Get your rights right\nThe editorial in the Sept. 21 Indiana Daily Student presented an incorrect interpretation of the First Amendment. Christina Galoozis correctly pointed out in her dissent that tax-supported universities are bound by the First Amendment (as well as the rest of the Bill of Rights) and cannot deny students their rights.\nThis is an important case to watch for IU students, as the administration implemented a similar policy here. One Christian student group declined recognition by the University on principle rather than sign a pledge that forces them to accept anyone. Fortunately, the administration saw the error of their ways. Dean of Students Richard McKaig said that it was not the intention to include religious groups in this policy, and the University officially recognizes the group in question once again.\nBut IU should never have implemented this policy in the first place. The Supreme Court ruled in 2000 that the state of New Jersey could not force the Boy Scouts to accept everyone because freedom of association necessarily includes the freedom not to associate. Should IU require IU Students for Life to accept someone who supports abortion rights? Should OUT be required to admit someone who is openly homophobic? Of course not.\nMany student groups already accept all students. The IU College Republicans' constitution has said the CRs are open to all students since it was ratified in 1997. But that is not a decision for the University administration to make.\nIf a tax-supported university implements a policy to restrict the Constitutional rights of its students, the state legislature should use the power of the purse strings to "persuade" that university to respect the Constitution.\nScott Tibbs\nIU Alumnus
What's the point?\nMay I ask why Jacob Johnston's ode to his beliefs is considered a worthy of printing? (Letter to the editor, Sept. 24). I am glad he is strongly faithful to his beliefs, but what does his evangelizing letter have to do with anything? It addresses no current event, no article in the paper, no thing of any kind. It is simply a profession of his faith and his belief others should join him in that faith.\nDoes the Indiana Daily Student have so few writers and receive so few letters to the editor that it must resort to this to fill space on the page? If so, I'm available to write columns.\nLaurent Castellucci\nMontreal, Quebec
Think before you launch\nOf the more than 1,000 American troops who have died so far in Iraq, we can only guess how many would still be alive if they had been equipped with proper body armor. We can also wonder why President Bush would want to eliminate their combat pay and cut their health care benefits.\nDuring his acceptance speech at the Republican National Convention, George W. announced that "democracy is coming to the broader middle east." Is this a call for unilateral pre-emptive strikes against Iran, Yemen or Syria?\nJohn Kerry has promised not to invade other countries unless our national security is threatened, whereas the Bush Doctrine calls for the attack of any country which currently does, previously did or -- at some future date -- may harbor terrorists.\nThe dilemma of numerous potential wars without a sufficient fighting force is spelled d-r-a-f-t. Think this one through before you vote on Nov. 2.\nCarol Seideman\nBoulder, Colo.
Squeeze out another penny\nI have a great deal of difficulty understanding IU's policy requiring $5 permits for bicycles ("Parking operations cautions cycles," Sept. 20). Shouldn't students who ride bicycles instead of driving be commended? No -- it would be better for the University to squeeze another $5 out of the students. Normally, money is paid for a service or product. In this case, the University is charging people $5 for the convenience of riding a bicycle -- how ridiculous is that? No thanks parking operation -- I'll start driving before I pay $5.\nJustin T. Schoof\nGraduate student
Article lessened scope of services\nIn a Sept. 23 IDS article about the new Beacon Community Center, "GLBT parents find 'beacon,'" it was noted that "IU operates a GLBT office and support center for students, although many of the services and benefits the center offers are only available to students, faculty and staff." In the ten years that the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender office has been open on the IU campus, we have served individuals on the campus and the larger community, including students in area high schools, parents and families, senior citizens, and countless professionals. Our web page includes a listing of GLBT-friendly professionals from throughout the community and hundreds of people log into our web page from around the community, indeed the country. Our GLBT Alumni Association has over 700 members throughout the country. \nWe have provided training for teachers in the Monroe County School Corporation, met with groups such as the Rotary, participated in programs in various faith communities in Bloomington, worked with City Hall, the Bloomington Police Department, the Bloomington Human Rights Commission and Bloomington United. We were instrumental in helping to organize one of the country's first GLBT-themed radio programs, BloomingOUT on WFHB. This past summer we hosted our second national conference to provide information to youth-serving professionals who work with GLBT youth. \nIt is true that our "normal' office hours are from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, but our staff often spends evening and weekend hours serving the larger community on behalf of GLBT issues. To suggest that our services are only available to students, faculty and staff is not just incorrect, it is an insult to the dedicated students, volunteers, staff and members of the large community with whom we work on an ongoing basis!\nDoug Bauder\nCoordinator, GLBT Student Support Services
No peaches or cream\nI read the letter a gentleman submitted regarding enabling private citizens to give out traffic violations to, as it turns out, just rude and careless people ("Book 'Em," Sept. 21). It just blew my mind how upset this man was over something so trivial -- a couple of women cut him off while he was on his bicycle.\nI will grant him that he acknowledged just how absurd this idea is, but it's really sad when people are so petty and egotistical as to even suggest something like this.\nFor someone who claims to know so much about the law, he apparently has no conception that private citizens can't just go around issuing other people traffic citations. It's just common sense that it wouldn't stand up in court -- (can we say "hearsay?"). The police have better things to do, don't you think?\nBut aside from the legalities, it sounds to me as though this guy wants to found the "Polite Patrol." Uh oh! Better not forget to raise your little finger whilst drinking! Otherwise, they'll have to bust you. \nI have a message for the author of "Book 'Em." There are a lot of rude inconsiderate people on this campus, I'll give you that, but it's a fact of life. Deal with it. The world has never been and never will be peaches and cream. You'll see that when you someday enter the real world. \nJosh Hodgson\nSenior
A good brew\nI enjoyed your column "A football power brewing?" (Sept. 20). As a UK alumnus and football season ticket holder I can attest to the astute vision of your assertions and observations. If you only knew the total truth!\nIn the four years since we expanded the stadium, we have been in the top 25 for NCAA attendance, despite losing records. Kentucky, like West Virginia, Arkansas, Missouri and Minnesota, is virtually a one-team state when it comes to major college athletics. The love for our 'Cats spreads far beyond Lexington. There are still more UK fans than U of L fans in Louisville/Jefferson County, a fact which grates on the Cardinal faithful.\nJust as you were surprised by the full stadium in Lexington, when we make the every-other-year trip to Bloomington, we are shocked at the number of empty seats. I hope more of the crimson-clad folks learn the high art of tailgating, which for an evening game is actually about a 10-hour event, not just the 3 hours of the game!\nS. Charles Hite\nLexington, Ky.
Of gladiators and warmongers\nEdward Delp quotes the movie "Gladiator," "At my signal, unleash hell." I could go on here and speak of irony. Irony that a Bush advocate would use a quote from the particular context of a failing/falling Rome to support his leader. Though, I think the more important issue at hand is the logical/ethical standing of this particular columnist. Delp would have us believe that it is logical for a human to take another human's life, presumably on the grounds that it would deter future terrorist activities. This should seem a bit odd, as a sweeping majority of terrorists have chosen suicide missions of one type or another to enact their beliefs. To make this even clearer, I'll pose the rhetorical question of "Why would a death penalty deter one willing to die from committing a suicidal activity in line with their beliefs?"\nFurthermore, and I wish to expand this to all of the murder that has gone on at home and abroad by both Iraqis citizens and Bush who commands the U.S. forces, how can we expect terrorism to ever go away when it is for the most part fueled by those exact activities which attempt to stop it? Little Iraqi/Afghani boys and girls are not going to remember the U.S. as the great liberators, but more likely as 'the country that killed my family, allowed my sister to get kidnapped and desecrated my town's religious shrines.' And so the world will continue to unleash hell upon itself by never breaking the cycle of violence.\nTwenty years from now -- perhaps even less -- it would seem likely that terrorist activities will increase exponentially as people continue to ignore the true causes of violence and continue to put sand in open wounds to stop the bloodshed. Unless of course Delp would now like to argue for genocide, though it would seem that humanitarian efforts are a much more compassionate, working methods for resolving potential conflict and violence. If a child asks for food and you refuse her long enough, she will do anything to get it, so why not just give it to her.\nJared Malcolm Pool\nSophomore
The right to choose Chipotle\nGiven the intensely anti-business climate of Bloomington, I wasn't at all shocked to read Bridget Kennedy's thoughtless, knee-jerk reaction to Chipotle's presence in our community (Letter to the editor, Sept. 7). All the business owners interviewed in the article were all very welcoming about Chipotle coming to town and ready to do business as usual. But it's clear that Ms. Kennedy doesn't trust local businesses to compete, nor does she believe that Bloomington residents are capable of deciding what food is best for them, whether it's a Mom-and-Pop shop or a chain store. Ms. Kennedy, I suggest you stop trying to be the Morality Police and making half-thought remarks and spend your time doing something more productive. Maybe brushing up on your economics is a good place to start.\nDalton K. Finney\nBloomington
Who cares?\nSo a minority pressure group is frustrated with an IU board of trustees appointment ("Trustee asked to resign position," Sept. 23). Who cares? If the Indiana KKK asked an IU trustee to resign because she was black or Jewish, would you make that your top story of the day?\nWomen in the U.S. have the clear and legal right to choose abortion, and doctors have the clear and legal right to perform the procedure. Trustee Boone has broken no laws, and by whining about the reasonable appointment of a qualified, law-abiding citizen to the board, Indiana Right to Life has only embarrassed itself.\nThe bigoted political posturing from Indiana Right to Life is immature and counterproductive, and it was irresponsible journalism for the Indiana Daily Student to promote their outburst with front-page coverage.\nMatt Rowe\nGraduate Student
Draft may be coming\nYou need to think about this if you haven't registered to vote yet, or worse, don't plan on voting in the coming election. \nA mandatory military draft for men and women ages 18 to 26 starting June 15, 2005, is something that affects every IU student, in fact, students and non-students everywhere in the USA.\nThere is pending legislation in the Republican-controlled House and Senate (companion bills: S89 and HR 163) that will time the program's initiation so that the draft can begin as early as Spring 2005, just after the 2004 presidential election. The administration is quietly trying to get these bills passed now while the public's attention is on the elections, so our action is needed on this immediately. \nThis plan, among other things: 1. Eliminates higher education as a deferment, 2. includes women in the military draft, 3. makes crossing into Canada very difficult, 4. Includes the extension of military service for all those who are currently active.\nIf this bill passes, it will include all men and all women from ages 18 to 26 in a draft for military action. In addition, college will no longer be an option for avoiding the draft. The U.S. will be signing an agreement with Canada that no longer will permit anyone attempting to dodge the draft to stay within its borders. The reasoning for this bill is "to increase the size of the military in case of terrorism."\nPlease write your congressmen or senators and let them know how you feel about this pending legislation. Ask them why they aren't telling their constituents about these bills. Contact your hometown newspaper and other media outlets to ask why they aren't covering this important story that affects all of you. Tell your friends, fraternity brothers, sorority sisters, apartment buddies, resident hall friends and family about this and ask them to oppose these bills.\nAbove, all, register to vote, and vote in the presidential election! And if you really can't be bothered, enjoy the program at Baghdad University -- they may even have a better basketball team than IU.\nArnold Shuster, Ph.D\nBloomington
Put your nose down\nIn response to Patrice Worthy's article "'Snobbed out' in a black dress," (Sept. 16), I would like to say, get over yourself, Patrice. While turning your nose up to get into your precious fashion show may be "etiquette" in New York, here in Indiana, snobbery is looked down upon. Call us old fashioned, but a snotty woman who thinks she's better than everyone else is not attractive. So grow up, Patrice, trade in your "snobbed out" look for a more attractive one. Better yet, why don't you try smiling to someone passing by -- I bet you'll get a smile back. And that random act of kindness should make you feel better than Zac Posen's fashion show.\nMegan Simonye\nSenior
Incorrect picture printed\nThis morning I read with shock and, to some extent, amusement the "headline" article entitled "Trustee asked to resign position" that appeared in the Indiana Daily Student.\nAlthough, personally, I don't agree with the Indiana Right to Life group's position regarding the worthiness of Clarence Boone Sr. to serve on the IU board of trustees, I do defend your right to print the article.\nHowever, I do feel it is the obligation of the IDS to portray the subject in your article in an accurate manner. The photograph you portray in your article as Clarence Boone, IU trustee, is clearly a photograph of Clarence Boone, Jr., an employee of the IU Alumni Association who is several decades younger than our esteemed IU trustee.\nDavid F. Hummons\nPresident, Black Faculty and Staff Council
Roaming our streets once again\n"It makes no sense for assault weapons to be around our society," said George W. Bush in a 2000 campaign. Those were the words that our president said about assault weapons and the ban which sunset Sept. 13. \nThe federal law banning the sale of semi-automatic assault weapons, known as the federal assault weapons ban, was passed by President Clinton on Sept. 13, 1994.\nThe law required domestic gun manufacturers to stop production of semi-automatic assault weapons and ammunition clips holding more than 10 rounds except for military or police use. The bill bans 19 different weapons like AK-47, Uzi and TEC-9. \nWhile there are no exact numbers of assault weapon incidents, police across America in the 1980s reported that semi-automatic assault weapons had become the "weapon of choice" for drug traffickers, gangs and paramilitary extremist groups. These weapons have also been used in other heinous crimes. For example, the Stockton School yard massacre, the San Francisco Pettit & Martin shootings, the CIA headquarters shootings in 1993, and the Branch-Davidian standoff in Waco, Texas. \nSome studies have shown that it has decreased violence and other studies have shown that violence has not been affected by the ban. One thing that both parties probably know is that no matter if it decreased crime or not, these weapons were off our streets. \nSome have argued that this ban was taking away gun rights and if this ban were in place that other restrictions on gun ownership would start to be in effect. The fact of the matter is that the normal average Joe doesn't need an assault weapon. This ban had nothing to do with hunters owning riffles or people owning handguns. This ban was about taking military style weapons off our street. \nSo now it is past Sept. 13 and the ban has sunset. All we needed to do to extend the ban was to have Congress or the President call the ban on to the floor and vote on it. Unfortunately, that didn't happen. So now starting on Monday you can finally hunt that deer you have been eyeing with your very own AK-47.\nLesley Roselle\nJunior
