Maroon

              The MAROON Vol. 65, No. 15  Loyola University, New Orleans, Louisiana 70118  January 30,1987 Racial tensions surface, protest marches result By Alicia Clemens Assistant News Editor 'There were kids eight and nine years old screaming, 'Kill the niggers! Niggers go home!" _Roger HectQr There were obscene gestures, Confederate flags, cars spray-painted with racial slurs, threatening signs and screaming crowds. What Roger Hector remembers most about Forsyth County, Ga. this past weekend is the hate. "I never knew racism in the way my parents talked about it," said Hector, the president of Xavicr University's Student Government Association. Hector was one of 20,000 civil rights marchers protesting racial discrimination in Forsylh County this past Saturday. "There were kids eight and nine years old screaming, 'Kill the niggers! Niggers go home.' " Hector drove to Atlanta with a group from New Orleans to meet other marchers and travel to Forsyth County. One of the vans the group was driving continued to break down. Hector said, making everyone inside apprehensive. "I kept imagining being stalled on the side of the road in Forsyth County," he said. "It was frightening." After the march was over, Hector discovered that the van needed a new batu.y. Because the National Guard asked protestors not to go into public places without protection, Hector said it was impossible to buy a new battery. "I lake so many things for granted," he said. "There was a K-Mart nearby that would've had the battery we needed, but we couldn't go into it." While he and his friends jump-started the van, assisted by another protestor, a man approached and threatened to kill them if they did not leave, Hector said. Hector recalled hearing the man say, "Haven't you dirty niggers caused enough trouble already? Get out of here before I reach under my coat and take out something that will take care of all of you." "We were ready to get out of there," Hector said. "I'll never forget it." Forsyth County was obviously impoverished, according to Hector. He blamed the intolerance he witnessed on lack of education. David Duke of Metairie, president of the National Association for the Advancement of White People, said he sees the intolerance displayed toward the marchers as a good sign for white civil rights. "White people are losing their rights," Duke said. "Forsyth County is a place where whites are standing up for themselves." Duke was asked by members of the Forsyth County community to represent them as the spokesperson for the group of whites that countered the marchers. He On the level Construction workers continue building the new parking garage/recreation center, which gained two levels over Christmas break. The parking garage section Is expected to be completed by December, 1987. Photo by Mary Degnan Reagan has much to prove in two years, profs say By Hank Stuever Staff writer Even though he received repeated applause and a few standing ovations during Tuesday's State of the Union address, President Reagan has a lot to prove in his last two years in office, according to two Loyola professors. Dr. Philip Dynia, professor of political science, said that the address was "classic Reagan," and that the administration will have an uphill battle against the largely Democratic congress in passing some of the proposals stated during President Reagan's annual address. During the speech, Reagan stated that he would assume "full responsibility"for ihe Iranian arms scandal, saying, "The goals were worthy. I do not believe it was wrong to try to establish contacts with a country of strategic importance ov to try to save lives." "It is interesting to see him say that," Dynia said, "I'm glad that he's accepting responsibilty ... I also hope we get to know what exactly he is responsible for." Dynia added that the eventual outcome of the Iran deal may come only after "more kicking and screaming." Dynia also commented on the large number of standing ovations Reagan received saying, "His cabinet acted like cheerleaders, provoking standing ovations. I had never seen that sort of behavior at a State of the Union address before." "At the end of the speech, the president really started pulling at the patriotic heart strings," Dynia said. "He has always been very good at that, and we can all agree on patriotic spirit, but let's get on with what has to be done ... we need to solve the arms race, help the budget and define the president's role in foreign policy. Patriotic Americans want that too." Reagan's economic proposals were very general and offered little hope in solving pressing problems, according to Courtney O. Blair, asssistant professor of economics. "The president staled that unemployment and interest rates are down, those figures speak for themselves," Blair said. "But what is more significant is the number of people who have actually stopped looking for jobs. The figures fail to mention that unemploymem within certain demographic areas has not changed in the past five years." "If I were in the same position, I would brag about lower inflation and interest rates too," Blair continued, "but I think that the monetary policy of the Federal Reserve has been more significant in attacking these problems than the Reagan administration." In his address, Reagan commented that the budget was a burden to solving the deficit, primarily due to excessive government spending. "I agree with the idea, and the budget can be blamed for low rates of growth, but I don't think Reagan is proposing cuts in the right places," Blair said. "The big question with the budget is what the money is being spent for," he continued. "I feel a redirection of spending priorities is necessary ... the See Racism/page 5 See Reagan/page 5