1985_11 The Daily Collegian November 1985

              Page 2
JDrPJNUMsL
Nov 4,19*5
Record ratings do rock a favor
BY JOEY TOWNSEL
-We feel there is
nigger r(
o place
Made by a reputable gas station owner
in 1959, while he stood next lo a large sign
proudly proclaiming that his establish¬
ment served whites only, this statement
body gyrations of Elvis Presley and his ilk.
It is used today in television specials as an
example of narrowminded absurdity.
Racial prejudice is no longer a factor
for censorship in popular music, but at¬
tempts to restrict our freedom of choice
are still hanging over our heads.
My position on music censorship is Ihis:
ram no big fan of Twisted Sister or
AC DC. The odds are even money that if
: way about me. I hope they
never in a position to restrict what I do.
I call them recording artists because,
accept it or nol, rock music is an art form.
Personal preference has never been a
deciding factor in what is art (in the most
general sense, that is) and what is trash.
Trying to determine what is art and
what is not is about as easy as trying to
determine what pornography is. Still, the
Supreme Court (who will most likely pro¬
claim themselves God in an upcoming ses¬
sion) instigaled a ruling about porno¬
graphy, and popular music is now the big
issue under their thinking caps.
So, let's concentrate on what the
Supreme Court can't control: outright
censorship. Thejustices have realized this,
and some ofthe thick-headed do-nothing
parents of this country are beginning to.
Some parents have always been quick
to attack an industry, but fail to recognize
their own shortcomings in controlling
their children's actions. Now, they are uk-
ing it upon themselves to denounce the
recording industry as sinful, but are still
unable to prevent their own kids from
bringingthe offensive music into the house
If parents can prevent Iheir impression¬
able youngsters from watching skin flicks
on the Playboy Channel, then why can't
they keep them from listening to Van
determined
influence of offensive music from their
children's lives, then they must do it them¬
selves. The mass media, whether it be
print, electronic or recording, is not there
to babysit or protect children.
No, censorship is nol the solution. So
what are the alternatives if the media and
government are forced to solve the
problem?
There is an admirable group of parents
and educators that have formed a group
called the Parents Music Resource Cen-
r. Theit
violem
t for sexual
Frank Zappa, Donny Osmond, Dee
Snider (of Twisted Sister) and John Denver
are onfy a few of the well-known artists
who have uken sUnds against the PM RC.
This is natural, I suppose, because just
about anyone would say something if his
livelyhood was threatened.
But think about il. Osmond said in a
recent debate on ABC's Nightline news¬
cast that puttinga "G"ratingon one of his
albums would be sure death, just as the
"G " rating is box office poison at theatres.
C'mon Donny boy! Your records aren't
exactly a "must-buy"item now. And Zap¬
pa's attitudes, although entertaining, were
confusing. Frank, if tbey put an "X"
suldn-t
read rr
, they would feel        Sound ridiculous? You bet. But if pi
albun
In fact, trying to deter kids out of buy¬
ing a risque album by rating it an "X" is
Uke trying to scare anu away from a picnic
by pouring sugar on the ground.
Sorry, guys, but the parents of the
PMRC have the right idea. Rating records
is the only fair way to inform mom and
dad what their kids are buying, and will
probably be the only legitimate method of
keeping very young children from buying
certain records.
And~what of the so-called catastrophic
effects record ratings will have on the
industry? Well, let's look back at around
1968 when motion pictures were first
being rated.
trouble. Twenty years of television were
taking their toll, and the film industry was
really suffering, Then, the good folks at
the motion picture rating board poured
some sugar on the ground and going to the
movies became exciting again.
And ulking about coincidences. The
recording industry isn't, doing too hot
either, with profits slipping between 10
and 20 percent every year since 1975.
Maybe a big, bold "PG" or "R" rating on
the album sleeve would be the booster
shot the ailing industry needs.
So what you would have is a responsi¬
ble warning system that most likely would
beef up sales.
What more can a rocker ask for?
ABC produces slick, smart LP
So. what's a poor guy lo do? Your firsl
album goes multi-platinum around Ihe
world Your first tour sells out every single
performance. The album yields t
hem to the lop in 1982. In the process,
iBC has turned in one of the smartest,
lickest pop albums in recent memory.
For openers. Fear of the World show-
ases Fry's strong sense of humor and
White's beat-box style smarts. "Conquer
II your fears, seize every chance," Fry
fear your friend
nd change your circumstance." He sounds
ike he's been there and back, and is a bit
;ul:i
have it so tough.
Well, if your name is Martin Fry, co-
founder and lead singer of ABC, you chop
most of your hair off. and attempt to flush
your gold lame suge outfit down the toilet
after the tour's final show.
In addition. Fry, along with co-founder/
keyboardist Mark White, fired |he re¬
maining 3 members of the band, and
brought in session musicians to help record
tionally successful debut. 77ie Lexicon of
Uive. appropriately titled Beauty Slab.
Thc Sheffield. England, nativesquickly
came to [he forefront of thc British "New
Romantic" movement. Fry's witty word¬
play and White's slick dance rhythyms
leading the way. However. Fry and White
quickly became disillusioned wil
:rforh;
ing gone
Throughout thi
manage to synthesize the abrasiveness ol
Beauty Stab with the richly textured ele¬
gance of 77ir Lexicon of Love, and it
works. The only thing that seems to be
missing is a true knockout ballad, along
the lines of, s&y.Allof My Heart, from the
first LP. The closest they come on Zillio-
naire is side one's Ocean Blue, a longing
look back at failed romance. "From indigo
through to royal blue/1 travel far but no-
one will do/ Anytime anyplace/every shape
every face brings/ Memories of you. ..Blue,
to be blue, to be bh
songs most likely
achieve significant sales and airplay are
side one's Be Near Me and Vanity Kills.
The latter features Fry's irrepressible wit
at it's razor-sharp best. "I'm glad you've
found someone who loves you/ But sad to
say, lhat someone is you/And now per¬
haps, youll both be happy/Guess what
makes two, just you and you/...I'm glad I
found you, glancing in the mirror/Gazing
deeply, at love's patron sairit/ Admire
the frame, survey the scenery/Or are you
just inspecting the paint?/High on your¬
self, humble, you aint/Vanity kills, it
don't pay bills..." Vanity Kills has already
received considerable club and college
radio exposure, thanks largely to the
availability of import singles months prior
: domestic release of the Zillionaire
LP.
Thei
already the band's highest charting U.S.
single to date. (At last look, it was at No.
10 and climbing.) Be Near Me is classic
ABC, if there is such a thing. The melody
is soft and sweetly snung, the hook does
just that, and the pace is furious, more
simply, it's a lovely ballad that's immi¬
nently danceable. "The message is per¬
fectly simple/ The meaning is clear/ Don't
ever stray too far/And don't disappear/-
What's your repuution?/ Ecsucy!/ What's
your destination?/Next to me!/Be near
Though it's true that the only ones who
stand to become zillionaires due lo this
record are Martin Fry and Mark White,
(and perhaps Polygram records), the mes¬
sage is perfectly simple, and it's meaning is
clear.
single Be Near Me, is       Once again, you can bank on ABC.
.:»■.•.   ||
witt i
Sllam
life a
eleased late in 1983.
. Most critics greeted
the disc cooly, though some lauded it's
muscle and sense of daring.
Either way. the album's leadoff track.
That Was Then. But This Is Now, said it
all: "Why make the past your sacred
cow/1 guess you've changed, you've
changed and how."
Now. back with their third LP. How To
Be A Zillionaire. ABC seem primed to
recapture past glories with a return to the
thickly layered, big beat sound that took
ght phrasing, thai he makes the song
Side two's first full-fledged song, (after
a brief A to Z introduction number), is the
(sort of) title track. (Hon. To Be A) Milli¬
onaire. (Note the difference in currency
amount from the LP's title). The song is a
continuation of Fry's expressed disap¬
pointment with the whole pop-stardom
scene of greed and the race for riches. "IVe
seen the future/1 can't afford it/ To tell the
truth, sir. someone just bought it/ ...Hardly
surprising, if you consider/ Loyalties go to
Ihe highest of bidders/ Maybe these luxur¬
ies can only compensate/For all the cards
you were dealt, babe, at the hands of fate/ -
Tell me. tell me. howto be a millionaire..."
As far a
Homecoming sparks
new AS awareness
By Jeffrey W. Hansen
Last  week, the  Associated  Students
staged events that put them in the campus
munity's eye. We hope lhat this has
Daily Collegian
"Founded in 1922 "
Tac Daily CoOtfiaa i. pal
helped t<
the AS, and also to stimulate a desire to be
One visible event I consider a success is
Homecoming. The people who worked to
make it possible deserve much thanks.
Although this year's revival lacked the
time necessary to implement all we had
hoped, it was an excellent beginning. With
"t!5's Homecoming activities as a base, 1
anticipate a much fuller Homecoming
celebration in the future.
Another event that put tbe AS in plain
view was the petition drive headed by
Senator John Love. The mid-final gra¬
duation date is an important issue that
will effect many students. It is important
to obuin campus-wide support so that the
administration will recognize the effects
and dissatisfaction that we students feel
with this decision.
Organized events, like the petition drive,
do more than make the AS more visible
and accessible to studenu. Foremost is
.our desire that the adi
recognize the AS's responsibility to re¬
present students' views.
In addition to last week's events.a Pres¬
ident's forum is scheduled. It will be held
Thursday, November 7 in Old Science
Room 121 at 7 p.m. The purpose ofthe
President's Forum is to maintain and
improve communication between student
government and campus clubs and organi-
This first President's Forum is for club
presidents and others interested in the
actions ofthe AS. It is the responsibility of
campus leaders to beebme involved in
decisions that directly affect them and
their organizations. 1 look forward to this
scheduled opportunity to discuss and
answer questions concerning the current
AS direction and future positions.
In conclusion, I would like to mention
my recent rodeo experience. As most of
you already know, my bullridlng career
has suffered a setback. However, there is a
positive aspect of my broken leg. For
those of you who may not know me, you
can now distinguish me by my crutches
and cast. Could this be another way to
improve visibility and communication with
the a
ity?
Nov. 4, MM
^rews^
Page 3
Child care centers top CSSA priority
toff writer "Many programs need to expand, but cant because of the
The California/Sute Student Associa-      lack Of facilities."
lion has made tjfc funding of child care
' s top priority according lo AS
President Jeff Hansen.
Child care centers in the CSU system denu on each campus, Ihe si
are deficient in facilities and personnel, more easily overlooked,
and the individual campuses do not have "There are people who think, 'here w
the funds to remedy the problem, accord- are taking care of around 200 studenU oi
ing to Hansen. of 17,000 to 25,000, so why should v.
"The main problem comes down to bother with such a small minority?,' " 1
funding," he said, "and the sute is going said.
to have to be the one to fund additional Valerie Kuczler ofthe CSUF child cai
facilities because the AS's will have a hard center said that 124 children ar
ic affording that."
"It's the same old thing," said Hansen.
'Notoriously, some of thc more conserva¬
tive representatives are not willing lo give
V.a/>a>1a,.     money. They want to cut money from
— ivuczier    $ocU, programj-
—_ He said that the child care bills will be
i tern- reintroduced until these philosophies
change. Hansen said he felt the sute legis-
' three latures uke Ihe CSU system and educa-
bouse tion seriously, and they "will have to real-
t each ize how important this is in the whole
ases a   realm of education."
In order to pressure the sute in
Kuczler. "A lot of programs are i
porary facilities."
The CSUF center is spread ove
locations. The home management
and Home Economics Departmcr
have a facility, and the center !«
building from the religious center.
"If you are looking to expand facilities, action, Hansen is appointing a child care
re presently   you need an additional allocation of centercoordinatortodevelopataskforce.
enrolled in the program. There are 190 on   funds," said Hansen. "I think I speak for The Usk force is intended to get students
Currently, the CSU FAS is granting the    a waiting list to get in, and the list is   any Associated Students — as far as facili- involved in letter writing campaigns aimed
campuschildcarecenter$47,000. Hansen    growing.                                                       ties go, (funding) is going to be very diffi- at "people in the decision making process."
said that not all campuses are as generous.        The center receives money from the   cult, so that's when we need lo look to the The CSU system will begin a postcard
"On this campus, it is almost given that    Sute Department of Education, and the   sute and additional legislation." drive this Thursday in which postcards
each year there will be funding. On other    national school lunch program as well as        Hansen said that there would have to be reading"! support CSU child care" will be
��campuses, there are AS presidenu who    the AS.Thechargetoparentsdependson   a large surplus in the California budget, sent to Ihe child care Usk force,
feel that this money could be used in other    their ability to pay. Still, this money does   and Gov. Deukmejian would have to back "We have to uke a  grassroou ap-
areas,"said Hansen.                                     not meet the growingdemandsforspace.-   theissueifmorefundingistobeapproved. proach,"said Hansen. "And we have to be
He added that since campus child care        "Many programs need to expand, but    He said that several bills have been intro- prepared to wait and to keep reintroduc-
involves only a small percentage of stu-    can't because of the lack of facilities,"said    duced and have made it to Ihe governor's ing (the bill) time and time again."
Apartments it is for 91 in London
Students will be living as the British do
during this year's London Semester pro¬
gram.
The 91 studenls expected to be-in Lon¬
don Jan. 15 for CSUF's London Semester
program will live in apartments instead of
the Hyde Park West Hotel. Studenu have
been housed in the Hyde Park West since
Dr. Joseph Satin, dean of the School of
Arts and Humanities, launched the five-
month program in 1983.
London Semester enables CSUF stu¬
dents to earn credit in classes uught by
CSUF professors in London. All posi¬
tions have been filled for this year's pro¬
gram, although Satin said seven to 10
more spots may open up, "given normal
lodging and the normal
CSUF units.
New living arrangements had to be
found, said Satin, thc former program
director, because the Hyde Park West was
"Instead of being in a
hotel, they'll be living in
London as other London-
ersdo." _Satin
bought by new owners and the fates
increased from $85 to $90 a week to $110.
Besides the rate increase, only half of
the hotel would have been available because
sections are being remodeled.
Through the Vienna Group of Hotels
chain, Satin learned of the possibility of
renting apartments. He returned from a
trip to London last week where the deal
Wire Train moving
to even the score
The sixties are alive and well in San
Francisco, thanks to two generations of
rockers who are both currently riding the
crest "of a wave of popular revivalism.
From the Surship and the Grateful Dead
REVIEW
to Romeo Void, the Bay Area's musical
legacy continues lo live on, no matter
what the latest thing from across tbe
Atlantic happens to be.
However, for every Romeo Void that
emerges from the Bay, there are two Jour¬
neys or Nightrangers that come along to
dash any remaining hopes for a reasona¬
bly intelligent, pollution-free musical
feature.
Good news, rock environmentalists:
Wire Train isout to even the score.
Between Two Words, the second release
from (You guessed it) San Francisco's
very own Wire Train propmtly reminds us
of what there is to like about the Bay Area
music scene. Led by lead singer/ guiurist/ -
songwriter Kevin Hunter, wilh Kurt Herr
on guitar and vocals, Brian Macleod on
drums, and Anders Rundblad playing
bass and helping on the vocals, Wire Train
have produced a sparkling, neo-sixties
pop record ripe with strong melodies,
catchy books, an unrelenting big beat
snare, and a crisp, clean overall sound.
Producer Peter Mannu has captured the
essence ofthe band's sound, and the result
is a more satisfying collection overall than
their marvelous 1984 debut, In A Chamber.
For sUrtcrs, there is nary a misplaced
note on side one. The side's five.tunes.
Last Perfect Thing, Skills Of Summer,
When She Was a Girl, a right on the mark
cover of Bob Dylan's Cod On Our Side,
and Love, Love, build a • considerable
amount of momentum. The latter song
has been described by Hunter as a parody
of "every love song ever written," and
that's just what it sounds like. With iu
chiming chorus and biting, albeit some¬
what ambiguous lyrics. Love, Love serves
as a fitting conclusion to a near perfect
Tbe side begins with the LPs first sin¬
gle, Last Perfect Thing, an anthem-like
number which engagingly displays the
group's strong musicianship, and iu abil¬
ity to emphasize finesse over sheer power.
Skills Of Summer, perhaps tbe album's
best cut, follows with a subtle nod to pott-
punk psychedelia, and a shout-it-out cho¬
rus. "It's a skill of summer/It's a new
parade/ It's another season it's a work of
faith," sings Hunter. "We can bum the
billboards advertising life as lies/Or we
can bury ourselves in each other's eyes..."
In addition to their own fine material,
the decision to cover Dylan's God On Our
Side was a shrewd one. Though il lacks
the pervading sarcastic tone of the origi¬
nal, (after all, Dylan is unmatched in that
was made with the chain to rent apart¬
ments in eight different buildings in the
Bays water area.
The big advanuges to the apartments.
Satin said, is they have larger rooms and
include kitchens and sitting rooms, and
students will be living in the same building
as Londoners.
"Instead of being in a hotel, they'll be.
living in London as other Londoners do,"
Satin said.
Joyce Aiken, the new director of Lon¬
don Semester, said that one problem with
Uit year'a proapun was that some ttu¬
dents didn't get to mingle with British
people as much as they wanted to.
"By having apartments, students will
learn a lot more about the city," Aiken
said. "They will have an opportunity^
learn a lot more about the British."
The disadvantage. Satin said, is that
everyone wont be in the same building.
Aiken estimated that theyareall within 10
minutes walking distance of each other.
Some of tbe buildings arc next door or
across the street from each other.
The accomodations will be Craven Hill
Gardens apartments for 16 students; Con¬
sort House apartments for 10 studenU;
Corringhams apartments for 20 students;
Collonnades Porchester Mews Porchester
Terrace house for eight; Conduit place
apartments, seven; Conduit Mews house,
Edward Apartments, 13; and Hyde
Park Mansions apartments, II
Students will be allowed to choose
Kitchens will be furnished with dishes
and utensils.
- Classes will be uught in room* at Lei-
"They will have an oppor¬
tunity to learn a lot more
about the British."
—Aiken
Chester Square and near Talbot Square.
This year, 12 uniu of music have been
added to the curriculum. Robert Bennett
will teach the music classes.
Other areas of study are history, Uught
by Jim Brouwer; art, uught by Aiken;
English. Uught by Jean Pickering; theater,
uught by Janet Bryson; and management
and marketing, Uught by Harry Harris.
London Semester classes include lec¬
tures, but also a lot of field trips. StudenU
visit theaters, museums and other areas of
London.
Lyman Heine will conduct three trips to
thc Soviet Union from London. One will
precced London Semester, one will be
during studenU' week-long spring break
and one trip — which will be open to
people in the community through Ihe
Extension Office — will follow London
Semester in May.
'Bodacious ta-tas' irk
censoring pub manager
Staff Writer
Too insert was too much for Bucket
manager Patti Hamilton Friday afternoon.
Hamilton ordered John Erickson, 23,
who was working the door, to switch tele¬
vision stations amid boos from the Bucket
audience during the showing of the video,
"Wild Life."
The video features numerous bikini-
clad adolescents and a stripper whodoes a
provacaiive tease.
"Did you ever sec such bodacious u-
tas?"exclaimed Jim Metthies, 21, a Bucket
employee.
The crowd apparently agreed as they
pounded on ubles and booed when tbe
sution change was enacted.
Erickson said this had been the first
time censorship had been enforced by
management. Doea the tucket have any
regulations foe showing films aad videos?
"1 guess wedonow,*iaid Erickson. "It's
mostly left to your own discretion. I fig¬
ure, if people are offended, they'll tell me,
' "Wrong," said Bucket Manager,
Hamilton. "Most of the time if people
have complaints, they go to our bosses,"
without being offended,* she said.
The Bucket patronage usually consisu
of about "20 percent female at night,
maybe 95 percent during the day." said
Erickson.
-I think more people were offended by
the fact that we tamed it off," said
esdowBto"tood
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