To the Daily:
I am writing in response to the letter by Joe Sexauer ("U.S. military actions are 'imperialistic,'" 11/12/97). If Sexauer had taken the time to read the column by Josh White ("Respect the military for the peace of mind it allows all of us," 11/4/97) he would have seen that the article was referring to the military and the men and women who fill its ranks not U.S. foreign policy. It appears that in his effort to belittle the members of the Armed Forces who serve this nation he has forgotten one very important point. Irrespective of the morality of the military actions that he chose to highlight, it stands that our military is simply an instrument of policy. The U.S. military does not make national and foreign policy, it was not designed for such a role and is not in a position to dictate such policy. The military does not choose to conduct military operations in other countries, rather the governing body of this nation directs it to do so.
If you do not agree with the foreign policy adopted by this nation then you need to vote and make yourself heard. Write to your congressional representatives and to the president, exercise your freedom of speech. However, keep in mind as you direct your energies to changing these policies and bringing attention to what you perceive as wrong and unjust make sure that you are focusing on the correct target.
The individual soldier who is sent to war by his country is simply doing his job - he cannot and should not be held responsible for the policy that sent him there. The men and women who serve in our military take an oath to risk their lives at the request of their nation. The risk of losing one's life is only one of the many sacrifices that they make. Military service will not make you rich, it rarely makes you famous and it often tears your family apart. Despite all of this, the members of the Armed Forces continue to serve this great nation of ours. So while Sexauer may disagree with the our national policy, he should not fault the military for it.
Michael Ducey
Rackham
To the Daily:
President Lee Bollinger once again proved to the students, staff and faculty of the University of Michigan that he knows what it takes to be a good president. After the football team won at Penn State, he allowed several hundred students into his own house, something that most University presidents have never allowed before.
This action was the best thing our president could have done. He has just shown again that he doesn't want to be an "untouchable" person in power when it comes down to the students of the University. Bollinger wants to reach out to the student body and really connect with them, and allowing people to actually talk with him and see where he lives certainly brings him down from on high.
We got to see President Bollinger for what he is: a person. I think he truly shows the spirit and devotion to the University that every president should.
Matt Gargett
LSA junior
To the Daily:
Students may now cast their vote as well as learn about candidates at the Website: http://www.umich. edu/~vote. This site will accept ballots until midnight on Nov. 20. The accuracy and influence of campus decisions are contingent upon your participation. Please take a brief moment during these two days to voice your opinion at this Website or a campus polling site.
Michigan Student Assembly
To the Daily:
Thank you for helping us inform students about the upcoming changes to the University's computing services. I'd like to take this opportunity to comment on your editorial, "Division's decision" (11/17/97).
While it is true that students (and others) may lose a measure of flexibility in making service choices this January, we are pleased to be making significant improvements in providing uninterrupted access to core services and simplifying billing options. You touched on some of these improvements in your editorial but there are in fact more - including, for students, access to computing services through the summer or during other terms of non-enrollment.
ITD fully understands that there's no such thing as a one-size-fits-all solution to providing computing resources for the campus. As you pointed out, different constituencies have different needs. However, it's our top priority to provide the University community with reliable, high-quality core services (such as e-mail and Web access). We also recognize the need to provide additional specialized computing services as seamlessly and inexpensively as possible. Given the need to focus our constrained resources on providing basic services for the community as a whole, those who use these additional services must help pay for their costs.
You also make the point that information technology is essential to student life. This is true for other groups as well. Yet ITD's budget for the basic computing package (which comes from the University General Fund) has remained essentially unchanged for several years. Given the growing demand for information technology services, it is a great challenge to find the best possible solutions for a community as diverse as ours.
Jose-Marie Griffiths and I welcome student input and look forward to working with the MSA information technology committee on these issues in the months ahead.
Laurie Burns
Interim Director, Customer Relationships and Support Information Technology Division
To the Daily:
I am writing to comment on University crime in the "Crime Notes" section. I feel that University students would be much better informed if you were to print actual crimes in this section instead of humorous incidents of student stupidity (i.e., "resident burns foot with butter," "woman swallows plastic fork," "student locks self in bathroom overnight").
Also, I wonder why I am paying part of my tuition to DPS to investigate such idiotic "crimes," usually with no real leads. As a service to students, the Daily should either print real felonies or misdemeanors in this section or change the name to "comic relief."
Candace Correa
Engineering junior
To the Daily:
This letter is written in response to the story, "'U' forbids Rushing the Field" (11/18/97) and is directed to the "heightened security" that will be present on Saturday.
Provided a win against OSU, I am going to rush the field on Saturday, and you cannot stop me. I will do it alone or with 107,000 of my best friends. But I will do it. This is not a threat, it is a matter of fact. I am a University of Michigan Wolverine, and you cannot stop me from exercising my right to celebrate the possibility of the first undefeated regular season since before I was born.
And so I will rush the field. And you will not stop me. Because I am faster than you. I am more agile than you. I am more nimble than you. Attempting to stop me will leave you tired and defeated, for I am as fast as lightning, as agile as a cat, and as nimble as something extremely nimble. Do not worry for my safety. I will not get hurt; I am 10 feet tall and bulletproof. The true "Judgment Day" is Saturday. I'll see you there; I'll be the one in the stands wearing cleats.
David Callaham
LSA junior
11-20-97
| Previous Article |
should be sent to: daily.letters@umich.edu | should be sent to: online.daily@umich.edu |