By Dan Martinez
Arizona Daily Wildcat
March 11, 1998

Anti-skateboarding column 'inflammatory'

To the Editor:

I would personally like to refute the inflamatory, prejudicial and bigoted views of Eric E. Clingan regarding the personal attributes of athletes whose sport is skateboarding ("Skateboarding: Good times or bad news?," Feb. 25). Clingan starts by saying that athletic abilities developed and honed as a youth ("juvenile obsessions" to quote Clingan) shouldn't be pursued as an adult. The majority of Americans would applaud any adult who could still execute the "moves" made as a teenager in any sport, skateboarding included.

I've found skating to be an excellent means of keeping physically fit. By practicing on a daily basis, skateboarding helps me maintain physical wellness, mental focus, adaptablility and discipline in my life. I don't appreciate being inaccurately characterized as a 180-pound tub of testosterone.

Mr. Clingan describes skateboarders as "those rough and tumble rednecks of recklessness." My Webster's defines "redneck" as: 1) "an uneducated white farm laborer, especially from the south;" 2) "a bigot or reactionary;" 3) "a narrow or prejudiced individual." I disagree with the use of this word as a descriptor of individuals skating at the UA. Skaters come from all political, racial and ethnic backgrounds, but the vast majority are a lot more tolerant than Mr. Clingan appears to be.

Another example of Mr. Clingan's inflamatory rhetoric is the phrase "rock-headed juveniles crashing their childish toys." I'll admit that skateboards occasionally go astray. I will also concede that there are scratches and dings on some ledges, railings and other school property. However, it is ridiculous to assume that the "decrepit crumbs of cracking concrete" are the sole responsibility of skaters. Ever heard of time or weather? Do people really have to "treacherously negotiate upon entry to the [Memorial Student Union]"? Most people don't think twice about the negligable damage that skaters cause. In reference to the debate over the renovation of that building, the "necessity for immediate funds to repair the [damage by skaters]" was seldom mentioned because it is simply not an issue. Besides, no one hesitates to sit on these steps and benches.

The vast majority of the UA community feels no threat from skateboarders. According to a recent Wildcat article ("Dang Kids!," Dec. 4, 1997), pigeons create more expense monetarily than skateboarding. Who ever complains about the pigeons? And if the pigeons were a real problem, would we crack down on them, too?

Dan Martinez
Atmospheric Science Junior