Thumbs Up/Thumbs Down
By Daily Bruin Staff
Jan. 28, 1998 9:00 p.m.
Thursday, January 29, 1998
Thumbs Up/Thumbs Down
Incentive for racism?
Thumbs down to the National Front government in Vitrolles,
France, which said it would pay a bonus of 5,000 francs (roughly
$833) for every child born there to French or European parents.
Bruno Megret, one of the leaders of the National Front and husband
of Vitrolles Mayor Catherine Megret, explained that the "national
preference measure" was an act of patriotism.
She went on to say that "The purpose of this measure is to try
to help French families at a time when the government is penalizing
them and to encourage French births to ensure more harmony."
This measure is ridiculous and a disgusting form of racism.
Dogs, cats get electronic tags
Thumbs down to the Los Angeles City Council for approving a
pilot plan to implant tiny, identification microchips placed
between the shoulders of any cat or dog adopted from the city’s
animal shelters.
The program will be paid for by raising shelter adoption fees
from $74 to $89 for dogs and from $50 to $60 for cats. The program
may discourage prospective pet owners from adopting pets, due to
the added costs. This program will be tested for two years.
Animals with the implanted microchip can be scanned and
identified. While it may help animal owners keep track of their
pets, there’s no telling when such a program would be extended to
include humans.
Reaching out
Thumbs up to UC President Richard Atkinson for introducing a
plan to double spending on outreach programs targeting minority
students in grades K-12. Atkinson said the university is looking to
spend at least $12 million on outreach programs over the next
year.
The project recommends the expansion of college partnerships
with local elementary and high schools with low numbers of
college-bound students.
Thumbs Up/Thumbs Down represents a majority opinion of the Daily
Bruin Editorial Board. Please send comments or suggestions to
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