your newspaper continues to be a voice of reason in Western Virginia.
While the subject is politics, I join other voices in expressing disapproval of a one-term governorship for our state. From my viewing, it seems governors from either party, upon election, hit Capitol Square in Richmond running for national office. They undoubtedly know they must attract the attention of the ``big boys'' before they become ex-governor what's-his-name after four years. Two terms (or even three) would establish more accountability in the governor's mansion, and replace the ``preparation time for going on to the big show'' that it seems to have become.
FRANK D. WILLIAMSON
COVINGTON
Drug offenders need treatment
I AM concerned about cutting funds for human services, especially drug and alcohol treatment. Treatment centers have saved my life.
In most drug-related crimes, the offender is sent to a penal institution, time is served and then he or she is again released into society. The disease of alcoholism or addiction is rarely addressed to any effective degree. Without proper treatment and education about their disease, offenders will most often commit more crimes.
I urge citizens to support legislators who support drug-treatment programs. Please don't support legislators who do not, because it will only cost us more tax money in the long run.
You or a loved one could be the victim of a drug-related crime as a result of funding cuts for this extremely important program.
LIBBY BYRD
ROANOKE
by CNB