James Madison Univecity THURSDAY OCTOBER 15,1992 VOL 70, NO. 14 VP candidates scrap, but JMU profs say l ~l doesn't matter by Peggy Ware" participated in the debate. But many stqffwriter professors said his performance didn't compare to the polished styles of the Although Vice President Dan other candidates and said he lacked Quayle and Senator Al Gore came out the preparation necessary to compete with guns blazing Tuesday night in for speaking time. Professors said this Atlanta, JMU professors agreed that performance could have hindered the vice presidential debate had little Perot's impact on the election. or no effect on the outcome of the Dr. Scott Hammond, political election. science professor, said that although "I don't think the debate changed Stockdale "seemed out of his peoples minds, it just reinforced element," and did not have much to people's existing opinions," said Dr. say, he still "maintained his own Anthony Eksterowicz, associate personal style and dignity." professor of political science. Stockdale served as a flustered Both candidates tenaciously stuck commentator on the debate, he said. to their agendas, said several JMU His complaint that the proceedings professors. The Republican Quayle exemplified "why our nation is in continually attacked Democratic gridlock" got laughs and applause presidential nominee Bill Clinton's from the tri-partisan audience. character, trying to paint him as a man All candidates aggressively exchanged swipes at each other and who "will not tell the truth," while SHARON LAROWE/THE BREEZE Gore aggressively charged President their running mates, when addressing George Bush with running a "smear issues like economy, health care, Waiting for JT campaign" designed to cover up his abortion, the environment and defense. The moderator, Hal Bruno of (Left to right) Sophomore Michael O'Donohue and sophomore "horrible" economic record. Brett Sabin wait in line at the Convocation Center early Independent Ross Perot's running ABC News, had trouble keeping their yesterday morning to get good seats for the James Taylor mate, Adm. James Stockdale, also DEBATE page 2 concert Nov. 14. INSIDE Money Defeat Party A controversial play for mature JMU alumni give over $800,000 to JMU in 1991-92 audiences opens at Latimer-Shaeffer Theatre/14 by Sara Hammel . development of a total organized university Effects of alcohol stqffwriter advancement program, and a commitment by the Focus On explores the institution that we were going to place more medical and social JMU alumni donations have increased by emphasis on ... private gift fund raising,'' he said. aspects of drinking for $575,445 since 1986-87 — putting JMU second in Lemish said that when comparing JMU to other JMU students/17 the nation in the percentage of alumni who donate. schools, it is useful to look at alumni percentage Men's soccer In the 1991-92 fiscal year 35 percent of solicited participation because not all institutions are alike. downs ODU alumni donated more than $880,000 to JMU, "Alumni giving in terms of dollars parallels the Dukes survive a rough compared to the first year JMU solicited donations experience ... the prominence of your game against Monarchs from alumni in 1987, according to Donald Lemish, constituency," he said. "We have a very young on Wednesday/23 director of university advancement That year only alumni constituency — the average age of our alums INDEX 23 percent of solicited alumni gave JMU more than is 33 years old." $300,000. Lemish said that when comparing JMU's most Campus 3 Opinion 20 Lemish said that the rise was due to new recent figures with those of other schools, JMU is World 9 Sports 23 Arts 14 Humor 26 organization and "commitment'' by the university. second in the nation behind the University of Focus On 17 Classifieds 27 "Basically, my coming in was the first step in the Virginia for alumni participation percentages, ALUMNI page 2 2 • THE BREEZE THURSDAY, OCTOBER 15,1992 Debate CONTINUED from page I 'no new taxes' pledge," he said. "adolescent finger wagging" which "accomplished exchanges from gelling out of control. But most professors agreed that Gore was no push nothing" for the candidates. He compared the 90- JMU professors said Quaylc held his own against over. He assertively focused the debate on the minute forum to a "Monty Python argument clinic" his smooth competitor. Democrat's strongest point — the economy. He adding that it needed "more structure to handle the Hammond said Quayle performed much better assailed the years of "trickle-down economics serious issues." this year than in the 1988 debate against Sen. Lloyd which," he said, "just don't work." He called his Dr. Devin Bent, also a political science professor, Bcnston. Although he disliked the tactics used which opponent's economic record "the worst in 50 years." agreed. he characterized as "base" and "immature," he Hammond said, "Gore responded with a great deal "I thought the debate was a travesty. I was thought Quayle's aggressive posture made him seem of intelligence" appearing more presidential but too embarrassed for the whole republic." strong. polished. This appearance risked sounding "less But some professors said they found the debate Quayle hammered in two points. He tried to passionate" than Quayle, he added. "refreshing" and more interesting than previous define the democrats as another "tax and spend" JMU debate coach and communication instructor debates. ticket and said that Clinton could not be "trusted." Ron Wastyn agreed with Hammond, saying that Wastyn thought the debate was a "wonderful His remarks were checkered by jabs such as "You Gore looked too formal and needed to adjust more to surprise," and said that although the candidates pulled a Clinton," and 'Take a breath Al — inhale." the format of the debate. lacked substantive treatment of the issues, the heated But Hammond said, "Although his approach But he also concluded that "in the end there was exchanges in the debate were more "fun and might be more entertaining, it didn't help the people no clear winner." entertaining to listen to." understand the candidates positions on the issues — Several JMU professors had mixed views on the Dr. Robert Roberts, professor of political science, this tactic I find insulting. unprecedented free-form discussion format used in said he liked the format as well. "Bush and Quayle need to be more careful on the the debate. Some liked what they characterized as a "It was potentially very interesting," he said. "I character and trust issue . There are many "genuine exchange of ideas" while others criticized liked the fact that the candidates needed to think fast questions that could be raised about Bush's character its "chaotic" and "disorganized" nature. on their feet." and honesty, such as the Iran-Contra scandal and his Hammond said the debate seemed more like Alumni CONTINUED/rom/Mi^y between JMU and UVa in the actual dollar intake. "The reason we use percentages according to a recent report from the in a lot of these studies is if you're Council for Aid to Education. educating — as we did for a long The report lists information for 10 time — teachers, they may not be schools during its 1990-91 fiscal year, able to give you a check for a and for JMU's 1991-92 fiscal year. hundred dollars every year back The figures are based on at least 80 when they graduated," he said. percent of living alumni for each "Whereas in 1930 we were school. graduating teachers, UVa was However, Sven Van Baars, director graduating lawyers and doctors." of the Greater University Fund, is Lemish also said the average gift, quick to point out that it's just a not just the total monetary intake, is report, not an official ranking. important. "We look everything up and say, 'The other side of this is . what is "Where do we stand compared to our alumni average gift compared to other schools?'" he said. other institutions?" he said. "It's like comparing lemons and For 1991-92, JMU's average gift is limes," Van Baars said. "They're from $76.93, compared to UVa's, average the same family, but yet they're of $428.45. different." "There arc not that many UVa's most recent information is (graduates) . that are CEOs, there from 1990-91, when the university are not that many of them that have JANET DRISCOLL/THE BREEZE had a 38 participation rate and took in died and left us great estates that can more than $14 million in donations, bring up the average gift," Lemish "If we had an average gift of donor base," he said. "So that pays off and Lemish compared that to JMU's said. $114.75, times the number of when these people reach higher 1991-92 figures in the ranking. He said in the long run it might be donors, we would have $1.3 professions—more of them leave VanBaars said there are several better to have more donors'instead of million," Lemish said. major estate bequests, etc." reasons for the large discrepancy a higher average gift. "Long term, we have a bigger "To the press alone, chequered as it is with abuses, the world is indebted for all the triumphs which have been gained by reason and humanity over error and oppression." James Madison fcurrbil922 JanrsM*fonUriwEiy editor Christy Mumford managing editor Gayie Cohen news editor Kate McFadden arts editor Donna Ragsdate photoeditor Mite Heffner business manager Travis Anderson news editor Michael Keatts asst. arts editor Vince Rhodes asst. photo editor Ryan Ketchum assl. business manager Lee Ray focus on editor Heather E. O'Neil sports editor Joe Komik ad design manager Jessica Kamirtski graphic design editor Ken Buraker asst.