| Reader: debate not fair, balanced |
Justin Moore
Sophomore
SGA Senator
JM48766 |
To
The Editor:
The story “Forum discusses impending war,”
(Feb. 25), left out one key aspect of the forum, the lack of a conservative
viewpoint on the panel and the downright hostility toward conservative
views. IRA’s forum on Iraq just became the latest rant by people
who think President George W. Bush is Satan incarnate.
The views of the panel were that America is racist, sexist and bigoted
to the core. I doubt that 99 percent of Americans think our country
is just itching to kill innocent people, but you’d never know
that by going to that forum.
Those who thought the butcher of Baghdad should be stopped from
killing more innocent people were ridiculed as stupid religious
fanatics, just greedy idiots who want to kill people to line their
pockets. We’re supposed to be an institution of learning, not
indoctrination. We’re supposed to have [a] diverse campus so
we can have differing views. But that appears to apply only if the
view includes hating the president and his policies.
Our faculty is not diverse in their political views, and, therefore,
the idea that all liberals are smart and those who oppose them are
stupid is common at these events. We need fair and balanced debate,
not anti-American rhetoric. Hopefully the next forum will be more
balanced, but given the record of previous forums, I sincerely doubt
it.
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| B-GLAAD should be taken more seriously |
Jamie Pattengale
Junior
JP55113 |
To
The Editor:
I was deeply disturbed after having read the article,
“B-GLAAD members face campus stereotype realities, speak out,”
(Feb. 25) by Justin Boulmay. I was not only disappointed by the
way with which Mr. Boulmay decided to write this article but who
he chose to quote as a follow up to the testimony of Brandie L.
Huffman. I was upset that this article was not front-page news.
Mr. Boulmay chose to quote a freshman psychology student instead
of someone with a psychology degree on how he felt about the subject.
By citing someone with no credentials on how they felt about the
issue [Boulmay] lessened the seriousness of the subject. It would
have been nice to have read someone from the Counseling Center’s
response to this tragedy.
As a gay woman at Appalachian this terrorism hits close to home.
I would have liked to have known when reading that article not only
what to do if I had been threatened or attacked but what resources
were available to me on campus and in the community as a gay or
lesbian.
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| Thanks to those who removed snow |
Chuck McNulty
Sophomore
CM51199 |
To
The Editor:
I would like to say a little about the snow removal
efforts of the staff here at Appalachian. I feel that, with the
unusual amount of snow and ice we have had this winter, these guys
have been doing a great job to keep the walkways clear. This helps
us get to classes on time and, more importantly, keeps us safe.
I think I speak on behalf of all of the students here when I say
“thank you” for all of their hard work and efforts. We
certainly appreciate them.
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| Thanks for debating off-campus issues |
Cory Joe Stewart
Graduate Student
ASU Box 11525 |
To
The Editor:
I was delighted to read that the Student Government
Association (SGA) had passed a resolution to support a moratorium
on the death penalty in N.C. I have been against the death penalty
all of my life and have been an activist against it for some time.
I was glad the issue was brought up because it has been my experience
that people either do not have an opinion on the death penalty,
or they have an opinion based on little or no information. I find
this especially true at Appalachian. I have met many who are against
the death penalty, yet do nothing about it. With this legislation
passed, perhaps now many of these students who oppose it will start
to explore the many ways they can fight against these killings.
Those who support the death penalty will start to look at the information
and decide exactly why they support it.
I also think that it is good that the students at Appalachian get
involved in issues that extend beyond this campus. We are so wrapped
up in complaining about parking and housing that we do not realize
there is a larger world out their with issues that we will all someday
have to join. Now that the issue has been brought up it may provoke
students to think about it and other issues more seriously. Mainly
I want to publicly congratulate and applaud those in SGA who pushed
for this vote.
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