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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Lucknow Sentinel, 1983-05-25, Page 6edltorlal page LUCKNIMV,SENTINEL "The Stipa), town" Established 1073 THOMAS A. THOMPSON - Advertrstng SHARON J. DIIEETZ Editor PAT LiVIjSTON - Otflce Manager JOAN HELM - L'ompositor MERLE ELLIOTT - T).pesetter Manager Lucknow Sentinel, Wednesday, May 2S, 1983—Page 6 Business and (Editorial Office Telephone 528-2822 Mailing Address P.U. Box 400. Lucknow, NOG 2H0 Se and (ess Mail Registration Number 0847 Subscription rate, S15.25 per year In ad% -ant* Senor Cltiten rate, 512.75 per year In advance U.S.A. and Eorelgn, S30,00 per year In advance Sr. Cit. U.S.A. and Foreign, S36.O0 pet year In advance editorial Drinking and driving The first holiday weekend of the summer season is behind us, Contrary to popular opinion, the highest number of traffic fatalities do not occur over the Christmas season but rather between the long holiday weekend in May and the labour day weekend in September, Ontarians like to enjoy their summer weekends and vacations at the beach and the Friday night rush for the cottage or the Sunday night drive home make for deadly statistics on our highways, rattgue and driver inattention are two contributing factors to the highway slaughter in our province, But in the Huron - Bruce area, alcohol plays the most important role in the traffic mishaps which occur, A beer or two is a great way to relax during the summer and everybody loves a party on the beach, Drinking has become more than just socially acceptable, It is the primary form of entertainment for adults and teenagers, And since we live in a rural area, the car is the only means of transportation, Unfortunately, the social drinker, often finds himself behind the wheel, These two factors lead to the highest statistics in the province, according to Constable David Don, community services officer, Walkerton O.p,P, Hgaron and Bruce Counties can boast the highest accident statistics in Ontario where a drinking driver was a contributing factor, The families of victims who have been killed or maimed in accidents involving drinking drivers are demanding stiffer penalties for the drinker who insists on putting himself behind the wheel. But the provincial government is ambivalent about legislation which will come down hard on drinking drivers, While they should respond to public pressure for stiffer penalties, the tax dollars raised on liquor and beer sales are substantial. Experts point out- however, if our love affair with alcohol were reduced to reasonable limits, the government would see a saving in health expenditures created by alcohol related problem, Adult problems including employee absenteeism, troubl- ed marriages and alcoholism are only the tip of the iceberg. Teenager drinkers are a large part of the statistics. Teenagers are not only inexperienced drinkers, they are new drivers, Without fail some Ontario community will see a tragedy this summer when a group of teenagers will be seriously hurt or killed in a car accident. Almost certainly, alcohol will be involved. A coroner's jury, investigating the deaths of three Mississauga teenagers in a car crash last month, recom- mended fhe legal blood alcohol content for drivers under 21 years of age should be dropped from 80 to 50 milligrams per 100 millilitres, The Jury also recommended mandatory driver education to obtain a driver's license; mandatory retesting of all drivers who have had their licenses suspended; failure to surrender a suspended license quickly be followed up by authorities and photographs of fatal car accidents involving young drivers should be displayed at the victims' schools. The May holiday weekend is the first of five such weekends this summer season, Think again before you decide to drive home from a barbeque or party at the cottage, if you have had too much to drink. Learn to distinguish when you have had your limit to drink and stop. Talk with your teenage children again about the foolishness of drinking and driving. And be careful out there an the highways this summer. Choose a Jamboree project today This former member of the Lueknow Pipe Band still re -united Lueknow Pipe Nand In the Jamboree parade marches in a pipe band today and will play with the July 2. Phone the Sentinel to correctly identify him. one foot in the furrow He was pooh-poohed 15 yearsago but Charlie Munro, the Drumbo dairy farmer and former president of the Canadian Federation of Agriculture, sounded the warning then. He said the entire agriculture com- munity should be on guard against the downgradingof the Ontario Veterinary ollege and the Ontario Agricultural College. This was back when the University of Guelph was becoming a full- fledged, degree -granting institution. Munro was not ecstatic to see the two world-famous colleges being swallow- ed up by the university. He said both colleges could become the poor cousins of the big university. He sug- gested grants and monies would go to keep the university going and the col- leges would be downgraded. He was accused of talking sour grapes. Rut his fears were Justified because the Ontario Veterinary College ( OVC has been accorded only limited ac- creditation by the American Veterinary Medical Association ( AM - VA). It seems incredible that the OVC, a college that won international ac- claim in many areas in past years, has now become what is tantamount to a second-grade institution. When the OVC came to Guelph in the early 1920s, such distinguished scholars as Dr. Andrew L. MacNabb, Dr, Trevor Lloyd Jones, Dr. J.A. Henderson and Dr. W.J.R. howler helped to give the college a unique place in Canada and a highly respected spot in veterinary medicine around the world. Limited accreditation means the college has been reduced in status from full accreditation, a second- class college. Why? I3ecause a better balance is needed between the financial resources and the programs of the col- lege. "Construction and renovation ( should be) initiated to correct inade- quacies in classrooms, laboratories, offices and clinical worspaces. Also, faculty numbers and especially ex- pertise ( should) be increased and ad- ditional time be scheduled for profes- sional development, research and other scholarly pursuits." Student numbers should be reduced until adequate faculty numbers and physical facilities can be provided. These recommendations in the AV- MA report did not surprise Donald Forster. president of the university. by bob trotter He was disappointed and said some steps to implement some of the recommendations have already been taken. He commended the faculty and staff of the veterinary college for working so hard to maintain the reputation and integrity of the program. But many of the problems stem directly from the chronic underfun- rline Ontario universities have ex- perienced for a number of years and "every effort will be made to secure support from government and other sources to remedy problems which have been identified. I hope and pray that President Forster will be successful in his at- tempts. As mentioned earlier, farmers – a few of them, at any rate – expressed concern away back in 1964 when the college became part of the university. Agriculture, even then, was taking a back seat to arts and ail the other frills that go with a big university. Agriculture is still left out in the back 40 when both provincial and federal budgets are set. It's d crying shame that OV(' must suffer such a stigma. Charlie Munro's worst fears appear close to realization.