Where I Stand — Ruthe Deskin: Golfers a bright spot in controversial week at UNLV

Tuesday, June 2, 1998 | 10:46 a.m.

UNLV IS in the news again, some good and some bad.

First, the good news.

The city owes a ticker parade to the UNLV golf team for winning the NCAA national golf championship.

Remember the excitement and celebration that surrounded the 1990 Rebel basketball team when they brought home the national championship? These young golfers deserve no less. Their efforts have placed UNLV in the spotlight of sports and we congratulate them.

The bouquets and plaudits belong to coach Dwaine Knight and his players, Chris Berry, Jeremy Anderson, Bill Lunde, Charley Hoffman and Scott Lander.

Now for the bad news.

Although UNLV President Carol Harter has found insufficient evidence that athletic director Charles Cavagnaro used inappropriate language in discussing certain athletes, this matter isn't going to just dry up and go away.

Harter did conclude that Cavagnaro "may have used language that others find offensive and has apologized."

Obviously his apology has not been accepted by everyone involved.

I don't know Cavagnaro, nor am I privy to his thoughts involving minorities. Obviously, he has learned a tough lesson. He is mighty lucky to have the support of the administration. Others who have suffered a slip of the lip haven't been so fortunate.

Should someone recommend sensitivity training?

Hindsight is always easier than foresight.

Maybe, if the City Council had followed the recommendation of one of their members and renovated and purchased the old Kmart building on Rancho, they wouldn't be in such a mish-mash over the downtown location that cost them a million and a half to renovate -- and now has them scrambling over their lease.

It's a complicated story, but just another to add to the several judgmental decisions on land and property that city fathers and mother have made ending in unnecessary costs to taxpayers.

The Legislature handed a gigantic task to a group of citizens when it set up the Nevada Council to Establish Academic Standards. The council is required to develop tests and create new educational standards for the entire state.

Keep in mind that the members are all private citizens donating their time and effort to improving education for our youth.

I hope the meeting called for 5 p.m. tonight at Clark High School will be well attended. The council is looking for input from parents and interested parties, especially in the field of standards in mathematics, English and science.

This is a great chance for parents to participate in the future of their children.

Smokey Stover is looking for someone to listen to his program for improving the quality of education of our schoolchildren.

Stover would apply a method of teaching that he experienced in learning the Chinese language while in the military. His idea is quite intriguing. All he needs is someone to help him augment the program in the schools.

When one thinks about "music" in Las Vegas, the name of Dr. Doug Peterson comes up naturally.

As music director of the Southern Nevada Musical Arts Society, Peterson has been bringing quality concerts to area residents for more than 30 years.

At 3 p.m. Saturday at the Nicholas Horn Theatre on the Community College of Southern Nevada campus, Peterson will direct the Musical Arts Chorus and guest soloists in music by Cole Porter, one of the greats in musical theatre and composer of 23 Broadway musicals.

Tickets may be purchased at UNLV Performing Arts Center, at Dillard's or at the door. Admission is $10 for adults and $7 for seniors, students and members of the military.

A Sun reader has a hobby of clipping unusual classified ads. She shares them with us:

"Illiterate? Write today for free help."

"Auto Repair Service. Free pick-up and delivery. Try us once, you'll never go anywhere again."

"Great Dames for sale."

"Man. Honest. Will take anything."

"Wanted. Man to take care of cow that does not smoke or drink."

Or, "Tired of cleaning yourself, let me do it."