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(07/25/02 8:23pm)
Anger and sadness warrants retaliation\n"I will not go to war. I cannot kill anyone, and I don't wish to try." -- Jack M. Silverstein ("Making the right decision," Oct. 3).\nDon't worry, you will not have to go to war. You can stay in the dorm room that your parents so kindly provide for you and continue to write columns agonizing about what "we" should do concerning the heinous attack of Sept. 11. \nYou can do this while our servicemen bravely and diligently attempt to prevent such attacks from happening again. After class, you can also feel free to attend protest meetings and criticize the "excessive patriotism" which you find so irritating. \nAlso feel free to make fun of our president and write chalk messages on the sidewalk explaining to all of your less informed fellow students that the attack was justified by American arrogant foreign policy and that we should try to understand the followers of radical militant Islam -- after all, maybe the attack wouldn't have happened with a little more understanding. Maybe the worlds' diverse assortment of misunderstood third-world dictators, religious fanatics, drug traffickers, mass-murderers and extortionists wouldn't be such bad guys if we would only try to understand their points of view and initiate some positive dialogue about what America can do for them. \nI don't quite think that the families of the more than 7,000 murdered innocents would agree with you, but you can say and think what you like in this country -- freedom of speech is just one of the benefits of being an American.\nMatt Cohen\nJunior\nInsensitive advertising\nI am writing in regards to your Oct. 3 issue. Hypocritical is the only word that comes to my mind. You support the Take Back the Night event, praise its purpose, and then place large advertisements in the same issue portraying the idea that women, are only objects. The terms across the girls in the ads state, "Use Me; Share Me; Enter Me." The smaller type in one ad states, "Watch me. Catch me. Play me. Use me anytime you like" (page 3). Is this an ad for a Walkman? Screen saver? I cannot figure it out! I do not see anything that looks like it plays music! The only thing these advertisements do are reinforce the idea that women are sex figures and comparable to the object the advertisement is selling. \nTake Back the Night is a time to remember those women who have been victims of violence. The event has many supporters such as Middle Way House, Planned Parenthood, Bloomington's National Organization for Women, IUSA, IU's Office for Women's Affairs, Campus for Choice, Women's Student Association and Sexual Assault Crisis Services. I am sure these organizations would not support an ad that has a picture of a woman stating, "Use Me." \nThe IDS owes all the supporters of Take Back the Night and females at this University an apology, an apology for supporting sexist advertising. \nI am aware that these ads probably brought in a few thousand dollars that will pay many salaries at the IDS for the week. I am aware that the major people in charge of approving ads for publication at the IDS are all women. \nBut, is the IDS aware of the negative message of these advertisements? In the future, to avoid blatant hypocrisy, the paper needs to make a unanimous decision of what they support -- protesting violence against women or portraying women as sex objects? \nRebecca Goldstein\nSenior\nEvents sponsored by University should be balanced\nThe recent meetings on campus entitled "Jerusalem Women Speak" raises some serious questions as to the propriety of publicly funded university departments to sponsor meetings that present a very biased and unbalanced political message to the student body.\nThis is what precisely happened when the Religious Studies, Near East Languages and Cultures and Philosophy departments became local sponsors of these meetings, of which two were held on campus.\nThe Committee for Peace in the Middle East, another local sponsor, is well-known for its anti-Israel bias going back many years. The national organization, Partners for Peace, was unknown to me until I visited its Web site (www.partnersforpeace.org), and my visit confirmed the anti-Israel bias replete on their site.\nOrganizations like this have a perfect right to spend their money and speak their piece; but to do so with the endorsement and sponsorship of University departments that I would assume allocated some of their discretionary funds for this purpose, is just plain wrong. There was no objectivity or balance to these meetings, and by sponsoring such meetings the named academic departments are giving a message of bias to the public that does not belong in a university environment.\nRobert R. Goldstein\nAlumnus
(07/25/02 8:23pm)
Incongruent aid\nI love America; I am glad that I was born here. America is beautiful in many places, though not all, there are ugly spaces too -- often alongside the beautiful ones, sometimes lurking beneath. \nEnvision the happy children playing in a schoolyard before we knew that there was a Love Canal lying underground, furtively seeping toxins (inappropriately named, H.G. Love dug the canal in order to attempt to provide a cleaner means of transportation for industrial products, when he ran out of funding the unfilled space lay vacant until later companies found it suitable to fill with waste and cover with clay. It was then sold at bargain basement prices to a school district and to home developers). It is a complex dichotomy. \nOur people are kind and generous, when our basic human needs are met. When we are not drug or alcohol addicted, we are nurturing and family oriented providers.\nAmerica is the shared space of the world. Though we are not completely free, -- I know that I can't reasonably go for a walk after dark without being concerned for my safety -- we are at liberty, and we are lucky to have the rights that we enjoy. America is a land of extremes and ambivalences. So I suppose it is in keeping with tradition that we dropped 35,000 tons of care packages along with the precision gravity bombs on Kabal, Afghanistan today, but what was our goal? \nTo demonstrate that we care about the civilians? That we're sorry that they happen to be there, living in their hovels, the women uneducated, ghostlike, a presence without a presence? Is it rhetorical strategy? Is it an attempt to sway the Afghan people's opinion of the United States? \nOsama bin Laden is a dangerous fiend who must be eliminated, but I ask you, would we have felt any better about our losses on Sept. 11th, if four more hijacked planes had dropped bundles of prepaid college scholarships made out to the children of the victims? Cans of beans perhaps, for those left homeless in New York? What if they were Kosher, demonstrating that the Islamic factions had gone the extra mile? It is absurd.\nSarah Dilworth\nGiuliani should not extend his term\nI could only shake my head in disbelief at the Oct. 3 IDS editorial, proclaiming a unanimous staff vote that Rudolph Giuliani should be allowed to stay on as mayor of New York in the wake of the current tragedy. \nHonestly, Mayor Giuliani's demeanor has even made me, here, feel better over the last few weeks -- but that does not mean the laws of our land should be upturned in a time of crisis. \nThe New York Times editorial page said it best on September 28, "While Mr. Giuliani has been a great leader during this crisis, the truth is that no one is indispensable. George Washington understood that when he rejected repeated attempts to keep him in office indefinitely. Washington was followed in the presidency by a long line of successors, some of them distinctly mediocre. But the country went on, because people put their faith in the democratic process and not in the strength of any one individual." \nThey could have gone on to mention that the Union was rebuilt without Lincoln, WWII was won without FDR, and the Soviet Block collapsed without Reagan. \nThis leader-cult sentiment is a cousin of the same blind panic that drives many good-hearted people to attempt a quick defense for our nation from terrorism. A mad rush is no way to institute any change in a democratic setting. \nThe attorney general has gone to Congress to tell them that terrorism can only be prevented with sweeping new powers given to the government to spy upon and detain American citizens and residents and a horde of Big Brother advocates wants to help him. Roadblocks, detainments and domestic spying will do absolutely nothing to stop terrorist attacks. Any terrorists caught with these tools will be tokens and plenty will remain free to wreak havoc. Israelis have lived, and died, as proof of this reality for years. \nThe fact is, the changes we make today are ones that we will have to live with for years and decades to come, and they must not be rash.\nJoshua J. Wells
(07/25/02 8:23pm)
(07/25/02 8:23pm)
Women's Basketball team portrayed wrong\nI must take issue with the biased reporting of the first women's exhibition basketball game in the article by Sarah Trotto in Thursday's IDS ("Team drops first game"). The article seemed to be written from the perspective of the opponents rather than the Hoosiers. \nI think a one-point victory does not merit "scorched" as a verb describing the victory of the Reebok Lady Stars, but rather "edged out" or "eeked out" would be more accurate verbs to describe the nature of the contest. \nI thought the Hoosiers played well against a tough team dominated by two WNBA stars, holding their own in their first time out. As a fan of IU women's basketball for 10 years, the team I saw play on Wednesday night demonstrated considerable improvement in a number of areas, including intensity, passing, turnovers and running set plays. I am positive about our prospects for this season, and I hope other IU fans will join us to cheer on this team this year. Come out and see for yourself at the next home game Nov. 23. \nKatharine V. Byers\nFaculty\nAthlete insulted by article's claims\nI am writing in response to an article, "Athletes' comments in check," that appeared on Nov. 7 and was written by Katie Schoenbaechler. I am a senior athlete here at IU and on countless occasions have given of my time to answer IDS sports reporters' questions. I understand that sports columnists often criticize athletes' performances on the field. While it isn't appreciated by many of us, we understand that it is part of your job. However, when an IDS reporter insults our intelligence by reporting that sports information directors tell us what to say in interviews, she goes overboard. This same reporter called me asking for an interview at 8 p.m. on Nov. 5, concerning the same topic (she reported IU SID's "told student-athletes what they should be saying"). The questions I had to answer that night were so obvious and unoriginal for a 10-year old kid to tell me what to say, let alone a sports information director.\nAthletes on this campus take time out of their hectic schedules to give you interviews on various issues every single day. While it might be part of our job description, we do not have to do it. Rest assured this athlete will never give Katie Schoenbaechler another interview again. \nKatie, you need to get back to your job and report on actual sporting events. IDS columnists can even criticize our performances in a game you and your counterparts have never played at a Division I level. But never again insult our intelligence as student-athletes of this great university.\nGibran Hamdan\nSenior\nIU Athlete\nKerasotes lacks respect\nIn response to your Oct. 11 staff editorial, the "failure" of the Von Lee theater is not a "sign of the times." Visit Cinema Treasures, a Web site devoted to movie theater preservation and awareness. On Oct. 1, the site founders announced that their online database had grown to include more than 1,000 historic movie houses, the majority of which are either open for business or renovating. \n"AMC is a good example of a theater chain that respects the history of movie theaters," says Ross Melnick, a founder of Cinema Treasures. "They moved the old Empire (in New York City) down the street and it became the lobby of their new 25-screen multiplex, with beautifully restored murals and the outer facade left largely in tact."\n"There is a way we can all work to save the past," concludes Melnick.\nThe only "sign of the times" is Kerasotes' lack of respect.\nMelissa McReynolds\nGuest Services\nIU Auditorium
(07/25/02 8:23pm)
Alumni should give for education
As alumni, we all have the right to give or not give money to our alma mater. But to deny an educational institution precious dollars to promote the education of students over a basketball coach is pathetic.
As a state-supported university, President Brand should share what went on with the needed firing of Coach Knight. I feel that he is saving Coach Knight and his dutiful followers the embarrassment of Knight's actions during that time -- not that Coach Knight ever minded looking foolish or tarnishing the IU name.
It was nice to be on campus recently and hear that IU's alumni giving is higher than ever now that Knight is gone. I ask the others holding their financial support for IU hostage to think about the true meaning of what a college is built for -- to further the education of students -- not to provide great seats at ball games for alumni. I'd rather my seat go to a student anyway.
Christina CarrollIU Alumna
(07/25/02 8:23pm)
Piper energy column flawed\nBen Piper wrote a column Jan. 7 suggesting that deregulation failed in California because of excessive environmental restraints and that Texas is a model example and a success story for deregulation of electric utilities. While his argument may seem compelling, further examination of his points suggests that his conclusions may need re-evaluation, especially with respect to the State of Indiana.\nPiper claims that "Diminished investment in electric power generating capacity" was a fundamental reason for California's crisis. He says, "In the 10 years prior to deregulating, not a single new power plant was constructed in California even as demand increased." Tragic and inaccurate. The California Energy Commission's "Review of Power Projects" reveals that "In the early 1990s...the California Energy Commission certified 11 power plants."\nPiper holds California's "state imposed retail price caps" responsible for conflict between available power and consumer demand for power. The public interest organization Public Citizen recently published a scathing report regarding Enron's business practices, suggesting that the blackouts in California were not primarily because of "A flawed market design." They reveal that "investigations by state and federal officials concluded that power generators and power marketers intentionally withheld electricity, creating artificial shortages in order to increase the cost of power."\nWithout the heavy hand of government to interfere, Texas has reached many environmental milestones...of a sort. According to the Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility, "Texas ranks number one in a[sic] many categories of pollution and environmental degradation," including "toxic chemicals released into the air."\nIn his conclusion, Piper declares that "Indiana would do well to follow their [Texas legislators'] lead." I beg to differ. The Indiana legislature could instead learn from Texas, hopefully a better lesson than Texas learned from California.
(07/25/02 8:23pm)
Sound, lighting crews praised
I would like to commend the IDS for finally bringing attention to the dedicated and hardworking men and women within the sound and lighting industry. The Fraziers, Schillings, Gillespies, Schunns, Browns and many others often work tireless hours without notice in order to support and promote the local music scene.
For years, I had worked side by side with all of them. Today, I work all over the country designing nightclubs and lighting productions. I have worked with the largest lighting and sound production companies in the world. So, I can honestly say that Bloomington is truly blessed with some of the most talented and professional production men and women I have ever met in my 15 years in the industry. So next time you go to an event or to see a band, give them a friendly wave and don't be afraid to send them a shot or two.
Daniel Davis
Chicago, IL
(07/25/02 8:23pm)
Regulation necessary to benefit everyone; Enron perfect example\nBen Piper (Jan. 14) is absolutely right to state that the investigation into Enron should not be allowed to become a political circus. This is not Teapot Dome.\nAlthough Enron chief Ken Lay's close ties to the Bush administration have drawn media scrutiny, I would have been surprised had Bush not known one of Texas' most prominent businessmen. That the Bush administration did not intervene in the Enron collapse speaks well of this White House's integrity.\nWhat Piper fails to mention, though, is the subtle manner in which Enron's collapse shows that the road to deregulation will be neither easy nor painless. This is a fairly significant omission in light of Piper's previous column, which urged the Indiana General Assembly to follow Texas' lead in deregulating energy markets. In fact, Enron's example demonstrates that energy deregulation is probably a road best not taken.\nEnron's example is a perfect case study of how the interests of workers, management, shareholders and consumers do not always coincide, especially when a poor market structure (in this case, stalled SEC oversight rules for outside auditors) destroys the free flow of information. If Piper's wish were granted and Indiana deregulated its energy markets, the people who would benefit most now would not be consumers but investors and executives. Apparently, this transfer of wealth meets with deregulators' approval.\nEdmund Morris' recent book "Theodore Rex" detailed the first President Roosevelt's crusade against the "malefactors of great wealth," whose oligopolistic control of the commanding heights of the national economy (railways, iron, finance) sparked massive social unrest. I knew conservatives hated the New Deal, but I didn't know they resented the Square Deal.\nRegulation helps preserve the social contract between labor and capital. If conservatives continue to act without thinking through the long-term political ramifications of their short-term economic policies, then the protectionism will carry the day and reverse free-traders' gains.\nRepublicans cannot treat workers as lines on a supply-and-demand chart but must treat their concerns as seriously as they do investors' worries. If they do not, then the G.O.P. will suffer, and deserve, electoral defeat.\nPaul MusgraveJunior
(07/25/02 8:23pm)
Columnist wrong; Israel retaliations not acts of terror
I disagree with Malcolm Fleming's entire letter Jan. 18 (Sept. 11 terrorist attacks not the same as Palestine-Israel conflict) and would love to deconstruct it point-by-point. But, as I don't have the requisite column-inches, I'll suffice to dispute his equation of Palestinian terror with Israeli "terror."
Fleming writes, "Both Israel and Palestine are guilty of terrorism, meaning the killing of unarmed civilians of the other side." Wow. What a generous definition of terrorism. Are we honestly expected to believe that there is no moral difference between Israeli attacks on terrorists which happen to kill civilians and, say, last week's terrorist attack on a little girl's Bat Mitzvah party in Hadera? Is the failure of Palestinian apologists after Sept. 11 so desperate that it has come to such outlandish (and unquestionably faulty) attempts at moral equivalency? Terrorists, you see, don't just kill innocent civilians. If that were the case, every off-target American bomb in Afghanistan would be a terrorist attack. Terrorists TARGET innocent civilians. And Israel doesn't do that.
(07/25/02 8:23pm)
Farahan column one-sided, inaccurate
I must object to Daniel Farahan's column "Jihad not for children" (Jan. 24) as it is extremely one sided and grossly oversimplifies an extremely complex situation.
Let's look at the facts on the ground. The Ministry of Education in Israel routinely approves books for use in their public school system that promote racism and hatred towards Palestinians.
A study done by a Professor Daniel Bar-Tal of Tel-Aviv University showed that Israeli textbooks consistently refer to Palestinians as "inferior, unenlightened, unproductive and colored," among many other carefully selected words and phrases. Here in America we saw this type of dehumanization of African-Americans and the institutionalization of racism towards not only blacks in America, but all people of color. Thankfully we've made some progress by at least removing this type of inflammatory rhetoric from our textbooks, but unfortunately, the Israelis have not.
(07/25/02 8:23pm)
Graf's columns trivialize women\nIn my time at IU, there have been opinion columns that have captured my attention, either for good or ill, but none of them has elicited so violent a response from me as some of the columns that Ms. Bridget Graf has written this semester.\nOf all the vapid, generalizing writing I've had the misfortune to read in my life, Ms. Graf's columns are the most astounding. Her columns routinely trivialize women; I find it insulting that she makes such sweeping statements as, "There is something about being a woman that forces us to indulge in shopping extravaganzas, try on everything possible in the closet, and then throw temper tantrums like 5-year-olds when we hate everything we put on" ("You are what you wear," Feb. 6). I beg Ms. Graf's pardon, but I haven't thrown a temper tantrum since well before the age of five, and I'm certain that many other women here at IU can say the same.\nI can sympathize with anyone's desire not to write about some of the troubling issues of today -- goodness knows that the rest of the media inundates us with updates regarding the "War on Terrorism" and the Enron hoopla. I even applaud Ms. Graf's efforts to write about being a woman at IU. I deplore her methods, however. The stereotypes she perpetuates are the ones that lead young girls to value themselves for their looks alone, as so many other things in our image-obsessed society encourage.\nI am tired of turning to the opinion page of the IDS, only to find columns that would be more at home on the pages of Vogue. Please, Ms. Graf, if you must write about being a woman, write about the things that concern us all -- not the things that you and your friends giggle about together while primping for a night out.\nEmily M. Hurford\nSenior
(07/25/02 8:23pm)
Live simply, happily like peace campers \nIn response to Glen Carson's letter ("Peace camp tents should come down," Feb. 8), I want to applaud Glen's attention toward the "unsanitary conditions" he observed while walking past the Peace Camp outside the IMU. I also applaud his virtuosic knowledge of the U.S. military's dedication to "defending our rights," in Glen's own words. Bravo, Glen, you know, if it weren't for the military folks blowing up people living in "unsanitary conditions" around the world, then the awful possibility that the industrialized world might have to live sustainably might actually come true.\nImagine if the first world might some day have to share earth's resources with the rest of the starving planet. Thank God we have powerful military machines to crush any possibility that our "stuff" might get taken away and we might be forced to live simply and happily like the hearty folks at the peace camp do. Glen may wonder if these peace camper people are "even Americans," but they are that and more. Glen, of all people, should know that in this rapidly globalizing economy, into which business majors like he are going to be entering, it is the humble, world-conscious people like the peace campers whom we must rely on in order to accomplish this inevitable process in a good way. Sorry, Glen, but your hyper-patriotic, "us vs. them" mentality will have no place in the new fully-globalized World Economy that people like yourself are creating.\nTriston McMillan\nSenior
(07/25/02 8:23pm)
'Little Women' review not addressed properly as an opera\nYour opera reviewer, Gabriel Lewin, is an idiot ("'Little Women' provides segue to stardom," Feb. 4). Neither the French nor Italian opera traditions contain lasting works that were written as a star vehicle for a performer; they were composed for the entertainment of an audience. No performer was able to make significant changes in a role without risking the wrath of the public, which knew what to expect.\nAnd what is the difference between a "specific musical motif" and one that is not specific? I doubt your reviewer (or whoever edited his review) knows. Also, Adamo did not "take" a crack at the opera world's use of supertitles, he made a crack at them.\nFurthermore, while sending a drama student to review an opera may seem like a good idea, all it leads to is references to the theatrical elements of the production. There are some musical elements that are in much debate in the music/operatic world in 'Little Women' that, if your reviewer were competent and qualified, would know about and comment on. Yes, 'Little Women' would work as a theater piece, but its operatic qualities were what needed to be addressed.\nMarc Gellhoed\nGraduate Student
(07/25/02 8:23pm)
RHA article misinforms about organization\nI am writing in response to Brittany Ausmus' article ("Students seeking change from IUSA," Feb. 18). In the article, misleading comments are made that may give students an incorrect understanding of RHA.\nRHA is the Residence Halls Association, not the Residential Housing Association. We are the student government in the residence halls. The students quoted in the article are confusing us with Residential Programs and Services. RHA is not a policy-making organization. We serve in an advocacy position, taking student concerns and presenting them to RPS in an effort to affect positive change for our residents. We sympathize with the quoted students' concerns, as they are our concerns as well and we will continue to take those concerns to RPS. \nKristin Nesbitt\nRHA Communications Coordinator
(07/25/02 8:23pm)
Office of the Bursar needs to take greater steps toward privacy\nI am one of the graduate students whose Social Security numbers was stolen last year because of poor security in the Bursar's Office. It came as a shock when I went to pay my tuition this semester by check and was asked to print my Social Security number on my check. When I got it back, there was my number printed again on the back of the check by the bursar.\nThis infuriates me because it shows that the bursar has only made a cosmetic attempt to reform its processes. In fact, now that we have to pay to use a credit card, it makes the problem worse -- more people will likely pay by check to avoid the ridiculous credit card surcharge and each written check floating around becomes a possible identity fraud case.\nIf the Office of the Bursar truly respected our privacy, it would not keep flagrantly using our Social Security numbers as account numbers. The cry of "it's too hard to switch" just doesn't hold water. Other schools, like the University of Utah, have made the switch successfully.\nWill Findlay\nGraduate Student
(07/25/02 8:23pm)
IUSA elections are a joke\nThe IUSA elections are a total joke. First, I have to say how obnoxious it was to have four separate groups of IUSA campaigners knock on my door after midnight last night trying to get me to vote, despite the fact that I was sleeping. When I did try to vote, I found that the IUSA site was so swamped with people that just getting my vote through took more than half an hour. Here are a few examples of the platforms from each ticket running. On the campus alcohol policy:\nSynergy: "To create a responsible campus alcohol policy"\nSteel: "The alcohol policy outlined in a study financed by the Chancellor's office is very disturbing."\nKirkwood: "We are opposed to the current policy."\nOn RPS:\nSynergy: "Correcting other problems, like the high prices in residence hall center stores…"\nSteel: "We were able to prove that the center stores overcharge as much as 200 percent…"\nKirkwood: "The committee will work to ensure that vendors' prices are in-line with prices in Bloomington…"\nIn addition, all three support policies of increased contact with student groups, improving the stature of the greek system, and the elimination of double jeopardy within the campus judicial system. While all of these are fine goals, there is absolutely no disagreement between any of the tickets on virtually every issue. While IUSA's goals are very worthwhile, the point of an election is to provide people a chance to vote on issues where people have differing opinions, not where everyone agrees on everything. Perhaps the lack of any true issues in these elections are the reasons for the low voter. Case in point: At the IUSA debate last week, at one point a candidate asked the audience how many people were undecided voters, and a total of two people raised their hands. IUSA has plenty of issues to deal with, but in the end it comes down to a popularity contest based on who can get the most people awake at midnight to vote for a ticket.\nJ. Brian Balta\nSenior
(07/25/02 8:23pm)
IU for higher education, not athletics glorification\nAlumnus Mark Young's letter ("Myles Brand should resign," Feb. 27) is both disrespectful slander and empty rhetoric. IU is an institute of higher education not a forum for athletic deification. I applaud our president for taking the much needed steps in refocusing our gaze back to academics and returning the athletic department to what it should be -- an enriching part of the college experience minus the commercialization. Students and alumni should look to IU as a great center of learning for thousands of students not as a court or field for a handful of athletes. I am proud to give my support to Myles Brand and his efforts to "turn down the volume" on athletics.\nBrian Woodard\nSophomore
(07/25/02 8:23pm)
Dunn Meadow camp has already made its point\nEveryone realizes that at a campus like IU, the freedom to use the campus to inform and voice opinions by students and others is very important. Student organizations know this, and so does everyone from "The Ad Sheet" to "Brother Dan". But they aren't setting up tents and taking up residence for weeks in what becomes a favorite spot for many students during the warmer months of the year. In case you haven't seen it, I'm referring to the "Peace Camp" that has been at the North side of the Union for what seems like months.\nThere doesn't seem to be much action going on around or inside the "Peace Camp," or many people (possibly one?) living in the numerous tents and other assorted equipment there. In the meantime, the camp will probably kill off what little grass is left on that side of Dunn Meadow if it stays there. It also keeps degenerating into more of an eyesore each day. The campus may "belong to everyone" but I assume that doesn't mean you can live on it free of charge. I am not arguing for or against their apparent anti-war sentiments, but I think the administration here has allowed them to make their point, and allowing the camp to remain any longer is without purpose, and also a disservice to any students that enjoy our grassy campus in the spring. I think it's time for someone to step in and mention this if they haven't already. Let's allow reasonable free speech, but lets also keep our campus beautiful for those of us who pay for the privilege to be here.\nJeff Yoder\nSenior\nPiper's reasoning flawed\nIt is a nice, cozy, fuzzy, innocent little world where big corporations give big bucks to political candidates and expect nothing in return. Too bad this world only exists in the mind of Ben Piper. His Feb. 11 column "Shays-Meehan bill unnecessary" argues that campaign finance reform isn't needed because there is nothing wrong. I submit that his reasoning is badly flawed. Does Mr. Piper really believe that corporations and other wealthy contributors are giving these large sums to politicians out of their desire to be good citizens?\nIt is indeed a nice world you live in, albeit unrealistic. The fact is that these contributions, which have spiraled out of control over the past decade, are designed to address the agenda of the corporate donors. Period. The fact is that a politician elected to a two-year term in the house of representatives needs to start raising money for the next election almost immediately upon entering office. Where does the majority of this money come from? It comes from corporations that expect a return on their investment. In other words they want their agenda acted upon. No one is suggesting that campaign donations were the cause of the Enron collapse but I find it interesting that everybody's favorite CEO Ken Lay was actually screening applicants to the Energy Commission for George W. Bush. Do you think that may be because he was his biggest contributor? Hmmmm. If Dick Cheney ever decides to do the right thing and reveal the members of his energy policy meetings I think we would see a who's who of corporate political donors who were basically setting government policy. It is indeed putting the inmates in charge of the asylum. Mr. Piper states that campaign finance reform "fails to hold up under scrutiny." I suggest you need to scrutinize this more closely. If anything we need more reform than this bill proposes but at least its a start.\nErik Boice\nGraduate student\nLombardi's drinking opinions contradict law\nRegarding Katie Lombardi's column ("Who should be held accountable?" Feb. 11), she stated the following opinion: "...members of fraternities who are 21 years of age should... not be held responsible for their peers who aren't of legal age."\nIt needs to quite clear to the readers that not only is this her opinion, but it contradicts Indiana law.\nIC 7.1-5-7-15\nSec. 15. A person twenty-one (21) years of age or older who knowingly or intentionally encourages, aids, or induces a minor to unlawfully possess an alcoholic beverage commits a Class C infraction. As added by P.L.102-1983, SEC.8.\nLombardi already gave a hint that her belief is that the individual should be the one held accountable: "Well what about the individual who chooses to drink?"\nIf that is truly her position, then she should oppose the individual and not our legal system; unless of course she would prefer to aid illegally or encourage a minor to unlawfully possess an alcoholic beverage and thus commit a Class C infraction when she is twenty-one or older.\nIf she wishes to make any positive suggestions, there are numerous resources available. The following webpage contains some positive solutions that actually serve to help the individual: http://www.edc.org/hec/pubs/articles/prevfile0004.html\nPatrick Coffman\nFranklin, Ind.\nPay Grace to stop writing\nCould the IDS pay Joe his column fee so that he'll stop writing? We'd all feel better about ourselves.\nLaurent Castellucci\nMontreal\nA new cause\nI have a new cause that is more worth while then anything else going on right now. So please, forget about the Benton Mural, the peace camp, the flag being "offensive", and how the ECS are bad drivers for now. It is time we all find a new focus to complain about and I realized it today as I went to sleep in weather somewhat like Florida and woke up to Siberia. The Indiana weather has got to change!\nEnough is enough people, haven't we gone through enough of the warm days followed by a riduculous cold day that makes us want to stay in and cry? So forget about the murals and peace camps and start protesting about something that you may actually do some good for. It is time we start writing letters, camping out, and voicing our opinions to whoever is in charge that the constantly changing weather thing be resolved, and quickly.\nTroy Byall\nJunior\nMurals distracted test taking\nTwo years ago I sat in Woodburn Hall staring at the mural wondering who chose to put it on the wall in a lecture room? I also sat and thought about what was its purpose. I contemplated on its relevance in a classroom as opposed to a museum or history-related building. My thoughts began to go back to every movie, book, and documentary I had ever read or viewed. I could almost picture the Klansmen shooting through the houses of black families to scare them and almost smell the burning of the cross on the front yard. I thought of two of my cousins who were in prison serving long sentences for non-violent crimes that would seem to only warrant a fraction of the time. I thought of how scared I am to drive in Bloomington when it's late or to even pass through Martinsville when I'm going home for a break. I thought of the American flag that the Klan held in the mural and realized why Sept. 11 didn't stay on mind as long as it did with most Americans. Now you may wonder what I was supposed to be doing while I was doing all this thinking? I was taking a test in M301 for I-core. I will not comment on my grade, or how long I wasted. I won't say anything negative about IU or its apparent lack of respect for people, certain cultures, or minorities. I am trying my best not to hint to the fact that it sickens me that so many white students and even ignorant black students can think that that mural shouldn't be removed simply because.... it's a depiction of history. I think that this is history in the making. I wonder would IU allow a mural to be put up with a black man thinking about killing a Klansman while he watched a cross burn in his yard? Or even one of a student wasting time on a test thinking about why so many insensitive people can make up reasons that a mural shouldn't and doesn't affect him when it does.\nNoble Woods\nSenior\nEducation reason to attend college\nI've noticed quite a few criticisms recently of Myles Brand and his academics first program. I am saddened to think that students place such a high emphasis on sports that they are unwilling to even QUESTION the role that sports programs play at IU.\nWhy do we attend college? I thought that the value of an education was in order to get a greater understanding of ourselves and our world around us.\nWhen did learning become secondary to basketball games?\nSports have their place in our society, but IU is a university, not a corporation. Students who value a well-rounded education should be congratulating Brand, not criticizing him.\nMatt Walter\nSenior
(07/25/02 8:23pm)
Separation of state not part of Constitution\nIn Ben Piper's column, "Vouchers won't save schools" (Feb. 25) he stated "…violates the separation of church and state, required by the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution…" This is the only flaw in an otherwise well-written column. The First Amendment imposes that the state has no authority to impose an official religion, which is drastically different from the public conception of the First Amendment (separation of church and state). School vouchers do not impose an official state religion but merely empower parents with the decision to freely choose how public funds allotted to them are spent.\nHans Angermeier\nFreshman
(07/25/02 8:23pm)
Brehm should take BSU proposals into consideration\nI am a junior on campus and a member of the Black Student Union. I personally do feel that Chancellor Sharon Brehm should strongly consider the suggestions that Black Student Union has made regarding the murals. I have seen the mural once. Last semester I had a final in the room. When I first walked in I didn't see it, but I like to sit in the front of classes and I just happened to glance to my left, and there it was. It can take you by surprise and have you staring at it for a second. Had I not been educated by Black Student Union on the fact that it was there, I probably would have been confused on that day. I think that any student who is a freshman and has a class there, would be confused (especially a Black student). There is no explanation for it being there and the average student might not know what those murals are supposed to mean.\nAlso, over spring break I was in Indianapolis, and I heard a Black radio talk show discussing the murals. So it is not just the Black students on campus who are concerned, but also parents, alumni and Black people in general in many different places who are very concerned about this issue.\nKandice Franklin\nJunior