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By: Sarah Saltzman

In 1998 alone, there were 24,537,600 crimes committed in the United States according to Heritage, a public policy research institute. If you were a parent from outside of the United States and you read that statistic, would you let your child visit the U.S.?

By Michelle Norris

Editor's Note: This Fall's issue of Stand Up! is the Taboo Issue. Each article will focus on "something you wouldn't bring up over Thanksgiving dinner." Topics will include everything from poverty to masturbation, so get ready to blush on Nov 16! Until then, staffers have put together teaser pieces for the issue, including Mrs. Norris' personal column on a topic about which many Stand Up staffers have first-hand knowledge: interracial dating.

Picture this: A loving mother heads back to her hometown in Missouri to visit family, and like any loving mother would, brings her son’s prom pictures. He, his girlfriend and two of his closest friends are huddled together in the typical prom pose, all linked arm in arm, smiling intensely for the best possible impression. The mother’s family is tentatively pleased, but cannot resist asking the question.

By Stephanie Jackson

Stephanie Jackson, Stand Up's own editor in chief, wrote this as a follow up to Harper Bridgers' "NORML Behavior" from issue 4. For this article, Stephanie spoke with NORML members involved in the battle with the University Judiciary over an image on the organization's t-shirts as well as with a local law enforcement officer.

By Seung Song / Kit

Who hasn’t felt cheated? Even to a minor point, who hasn’t wondered if the balance was tipped against their favor? The United States has been called the “Land of Opportunities,” and no one can deny that there is an implication for monetary gain and comfort as the gateway to such promised happiness. And it infuriates us when the country tries to take and not give. However, no one can deny the call for moral tendencies inherent in the American dream. Few are likely to want to make their living ducking authorities and judgment for the rest of their lives to build their dreams out of America’s underbelly- even criminals commit crimes to achieve a better state of living.

By Cathryne Keller

The University of Georgia campus provides a diverse learning environment with students, faculty and staff from all over the state, country and world, each bringing their unique backgrounds and perspectives to the university community. The university emphasizes this diversity in its mission statement, which states that UGA “provides for cultural, ethnic, gender and racial diversity in the faculty, staff, and student body.”

While this commitment to diversity is a major point of pride for UGA, students Naila and Samia Ansari feel that it needs to be consistently supported in the classroom by providing students with a learning environment that nurtures openness and understanding.

By Lilly Workneh

“UGA, shame on you!” preached Linda Lloyd, director of the Economic Justice Coalition, who, along with former UGA professor Dr. Ray McNair and a handful of students, began the Living Wage Coalition in 2003.

This year’s Living Wage Rally on February 12 attracted approximately 150 supporters as the crowd chanted, “What’s outrageous? Georgia’s wages!” Meanwhile, members of the Economic Justice Coalition stood on stage at the Tate Center and voiced their opinion on Athens’ current poverty ratings.

By JC Corcoran

Athens Vegetarians (http://www.meetup.com/AthensVegetarians/) conducted a poll of members to find out what they think are the most vegan friendly restaurants and grocery stores in the area. Athens is one of the few cities in Georgia that really knows great vegan food. We have much to celebrate, with some of the best tasting vegan cuisine anywhere in the country!

Athens Vegetarians polled its well informed membership for the best vegan friendly restaurants and grocery stores in the area. Honing the list down to a reasonable size was no easy undertaking. More and more savvy restaurant and grocery store owners are offering tempting vegan dishes to their patrons. We had literally dozens of choices.

By JC Corcoran

It's no secret, in veg circles, that Ingrid Newkirk, president of PETA, has been all over Al Gore for his refusal to acknowledge animal agriculture as a major player in global warming. Fervent members hound him at his talks with signs asking him, “Too Chicken To Go Vegetarian?”...

However, Ingrid Newkirk is also inconsistent with her environmental message. Ingrid and Al both seem to have left out the part of walking the talk that is inconvenient for them or might cost them or their organizations a bit of profit.

By Jeff Gore

Over the past few months, the face of the ceaseless threat to the American people has changed significantly. Front-page photos of soaring Iranian missiles have been replaced by illustrations of plunging stock indexes. The sound of the drum beating for war against Iran has been drowned out by the prolonged, sickening crash of the world economic system. As these events have unfolded, the focuses of the presidential candidates have shifted accordingly. On the campaign trail, the two men can be heard firing off populist, anti-Wall Street rhetoric at every turn while reserving the Iran issue mainly for formal debates and AIPAC summits.