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Lumberjack, Issue 7, April 4, 1990 pg. 3 LBJ staff· comments on issues See you in Budapest by Staci Radke Editor Around this time, many of us are turning our thoughb toward graduation and what lies ahead of us. One reason is because we all have spring fever (which I get in February, and we don't feel like being in class. We begin to look back at what we have accomplished here at ACC and realize what is ahead of us as well. These thoughts cause me to recall a conversation I had a few weekends ago with a man named Tom, a member of the "Die Hard II" film crew. It was his last weekend here in town and he'd soon be 011 his way back to the Hollywooq glitz and glamour. Our small town was probably just all in a day's work for him. Or, so I had originally thought. For the better part of two hours, we discussed life's most interesting and important lessons, travels, etc. During this time, I thought of two key words which we all need to apply in our daily lives--discipline and self-motivation. No matter what we do, we must discipline ourselves. We need to force ourselves to write that essay due on Monday or send the letter we put off for two months. Many of us have certainly learned what discipline is all about just by being here in college. Suddenly, teachers don't force us to attend classes or tell us to remember that our homework is due. As college students, we learn to do and act o el es s o osed to hi . h school where we relied on othel'S to remind us bf ti~ . Tom added, "you have your whole life ahead of you; you can travel or be anything you want to be--nobody has that power but YOU! Nothing should hold you back." For most of us, this is extremely inspiring,_since making a career choice is one of the toughest decisions ahead of us at the present time. We must believe in ourselves and be motivated enough to choose a direction and go with it, with nothing holding us back. As editor of this newspaper, it's taken me a great majority of this year to be both disciplined and motivated! Knowing that this paper was ultimately my responsibility, I had to motivate myself to write, edit, assign stories, develop a 'thick skin', and many other tasks. Being shorthanded, our whole staff has had to follow discipline to the letter as well. The pressure of meeting the Alpena News deadlines is enough discipline in itself for us sometimes! In addition, Tom told me of his worldly expeditions to Paying the cost? Getting involved, Being concerned. That's the focus of the recent series of town meetings held in Alpena. Sponsored by ACC, the · Intermediate School District, and the Alpena County Library, the meetings center around issues of national concern. Developed through NIF (National Issues Forums), the meetings present realistic alternatives toward a solution. Each year, NIF sponsors these meetings and chooses three topics for discussion. "The Environment at Risk" was the topic for the last meeting of the series. One choice dealt with a pla~ i_mplemented the use of gas-powere mowers, and change various chemicals in products such as dry cleaning solution, pamts, etc. to be more environmentally safe. Advocates of this .choice say people must make the enviro11ment a top priority and make changes in everyday life to help future generations. J lowcvcr, many are not thinking of those living hundreds, even thousands, of years from now. One member of the group stated that when. she moved here she could not perceive how we put up with the odors from the local plants. Many citizens would just ·reply with "that's just the plant," not thinking of how 'much pollution this adds to 1our air. Another alternative, dealing with a "costs and benefits" solution, states that protecting the enrvironment is important, but must be balanced with other goals as well. Supporters of this choice endorse plans to improve air quality, but advocate weighing the costs and benefits of these changes. The third alternative dealt with putting a, ~rice on ovemmen to put taxes on those habits that cause pollution. This choice says we should be given incentives not to pollute the environment. For instance, the cost of running a car could include a pollution tax. Rebates or rewards could be built in for driving fewer miles or buying a more fuel-efficient car as well. This choice com bine.s !lements from the first two. Cindy Cook, home economist from the ' Co-operative Extension and , moderator of the forum, . stated that "most participants ; agreed with the concept of ~ setting up a system of , rewarding people for being ~ environmentally s_afe. We ! need to set up a system 0f i what is acceptable and what 1 we are wiJling to pay to make " that possible. If l really 1 believe we need to cut back, ~ am I going to help to get rid , of it (the problem)?" 1 [A follow-up study·, of the meetings will be held : in April by Cook and Vernie Nethcrcut, who were both· involved in the coordination of the meetings. They will discuss the cffoctlvcncss of I these meetings and evaluate : plans for the next year. Further details wi'\l be · ***** A TIENTION!***** Earn Money from Reading Books! Income potential: $32,000/year. For details, call (1) 602-838-8885, ext. BK 18475 ATTENTION: Earn money typing at home!!! $32,000/year income potential. For details, call (1) 602-838-8885, ext. T-18475 places such as Mexico, Paris, and Rio. We sat and compared 1------------------------------------ travel experiences. "See the world," he said. My next You're on the r1· ght t' rack statement included something about money. He told me he went, on a whim, to Rio with a friend. Although he had no money, he said he was· treated to food, drinks, etc. by the people there. "With personality and a little know-how, you'll .,_ _________ _ make it." i>y Karl Hardesty As students, we are fortunate because many of us have Sports Editor youth 011 our side. We've all heard "if I knew that what Ir-new i-:..--,,.,,W_,,.e...,.l-:--1-A'."'"'.l:-p-c-na-,-:-he_r_e--,-is_a_ now and could go back and do it all again ... " We shouldn't golden chance. A major have to say that. We should be looking at life as a challenge, industry could arrive in always going for one better, learning from the choices we've town. It would provide made up until now, both good and bad. hundreds of jobs and bring in As for Tom, being older, he now claims he enjoys much needed revenue to our sticking closer to home; he's done his living. Through all his community . Yes, more years of work, he did say that our town was the most open and money to spread around to friendly that he's seen. A nice compliment, I'd say. our local merchants and Though all his travels, he stated, "if you never see services. Our college can anything else, see Budapest before it becomes too modernized graduate a large number of like everything else. You've grown up in this town, now come the skilled employees. back here if you want to. See what else the world has to offer, Sounds great, doesn't it? then decide. Don't just dream it, live it." There is some bad news Tom, thanks for the 'words of wisdom', and I'll see you though. Some inventory in Budapest! . could be dangerous. However, Abitibi and Fletcher Paper use hazardous chemicals and Systech hauls toxic waste through our city streets. We seem to be accustomed to that, so one new "danger" should not be that bad. Besides, modern technology can keep a close watch on especially dangerous items. All in all, this sounds pretty great, doesn't it? More jobs, more money, and that means more happy people. You may ask what our local board and committees are doing to attract this new industry. The answer, next to nothing. You see, the progressive members of our area who saw the benefits of this "industry" were beaten into silence by many who couldn't bear the thought of a prison tarnishing our community. This issue was one used to help remove a gentleman from office who cared a great deal for our region and suffered because of it. Other officials are now weathering a renewed storm of criticism for supporting a prison in our area. Ladies and gentlemen, continue the fight to revitalize our part of the state. You are on the right track.