Christina Guirguis
LSA junior
College is a time to learn to think in new ways and explore new ideals. This is part of the maturation process, one in which Behnan has chosen not to partake. Professors do not "fuel these leftist/zealot groups." They educate students and teach them to think critically, to see through the hegemony imposed on them by society. I commend them for this.
Furthermore, these "Communist" groups do not engage in "whining about tyranny in the United States." They protest it and attempt to educate people about what they see as a problem. The only one whining is Behnan. Further, to say that these "Communis t" organizations "lack a philosophical base" and "base their arguments on subjective emotion, not rational theory" is ignorant. If these groups are indeed Communist, then they have a strong philosophical tradition behind them of Marx and others like him. It is of further ignorance to say that "conservative/suburban students could care less about our world today. They come to college not to learn, but to major in business and get drunk." In four years at the University, I have learned the dange r of putting the word "most" in front of generalizations about people. It's called a stereotype and it's wrong.
If Behnan is to criticize the right for not speaking out, then he cannot criticize the left for doing just that. If speaking out is not something that he values, then he has no right to criticize the right for not do it.
Matthew Holtzman
LSA senior
I don't want to complicate my birth mother's life. I also don't want her complicating mine. Opening adoption records may not give me that choice. I do agree with an intermediary option if both parties want to meet.
Cameron, your letter lashed out at birth mothers ("they might actually have to take responsibility for their actions, god forbid"), and adoptive parents ("the only socially accepted remnants of slave trading in the United States"). I don't pretend t o know anything about your life, but you are obviously harboring a lot of anger. I hope that someday you will find peace.
Kim Sobieski
University staff
Does the Daily really think that 18-year-old "college students ... should have the right to drink" and "should legally be allowed to consume alcohol?" As a logical follow-up to the tragic alcohol-related deaths of teen-aged students in the United St ates, has the Daily chosen to run an article pushing the reduction of the legal drinking age?
What makes the Daily think lowering the drinking age will "solve many of the problems of underage drinking?" Does it actually feel that facilitating post-adolescent experimentation with mind-altering substances is the answer to people dying? Would l owering the drinking age spontaneously subvert decades of hard-wired cultural alcohol fixation in teens? Is the answer: "Make it legal, then it won't be cool and 'forbidden' anymore?" The Daily seems to answer these questions with a resounding "of course!" It would take more than dropping the age for there to be a complete implosion of our country's alcohol fixation.
The idea of playfully altering one's mind with chemicals in the spirit of having a good time is very appealing to young people. If those who would see the drinking age changed to 18 could convince the legislators of this state and country (and me) t hat the impetus for this change comes directly from all those 20-and-unders missing out on the flavor, then right next to the Pepsi fountain in Bursley we would eventually have Natural Light. But was poor Bradley McCue - whose body didn't take kindl y to the 24 shots he fed it thinking about ... taste?
I understand that people are looking for solutions to this problem in our country. I think we need to focus on education and awareness, but we must also strive to be rational in our decision-making.
Paul Bhasin
School of Music
Franki Hand
The State Street Poetry Project