The Reporter

S&uW"*""-"SSSi, ;'"*CK*X.„ Z^yMZmZP^s:^ -*cXS*Ci*X^ sfcZPyM^P*. .» 'spPms'-- eeking The Truth At Stetson University Volume fillssue 8 iV^T^tThe Poiitical Issueiki^ik Thursday,November2,2DDG ■0." *' _\|& ' ^'"\*i" Sj : ■ . ■ y. r .«* ■* Former Hatter, JoeNegron Tq Replace Mark Foley _ ; Ey MARIE ERANZMAN. ..... Joe Negron is currently running for congress in place of Mark Foley who stepped down following a scandal regarding Foley and a young page. This forced Negron to switch gears from running for the office of Attorney General, to a seat on congress. This marks the highlight of Negron's political career thus far which actually began when he was young. "My parents taught us growing up that government service was honorable and.respectable. So I had a very high opinion of people that were in public elected offices," said Negron. "Plus, I have always been interested in politics. I find the whole business of campaign and government fascinating." A high school friend, Jon Tofte, who was already going to Stetson at the time, .^introduced Negron to Stetson. "I .loved it and that is why I went." During his time at Stetson, Negron ' was involved in Student government, and the editor-in-chief for the Reporter. He also worked on Ronald Regan's campaign and took part in model senate. Negron said, "In fact I wrote the editorial iii 1980. They had one editorial each,;one for Regan and one for ,, Carter arid one for John Anderson. And I wrote the Regan editorial." "The: Reporter was extremely important to me," said Negron. He is very proud of having the opportunity to be the editor-in-chief during 1982-1983 going as far as calling his experience "one of the accomplishments I am most proud of in my life." During Negron's. senior year the Reporter staff a first class rating from the Associated Collegiate Press with • two marks of distinction. "I still keep that certificate on my wall in my leg- , islative office because I am very proud ' of all. the people that worked hard to do that," said Negron. "I really enjoyed being on the Reporter." Dr. Terrell Wayne Bailey, profes sor of political science remembers Negron often took the-road less traveled in the arguments he made when he wrote for the Reporter. The three professors Negron named as being the most important to him during his time at Stetson was Dr. Bailey; Dr. Gary Maris, professor of political science; and Dr. Michael Raymond, professor of English. Negron said, "Dr. Bailey always had time for me, he encouraged me, he helped me go to the Washington semester at American University. 'I feel that everyone at Stetson from the administration to professors, to the staff, everyone, their goal was to give me as many opportunities to succeed as possible. So I am very grateful.' That was probably among the happiest four months of my life was being at American University, and I actually interned in my congressman's office as part of that program." Dr. Bailey helped Negron attend a state politics seminar in Tallahassee. "I think that is when his interest in state politics was increased," said Dr. Bailey. "[Dr. Raymond] was my journalism instructor, and I also had him for creative writing," said Negron. "He was tough, but fair, and I could tell he took great pride in his teaching" "Dr. Maris I thought was extraordinary at challenging us intellectually and pushing us. I remember doing a research paper and he gave it back to me and made me redo parts of it to make it better. I think that was good practice," said Negron. See NEGRON on Page A2 House Candidates Go Head To Head At Stetson By JULIE ANTOS On October 19, 2006, a heated political debate between Republican candidate Pat Patterson and Democratic candidate Ron Cahen took place in the Rinker Auditorium. The two politicians, who are both running for Florida House of Representatives, went head-to-head on controversial topics such as same-sex marriage, intangible tax, the Florida- Resident Access Grant, and health care. "I certainly think political debates are important. These are held for those who haven't made up their mind about politics. Hopefully by holding these on a more regular basis there will be a fixture that people in the community can count on. There are important events for holding candidates responsible for their thoughts. Positions of the candidates of suggestive to public scrutiny because they are forced to respond to their public," said Dr. Dalton, professor of political and mass communication. In response to the issue of a constitutional amendment against same sex marriage, Cahen simply stated, "I'm sick and tired of this question and the divisiveness in this country". Patterson responded that same sex marriage should be on the ballot and left for voters to decide. Making health care more affordable has been a growing issue in today's society. In response to how to instigate the problem, Cahen felt that insurance companies should be forced to provide money for health care needs. He went on.to say that everyone in Florida should have health care and that this problem should be solved in increments until everyone in Florida has coverage. On the other hand, Patterson stated that there are no simple answers. "When you reduce costs,, you're going to end up hurting someone. We have one ofthe best, health care systems in this country", said Patterson. The opposing views between the candidates on the subject of faith based organizations provided them with another chance to win the vote. MYFLORIDAHOUSE.GOV PAT PATTERSON. DEBATES ON THE HOUSE FLOOR. Patterson affirmed that he would continue to show his support while Cahen stated that he did not feel that these organizations were in the best interest of Florida. "I don't think that should be a part of-public policy", saicL Cahen." Cahen mentioned that intangible tax would be wrong to appeal and that the money can be used for education and mental health problems, while Patterson pointed out that it affects seniors who spent their whole life saving money only to be taxed. The Florida Resident Access Grant (FRAG), in Patterson's opinion, is a great program that helps students out. He asserts that if he is elected, he will refrain from messing with it. On the contrary, Cahen refuted that he is opposed to vouchers because the money is going to religious schools, and there needs to be more separation between church and state. "There is a huge disparity between myself and my opponent. People have a choice to choose someone who cares about everyone and> not just special interest groups," said Cahen. "I wish there was a better turnout tonight. People can agree to disagree about the issues. You have active students who are interested in the subject, then you have students who, until affected directly, don't get involved. I was asked by Dr. Dalton to come speak at Stetson. I think Stetson has tre- mendous programs and I wanted to be able to show all sides of an issue," said Patterson. Other issues debated include DARFUR, rapid development, and pollution. Contact Julie Antos at jantos@stetson. edu. Gilbert Apologizes To Sta - By CAITLIN REAGAN ■ AND JENNIFER HAYS Allison Gilbert, a member of Zeta Tau Alpha, attended The Reporter"?, weekly staff meeting on Wednesday, October 26, and apologized to the staff for having abused the first amendment rights of not only The Reporter staff but the entire campus community. Just before the university's Fall Break, 700 copies of The Reporter were stolen out of racks across campus. The issue featured an article on the Zeta Tau Alpha house being shut down for mold repairs. A reprint of the issue was distributed a week later, Oct. 12, to allow the issue its proper time length of seven days on the newsstand. "The story was not intended to besmirch any organization's reputation but rather bring to light the administration's failure to maintain safe student housing," said Michael Riggs, •Editor-in-Chief of The Reporter. Gilbert went on to explain that the theft of the papers was solely her fault and had nothing to do with any organization she is a part of. "I am really sorry for my foolish actions," Gilbert said in her apology to the staff at the Wednesday night meeting. "I acted out of anger and didn't have a clear head while stealing the papers." Although The Reporter is free to students, faculty, staff, and advertisers, the school ultimately pays for the paper to be printed and the reprint of the issue has significantly hindered the financial budget of the newspaper. According to the Daytona Beach News Journal, Dean Espinosa confirmed that the sorority will have to pay $1200 in restitution. However, this amount does not make up for the total amount of dam age caused. "After summing the total of our expenses including ad revenue, cost of redistributing the paper, and paying the staff, the grand total was $2200 however, university administrators would see that we were reimbursed only for those costs for which we had been billed," said Riggs. In the Daytona Beach news Journal, Espinosa said she views the incident as a learning opportunity, a way for more students to become aware of the role of a free press and how to address their grievances in a proper way. In this case, she said they could have written a letter to the editor or contacted the university's publications board. "Gilbert's apology indicates she has a new found respect for free press and understands the severity of her actions," said Riggs. Conact Caitlin Reagan at creagan@stetson. edu. Buckley Brings Firing Line To Stetson By MIKE RIGGS William F. Buckley Jr. spoke in Elizabeth Hall this past Wednesday with Jay Nordlinger of the National Review in tow. The two spoke in the tradition of Firing Line as the first speakers in the John N. Apgar Jr. Lecture Series. The series, funded by a $1 million gift from former Deland resident Martha Apgar, is intended to bring conservative speakers to the university in an effort to increase students' access to conservative thinkers. President Doug Lee extended the welcome for the inauguration. Chaplain Michael Fronk spoke an invocation, and Dean Grady Ballenger spoke an introduction, highlighting the peaks of Buckley's career as the founder of The National Review and paterfamilias of modern conservative thought. Sitting on a set made to resemble the famous Firing Line, Buckley began with a quip: "How can I say anything without disillusionment setting in?" he asked Nordlinger, as a response to Ballenger's thorough listing of Buckley's achievements. Nordlinger, the managing editor of National Review and a renowned music critic, led the conversation, asking Buckley first about his campus involvement as a young conservative at Yale. "I was one of few conservatives at Yale...and [I] spoke on the Red Scare... and the faculty's response to the Red Scare." Nordlinger asked Buckley how he was able to form a conservative worldview in light of what he felt was "a largely liberal faculty" at Yale. "I learned from a charming old relic in the economics department," said Buckley. This professor, who Buckley did not name, taught courses in free market economics, a field that has comprised one of the pillars of Buckley's political philosophy. Leading the conversation towards the overarching theme of the lecture series, Nordlinger asked Buckley to comment on the "resurgence" of conservative thought in academia. "When I first began speaking at college campuses, people showed up as a sort of zoological interest," said Buckley. "But students can't stand a See BUCKLEY on Page A2 £- ■ Thursday's Forecast:^^**^ Scattered T-Storms High 82' Low 63 Weekend Forecast: Friday: Scattered T-Storms Saturday: Mostly Sunny Sunday: Mostly Sunny Hi's: Mid 70s Low's: Low 50s life Blair Townley provides us with a DVD review of The Break Up PAGE C1 Opinions First ever Community Forum', Pat Testa and Pat McMahon debate politics as usual. PAGE B1 Sports Katherine St. Clair spotlights Melissa Pancoast in Hatter Profile. PAGED1