Hangingtoughonsomeoldhabits EDITORIAL Individual concerns ,

Rumors abound that Elizabeth Dole, who recently stepped down from her post as President of the American Red Cross, is planning to run for presidency of the United States in the year 2000.

Obviously, just by the simple fact that she ·is a woman, this will have serious implications in the coming election if Dole does decide to run.

A woman has never been the president of our country. Other major powers of the world, like Great Britain, have had female leaders.

What makes us different? Perhaps we are worried about other countries' negative perceptions of us with a woman in charge. This notion can be proven false by the history of respectful treatment other female country rulers, such as Margaret Thatcher, have received across the globe.

Would there be a dramatic difference between a female running our country or a male leader? Some people believe that men are naturally more aggressive and business-minded politicians, therefore making them better suited to run our country.

On the other hand, there is also the idea that female politicians are more concerned with education, health and family issues. For instance, Dole is obviously interested with health matters, as was shown by her past stint as Red Cross President. But, even as president, if she was lacking in knowledge in the military and economic fields, there would always be others in her cabinet that could assist her.

With these considerations brought to the surface, the incorrect question to pose is whether or not we will ever witness a female president while we are still living. In actuality, the sex of our presidents does not matter.

What needs to be given our attention is what individual will serve our country as the best and most effective leader.

If our president is a woman, a man or even a hermaphrodite, it really does not have anything to do with what they can do for us as a leader. This editorial represents the combined views of the Loquitur's student editorial board. It does not represent the opinion of any one individual writer or any member of the faculty, staff or administration.

JULIE SHALLIS

Have you noticed the obsession with all the younger teens over musical groups?

Just the other day I was watching MTV and they bad 98 girls competing against each other to have the opportunity for the group 98 Degrees sing to them.

They were sledding down the snow on inflatable furniture, answering personal questions about the group, and to top it all off, walking down the catwalk in their most fashionable dress.

To me, this is crazy. To think that a bunch of kids are singing a song to me, which they don't even mean what they say personally to "that girl," does not excite me-today.

But back in sixth grade I would not give up that opportunity with the New Kids on the Block.

Yes, I am admitting to it!

I was completely obsessed with Joe, Jordan, Jon, Donnie and Danny.

I had all their cassettes, videos, pins, (even the huge ones) shirts, sweatshirts, puzzles, posters, trading cards, key chains, shoelaces and sheets.

My wall was covered with any kind of photograph I could find with them on it.

You could not find a spot of paint on my wall.

In fact, I wrote to these kids and they wrote me back.

Well not really.

I received the generic letter every fan received, but I still held on to it faithfully.

I even remember how I begged my dad to get me tickets to their concert when they were in town.

He did; he bought three.

There was one for my friend, my dad and myself.

A week before the concert, my dad was laid off his job and sold the tickets.

I was devastated!

I cried for what seemed like forever and I thought I would never forgive my dad.

It was the worst thing you could do to a 10-year-old.

I sat down and wrote the New Kids a letter in hopes they would send me free tickets.

They didn't.

To this day I still tease my father.

He'll say, "Hey, you want to go to Boston?"

And I'll say, "Oh, like the time you promised to take me to the New Kids concert?"

It is something I will never let him forget, but he knows I really don't hold it against him.

It was tough times and I never did get to a New Kids concert.

I even became friends with other fans around the world through pen pal ads in teen magazines, like Bop.

My friend put an ad about how much she loved the group and she received so many letters that she gave some to me.

Still to this day I have a pen pal, Lisa, in Michigan.

We always make fun of how obsessed we were, but that is how we became friends.

"My favorite is Joe!" I would say, but there was never any competition because her favorite was Jordan, so it was okay.

I look back at this and think how sad all this seems, but also how normal it is.

With screaming fans in line for the Back Street Boys, 'N Sync and the Spice Girls they are fulfilling what every preteen needs: someone to look up to other than their friends and parents.

It's just like how preteen boys look up to sports stars like Michael Jordan.

By the way, Joe has a new song out and Jordan is touring with 'N Sync.

Although I probably won't be in line for those tickets.

JulieShallisis a juniormajoringin English/ communication.Sheis oneof Loquitur's newseditors.Shestillhasall of herNew Kids'cassettes,videos,pins,shirts,sweatshirts,puzzles,posters,tradingcards,key chains,shoelacesandsheets.