Letters to the editor

Dunn Meadow camp has already made its point\nEveryone realizes that at a campus like IU, the freedom to use the campus to inform and voice opinions by students and others is very important. Student organizations know this, and so does everyone from "The Ad Sheet" to "Brother Dan". But they aren't setting up tents and taking up residence for weeks in what becomes a favorite spot for many students during the warmer months of the year. In case you haven't seen it, I'm referring to the "Peace Camp" that has been at the North side of the Union for what seems like months.\nThere doesn't seem to be much action going on around or inside the "Peace Camp," or many people (possibly one?) living in the numerous tents and other assorted equipment there. In the meantime, the camp will probably kill off what little grass is left on that side of Dunn Meadow if it stays there. It also keeps degenerating into more of an eyesore each day. The campus may "belong to everyone" but I assume that doesn't mean you can live on it free of charge. I am not arguing for or against their apparent anti-war sentiments, but I think the administration here has allowed them to make their point, and allowing the camp to remain any longer is without purpose, and also a disservice to any students that enjoy our grassy campus in the spring. I think it's time for someone to step in and mention this if they haven't already. Let's allow reasonable free speech, but lets also keep our campus beautiful for those of us who pay for the privilege to be here.\nJeff Yoder\nSenior\nPiper's reasoning flawed\nIt is a nice, cozy, fuzzy, innocent little world where big corporations give big bucks to political candidates and expect nothing in return. Too bad this world only exists in the mind of Ben Piper. His Feb. 11 column "Shays-Meehan bill unnecessary" argues that campaign finance reform isn't needed because there is nothing wrong. I submit that his reasoning is badly flawed. Does Mr. Piper really believe that corporations and other wealthy contributors are giving these large sums to politicians out of their desire to be good citizens?\nIt is indeed a nice world you live in, albeit unrealistic. The fact is that these contributions, which have spiraled out of control over the past decade, are designed to address the agenda of the corporate donors. Period. The fact is that a politician elected to a two-year term in the house of representatives needs to start raising money for the next election almost immediately upon entering office. Where does the majority of this money come from? It comes from corporations that expect a return on their investment. In other words they want their agenda acted upon. No one is suggesting that campaign donations were the cause of the Enron collapse but I find it interesting that everybody's favorite CEO Ken Lay was actually screening applicants to the Energy Commission for George W. Bush. Do you think that may be because he was his biggest contributor? Hmmmm. If Dick Cheney ever decides to do the right thing and reveal the members of his energy policy meetings I think we would see a who's who of corporate political donors who were basically setting government policy. It is indeed putting the inmates in charge of the asylum. Mr. Piper states that campaign finance reform "fails to hold up under scrutiny." I suggest you need to scrutinize this more closely. If anything we need more reform than this bill proposes but at least its a start.\nErik Boice\nGraduate student\nLombardi's drinking opinions contradict law\nRegarding Katie Lombardi's column ("Who should be held accountable?" Feb. 11), she stated the following opinion: "...members of fraternities who are 21 years of age should... not be held responsible for their peers who aren't of legal age."\nIt needs to quite clear to the readers that not only is this her opinion, but it contradicts Indiana law.\nIC 7.1-5-7-15\nSec. 15. A person twenty-one (21) years of age or older who knowingly or intentionally encourages, aids, or induces a minor to unlawfully possess an alcoholic beverage commits a Class C infraction. As added by P.L.102-1983, SEC.8.\nLombardi already gave a hint that her belief is that the individual should be the one held accountable: "Well what about the individual who chooses to drink?"\nIf that is truly her position, then she should oppose the individual and not our legal system; unless of course she would prefer to aid illegally or encourage a minor to unlawfully possess an alcoholic beverage and thus commit a Class C infraction when she is twenty-one or older.\nIf she wishes to make any positive suggestions, there are numerous resources available. The following webpage contains some positive solutions that actually serve to help the individual: http://www.edc.org/hec/pubs/articles/prevfile0004.html\nPatrick Coffman\nFranklin, Ind.\nPay Grace to stop writing\nCould the IDS pay Joe his column fee so that he'll stop writing? We'd all feel better about ourselves.\nLaurent Castellucci\nMontreal\nA new cause\nI have a new cause that is more worth while then anything else going on right now. So please, forget about the Benton Mural, the peace camp, the flag being "offensive", and how the ECS are bad drivers for now. It is time we all find a new focus to complain about and I realized it today as I went to sleep in weather somewhat like Florida and woke up to Siberia. The Indiana weather has got to change!\nEnough is enough people, haven't we gone through enough of the warm days followed by a riduculous cold day that makes us want to stay in and cry? So forget about the murals and peace camps and start protesting about something that you may actually do some good for. It is time we start writing letters, camping out, and voicing our opinions to whoever is in charge that the constantly changing weather thing be resolved, and quickly.\nTroy Byall\nJunior\nMurals distracted test taking\nTwo years ago I sat in Woodburn Hall staring at the mural wondering who chose to put it on the wall in a lecture room? I also sat and thought about what was its purpose. I contemplated on its relevance in a classroom as opposed to a museum or history-related building. My thoughts began to go back to every movie, book, and documentary I had ever read or viewed. I could almost picture the Klansmen shooting through the houses of black families to scare them and almost smell the burning of the cross on the front yard. I thought of two of my cousins who were in prison serving long sentences for non-violent crimes that would seem to only warrant a fraction of the time. I thought of how scared I am to drive in Bloomington when it's late or to even pass through Martinsville when I'm going home for a break. I thought of the American flag that the Klan held in the mural and realized why Sept. 11 didn't stay on mind as long as it did with most Americans. Now you may wonder what I was supposed to be doing while I was doing all this thinking? I was taking a test in M301 for I-core. I will not comment on my grade, or how long I wasted. I won't say anything negative about IU or its apparent lack of respect for people, certain cultures, or minorities. I am trying my best not to hint to the fact that it sickens me that so many white students and even ignorant black students can think that that mural shouldn't be removed simply because.... it's a depiction of history. I think that this is history in the making. I wonder would IU allow a mural to be put up with a black man thinking about killing a Klansman while he watched a cross burn in his yard? Or even one of a student wasting time on a test thinking about why so many insensitive people can make up reasons that a mural shouldn't and doesn't affect him when it does.\nNoble Woods\nSenior\nEducation reason to attend college\nI've noticed quite a few criticisms recently of Myles Brand and his academics first program. I am saddened to think that students place such a high emphasis on sports that they are unwilling to even QUESTION the role that sports programs play at IU.\nWhy do we attend college? I thought that the value of an education was in order to get a greater understanding of ourselves and our world around us.\nWhen did learning become secondary to basketball games?\nSports have their place in our society, but IU is a university, not a corporation. Students who value a well-rounded education should be congratulating Brand, not criticizing him.\nMatt Walter\nSenior