No leash, no problem\nI am responding to the article "Of Dogs and Men" (IDS, June 30). I agree that a leash has traditionally been the logical way for dogs and people to be safe and so that dogs are under control. However, for well-trained dogs, I believe in an alternative as well.\nIt is not right for any dog to be "free" to approach someone without being welcome. It is true that many people are afraid of dogs -- especially big dogs, of which I am an owner. No matter how strong the leash, a large dog, like my 120-pound Lab, cannot be restrained by an owner if that dog has not been trained and it has made a decision to "take off" after a squirrel or even a person.\nA well-trained dog can be "off leash" and safe nearly all the time. Since there will always be "accidents" or times when the dog doesn't obey, a leash seems like it would be a good back-up plan. But again, if my Lab decided he wasn't going to obey my commands, a leash would not prevent him from pulling away or even pulling me along with him.\nFor this reason, I have invested in an "e" or electric collar. This device allows me to give the dog a small (not painful) shock when I am giving him commands. Although it is not necessary to use the collar with every command, it is useful in situations that could potentially be "unsafe" for the dog or anyone else.\nIt has taken me a lot of time to train my dog to be off leash so that he can get the exercise he needs. I also work very hard to be respectful if/when I see someone approaching me who appears fearful of dogs. I do not let my dog run out of sight, nor do I let him approach strangers who have not made it clear that he is welcome to do so.\nI hope that readers will keep this in mind the next time they see a dog "off leash."
Lisa Stucky\nBloomington resident
Brain drainage\nThe recent attention being given to the "brain drain" problem here in Indiana is long overdue. Young people in this state have little opportunity when it comes to post-college work. This is in large part because of the failures or lack of effort by our last two governors, Evan Bayh and Frank O'Bannon, over the last 14 years to attract business opportunity and attractions of interest to Indiana. At the same time our neighbors during the 1990s, like Illinois, Ohio and Michigan, were attracting new economic stature and business opportunity as well as developing new and exciting tourist destinations in their states. \nIndiana currently ranks dead last in job growth and first in job loss, leaving few reasons, if any, for young college graduates to hang around after receiving their degrees. The lack of leadership, excitement and optimism about producing a more modern, economically powerful Indiana by our last two governors is beginning to take its toll on Indiana. Indiana needs new leaders who are more concerned with guiding the state into the future than guiding themselves to an easy reelection. \nExton Robert Cordingley\nIUSA Student Senator
