Jordan River Forum

Death penalty advocate plays ignorant Stephen Andrew Buser remarked in his brief letter to the editor that those who think the death penalty is not a deterrent are clearly mistaken, since, he says, he has never heard of an executed killer murdering more victims. Buser doesn't mention there are also no stories of killers who have been imprisoned for life murdering more victims, so it is not evident that the death penalty is in any way a more effective deterrent, from this point of view, than life imprisonment. His argument is irrelevant. Those who support the death penalty with the claim that it's a deterrent are not referring to what happens to the criminal after he is caught and tried. There's no doubt Buser knows the argument that the death penalty is a deterrent suggests that if a potential murderer knows he may face the death penalty, he is less likely to kill anyone. To the frustration of those who support the death penalty, there's little concrete evidence to support this claim. On the contrary, statistics show that in most of the states that reinstituted the death penalty after it was made a state decision, the murder rate rose. What is curious about Buser's remarks is that the author pretends to be more stupid than he is. Certainly he knew that the point he was making ignored the question raised by those who argue the death penalty is not a deterrent. I'm not trying to be unkind, nor do I mean to insult Buser. I merely mean to suggest both to Buser and the other students at IU that you don't make yourselves appear more intelligent, nor do you make your arguments more convincing, by pretending to be stupid. But considering who is currently in the White House, it's quite possible that pretending to stupid is in fact a sound strategy, though it seems unlikely that our president is actually pretending. Thomas Cooper Graduate Student Dorm decorating encourages gender stereotypes Regarding the dorm makeover (Nov. 7, "Dorm Makeover"): So, the guys get the "athletic" and "techie," rooms while the girls get "romantic" and "social?" Thank you, "Inside Edition" and IKEA, for furthering the cause of gender stereotyping at IU. Also, I hope that the "Slow children" sign is something you can actually buy, rather than something you're encouraging students to steal as they imitate the décor of the athletic room. Cheryl Dugas Graduate Student Probable abortion law insults women Imposing an 18-hour waiting period before a woman can have an abortion is an insult to the woman's intelligence (Nov. 11, "After 7-year wait, law might take effect). This law implies that women contemplating terminating a pregnancy haven't thought it through; they must have counseling forced upon them to make the decision. The law would inconvenience women who live far away from the clinic or who have limited transportation. For these reasons, I oppose the abortion waiting period law as well as further restrictions on a woman's right to choose in the state of Indiana. Rebecca Bartlett Graduate Student Athletics mess tarnishing IU's image for students, alums I'd like more detailed information about the Michael McNeely situation. With reference to Coach Bob Knight's commenting in his book about incompetence in the Athletic Department and his obvious distaste for McNeely, something seems fishy. Did he cover up the depth of the debt? Was he truly qualified to be hired for this job or was this a sweetheart deal with the now also departing President Brand? If he is "resigning," why is he to be paid $800,000, adding to the greater than $3 million debt? Is the Board of Trustees exercising appropriate oversight of department finances? Is anyone? Has there been criminal activity? Has he in fact been fired for a just cause and it's being called a resignation? This story is one which demands investigative journalism. This whole mess over the past 16 months doesn't reflect well on Indiana University in my opinion. As a public institution, it has a responsibility to the taxpayers of Indiana (of which I am no longer one) for fiscal responsibility and it appears certain oversight has been lacking. As my alma mater, it has a responsibility to me and all other alums to maintain a respectable image. Lately, it's tarnishing. Richard L. Shepherd Alum IUSA acts like 'Good ole Boys' The IU Student Association recently ran a full-page ad in the IDS calling for applicants for the presidential search committee. Last week the student organization announced that of its three student nominees, the board of trustees ultimately selected the current IUSA Treasurer, junior Blair Greenberg. An IDS article last week (Nov. 4, "Student Chosen for board") revealed that the winner did not even submit an application to the IUSA nominating committee. His reason for not having done so was that he "knew the people" in charge of the nominations and had simply voiced his interest to his cohorts on the committee. Another IUSA executive responsible for reviewing the applications responded to the oversight with the same nonchalance as the winner. He stated that, because he knew the candidate personally, it was not necessary that he fill out an application. Their comments demonstrate the current IUSA administration's blatant negligence and lack of accountability. The committee admitted that upwards of sixty students had submitted applications for the position, and I seriously question whether members even took the time to read and consider those applications. It is utterly unacceptable that IUSA members did not abide by their own publicly stated application process but rather simply nominated their treasurer. These members' actions are reminiscent of the "Good ole Boys Network" whereby undeserving individuals receive honors, not based on personal merit, but rather simply because they "know someone" in a position of power. IUSA's actions were undeniably incommensurate with the organization's core purpose -- to educate its members and the larger student body about the democratic process. The current IUSA administration has concerned itself more with spending the organization's funds on expensive cars and fake surveillance equipment than with carrying out the democratic process. As a former IUSA Senator who now is supposedly represented by this governing body, I cannot condone the dishonest and undemocratic manner in which its members conducted this process. I do not feel comfortable with their nominee, who now holds a position that will help select IU's future president. Hope Marasco Senior Sexuality educator urges Blattert to check facts Cherry Blattert's Oct. 16 column ("Miss America's Message works") encouraging sexuality educators like myself to promote only abstinence to area teens relied heavily on facts and statistics. Let me reply with only one: 50 percent of high school students are sexually active. To help those teens avoid the risks of unintended pregnancy, sexually transmitted infections and HIV transmission, we inform them of their risk, making sure they know that no birth control method is 100 percent effective (most are 97-99.7 percent) and that condoms, while 10,000 times safer than not wearing a condom, are also not 100 percent effective at preventing infection transmission. While your morals may feel it wrong to educate these teens on how to protect themselves best, I feel it would be wrong to ignore this reality and let them become potentially infected teen moms and dads. Also, Miss Blattert, I DO advocate that teens abstain from sex until they are in a committed long-term relationship, I do NOT counsel teens to engage in pre-marital sex, and I do NOT teach about faulty methods. I teach people how to use methods to the best of their effectiveness. And in closing I would like to encourage you to check your facts before addressing my work in a public forum again, and to spend more energy helping to solve the problem rather than attacking those of us out there doing the hard work of educating our youth. Kelly E. McBride
Sexuality Educator