Talk about a generation gap--in a recent semester I inadvertently
brought down the house by asking, "Is anyone here familier with the
California short hoe?" I was, of course, referring to a garden tool with
a two-foot handle that field workers were required to use to the serious
detriment of their health, and which was the subject of union complaint.
I have since rephrased the question.

Don Mayer wrote:
>
> I agree with Dan that a Pimp and Ho party is not a good thing, and
> I disagree with those who think there's no way to explain ~why~ it's not.
>
> But that still leaves some tough questions, like (1) what would a wise
> administration do to discourage such  events, and (2) what kinds of
> communications from an older generation  (already compromised by an
> apparent absence of moral leadership) would at least cause students
> to think twice about "the fun" and what it all might mean.
>
> I'm at a loss as to (1), though it strikes me that to the extent
> fraternities
> accept some benefits of affiliation from a college or university they
> can surely be asked to keep certain standards.  (But what standards,
> and whose?  Tough questions, easier to avoid, yet it seems to me that
> better and worse answers can be had.)  As to (2), my generation has
> to accept the reality that it is now the younger generation that does
> not want to listen to us, just as we did not wish to listen to an older
> generation intent on making war instead of peace.
>
> And what ~do~ we boomers stand for, not just in the media, but in
> many obvious respects?  Consumerism, self-absorption? Perhaps
> the only sensible response, if you are young, is to laugh at the whole
> sorry parade.  But it is disheartening nonetheless.

--
Yours,

David Reitzel
Professor of Business Law
Sid Craig School of Business
California State University, Fresno