"Page 2 ^ The Pendulum Thursday, March 3, 1983 editorials • letters Immunity to mistakes not always possible

There is an old maxim in the newspaper business that says ,“ If a newspaper is correct 98 percent of the time, its readers will first notice the two percent that is incorrect.” Like all papers, the Pendulum is not immune to mistakes. One of the more glaring mistakes made in this newspaper this semester was in the January 13 issue. We erroneously reported that Marydell Bright had been named director of admissions and financial aid when, in fact, she already was director of admissions and financial aid; she was actually named dean of admissions and financial aid. We apologize to our readers and Mrs. Bright. Such mistakes occur in professional papers, and they will occur in our student-run paper also, but we pride ourselves in saying that such obvious mistakes are a rarity in the paper. More often than not, the Pendulum’s mistakes are typographical errors. The Pendulum is more susceptible to this kind of error than daily papers or many college papers because it relies on an antiquated system of getting what reporters write onto newspnnt. While many newspapers now use computer Welcome Home 4077 systems that transfer written and edited copy directly to the newspaper’s pages, the Pendulum’s copy is typed on a typewriter, its length in column inches is roughly estimated and it is sent to a typesetter in Burlington. Television quality will suffer Any mistakes that slipped past our editors and those that will happen in typesetting must be caught and correct^ on the laid-out newspaper page. Everyone is involved in this often hectic and tedious with M^A'kS-kH demise operation, and proofreading is as meticulous as possible. But mistakes will still go undetected This past Monday night, many Elon the characters were fictionalized, the emo­ 'occasionally. students no doubt had their TVs tuned to tions and roles they portrayed were very ( channel 2 at 8:30 p.m. In fact, according to real. Hawkeye’s mental breakdown over the the Nielsen polls released, that was what the death of the baby and the urgency to Because of the great diversity of activities offered majority of Americans were doing Feb. 28. survive to the end of the war to go home by the many groups on the Elon campus and the The reason for this was “M*A*S*H” echoed the sometimes desperate attempt Pendulum’s relatively small staff, our coverage of was programming its last show. that everyone has to survive. Everybody many events must be unfortunately limited because As the strains from the song “Suicide is does this differently. of space. However, we do try to satisfy our readers’ Painless” drifted from millions of television It may have hurt the viewers, especially sets across the country, people realized that the people who watch “M*A*S*H” regu­ many interests as best we can. this was the last time they would see a new larly and look on the program as being a We always appreciate our readers suggesting ways installment with , Jamie Farr, type of American institution, to see the we can improve the newspaper because we are and acting their 4077th family breakup. Actually, the break­ students trying to leam a trade, and part of any roles of Hawkeye, Klinger, Margaret and up had been coming for several years. It’s healthy learning experience is good, constructive Col. Potter. just that this time, everybody left at once. criticism. Lots of series have ended. If a series It would do no good to review the entire cannot keep up its ratings, the station program .and analyze the acting, because affiliate cancels the program. that was not what was important in the last But the demise of “ M*A*S*H” was “ M*A*S*H.” What was important was different. The program perennially in the The Fendnlnm wekomcs letters, limited to 250 words, top 10 of the ratings, ended because the from oar readers. Longer material may be submitted as creators, directors and actors themselves that the characters were saying goodbye. opinion articles for page 3. Editors reserve the right to edit wanted it to end. They felt that Television stations and the American for length, libel, good taste and accnracy. “M*A*S*H” had outlived its usefulness. audience has truly lost a great series. The Opinions on this point differ greatly. greater loss is that an incredible group of “ M*A*S*H” was one of the few television actors have been broken up. Their acting programs that was not “fluffy”—it was not skills will live on in other possible series The Pendulum Staff a by strict definition. It was one of and movies, as they are all planning on EdItor-iaCkicf Sherri Moore making, but there will never be another Maugtot Editor Dong Norwood the few shows that dealt with true Ncwi Editor Loalda Louk* emotions, painful circumstances and reality. “ M*A*S*H.” The series will live on in Fcatwa Editor renms for years to come. Jo Cravea In spite of the horror of the Korean War, Ad Maoagcr Bettnda Peoples people coped. And in doing so, this showed Cartooabt Tawaana WUilams A lthou^ it is certain that the series will Head Pbotograpbcr Ron Kmppa us how to cope with life a little better. Sport* Editor Debbie Hnriey Sure, the comedy on the program was at be m iss^, as well as the actresses and Adviaor Robert Nowell times hilarious, but the jokes and punning wtors. It can be safely said that the TW (lafr ■ccts Tkusdajv are not what will be remembered by the Amencan audience is glad to see an end at 9:30 a .n . public. The lessons, the objectives that the come to the Korean War and hopefuUy an Room 2M !■ Loag Stadcal Ccater writers and actors strove so diligently to rad to aU wars. And they are glad to see ^bUikcd by ihc Coamoakatlons Media Board of Elon Coll***- portray are what will endure. that all the “M*A*S*H” characters are ^ o a M oa Octobcr 14, W 4 as Uw itndent aewspapcr wrvlng Uie It was during that flnal program that the safely out of Korea. i^ n CoUcfc coaimaalt;, Ihc Peadolaai Is pnblialMd cacb Thursdsy audience may have realized that although Welcome home, 4077th. doriag tbc rcgalar temis except for cxaniaatioD and holiday periods.