Don't let Ashley Crouse pass in vain\nAlways full of life, eager to help those in need and compassionate to the feelings of others, Ashley Crouse personified what it means to be a good person of character. She touched so many lives and left a lasting impression on all who met her. Why God chose to bring Ashley to heaven so soon is something we cannot answer, but what we can do is make sure she did not die in vain.\nLike Ashley did in her lifetime, treat people with kindness, be passionate in the organizations and causes you believe in, and while doing so, smile! Although her life was cut short, Ashley lived her life to the fullest by making more friends and performing more good deeds than most people could do in two lifetimes.\nI will never forget Ashley, as won't everybody else she came in contact with, but for those who did not meet her, please know she was somebody very special. Ashley Crouse was truly one-of-a-kind, and she will be sorely missed.\nJim Hoff\nJunior
Editorial was thoughtful, eloquent\nYour staff editorial on April 13 ("Those who matter to us") was one of the most amazing columns I have ever read. I did not know the student (Ashley Crouse) who tragically died, but your column brought such light to the situation that I feel personally affected. Your words were well chosen, your message eloquent, and your meaning was powerful.\nReading this caused me to stop and think about my own life and those around me. I do not think anyone could have said it better than your column did.\nAs my office does, I am sure your office also receives many complaints, and rarely any thank you's. So I would like to take the opportunity to thank you and let you know how professional and powerful your editorial staff is. Your hard work is appreciated and makes a difference in the lives of your readers.\nMichael Schulman\nStaff
Greek students not always to blame\nBecause of recent events on this campus I have noticed an increase in automobile accidents affecting the lives of IU students. It has come to my attention that the persons involved in these accidents are not necessarily IU students. Furthermore, the causers of these accidents were not IU students as well. \nThe most affecting story that made me come to this realization is the death of a 21-year-old student by a hit-and-run on Third Street. The person who caused the accident was found not to be an IU student and was suspected to be under the influence during the accident. My heart and prayers go out to this young woman's family and friends. This is the second incident inside two weeks, however, when an accident occurred between an IU student and non-student.\nTwo weeks ago, an accident occurred outside the Stadium parking lot on Dunn Street where an unlicensed motorcyclist collided with an IU student while turning into the stadium parking lot. The cause and fault of the accident is not yet determined; the driver of the motorcycle was said to have alcohol and drugs in his body. Again, I pray for the health of the victim.\nIU plays a huge role in preventing and teaching students the dangers of alcohol and combining it with other factors, such as other drugs and automobiles. Every greek student was required to go to a speaker the first night of Little 500 week at the stadium so they would be informed on the dangers of alcohol-related problems. Most greek students are the ones who get the blame for underage drinking and alcohol-related offenses. Why is it, then, when accidents occur around campus, the greek community is the one most affected by this? \nPolice frequently stop cars coming on and off Jordan Avenue only to find a 0.0 alcohol level and to give a rolling stop sign ticket. Also, many times you will see police stop people walking and give them alcohol tickets.\nThe point is the police in Bloomington need to pick their battles and work to protect the students, campus and entire city from those who decide to ignore the law and put themselves and others in danger.\nSteven Sayewitz\nSophomore
Another seat belt reminder for all\nTwo weeks ago, the Indiana Daily Student published a news story about two IU students injured, one seriously, in a car crash. The article noted that neither was using a seat belt. This could have been a reminder to us all of the importance of wearing seat belts. Apparently, it wasn't enough.\nNow we have another opportunity to learn this lesson. \nAshley Crouse's breathtakingly senseless death has clearly impacted a huge number of people. Hopefully, we won't have to lose yet another beautiful young life before everyone realizes just how reckless it is to ride in a car without using a seat belt.
Citizens should prepare for disaster\nI would like to respond to Joanna Borns' column "Homeland Scare-curity" (April 6). From the commentary, it appears the author does not understand the importance of citizen preparedness. Preparing our nation against terrorism is only one focus of the Department of Homeland Security. Much of the focus is on preparedness and hazard mitigation specifically designed to educate the public on response and recovery to natural, man-made or technological disasters.\nAfter 9-11, emergency management professionals recognized the need to review our nation's preparedness against disasters of national significance. Our nation was ill-prepared for a wide scale emergency that required a coordinated, massive response by first-responders, governmental agencies, volunteers and non-governmental entities. The National Response Plan and the National Incident Management System were developed to move our nation forward in the ability to respond and recover from disasters. The columnist's focus on "terror" did a disservice to the efforts of local, state and federal agencies that work hard to prepare citizens for tornadoes, hurricanes, severe weather and in-home hazards. If the columnist would have thoroughly read the DHS Web site, she would have recognized that FEMA has many programs such as the "Are You Ready" campaign and the Community Emergency Response Teams that do plenty for our nation's preparedness.\nSaving lives and minimizing property damage are the goals of these programs and if preparing a 72-hour emergency kit with water, food, medicine, pet and hygiene supplies, etc., sounds funny, then think of what it would be like to be without water or food during the next tornado or severe winter storm.\nSuggesting that citizens not concern themselves or be prepared is poor journalism. Understanding the concept of hazard mitigation and the simple tasks that individuals can take to protect themselves and their property is important information that should not be taken lightly. \nThe Monroe County Citizen Corps in conjunction with local emergency management officials, American Red Cross and other volunteer agencies work very hard to educate citizens in disaster preparedness. And even though terrorism is one potential disaster, there is so much more to learn about disaster preparedness than the use of duct tape.\nJen DeRosa\nIU alumna and employee
Sexist pancake ad dehumanizing\nAs I read the IDS Tuesday, a graphic caught my eye: an ad for the Village Deli showed two pancakes side by side, round pats of butter in the center of each. Boldface capital letters across the top read "NICE CAKES." Get it? Women's breasts, how funny! \nI can almost hear the creators of the ad laughing, elbowing each other, saying to any objectors, "Geez, can't you take a joke?" Advertising is full of images of women reduced to body parts, sexualized or transformed into food-like products to be consumed. \nSuch sexist jokes and images feed into the rape culture, encouraging men to see women as less than human; after all, if she is only the sum of various body parts, and not a thinking, feeling human being with hopes, dreams and memories, it's easier to justify abusing her.\nMark Brostoff\nChair, Monroe County Citizen Corps\nInstructor, SPEA V368 course
Media fails to hold Horowitz account\nWhy is the editorial staff angrier at pie-throwing protesters than at David Horowitz? Sure, a pie in the face is a little crude, but Horowitz's lies and distortions are the real threat to free speech. His Academic Rights Bill of Rights is premised on the idea that liberal professors are indoctrinating a generation of students. This would be shocking if Horowitz could support his claim with evidence. But when asked for evidence at his lecture, he described two anecdotes and then said "I don't need to find lots of examples to prove my point." Actually, Mr. Horowitz, that's exactly what you need -- examples, and lots of them.\nThe media have fallen for the idea that critically analyzing an event is biased reporting. Nothing could be further from the truth. Simply claiming something as true does not hold the same status as a claim based on evidence and fact. For instance, Horowitz's claim about liberal bias on campus requires evidence of actual bias, but instead relies solely on "conservative-as-victim" rhetoric. Clearly pointing this out is not biased -- it's calling him on his bluff, which is what the media is supposed to do. It's a crime that you've allowed the conservatives War on Accountability to trick you into forfeiting such a vital job.\nYou can't defeat an illogical argument with logic because your opponent isn't following the rules. Horowitz's claims are so divorced from evidence and logic that they can't be treated as the rational argument they are pretending to be. He needs to be called on this, and nothing says "Your argument is so incoherent it's not an actual argument" like a pie in the face: except, perhaps, a well-reasoned editorial.\nThe only thing the media have to be fair to is the truth. More power to the pie.\nAndrew Wilson\nGraduate student
Parents should raise their own children\nIn reference to Amy Obermeyer's opinion article on Monroe County Community School's decision to distribute a sex survey to "our" student children at the elementary levels, I differ with her opinion ("Rainbow parties?" April 13). One of the first ways I would differ with her opinion would be in the use of the words "our children." You will see that when I use the words "our children" that implies that they are ours, not hers.\nThey are ours to raise and ours to govern as we see fit, not MCCSC, not the neighbors, not their grandparents, ours, the parents. With the opportunity of being the ones who are raising our children, we also have the right to govern, discipline and decide when and where and what they learn and how it's done. \nObermeyer's song-and-dance routine about parents' irresponsibility in our teachings of STD's, pregnancy, etc., and explaining to us how the school should have told us to "raise our own children for once" just goes to show once again the liberalism of this community. Obermeyer is more than likely not a permanent fixture in the community, nor is she likely to have any children of her own, so she is possibly a bit biased when it comes to making exact decisions on what is good and what is not for "our/my" children.\nI can tell you from personal experience that I have been involved in my son's life and learning concerning these matters and what he knows and what he doesn't. His mother and I have made sure that he is adequately informed about this "widespread problem" as she calls it. \nObermeyer states that this is a big responsibility for today's parents; this is true, and we should be the ones making the decisions on our children's lives until they can manage them for themselves. I would add, in closing, as Obermeyer states, that the school should be appreciated for assisting us in "incompetent parenting." \nI can only say, if Obermeyer thinks she can do a better job, I encourage her, please, to step up to the plate. I think she will see it's not all as it seems to her and that she might be a bit misinformed on several issues. Until then, I will continue to make the decisions for my child, better or worse.\nAllan McBride\nStaff
The international future of Wright\nI hope Bracey Wright took Italian at IU because he's going to need it where he'll be playing next season. Good luck in Europe, Bracey.\nKevin Gray\nAlumnus
Column on e0mail rudeness incomplete\nI completely agree with Scott Bryson's qualm with people that disturb classes or performances with their loud cell phone ring tones ("Rudeness@somee-mail.com" April 12). That said, I could not disagree more with Bryson's analysis of the rudeness-in-e-mails issue.\nTo illustrate, my take on his friend that never got a response from some scholarship is this: Bryson's friend had something the scholarship people wanted, a qualified applicant, but these people had something Bryson's friend needed -- money. If you are in the "they have what I need" camp, sending three e-mails never will cut it. She should have called them every day, sent letters (snail-mail) and visited the IU scholarship people at the Main Library for assistance.\nTo put this another way, if you are graduating this May and all you will do to get a job is send some \ne-mails and put your resume on www.monster.com, then you might as well call your parents to tell them you're moving back home. Competing with others for "what you need" requires tenacity, effort and luck. And calling those that might give you a job or money "irresponsible" for not responding to your e-mails is just making their job easier by helping them eliminate a candidate.\nRoberto Garza\nGraduate student
Thank you, radical leftists\nThe radical leftists attending the David Horowitz speech April 7 were far out of line in their methods of protest regarding Horowitz's statements. They said they were there to champion academic freedom, and they had signs saying "Horowitz silences free speech." However, when it was Horowitz's turn to speak, they were the ones that rose from their seats and were screaming and calling him names at the top of their lungs so he could not be heard. \nI guess their definition of free speech is free speech for only those with whom they agree. I have heard many liberal speakers on this campus such as Cornel West, Spike Lee and Ralph Nader and I have never seen such odious behavior from conservatives on campus. We conservatives are confident in our ability to win in the arena of ideas without resorting to such low-brow behavior.\nI also found it quite curious that it was mentioned in the story "Horowitz speech sparks protests" in the April 8 IDS that a group of Student Activities Office graduate students were handing out material to the protesters regarding their free speech rights. Now this is all well and good, but if these individuals claim not to be taking sides, where were they at last year's Affirmative Action bake sale when conservatives were in need of having their free speech rights defended?\nIn conclusion, I would like to thank the leftist ideologues that tried to silence Horowitz during his speech April 7. You served the purpose of proving his point about the left trying to silence conservative ideas on college campuses splendidly. Keep up the good work.\nBrent Smith\nJunior
Delp seems intolerant of minority party\nEdward Delp claims in his column that Democrats are trying "to block all actions of the majority" Republican Party ("New-age filibuster" April 12). All actions? To support this ridiculous claim, Delp goes on to cite how Democrats have used the filibuster to block 10 of Bush's judicial nominees. What he conveniently leaves out of his column is that Democrats have supported and confirmed more than 200 of Bush's judicial nominees during his presidency, and that the federal court system has its lowest number of vacancies in 16 years. Democrats block less than 5 percent of Bush's most controversial nominees to the judiciary, and Delp equates this to one party attempting to block all actions of another. It makes one wonder how many nominees Delp thinks Democrats should be allowed to block before crossing the line. Two percent? One percent? A more likely answer is that irrational extremists such as Delp are not willing to tolerate any dissent from the minority party.\nBryan Schmidt\nSophomore
