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| Right to participate in government
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D. Kathryn Goforth
History Master’s Candidate
DG8074 |
To
The Editor:
As an Appalachian State University alumnus and
a current graduate student, I was alarmed by the comments contained
in a letter written by Jamie St. Clair (“SGA should focus on
student body,” April 1), another Appalachian graduate, who
was upset by the Student Government Association resolution expressing
the organization’s opinion on the current situation in Iraq.
She said “The SGA should focus on the ASU student body”
and then qualifies this by suggesting that parking tickets and Greek
organizations are the only matters that warrant student concern.
Higher education is beneficial for an infinite number of reasons,
as I am sure Ms. St. Clair would agree. Undergraduate education
is important not only because it provides future job training, but
because it challenges individuals to consider outside points of
view when forming opinions. Would Ms. St. Clair rather that ASU
produce a large number of uninformed, ignorant graduates who can
contribute nothing to international political dialogue but who can
flawlessly recite parking regulations and the events on the Greek
social calendar? I dare say that had the SGA resolution unconditionally
supported President Bush’s actions in the Middle East, Ms.
St. Clair would have written a letter praising the undergraduates’
astute political awareness.
What is imperative here is not my opinion on the war, or even Ms.
St. Clair’s, but the right of ASU undergraduates to participate
in a representative government, whatever the level. It is ironic
that individuals such as Ms. St. Clair would prefer dissenting opinions
be silenced, much in the same manner as the “maniacal dictator”
we are currently trying to overthrow in Iraq.
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| Greek organizations help the community |
Jenny Koehn
ACT Community Service Coordinator
koehnjr |
To
The Editor:
So many clubs and organizations do amazing things
in our community! Following Greek Week, I need to take a moment
to let you know what the Appalachian State University Greek System
collectively accomplished a few weeks ago.
Greek Week is definitely more than fun and games … this year,
they also collected over $2,000 for the Harrison family (an ASU
housekeeper who lost her home to a fire), as well as canned goods
for the Hunger Coalition. There are multiple ways to bring clubs
together, and service is one of them.
Separately, Greek organizations work all year to support national
philanthropies, ranging from Children’s Miracle Network to
raising money for the speech and hearing impaired, and a host of
others. Together, these clubs literally raise thousands and thousands
of dollars each year for these worthy causes.
However, they also give of their time in the local community through
continual efforts of community service, wherever they are needed.
Without fail, if there is a community emergency, the Greek system
can mobilize quickly to help get the job done.
The Greek community gets so little credit for all of the good work
they do, and I wanted to pause at the end of another busy year to
let them know that their hard work does not go unnoticed or unappreciated.
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| Professor’s letter misunderstood |
Dr. Matt Robinson
political science, criminal justice
robinsnmb |
To
The Editor:
After reading Andy Ferguson’s column regarding
student opinion (“Student opinions should be taken seriously,”
April 10) I want to clarify my previous letter so I am not misunderstood.
I wrote of my disappointment that more of our students were not
“expressing INFORMED opinions, forming REASONED ideas, and
engaging in CRITICAL thinking” about the war in Iraq. I said
our job as professors was to help students develop these abilities,
that this was the goal of a liberal arts education.
Mr. Ferguson implied that I did not respect student opinion. This
is false. I sincerely do. I encourage all my students to express
themselves as much as possible; I have NEVER silenced students or
told students they were WRONG.
Ferguson suggested some professors were “using their position
of authority to push their own opinions and showing disrespect to
students who express conflicting ideas.” While I do not do
this, I want him to know professors are responsible for sharing
with students what they know. This is our role as “expert.”
It does not make us right, and we should never claim to know the
“whole truth.”
I expressed displeasure with students who were “parroting talk
show rhetoric.” All I meant was I expect students to try to
move beyond labeling people as “traitors” and asking people
to leave the country when they disagree with a policy of their own
government. Anyone who engages in critical thinking knows that we
Americans have the right to dissent.
Finally, Mr. Ferguson is correct when he points out that there are
people on the anti-war side who are equally uninformed. In your
next editorial, you should write about that issue. Since I know
many protestors, I would be happy to assist you!
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