Proper representation of statistics needed\nThe IDS has a real problem with the presentation of graphic information. Jennifer Nentrup's chart (May 29), which shows differences in scores between minority and non-minority applicants to the Law School, is the most recent example. By lopping off most of the data and charting just the tops of the bars, you mislead the casual reader. You show the LSAT scores only for the range between 145 and 165 points, instead of zero to 165. A reader glancing at this chart is likely to assume that non-minorities are scoring two to four times higher than minorities, based on the relative lengths of the bars. Actually, the scores for minorities average around 150 and for non-minorities around 160. The difference of 10 points is less than 7 percent. A similar argument can be made for the GPA chart. \nAn accurate picture may be worth a thousand words, but a misleading one is a travesty. Your staff would do well to study Edward Tufte's "Visual Display of Quantitative Information."\nMartha Harsanyi\nBloomington
Great coverage of bombing stories\nStacey Palevsky's article "Bombs & Blues" (May 1) was excellent. Not only was it poignant and well-written, but it personalized both the Israelis who were murdered by the suicide bomber and those who are grieving for them. The "Bomb aftermath filmed" story (May 2) from The Associated Press also made the most recent victims of terrorism in Israel more real. It is crucial for readers to understand that for each Israeli killed by a suicide bomber, there is a distraught parent, grandparent, sibling or friend who is in mourning, and whose life will never again feel normal or complete. Thank you so much for publishing these articles.\nJosh Hamerman\nSenior
Let's get physical\nHaving been an IU student since the fall semester of 2000, I have come to find many things to love and enjoy about this campus and all it has to offer. One of the things that brings me happiness is the availability of the SRSC and HPER strength and conditioning rooms. As students, we are very fortunate to have access to such fine places. I frequent the strength and conditioning rooms at least several times a week in order to enjoy the benefits of regular exercise. However, I have one major complaint concerning the SRSC and HPER: the music is grating and unnerving. Nearly every time I go to work out, the music is blasting at needless levels. At the HPER, B97 is constantly played. Though I have a strong distaste for this station and the majority of its playlist, I would be able to stand it if it were played simply at tolerable, audible levels. Not everyone shares the same love of pop trash blasted at ear-splitting levels as some SRSC and HPER consultants. Do you know how difficult it is to try and block out Alanis Morrissette or Ja Rule when their song is blasting only a few yards away? \nIn the SRSC, fitness consultants are constantly changing the station to their own likes or dislikes, turning the volume up way too loud, and generally acting as distracting agents to strength and conditioning participants. To me, it's almost as distracting as trying to watch one television show while someone flips through 30 channels a minute.\nI am not asking that the music be silenced, far from it. I just feel that some sort of noise limit should be placed on the house stereo systems. Too much noise is not a good thing, especially when the volume is controllable. I love music myself; that's why I always bring headphones and an MP3 player to exercise with. But it's highly distracting to try to listen to my personal music while fitness consultants are blaring their music so loud that I can't even hear my own headphones. It's difficult to have an effective workout when I'm putting so much mental energy into blocking out the house noise.\nAlso, may I suggest that there be certain times certain stations are played, in order to keep consultants from changing stations every five minutes. I'm sure many people in the weight room feel more energy when working out to some kind of rock music, only to have their workout tempo obliterated to a sluggish pace when the consultant puts a slow R&B station on. It's also quite annoying to hear the same song played twice on two different stations in a one-hour period.\nIn conclusion, I thank you for everything your division offers the students. We are a very fortunate group to have such facilities as the HPER and SRSC available to us. But when the personal musical\ntastes of fitness consultants cause irritation and distraction amongst participants, part of the enjoyment of such places is ruined (as is some of my hearing, to be sure). Please take some time to consider my statements seriously, as this is an issue which has been bothering me ever since I became a member of the IU community. I'm sure I'm not the only one who would benefit from a change in your music policy.\nTristan Schmid\nSenior
Thanks coach\nThis is a letter of appreciation to Gerry DiNardo. I just want to say "Thank You" to the IU football coach for trying to make Indiana care about football and make IU the state representative of the gridiron. While it might seem unrealistic with the Irish roaming South Bend, the effort he and his staff have made to travel to all of the hole-in-the-wall locations that cover this state just to let them know IU does have a football program. It's more than commendable. He should be considered a hero for giving the few IU football fans out there a glimpse of hope that has been void since the days of Bill Mallory (which isn't a coincidence considering Bill's son is a coach and Bill himself keeps in close contact with DiNardo). DiNardo has realized the capabilities of IU football and is taking advantage of them! Genius! Even though the first couple of years are going to be tough, IU fans should take a trip to the open practices, high school players camps and coach's clinics to view the time and effort put in to make sure IU football fans don't have to hide their faces while driving through West Lafayette. It truly says a lot when a junior college linebacker, Paul Szczesny, verbally commits to IU after being recruited by PAC 10 powerhouses and BCS hopefuls USC, UCLA and Washington. It only leaves the question of who's next?! Thank you coach, and keep up the good work!\nRyan Gunterman\n2002 IU Alumnus
Seat belts are for everyone involved\nThis letter is in regards to Vincent Carr's column entitled "Click it or bite me." Mr. Carr stated, "When I neglect to wear a seat belt, the only life I am endangering is my own." I'd like to argue that point. When I was 16 years old, I was in a car accident with three of my best friends. One of them was not wearing her seat belt and was ejected from the vehicle and killed instantly. The three of us with our seat belts on are all in college today. Mr. Carr says that his seat belt choice does not affect or endanger anyone else, but my friend's choice to not wear hers affected hundreds of people, including her family and friends. The driver of that car will never recover from the guilt she feels, even though it wasn't her fault. I will never forget the fear or the images that I experienced and saw that day because of her choice. I loved her very much, but every single day I wish I would have told her to put her seat belt on. The Click It or Ticket! program is not trying to take rights, it's trying to prevent things such as losing loved ones. The next time Vincent Carr chooses to exercise his right to not wear his belt, maybe he should think about the people who have to deal with the consequences of wrecks and accidents in which people don't wear their belts and are seriously injured, or killed. \nAmanda Hardesty\nSophomore
Things to share regarding 'Signs \nfrom God'\nI do not blame Brad Fletcher's confusion regarding the "Signs from God" (June 12), but I want to share several things with him and others who have the same confusion. First, we all know that God didn't put up all those signs along side the road, but people did. Without judging which sign is right or wrong, we have to be aware of false teaching and false prophets in this world. We can recognize them by the fruits, since every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit (Matthew 7:15-20). So, yes, it is wise to question the truth of each sign about God or Jesus. \nSecond, however, God is omnipresent (Jeremiah 23:24 and Psalm 139:7-10) and Jesus is omnipresent as well (Matthew 18:20, 28:20 and Ephesians 1:23). In fact, Jesus and God are one (John 10:30). \nThird, if we intend to control the "advertisements" about God, have we ever considered controlling the pornographic "advertisements" as well? Do we realize that these advertisements have very destructive effects to our minds and morals? Do we realize that pornography contributes to the increasing rate of murder, rapes and sex offenses in the U.S.? Do we want other countries to label the U.S. as an "immoral country"?\nFourth, what phrase is written on every U.S. dollar bill and coin? You got it: "In God We Trust." In 1861, the appeals of many U.S. citizens to acknowledge the Almighty God in U.S. currency were granted because the U.S. Department of the Treasury agreed that "no nation can be strong except in the strength of God, or safe except in His defense." \nFifth, since Mr. Fletcher mentions "Jesus" quite often in his article, I assume that he refers to Christianity. One important note here: Christianity is not a religion. Rather, it's a relationship with God through His Son, Jesus Christ. A great book called "Classic Christianity" by Bob George will help us understand this topic, as well as the topic about God's grace and total forgiveness for our sins. \nLenny Hartoho\nSenior
No money to Planned Parenthood\nThe Bloomington City Council voted 8-0 to give taxpayer money to Bloomington's Planned Parenthood branch for the fifth year in a row.\nMany taxpayers object to this subsidy because Planned Parenthood operates an abortion "clinic" on South College Avenue and we do not wish to fund an organization that ends human life every Thursday. Whether or not this funding request went to support Planned Parenthood's abortion services is irrelevant. The City Council should not be forcing pro-life taxpayers to give money to an abortion clinic for any reason.\nThe question I ask the City Council is this: Who are you to make this decision? Why is it your business to force your constituents to fund an organization they find morally abominable? You have the legal authority to dole out this money, but what moral authority do you have to force pro-life citizens to donate to an abortion "clinic"? If the Boy Scouts asked for tax money, would you ignore the moral objections of those who oppose their exclusion of homosexual scout leaders?\nAbortion is, for now, a legal procedure. That does not mean taxpayers should be forced to fund those who practice it. If the City Council must fund social service agencies (a questionable premise), it should allocate its limited funds more responsibly, not to a political organization such as Planned Parenthood. Finally, Planned Parenthood's national organization reported a total $100 million profit over the last five years. Let them fund the local branch, which has seen a 38 percent increase in abortions since 1995.\nScott Tibbs\n1998 IU Alumnus
A manly XX\nYou might remind Ms. Donaldson that not everyone with two X chromosomes is affected by the biological function that is the focus of her column ("Who said the 'P' word?," June 16). While others like myself are definitely in the minority, men with two or more X chromosomes do exist, and no, we do not have periods. \nMark Richardson\nBloomington
