T HURSDAY , J A N U A R Y 1 8 , 2 0 0 7 PAGE A 4 O N L I N E A T : http://ogb.wfu.edu [email protected] OOLDPINION GOLD & BLACK This column represents the views Taking off | What’s wrong with the world? of the Old Gold & Black Editorial Board. Submissions The Old Gold & Black welcomes Football team gave us a submissions in the form of editorials US needs to be ready and letters to the editor. Letters season to remember should be less than 300 words and espite the football ing that the football team had editorials should be under 750 words. team’s loss to the only been to a bowl game six Send yours via e-mail to ogboped@ University of Louis- times in its history, and the for Castro’s death Dville in the Orange Bowl on two most recent times having The federal government needs to make wfu.edu, by campus mail to P.O. Box sure a plan is in place with Miami-Dade 7569 or deliver it to Benson 518. We Jan. 2, one thing is certain been in Seattle and Honolulu, Co. Police and fully execute it to make – we are all very proud of it is easy to see why our fans sure that it doesn’t get out of control. reserve the right to edit all letters for what our team accomplished don’t travel well – the football If this means curfews need to put into length and clarity. No anonymous during a historic season last team, in its recent history, had place, do it. Miami is too important fall. It is safe to say that very not been to a bowl game any- of a city to our nation’s (and our letters will be printed. few people were genuinely where conducive to traveling. hemisphere’s) economy to let a potential riot set it back. disappointed by this loss. The Demon Deacon legion Jeff Merski Opinion editor It’s also important to be prepared for a This was evident especially sent upwards of 20,000 fans potential influx of immigrants crossing Quick Quotes at the conclusion of the game, to Miami, including a sell-out idel Castro is dying. That isn’t the Florida Straits in what could be an with the chant of “Wake … of the university’s ticket allot- really news (he’s had stomach exodus from Cuba to Florida. Forest” clearly audible during ment. problems for at least the past One would think that Cuban security “He did what he was ordered Fyear), but it looks like the end is near will be very intimately prepared to deal the final two minutes of the We hope that in future for the dictator that has held power with domestic issues resulting from to do and turned his Audi left game, and the ovation that years, when we’re not able during 10 different presidencies. Castro’s death, such as demonstrations up over the curb and onto the the Deacon faithful gave to win the Atlantic Coast According to the Spanish newspaper in Havana or preparing for the track of a local streetcar line.” the team after the game had Conference Championship, El Pais, Castro has had three surgeries transition to the new government. It is concluded. that other large bowl games, that have failed and a Jan. 16 Reuters possible that some Cubans might try to The bond between the such as the Gator Bowl in article mentions that there is a rumor take advantage of this and flee the island -A spokesman for the German that Castro has not made any recent before a new communist regime can football team and the uni- Jacksonville, Fla., the Chik- public appearances due to him firmly cement itself. city of Bremen after a motorist versity community had been Fil-A Bowl in Atlanta and having lost his hair and beard due to The United States Coast Guard has, followed what his in-car GPS evident throughout the entire the Champs Sports Bowl in chemotherapy. in general, been the first line of defense season, with the football team Orlando, Fla., see that this The aging Castro, who turned 80 in patrolling the Straits and intercepting navigation system told him to rushing over to the student university will travel, and will years old last year, is in the twilight of Cuban defectors. do, rendering the motorist stuck his years. His younger brother, Raul, However, we need to be ready to sections following each game, not pass over us, relegating us is the de-facto head of government in have our Coast Guard, as well as the on railroad tracks. win or lose. to bowl games in Charlotte or Cuba currently, but just because Raul Department of Homeland Security, To have the students joined Boise, Ida. is the successor doesn’t mean he’ll be ready to launch extra ships and in by the entire university We hope now that this around forever – Raul is 75 years old helicopters at a moment’s notice to be “ ” community to give a very support for our football team himself. able to deal with an increased surge. large “thank you” to the team carries over to our other Thus, with communism seemingly on We also need to make sure that our its way out the door in a nation that is a detention facilities are adequately “We do have a confirmed ride was a great message to send sports. Men’s basketball is mere 15-minute flight from Key West, prepared to deal with an increased out. rebuilding this year, and it is Fla., the United States government number of potential defectors. Krome now back to California.” Another great occurrence disappointing to see scores of needs to be ready. Detention Facility in Miami is the only Ready in a sense to invade Cuba? Immigration and Customs Enforcement that happened was the turn- empty chairs throughout Joel -Nathalie Karvonen, the out of Demon Deacon fans Coliseum. We also encourage Not quite; let’s just say we’ve had detention facility in Florida. According some difficulties in invading countries to various news reports over the director of the Toronto Wildlife that came down to South students to support the other recently (take a look over at Iraq if you past years, this facility is already Florida to celebrate. Tradi- sports as well, much like need further evidence). overpopulated. Any surge in captured Centre, on a skunk that is being tionally, this university has members of every other ath- Nonetheless, the United States needs defectors could lead to poor conditions returned to the United States been criticized for not travel- letic team came out to Miami to be ready for the death of Castro in in temporary lock-up facilities. after stowing away on a truck ing well. However, consider- to support the football team. Cuba. While many might clamor for the The first thing we need to examine United States to drop the embargo on a ride up to Canada. is what will happen here domestically, immediately following Castro’s death, notably in Miami, which is the home this probably wouldn’t be the wisest of of the largest population of Cuban options. Students need to attend immigrants here in the United States. The first thing that needs to be done “ ” The minute the news breaks on CNN is take care of our house. Being able that Castro has left this world, there to travel to Cuba is secondary to the planning forums will almost certainly be bedlam in Little possibility of having Miami being “University students are very he staff of the Old these suggestions, then the Havana with people out in the streets bruised and our detention facilities patriotic, thus affecting sales of Gold & Black is disap- administration will simply celebrating. overflowing with people. The government needs to have a plan When Castro dies, it’s paramount that the gum.” pointed in the student make the changes that it feels to make sure that these celebrations do the federal government take care of the Tturnout at the recent Strategic need to be made, which leads not become too raucous. happenings within our own borders Planning forums. to student complaints. The last thing the United States would before going out and attempting to -A shop owner in Guangzhou, In the past, the student Lack of concern for projects need in one of its most important cities set up another democracy in a foreign China, on the response of body has been much more that will affect this univer- is a riot breaking out, causing serious country. students to Wrigley chewing damage to one of the most important reactive to proposed changes, sity after graduation is not a economic machines that powers Latin Jeff Merski is a junior political science gum, which used the Chinese rather than proactive in of- valid reason for not attending America. major from North Andover, Mass. national anthem in an ad for fering their ideas during the either. These proposals have draft stages. When plans are the ability to enhance the the gum on Russian television. released, the student body value of a diploma from this will complain then, when it is university, which could be essentially too late to change of extreme benefit, especially “ ” anything. when it comes to job applica- These forums are a great tions. way to change that. It ap- The next time the adminis- “It will be a world first – and pears to us that the adminis- tration has forums on chang- with real police handcuffs, not tration does take suggestions es, we encourage students to plastic ties.