Jordan River Forum

Graf column overlooks part of greek life\nWe are writing in response to Bridget Graf's column ("Local bars affected by rules," Jan. 30). We believe Ms. Graf has overlooked some major issues concerning the greek system, the law and the bar culture in Bloomington. First of all, when did fraternities become purely drinking havens and not the philanthropic organizations that they are glorified as. If the greek system is entirely based around parties and the consumption of alcohol as Ms. Graf suggests, then should the University, an institution based upon academics, be supporting such an organization? No! Furthermore, how can the University turn a blind eye to alcohol consumption on a dry campus?\nContrary to Ms. Graf's view, alcohol is not a necessary part of college life. Thus, a required class on alcohol management is a preposterous idea. Not all college students drink, so for the University to require such a class would be absurd.\nOur last point is this: Bars are crowded. Go to any popular bar in any major city or college town and you will find the same overpopulated scenario. We don't hear the employees or owners of the local bars complaining about the supposed extra business either. Besides, tipping your server or bartender a little extra has always helped your drink get there faster.\nElizabeth Friedle\nSenior\nHillary Vogt\nSophomore\nEditorial misstates facts regarding lawsuit, costs of litigation\nIn response to your recent editorial "IU should release files" (Jan. 30), let's stick with the facts. First, The Indianapolis Star is not suing the University for "Bob Knight's personnel documents." We've already provided the Star with all the personnel information we're required by law to release.\nThe Star wants the investigative notes of IU Trustees John Walda and Fred Eichhorn, stemming from the University's inquiry of the Neil Reid incident (which was not the reason Knight was dismissed). These notes contain the names of student athletes and employees who provided information to investigators. The trial court agreed that those notes are not personnel documents, citing state and federal privacy laws which exempt them from disclosure.\nAnd while you are quick to reference a Vigo County lawsuit, you neglect to mention a recent Indiana Court of Appeals' decision involving Purdue University and the Ft. Wayne Journal Gazette that is completely consistent with the position taken by the University.\nIU is defending a very important principle: The privacy rights of our students and employees. Does the IDS really believe this principle is not worth defending? Is the IDS suggesting that releasing these notes is the more responsible option? What will the paper's position be if students sue the University for violating their privacy rights if these records are disclosed?\nFinally, to claim that the administration has "no concern" for litigation costs misstates our position and misses the point. We continue to manage costs associated with this litigation as prudently and efficiently as is practicable. Protecting the privacy rights of our students and employees is hardly a waste of money. \nWilliam B. Stephan\nIU Vice President, Public Affairs & Government Relations\nAppalled by Baron Hill's comments\nCongressman Baron Hill -- whose district will include Bloomington in 2002 -- spoke at Ivy Tech Feb. 1 about worker training. As an activist and working IU student, I was appalled by his comments which revealed lack of concern for workers and overt sexism. \nOne might well expect covert sexism among elite politicians, but Hill did nothing to hide his affliction. For instance, during the question session, one worker told him she was laid off from GE (incidentally, a big Hill contributor in 2000) and was undergoing retraining at Ivy Tech -- while parenting, working and remaining at poverty level lest she lose aid. Then she commented that her greatest fear, despite her current problems, was graduating and not finding employment. \nHill's adroit response? "Don't worry. You're young and pretty; you'll find something." \nThe woman stood her ground: "I'd like to be hired for my skills." Hill also demonstrated lack of understanding of workers' real concerns about survival, dismissing them casually: "I know a world economy is scary." As workers described their real fears -- such as being unable to feed their families, afford necessary health care, avoid workplace poisons, etc. -- Hill was unable to grasp the devastating effects of layoffs on laborers. He was hung up on this notion of childish fear of change. I bet Hill has never worried about his next meal or being ill and unable to afford treatment!\nWorkers, especially women, don't need Hill on the Hill! Good thing we've got a truly pro-labor alternative from the Greens (Jeff Melton).\nRebecca Riall\nSenior\nOutside marketing firm unnecessary\nWhy would the university hire an outside marketing firm to help them transition in the new school colors and mascot, when the Kelley School of Business is right there on campus? Would it not make sense to let the marketing students of the university work on a project like that?\nChastity Wilke\nIndianapolis, Ind.\nAdditional information about OneStart\nAn important clarification must be made regarding a column ("OneStart IU's version of AOL?" Jan. 28). No Student Technology Fee funds are being used to develop OneStart.\nAs the writer correctly recognizes, OneStart is not yet fully developed. \nThis fact is one of several reasons why OneStart has not yet been introduced widely. OneStart will have capabilities far beyond bookmarking your favorite Web pages. OneStart is a service delivery framework. It is not simply about bookmarks. Ultimately, it will be all about getting convenient and direct access to online services at IU. OneStart will mean better service to IU students, faculty, staff and alumni. OneStart users will have the ability to sign in one time and get to all of the services available to them. These services will be filtered based on their role within the University. Users will be able to weed out those services that are not of interest and go directly to the ones they use most often.\nImagine being able to read e -mail, register for classes, pay your bursar bill, and chat with classmates all in one logically arranged place! OneStart provides the framework to put all of the IU services into a personalized desktop along with channels for other areas of interest such as weather, entertainment, sports, news, etc.\nThe point of creating an application portal such as OneStart is not to imitate portals such as AOL. The goal of an enterprise application portal such as OneStart is, in the words of the IU Information Technology Strategic Plan, to "develop a common interface environment that will support the efficient and effective accomplishment of the day-to-day administrative tasks of the University."\nOneStart's added benefits such as customized channels and bookmarks will make it all the better.\nGregory A. Moore\nCommunications Specialist, UITS Communications and Planning Office\nLautzenhiser's abortion column inaccurate\nIn response to Ashley Lautzenhiser's column "Realizing the Right to Choose" (Jan. 29), the arguments were highly inaccurate. The article mentions that the "right to an abortion" places this power in the hands of the responsible party, that being the woman. However, in many cases this is untrue. Often times, the boyfriend or husband forces the woman to have an abortion against her will. Even more disturbing is how abortionists at Planned Parenthood force a woman to go through with an abortion even when she changes her mind. It brings new meaning to the slogan "It's Pro-Choice or No Choice," since for many who are forced into an abortion, it is indeed no choice.\nThe article goes on to say that "murder is not an action done unto oneself, it is an action perpetrated upon an individual." Well, with this I agree. Abortion is enacted upon a child within the womb of a woman, resulting in the child's death. Therefore, abortion is murder. \nAs such, abortion could hardly be considered a right. No one should have the right to "choose" who lives and who dies. Sadly, the reality in this nation is that far too many people choose convenience over ethics and "rights" over the sanctity of life.\nPatrick David Baxter\nSenior, Activism Director/Webtech \nIU Students for Life\nWhite's column disregards implications of unwanted pregnancy\nErin White's column "Abortion not only choice" (Jan. 29) completely disregards the varied social, economic and personal implications of unwanted pregnancy by supporting her argument against abortion with the transparent emotional appeals of one woman's story.\nThe anecdote about her friend who opted not to end her pregnancy and is now happy with her choice is heartwarming, but only reflects one person's isolated experience. Second, the fact that her sister wants a baby but can't conceive one is tragic but bears no relevance on the debate at hand. Some women want pregnancy -- others don't. The motivations for either position are dramatically more complex than either White's argument or these stories allude to.\nThe situation of White's friend should not be taken as the probable outcome for all unwanted pregnancies. By focusing only on a woman who decided she wanted to finish her pregnancy, White completely overlooks the women who don't want, and for various reasons literally can't, continue their pregnancies. White's argument fails to acknowledge poor, disadvantaged women who lack the economic resources and social networks, for whom having a child (possibly another one of many) would cause them to stretch their already limited resources even further. She does not acknowledge the reality of single motherhood -- that while both men and women have sex, women consistently bear the majority of emotional, economic, social responsibility for this joint venture. Furthermore, White does not address the choice of abortion in cases of pregnancy caused by rape or where pregnancy would endanger the mother's life.\nIn conclusion, White's anti-choice argument fails because she underestimates the concept of unwanted pregnancy and the various and serious consequences that it holds for women. The right to choose should not be repealed because one woman who was indecisive about her pregnancy decided to finish it. For this one woman, there are many others for whom maintaining an unwanted pregnancy would not be a viable option. Contrary to White's blithe comment, for many women having a baby is much more than an opportunity, and for some would be a scenario that does carry "end of the world" consequences and implications.\nLow income Hoosier working families seem to be left out of the media discussion about who will be the winners and losers in Indiana's tax restructuring battle. \nDid you know that Indiana is one of only 19 states that still collects income taxes on the annual earnings of families in poverty? The U.S. Census Bureau reports that about one U.S. child in six still lives in poverty and most poor children live in families with a working parent. Yet these families in poverty are still required to pay Indiana state income tax!\nWith all the debate in the Indiana General Assembly over increases in state income taxes, sales taxes, gas taxes and cigarette taxes, our state legislators must make protection of low-income working families a top priority.\nExpanding the Indiana Earned Income Tax Credit provides targeted relief to low and moderate income Hoosiers and encourages self-sufficiency for these working men and women. This must remain in any tax restructuring plan. Taxing poor families is counterproductive and unfair. Thus, there should be no increase in the income tax rate for those at the bottom.\nIt's important for our state legislature to act this session on a tax and budget plan that will protect our schools and universities, reduce our property taxes and strengthen our state economy by helping to create good jobs. But it would be moral neglect of duty if, when the dust settles, low-income Hoosier families have been burdened by our General Assembly with an even greater portion of the Indiana tax pie. Please let your legislators know that they need to do their job for the people of Indiana now!\nPatti O'Callaghan\nLafayette Urban Ministry