CLEER w.ww.~su,~J~c~~~~~c~~:~:P September 4,2003 Jacksonville State University Volume 52, Issue 2 Alabamians deliberate Amendment One On Sept. 9 voters must muddle through all the facts and figures and choose a side By Rosalind Moore Supporters and opposers of The Chanticleer News Editor Riley's tax proposal agree that - Alabama has fallen into one of Alabama is on the brink of an the worst financial situations economic decision that support- since the Great Depression. ers say will bring the state What they do not agree on, hurtling out of debt, while however, is a solution to this opposers believe it will burden problem. the taxpayers with the hidden Alabama's Partnership for agendas of legislators. Progress put out a publication Many Alabamians just want called "Laying the Foundation to know the facts about the tax for Greatness" that touches on plan. Does it represent a sound how Alabama got into this investment for the future of financial slump. The publica- Alabama? What does the tax tion stresses that Riley's options plan mean for the state of were limited. Alabama and its citizens? In the booklet, Riley wrote a Gov. Bob Riley is scheduled letter to the people of Alabama to speak this afternoon at 5:30 saying, "My fellow p.m. on Jacksonville's town Alabamians, it is time to square concerning the provi- choose. It is a choice between sions of his accountability and being first in education or last; a tax reform proposal. Forums choice between protecting our such as Riley's tax rally and seniors or imposing devastating Web sites that oppose tax cuts in healthcare; a choice reform, such as Rileyrate.com, between locking up violent are the best ways to find out criminals or being forced to information from both sides. release them early; and ulti- The kev to Alabama's battle mately a choice between -going - with tax reform is for citizens to down the same path of under- Cou;tes) 31 JS~/Stebe Lalham become well-informed by Sept. Gov. Bob Rlley IS greeted by JSU students Emily W~ll~amsand Tim King, and Assistant Dlrector of Student Life, Megan Rad~ssondurlng a recent vlslt to JSU's campus to talk about h~s 9. see Tax, page 2 accountabrlty and tax reform proposal He will be In Jacksonv~llethis evenlng for a tax reform rally on Jacksonv~lleSquare at 5 30 p.m New JSU Child Development Center provides extended learning environmerit for JSU Students Rlley plan behlnd In polls I Mobile Register-University of South Alabama poll I - - - Mobile Register-University of South Alabama poll reports 57percent oppose Amendment One By Danni Lusk available from 7 a.m. to 6 The Chanticleer Editor in Chief p.m., said Triplett. A multi-purpose room Newswire USA polls conducted since JSU's Child Development houses aa curtained stage the governor began pitching his plan earlier this sum- Center is achieving two goals where drama department stu- MOBILE, Ala. (AP) - mer. Two weeks ago, the at the same time by servicing dents can perform children's Targeting football crowds, spread was 25 points and it the community and providing theatre, and physical educa- Gov. Bob Riley pressed was 23 points at the end of an "extended learning envi- tlon students can help teach a ahead with his $1.2 billion July. ronment" for University stu- tumbling class. tax and education campaign Riley press secretary dents. "We want to bring in-house during the Labor Day David Azbell said the poll "We offer a larger time activit~esas much as we can to weekend despite a new results would not alter frame for students to come the center so that we can alle- statewide poll released with their classes and have Riley's strategy. viate trying to get on a bus and Sunday that showed grow- this extended learning envi- leaving with small children, "We have to keep getting .ing opposition to the pro- ronment," said Kristi Triplett. because that's kind of a scary our message out to the peo- posal on the Sept. 9 ballot. the center's director. thing." ple who will be most helped The Mobile Register- University students in the Nursing students screen by this plan," he said. University of South family and consumer sci- children for hearing, visual In Huntsville Saturday, Alabama survey found that ences, drama. physical educa- and developmental problems Riley told a crowd at 57 percent of respondents tion and nursing departments and if problems are found, the Alabama A&M University who identified themselves will benefit from the center, parents are advised to seek before the Jacksonville as "likely" or "very likely" she said. Each department will professional help. State football game: "We to vote in the referendum contribute a different service Besides providing have a little over a week to said they would oppose the to the center, which is located University students with change our state, a little plan "if the referendum in McClellan, formerly Ft. hands-on experience, the over a week to change peo- were held today." Only 26 McClellan. Center also provides a service ple's minds, and a little over percent said they would Family and consumer sci- to the community by provid- a week to change people's ence students have the oppor- ing "outstanding" child care, vote for the plan. The survey, conducted hearts." tunity to get hands-on experi- said Triplett. A&M students registered Monday through Thursday, ence with children in a range Each age group has two to vote said their teachers includes responses from from infants to 5-year-olds. classrooms where one certi- often talk to them about the 805 registered Alabama Since the old child-care facili- fied teacher and two assistants proposed plan. voters. It has a 3.4 percent- ty in Mason Hall is only open work closely with the chil- "We have a lot of stu- for half a day, students doing dren Learning centers pro- age points margin of error. their practicums had a very vide the 60 children currently The gap is the widest The Chantceerl Dann! Lusk limited time frame, but now revealed in three Register- See Poll, page 2 Tanya Kerr, a teacher at the JSU Child Development Center, watches 2-year-old toddlers as see Child, paae 3 they romp about in the indoor playroom. with the new center, hours are Students may get a shock: UPD gets "The Taser" - -. -- By Daniel Spratlin ond - and let out a helpless from as far as 21 feet away, occur when officers have to for around $400 each, some- on to say that, "if three is The Chanticleer Staff Writer yelp - Friday, when he was but officials say it doesn't fight with suspects. thing that the Jacksonville enough to meet any potential hit with the department's cause any serious or perma- The Taser is already used in Police Department did three violent threat that should It's pretty hard to knock newest weapon. nent injuries. over 1,800 agericies through- years ago. come, then we will stay with University Police Officer A weapon that is yellow and The department is adopting out the country. When asked about purchas- three. If we need more. then Carnell Buford to the black and stings like 50,000 them in an effort to reduce This month, the University ing more Tasers, Chief Terry we will get more, ground. bees. the number of injuries sus- Police Department added Schneider, JSU director of But the 6- 1, 248-pound offi- The Taser, or stun gun, tained by suspects, three brand-new Tasers to Public Safety, said, "We'll see Taser, oaae 3 cer crumpled in a split sec-. delivers a 50,000-volt shock bystanders and police that their less-than-lethal arsenal see how it works out," going Number of voter registration forms down- Football: Soccer: Announcements, Crime ..... 2 Classifieds ......................... 6 Aug. 30 - JSU 9, A&M 3 Aug. 29 -Alabama 7, JSU 2 Opinion .............................. 4 Comics ............................ 7 ~ Sept. 13 - vs. North Alabama 7 p.m., 91.9 FM Aug. 31 - Birmingham-Southern 1, JSU 0 Volleyball: Sunday - at Mississippi Valley State Features ............................ 5 Concert calender .............. 7 ,oagSeo Aug. 30 - JSU 3, Gardner-Webb 0 Sports ................................ 8 Question of the Week ......... 4 The Chanticleer September 4, 2003 From Tax, page 1 allowing 25 of the poorest troopers and help fund other needy areas. achievement or forging a new school systems to go bankrupt, "$344 million is a direct direction of excellence in affecting 100,000 children, investment into Alabama's edu- Alabama." threatening healthcare access cation system," said Owens, According to Rileyrate.com, for 450,000 citizens (which is 1- which is maintained by the Tax in- 10 Alabamians), releasing "People say that they wouldn't mind paying more in taxes if Accountability Coalition, over 5,000 prisoners into neigh- Governor Riley's plan could borhoods and cutting Alabama's they knew it was going to edu- cost Alabama residents more already depleted state trooper cation. Well, $344 million will go to education. That includes than 24,000 jobs, increase prop- force by one-third. erty taxes by more than $400 The opposition site, the Alabama Reading Initiative, million, place 90 percent of the Rileyrate.com contends that the Math and Science Initiative, the college scholarship pro- $1.3 billion annual tax increase although Riley's plan will on working families, homeown- exempt some lower income gram, classroom supplies, text- ers and farmers, and would be families from state income tax, books and funding for local school systems." the largest tax increase in the increases in other services such The Tax Accountability history of the state.