Ending miss-a-meal \na mistake\nLast weekend, the Meal Points Committee ended the miss-a-meal program. \nThe only reason cited for the ending of the miss-a-meal program is that only 40 percent of the money donated is given to the charity. It has been this for a very long time, but only recently is an issue. The IDS ran a story critical of this donation/overhead ratio on Sept. 20 after an appeal for donations for Sept. 11 relief funds. \nRPS claims that donations dropped following the story, but there may be other reasons for this. It may be that those who would have donated did so before the story ran. It seems the fact that at least some money is being donated to charity is being missed. Money was raised despite the fact that people knew where the money was going. \nAn article published in the IDS on Monday suggests charities are utilizing the fact that few people know about the distribution of the funds, stating this directly before mentioning that the Spirit of Sport raised about $6,000 though the miss-a-meal program last year. \nThe Spirit of Sport raised half through the RPS miss-a-meal program, half through greek miss-a-meal. As someone who volunteered at the centers, I would frequently say that 40 percent of the $7.50 donated goes to the Spirit of Sport. Despite this, $3,000 was raised. On some occasions, cardholders wished to donate much more than the $7.50 maximum. One student even wanted to donate more than $100.\nEliminating the miss-a-meal program has stripped charitable organizations of a way to provide money that is greatly needed. At the end of the year, thousands of students will have $7.50 in meal points that will go to RPS, including the $3 that could have been donated to a charity. \nLast year, McDonald's at Read Center made hundreds of dollars because students bought french fry boxes for a chance at Monopoly prizes. They did this because meal points must be spent or RPS confiscates the money. \nJust because certain people do not want to give doesn't mean that the option should be taken away from all. I want my option back.\nChris Pierson\nSophomore, Spirit of Sport Committee Member
Assensohs offer good perspective\nI read with interest the guest columnist article by Professors A.B. Assensoh and Yvette Alex-Assensoh in your Nov. 1 edition. The article was very enlightening and gave me some new information. I would and as many others like to read more from the Assensohs. I believe their experiences and education in from several countries such as Sweden, Croatia and Britain to name a few would be very beneficial to a good segment of your readers. \nIU President Myles Brand commented in your Oct. 29 issue of IDS on a recent international conference the Assensohs hosted," By exploring ways of moving beyond the diversity debate to taking stock of the lessons we have learned, your work will provide further insight into how we can create more inclusive communities of learning. Your task during this conference is an important one." \nWe hope you will give us the opportunity to read more from the Assensohs in the near future.\nPatrick Okorodudu\nDoctoral student
No more information release, please\nA recent study by the National Association of Colleges and Employers found that 22 percent of college students have credit card debt of more than $7,500, and more than 26 percent of students have between $3,000 and $7,500 in credit card debt.\nWe've all been subject to tons of junk mail and telephone marketing of credit cards. So what is our student government doing to combat this problem? What are they doing to protect students' personal information and to help students NOT fall into the bottomless pit of corporate credit card debt?\nWell, I've been at this school for a year and a half now and I've already received at least four mailings (signed by the IUSA president) to apply for an MBNA Bank "IUSA" credit card. \nMany universities and states prohibit credit card marketing on campuses and also protect the personal information of students from marketing abuse. Our University, however, supported by our student government, has no shame in exploiting students (almost all of whom already have credit cards) by marketing them credit cards with a 15.99 percent APR -- what a great deal, right? \nAnd why would they do this? Because it makes a few bucks for IUSA.\nI urge the University and the IUSA to end this unnecessary and harmful practice. The students owe enough money as it is, and our our student government owes it to us not to distribute our personal information without our consent.\nMatt Silverman\nLaw student
