Jordan River Forum

Caption confused piercing tools In your "Expressions and Infections" article (Feb. 11), there is a photograph that is mislabeled and misleading. The photograph shows forceps and ring-closing pliers in a stainless steel sink. The photo is labeled, "Clamps fresh from the sterilizer pile up in the sink to dry." An accurate label for the photograph would be, "Piercing tools fresh from the ultrasonic cleaner about to undergo the sterilization process." Anything fresh from the sterilizer (autoclave) would be in a hermetically sealed envelope with indicators showing that the sterilization process was completed. I would like to say thanks to the author for passing on the information that I gave her in regards to endocarditis. This is important information for anyone with this condition thinking about getting a tattoo. Ransom Haile
Owner, External Design Tattoo Art Studio,
Bloomington Get a Sam's card Last Monday's IDS staff editorial about RPS and its complete lack of business sense is spot-on. RPS' argument that they "pay more for the items in the C-stores than their competitors because they lack buying power" falls apart when you drive to Sam's Club and see how cheap RPS could buy products from a retail outlet! For example: The Willkie C-Store sells a 12-pack of 12-ounce Dasani bottled water for $6.99. Sam's Club sells a 32-pack of 16.9-ounce Ice Mountain bottled water for -- get this -- $4.38. If you do the math, you'll find that you get over five times the amount of water for the same amount of money. I don't think that RPS should sell their product as cheap as Sam's does -- this seems unlikely, given Sam's Club's buying power. But RPS doesn't have to work with the other schools in the Big Ten to save money, as the IDS suggests -- they only need to get a Sam's Club card! Assuming that the cost of each individual water bottle ($0.136) constitutes 39 percent of the selling price (as RPS claims), the water could be sold for 35 cents and RPS could still make just as much money (percentage-wise) as they do now. And 35 cents is a lot less than the individual bottles of Dasani sell for right now. Sam's sells almost everything that the laughably stocked C-Stores carry, from cereals to sodas, and all at prices that are so significantly lower that it would be quite cost-effective for RPS to purchase products there. Even if RPS cannot purchase all the items they stock from Sam's, there is no reason why they should not purchase as many as possible in order to save students money. Why don't they do this? I think that the editorial staff of the IDS is too forgiving in assuming that RPS is not "trying to screw over students," because through their inaction, the heads of RPS are screwing over students. And if this is not the case, then we are left with only one option: the people in charge of RPS are stupid. Nicholas Blesch
Senior Zietlow clarifies support In the Friday edition of the IDS, Allison Ricket ran a very nice story about Mark Stoops, who is running for the state legislature in the Democratic primary against the incumbent, Matt Pierce. Ms. Ricket writes that I am supporting Stoops in this race. I want to make it clear that I am not. I have known both of these men for many years and think very highly of both of them. I can think of only good things to say about each of them. Mark is currently a member of the Monroe County Council, an extremely important position, and we need him to continue in his role as a very effective defender of reason, facts and the right principles in critical situations. I think he has the capacity to be an effective state representative at some time, but now I hope he continues in the County. I like Mark, but I do not want my lack of negative comments to be construed as support for his race for state representative. Matt Pierce is the incumbent, he knows state government, he supports things both Mark and I believe in, and he is a very diligent worker for good. He deserves another term, and I am hopeful that Mark will see his way to supporting Matt now, and find another opportunity to work at the state level at another time. Charlotte Zietlow
Bloomington Stilettos stabbed the argument In her letter in the Jordan River Forum (Feb. 17), Ms. Teegardin began with a very legitimate, mature argument. Yes, it is frustrating and annoying that underage students get into the bars. The only thing I can see anymore at Kilroy's are the backs and "chests" of other patrons -- the bars are crowded enough as it is! (And no I'm not a hypocrite; I waited until I was 21 to go to the bars.) Her argument turned sour at the moment she began criticizing the physical appearances and material possessions of the underage bar-goers. First of all, she's obviously upset that just underage GIRLS get into the bars. She should have made that clear. I am sure she has no problem with younger males. They weren't even mentioned. Do I sense a hint of jealousy? If her point is (and I quote) "most of us can wait until we're 21 to go to the bar," what do any of the deprecatory remarks concerning the way these girls dress have anything to do with underage bar attendance? I know plenty legal-aged girls who don stilettos and short skirts to the bars. I couldn't give a damn -- the weekend is a time to dress up and let loose. She obviously has some animosity toward the Greek system as well. Not all underage girls belong to sororities as she implied. It's ridiculous that she's taken the time to scrutinize these women from head to toe and was able to name (in such precise detail) their characteristic attire and accessories. Her concerns are misplaced. She should worry about herself and focus her anger on the bouncers that are letting the fake ID's slide by -- not the girls who are eager to experience the social scene where the law prevents it. Julie Gurovitsch
Senior Jordan River psychology I'm a journalism major and I completely value the foundations of the first amendment and free speech. However, it should be unconstitutional to voice such unbalanced, ill-bred, ignorant comments. If you're going to make an argument, make an intelligent one. I think I'll go polish my stilettos to wear this weekend. This is directed to Kourtney Teegardin, whose letter "Get out of my bar" (Feb. 17) attempted to lambast underage females who frequent Bloomington's bar crawl, presumably because they wear designer clothing. While your of-age peers (who never wear Northface, stiletto heels or ponytails) may agree that underagers degrade the bar atmosphere, your letter fails to identify a logical reason why. That is, unless their collective fashion statement is so abhorrent as to make the beer itself run bitter. Which leaves me only to speculate at the true reason for your dissatisfaction. Are you, a law-abiding citizen, concerned by the rampant use of illegal identification by females? Do these women spout off insipid social commentary? Did that guy stop talking to you when a younger girl showed up? I notice you don't include under-age males in your rebuke -- hey, whatever levels the playing field, right? I'll borrow an idea of yours and suggest the IDS include two Jordan River Forums -- one for those capable of intelligent insight and one for those confounded by coherent discourse. I think maybe you're suggesting underage bar patrons are immature on account of being under 21, whereas a 21-year-old such as yourself attains this maturity with her legality. Sadly, your own letter proves you wrong. Get a clue. Joseph Hazard Rossow
Senior Planned Parenthood opposes FDA delay I was disappointed that once again politics entered into women's health concerns when it was recently announced that the FDA is delaying the approval of a form of emergency contraception for over the counter use. Emergency contraception is an FDA-approved safe and effective medication, and a critical tool in preventing unintended pregnancy. In the case of rape, incest or unprotected intercourse, emergency contraception works to prevent the unintended pregnancies that often end in abortion. Is the FDA choosing to side with politics over science? Emergency contraception meets all FDA criteria for over-the-counter availability. A joint hearing by the FDA Nonprescription Drugs and Reproductive Health Drugs Advisory Committees voted overwhelmingly (24 to 3) in December to approve over the counter status. At the time, HHS Secretary Tommy Thompson was quoted saying that science will be the basis of the decision. I guess somebody forgot to tell him that politics trumps science far too often in cases of women's health these days. Virtually all major medical and health care organizations, including the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, support the move. So why did the FDA postpone the decision about making emergency contraception available over the counter? Widespread availability of EC could prevent up to 1.7 million unintended pregnancies and 800,000 abortions a year in the United States. The FDA's decision only delays the possibility of meeting this essential and laudable goal. It should move quickly to approve emergency contraception for over-the-counter access. Public health demands no less. When will politicians stop using women's health care to further their political agendas? Betty Cockrum
President and CEO,
Planned Parenthood of Greater Indiana New world fashion icons make their own looks I just got through reading a rather disturbing article featuring "Ally," a supposed fashion icon on our IUB campus ("Fashion Function," Feb. 19). All I can say is, "what?" I don't exactly know how opinions get heard and how stories get written, but I do know one thing -- in order to know what fashion is and to have a great overview of the world of fashion you don't have to be a sorority girl, an owner of a BMW from Daddy, an "apparel" major and especially not the owner of designer jeans that you wear to class. I believe that fashion is not about how you can make yourself have that "trendy" celebrity look. The new world of fashion is about making your own look, taking something and making it yours -- not taking Paris Hilton's look from last week's red carpet and wearing it to Axis for the Hot Bod Contest. Hasn't anyone realized that no matter what you do you're never going to get to the top by copying someone else? So how about not conforming to the looks of someone else, in your house, on campus or in the weekly fashion magazine -- make something up of your own. Then when someone sees you walking down the street they won't be so quick to judge you as a certain type of person by what you're wearing because -- are you ready for this -- you'll have your own look. Hmmm ... the possibilities of life. Liz Money
Senior