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| Tunnels represent freedom of speech
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Ian A. Mance
Senior
Co-President, ACLU
ASU Box 11755
ianmance@hotmail.com |
To
The Editor:
In the four years I’ve been here at Appalachian,
I’ve found myself in disagreement with the paper’s editorial
staff on many occasions. However, given your recent support for
the expansion of the free speech zones, I was beginning to think
you folks had finally come around to see the light. Then you had
to go stick your foot in your collective mouths once again.
Your Jan. 23 editorial, “Graffiti rules in place to protect
students,” makes the age old mistake of following the misguided
conservative logic that revoking the rights of all is an appropriate
response to the unfortunate actions of a few. This is precisely
the type of thinking that led to the creation of “free-speech
zones” in the first place.
Years back, the administration, too lazy to deal with the true issue
at hand, decided that – in the alleged interest of campus safety
- they would erect barriers to free expression, that would require
all students to register their speech with administrators, so that
never again would they be caught off guard by unruly student demonstrators.
That unfortunate policy, rightfully opposed by your paper, has been
gone little more than a semester, and already The Appalachian is
starting to sound like the mouthpiece of the administration, itself.
Did we not just deal with this issue? Do you honestly believe that
“the privilege of using these tunnels for artistic purposes
should be taken away” should anyone else make the regrettable
decision of painting an underground light fixture?
Following that logic: How about we ban alcohol in Whitewater or
Legends if even one student is caught drinking underage? Why not
prohibit student parking on campus the moment one of us slips up
and parks in a faculty spot? Sounds unreasonable, doesn’t it?
Well so does your editorial.
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| Improve academics to increase diversity
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Matthew Cass
Senior
MC42238 |
To
The Editor:
I’m sure everyone received the e-mail about
the Cultural Climate survey. I thought I’d just share my response
to the question that asked how Appalachian could become more diverse.
The first step is to stop dumping gobs of money into athletics.
If you want to attract a “diverse” population, you might
want to consider dumping the gobs of money into the departments.
I know physics and geology sure could use it. Imagine if geology
students didn’t have to pay for travel during field camp. Imagine
if physics students had decent labs and equipment. Imagine if geography
majors had good GPS equipment and supporting software. Imagine if
these and other departments could pay students to assist in labs
and in classes. Imagine the football team holding a bake sale for
their new stadium and the Women in Physics and Astronomy Club being
given the money for their annual scholarship to local high school
students. Perhaps the administration hasn’t seen the light
yet, but Appalachian has the potential of being one of the best
schools in the nation. Maybe the administration should rearrange
the campus priorities. With improved departments you can reach out
and get a larger population (and more diverse population at that)
of students. Just a suggestion.
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