To the Daily:
In a student-run newspaper such as the Daily, an unrealistic and ultra-liberal viewpoint is to be expected. Students of today and indeed, of all times, are blessed with an over abundance of idealism. Too bad as time goes by that this idealism all too often erodes to cynicism.
What I cannot understand is the students of this University are among the smartest in the nation, if not the world, yet the student editors of the Daily insist on proving that they enjoy exercising their idealism more than their realism. It seems that we have entered an age where journalists insist on presenting us with opinion while ignoring any and all "inconvenient" facts.
But, I digress. The reason for this letter is to question the contents of the 10th paragraph in the editorial entitled "Find the Real Cause" (9/16/99).
This paragraph essentially asserts that the Columbine tragedy would not have happened if Congress would stand up to the National Rifle Association and make it more difficult to own guns. Now, perhaps I'm missing something, but it is already against the law for minors to purchase or own any kind of rifle, pistol or shotgun. What, exactly, is this editorial trying to say? That my inalienable right to keep and to bear arms had something to do with the Columbine tragedy? What nonsense.
Alas, this paragraph exposes the true intent of this article. Aimless, pointless, factless but trendy whining. Am I surprised? No, not at all - some of America's most notable journalists have paved the way. What needs to be done in this country is the enforcement of existent laws. Why not be up in arms over the fact that there is no enforcement of the existing gun laws? What of the Brady laws?
The Second Amendment most clearly states that, "a well-regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed." I see no ambiguity in this simple sentence. Where's the problem?
The Daily is willing to support Dominick's in the case of a minor in possession of alcohol, but not my right to defend myself, my family and my property. Where are the Daily's priorities? I believe that underage drinking has killed far more people than children with weapons.
Donald Witkowski
University staff
To the Daily:
I think it is a shame that most environmentalists do not understand nuclear technologies and capabilities. I am disappointed in the stance conveyed in the Sept. 15 letter to the editor, "Nuclear reactor source of damage, not pride."
Even comparing the research reactor on North Campus to anything that happened on Three Mile Island is asinine. The letter was written in a slanted manner. What about the positive aspects of nuclear research? Throughout the long existence of the reactor, University staff has made great strides in several areas, most importantly in medicine.
As a student I have spent more than a year doing research at the reactor, in work with naturally occurring radiation. I know for a fact that research on the effects of radiation on human tissue and bone structure is being done. This research has given us new methods of treating and diagnosing cancer, and several other bone and ligament maladies.
It is true that accidents such as Chernobyl and Three Mile Island were disastrous and cause, and continue to cause, "birth defects, cancers and death." What is our alternative? Coal? If one wants to speak of something causing millions of birth defects, incidents of cancer, deaths and pollution of water, air, soils and wildlife, we need to look to a more dangerous foe. Our current means of creating power are obscene!
Nuclear power is an easy scapegoat for people who feel threatened by technology. What then is the solution to the problem of power? One cannot just complain about something without coming up with a viable alternative. Nuclear power is a viable alternative to coal. It is cleaner and more cost effective.
There are many important issues that need consideration when dealing with nuclear power, but the fact remains that the benefits of the reactor are great. If I had the choice to live next to a nuclear reactor or a coal furnace, I would choose the nuclear reactor without hesitation. It is important that one understands radiation before making such judgments.
John Trombley
Engineering junior
To the Daily:
Normally, I am definitely not the type to knock things I do not know. Although I have never been a huge fan of the Greek system, I have not really had anything against it. I actually know quite a few people in the system and consider them to be some absolutely wonderful people. How could a system that attracts such great people be so terrible, right?
Well, that question was answered on a walk home from the Michigan-Rice game.
I noticed a few boys wearing the same shirt, so I took the time to read what it said. "Freshman girls, get em' while they're thin." The front of the shirt boasted some proud logo of one of the fraternities on campus. I have never in my life been so enraged about such stupidity. What made the situation even worse was the proud way the boys were wearing the shirts and carrying extra to sell.
Many females on college campuses suffer from a variety of eating disorders. Shirts such as this only encourage such behavior and make females feel extremely inadequate to members of the opposite sex, who are so caught up on physical appearances and gratification, they miss the whole point of getting to know people.
It is this type of immature, irresponsible and absurd behavior that gives the greek system a bad name. What I also cannot believe is that the head of the Greek system was unaware of this T-shirt. The message they are sending: hell with bettering society, let's contribute to its destruction.
To the silly boys who were so proudly showing off their lack of intelligence and tact: use the University as a attempt to educate yourselves.
To the editors, hopefully your position in the media will bring to light the fact that the number of young females affected by eating disorders will not decrease if males continue to be narrow-minded and superficial about the way women "should" be.
The fact that these boys were part of the greek system reflects its crooked values and is indicative of its shameless behavior. Their behavior should cause potential members of the greek system to question whether or not it is worthy to be a part of this system.
Christina Khoury
LSA senior Simi Dhawan LSA senior
To the Daily:
This letter is in response to the attack on WCBN ("'U' radiostation needs complete makeover," 9/15/99).
If you listen to WCBN for more than five minutes, you'll quickly see that it plays every kind of music known to man. Mike Kegler's statement that they only play "obscure jazz, rockabilly and God knows what else" is absurd.
In fact, their "Jazz til noon" program plays mostly jazz that is very well known. The "Go cat Go, the rockabilly show" is one of many programs, and it only airs once per week for an hour. One can hear all kinds of indie rock on "Radio ping pong," and listen to your favorite old country and folk tunes on "the down home show." You can also hear anything else you wish. The programming is tremendous at this station.
And if you would pay attention, you would see that they support the local music scene more than any other station around ann arbor.
To say that WCBN should have a set list of indie rock and hip-hop is like saying that the University should only teach Latin and Chemistry. It limits your musical knowledge. If you don't want to learn about music through freeform, then change the channel because that's what WCBN has been about for 25 years, and that's what they'll be about for another 25.
David Pratt
Engineering senior
09-21-99
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