John Sapp, SG accountant, friend: We will miss you

Editorial

The University of North Florida lost one of its own when Student Government Accountant John Sapp died in his sleep last week. He was 28 when he passed away and an active member in the community. He will be missed by all.

Any of my previous employers would tell you I'm terrible at filling out timesheets. John Sapp could vouch for that. When I first started at the Spinnaker, he was responsible for catching up with my frequently late timesheets. He was never annoyed or frustrated by my inability to grasp the concept of personal finances. He had a great sense of humor and a sharp wit, so I always enjoyed stopping by his office to ask for help and chat.

John was completely invested in making the University of North Florida a better place. Whether it was handling accounting for the entirety of Student Government or helping a confused student get a paycheck, his presence will undoubtedly be missed.

Matt Coleman
Editor in Chief

As a sophomore who was very involved in SG, I had the opportunity to work with John. Even though we were normally discussing employee payroll issues, I enjoyed being in his office because it was both extremely organized - down to his neat-o stapler - and because he was such a nice guy. He interacted with me as if he was looking for a friend.

I haven't lately spent much time in SG. I was such a stranger that the last time I saw John, I was walking past SG and he said to me, "What are you doing in this neck of the woods?" I told him, "Just passing through," but thinking back, I should have stopped in and had a chat.

I will greatly miss his kindness, sense of humor, and willingness to help. He was a great pick-me-up in the middle of the day, and his presence will surely be missed.

Adina Daar
Business Manager

I remember one time during an SG meeting last year, John slipped me a note, and I couldn't read it because he'd written it in shorthand. I asked what it said, and he didn't tell me - he said he wanted to see if I could read it and thought it was funny because I was a journalist and I didn't know shorthand. That's just a funny memory that's stuck with me. He was always polite, helpful and funny.

Tami Livingston
News Editor

In my time as Station Manager of Osprey TV, I can't say that keeping track of accounts was one of my favorite things. But I could walk into John's office smiling, delighted to talk with someone as eccentric as me.

Before I worked with John, I thought bird watching was a forgotten hobby, Billie Holiday was a man, and a radio station could only occupy one button on a radio (every button was Jones College Radio; I wonder if I'm the only one who found that to be hilarious?).

I'm going to miss learning about all of those wonderfully odd things and I'm going to miss getting to make accounting fun.

Robert Orndoff
Staff Writer, Osprey TV Station Manager 2006-2007

Before our adviser took over the daunting task of handling our time sheets, John graciously made sure we were always properly reimbursed and was supportive when there were any problems.

Not many people know this, but he was rather fluent in German, so he often talked with me in my native language.

I could tell he really cared about us.

Robert K. Pietrzyk
Art Director

John Sapp walked into my office one day bursting with pride about a pair of high-quality dice that would be awarded to the winner of his Backgammon on the Green tournament.

To most of us, it was just a pair of dice. Not to him.

A few memories:
- A Web site he sent me called virtualstapler.com with - you guessed it - a virtual stapler.
- A discussion about converting American license plates to the smaller, longer European style.
He was working on the name for an organization to advocate for the switch. A few minutes later, he emailed me with PLATE - People for Longer, Attractive Tags Everywhere. He included a picture of a European plate inscribed with the acronym.
- A ceremony decentralizing student media budgets, complete with music, UNF's alma mater, and a bottle of Advil.

This was John - his approach to life and his enthusiasm for the things he loved would put most of us to shame. He was a guy who embraced - with boundless energy - his work, his hobbies and his life.

Joshua Stewart
Center for Student Media Adviser, Spinnaker Editor in Chief 2000-2001

As an English major, I can always admire those who have the ability to work with numbers. John could do both the number thing and deal with the disorganized mass of our timesheets, while still maintaining a calm disposition. His door was always open, and he always willing to help me and my fellow staff members. His personality was like a breath of fresh air we will truly miss.

Jenna Strom
Discourse Editor

John Sapp seemed to have an unshakably positive disposition. I regret to say that every time John and I met it was because of a disagreement or misunderstanding in the web of financial bureaucracy that is Student Life.

But John never got frustrated with our ignorance of the system. He made it easier for all of us to do our jobs. And in looking back, his disposition and his endless wit are what I truly will miss about him.

John was a rare being, but one of the better and more humorous people in this world. We should all be thankful we were fortunate to know John, however little time we were given with him. Rest in peace, John.

Dave Strupp
Spinnaker Editor in Chief 2005-2006

One of the first things I ever knew about John was that he took Constitution Day very seriously. I dropped by his office to discuss a payroll problem, and he was dressed from head to toe in the authentic garb of and old American colonial. He was happy to talk to me about getting paid, giving no indication that his attire was anything out of the ordinary to him, then gave me a pocket-size edition of the U.S. Constitution for personal reading.

I knew then he wasn't your average school employee. You will be missed, John.

Ace Stryker
Copy Editor

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Apathy a consequence of government recklessness

Student Opinion

By Fatima Hussein
JUNIOR, ENGLISH

It is widely broadcast in the media that our generation, whatever the formal title might be, will quickly become the most ill-forsaken, damned generation of postmodern history.

With a rapidly increasing percentage of Americans living in poverty, the risks posed by global warming, the potential depletion of social security in the next 50 years, and the continuous threat of international terrorism, one would hope American youths would be up-in-arms regarding their government's behavior.

Unfortunately, recent studies show that they are barely educated in these subjects, let alone concerned with them.

When asked what is the most important issue for young people is in the 2008 presidential campaign, the answers have nothing to do with the candidates' identical positions on certain controversial issues and their attempt to provoke this country's impressionable youth.

Rather, it is the youths' lack of interest in the political process itself.

Before blaming young people for an over-abundance of apathy toward the government, it would be sensible to unearth the derivative of this nationwide crisis.

With the beginning of the Iraq war, the President Bush urged Americans to relax and spend, spend, spend, as "liberating Iraq would be a cakewalk." Most Americans, especially the younger generations, did just that, at the suggestion of their government.

Flower power has been replaced with an "American Idol" obsession, and the passion of the Civil Rights Movement has been bartered for the desire to become a "Pussycat Doll."All the while, the principles of the U.S. government became obscured, as fewer and fewer young people became interested in the issues.

Hence the indifference and apathy toward the political process and how the government is run is not the fault of young people.

Instead, it has become the blunder of the government itself. Kennedy's country of sacrifice and reciprocity is substituted with a current generation lost in an apathetic daze.

On one hand, we are told our generation will face the worst consequences of industrialism and will have to prepare for a catastrophic future; on the other, our governing bodies prefer to condition the youth to care less about American political policy.

Thus to answer the question of what is the most pressing issue with America's youth in reference to the current presidential campaign or any of the other world's political issues is the government's reprehensible carelessness with our generation's natural lethargic tendencies.

Former First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt's words embody the essence of our country's crisis: "So much attention is paid to the aggressive sins such as violence and cruelty and greed, with all their tragic effects, that too little attention is paid to the passive sins, such as apathy and laziness, which in the long run can have a more devastating effect."

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Homosexuality and infidelity: It's time to educate children

Student Opinion

By Kay Bissett Guerrero
JUNIOR, COMMUNICATIONS

In a conversation with a gay friend a few days ago, he mentioned that most of his relationships are with older men who are married, and in most cases have children.

Even though I have nothing against gay people, the whole "mixing marriages" concept worries me, especially when considering the effect marriage might have on children.

When adolescence knocks on the door in children's lives, parents start worrying about sexual education. Puberty alerts them that conversations about sex are on the way, and sooner or later the topics will pop up.

It is the responsibility of adults to discuss these topics with children in order to prevent them from making common mistakes regarding sexual relations.

As part of the discussion, it is typical for adults to address issues such as sexual anatomy, responsibility toward sexual relations, contraceptive methods, sexual preferences, and the most important topic: safe sex recommendations.

Their goal is to provide young adults with positive information and prepare them toward successful development in society. But who discusses these issues with middle-age adults?

It seems that when humans reach their middle years, sexual education is no longer necessary.

In the eyes of society, adults are informed, prepared and educated in most of this matter.

Actions speak louder than words. After taking a survey of middle-age men, Annuals Internal Medicine Magazine reported surprising statistics: One in 10 men who claim they're straight has sex with other men, and 70 percent of those "straight" men are having sex with other married men.

Due to the taboo surrounding the topic, there has not been much research conducted regarding couples who get divorced because of gay affairs. But "mixed marriages" is the No. 4 reason for marriage counseling, according to ETHOS, a psychological journal.

And men are not the only ones - married women are also adding numbers to the data.

What scares me most is the fact bisexuality is reaching U.S. houses rapidly.

More bisexual men and women marry and have children. Even when married couples try to work out their differences and manage their sexual desires, many find the relationship unsatisfactory and break up, which has a huge impact on children.

As daughters and sons, we deserve respect, despite bisexual attitudes or expression of gay attachment.

The intention is not to judge anyone, but there are values and ethical codes that we as humans should follow in order to maintain social order.

The problem lies in the confusion these individuals might have, the disjunction between private desire and public identity and their personal implications.

No matter the reasons, respect for the primordial institution of family must stay preserved.

In the same way parents teach their children about sex in their puberty years. It's necessary for parents to be aware that tendencies toward homosexuality and bisexualism can develop in anyone.

Contact Kay Bissett Guerrero at discourse@unfspinnaker.com -- PERMALINK -- TOP OF PAGE

Letters to the Editor

Ron Paul not fit to implement policies affecting women

Dear Editor,

Ron Paul is against women's rights! Don't get me wrong: I like how refreshing his conservatism is. He's an old-school isolationist conservative, unlike these greedy, corrupt, incompetent neocons like Bush.

Paul is the conservative version of Mike Gravel - the right-wing nutty old guy to Gravel, the left's nutty old guy. But Paul is also the prime sponsor of House Bill 300, which seeks to negate the Roe v. Wade Supreme Court ruling.

While as a male, I don't believe I should have much say, I do know it's a complex issue. You have one possible rights-holder inside the body of another rights-holder.

So there are only two groups that can decide the issue, since the fetus can't speak for itself. That is, either women can decide, or a group of mostly old, white male judges - or in this case senators - can decide.

If our society were less sexist, maybe I'd trust the old white guys. But as it stands, I just don't like the idea of them making decisions about women's bodies.

A vote for Ron Paul is a vote against women's rights. I wish the enlightened women of UNF would put up a banner next to the "Ron Paul '08" banner speaking the truth to his male sexist power.

Kucinich also speaks truth to power, but in a nonsexist way.

Do I agree with everything he says? No, but as far as I know, the only rights holders he's threatened are gun owners.

Jack Dalton
Senior, Computer Science

Compromise diminishes political process' efficacy

Dear Editor,

Regarding the Oct. 10 column, "Partisanship polarizes, doesn't produce good decision making": A politician's job is solely to represent voters.

Considering the point obvious that politicians should "compromise at some level," Donald Postway ignores the reality that straying from the values and objectives expressed during their campaigns for office makes politicians liars and thieves, even if under the guise of compromise.

Allowing politicians to occupy offices under false pretenses in order to win elections has created the current political environment where American voters hear one thing and witness another.

After taking office, too many politicians' careers are conducted with a "promises be damned" attitude.

This plainly illustrates the existence of outlaw politicians who believe they are able to be their own person when in office, when all they are is mouthpieces for voters. Promises made to constituencies should be primary concerns of politicians, not ignored and forgotten until a need for re-election rekindles a new cycle of empty promises.

Politicians should remember they are elected to do what they said on the campaign trail and they're not allowed to change their position once they arrive, because compromise made at the spigot leaves constituents thirsty.

Postway's desire for American citizens and elected representatives to compromise their core beliefs is casual to the suffering the country has undergone due to too much political correctness from devalued individual expression.

Partisanship gives the melting pot its flavor. America is bland and uninteresting without its diversity, even those sundry diversities labeled extremes.

To restrict American citizens the rights to be represented by uncompromising partisan politicians is to take away rights for stringent values and principles.

Jason Lightle
Junior, English

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