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| Stadium trashed |
To the Editor:
I was just writing in regards to the huge mess
leftover in stadium parking lot after this weekend's Homecoming
football game. I traveled down to the market, one of my roommates
and I, on Sunday evening. I was horrified by all the full trash
bags and bottles left in the parking lot. I could barely find a
decent parking spot, either I had to park on top of a bag of trash
or in a pot hole. I could not understand why there was so much trash
left over. I know that parking lot is only opened to Yosef Club
members on the day of football games and I am in a state of absolute
disgust that those people, who obviously rank Appalachian very high
in their priority book because they donate some money to us, would
leave such a mess behind at a school that they went to and love.
I understand that some major tailgating went on, and all of that
is wonderful, I just don’t understand how people can leave
so much trash behind. It would be one thing if it was one group
of people that left a bag of trash, but it wasn’t. It was
half of the people that were in that parking lot. I just can not
see how people who are of older age than us college students and
you would hope more mature can not just pick up after themselves.
If they leave the parking lot of a school that they attended and
think so highly of a wreck, I just wonder how they leave their own
homes or any other place that they come in contact with!!!
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Austin
Buck
ab41985@appstate.edu
Senior, Risk and Insurance |
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| Wanted: respect |
To the Editor:
("Be respectful of the culture your style portrays" Oct.
2) Did you even read your article before it was printed? It is the
most ridiculous thing ever.
You should have read up or researched or just
asked someone about their dreads before you run around saying that
dreads are “like a rats nest without shampoo and/or conditioner.”
It’s obviously not good for your hair to dread it, but a lot
of people that have dreads keep them clean and take good care of
them. It’s not a style you can just do. Nice dreads are high
maintenance.
And your whole bit about Jewish people do not
get tattoos of Buddah? I must be going to hell now, because I am
a Christian and I have a tattoo of Buddah on my foot. A tattoo of
a symbol of compassion inked onto my foot makes me a bad person
to you.
Come on, God, Allah, whatever you wanna call
it is LOVE! Above everything else, god is love and god does not
judge, unlike you. Just because someone thinks that dreads are cool
and they’re not from Jamaica, and they probably have no clue
who Haille Selassi is, or what he did, or where he came from does
not make them disrespectful at all. So what if they don’t
believe in rastafari. IT’S HAIR!
I know what is disrespectful, “those with
bare heads may want to present themselves as monks or Nazis.”
You have GOT to be kidding me. Go ask some guy with a bald head
if he is a Nazi. I hope he slaps you. You need to show some respect.
I can’t believe they let you print that article, let alone
write for the school paper.
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Erin
Heuermann
Erinbree08@yahoo.com |
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| Meth on the rise |
To the Editor:
Anna Oakes’ Oct. 2 [online] article addresses District Attorney
Jerry Wilson’s “weapons of mass destruction” charges
against small time methamphetamine cooks based on his assessment
that existing penalties for meth lab offenses are too lenient. Many
think these bizarre charges don’t fit the crime and are overly
punitive for relatively low-level drug offenses.
Less obvious are the deceptive political agenda
and feckless manipulation driving events. Novel to our region, meth
labs are commonplace elsewhere, the phenomenon gradually migrating
from the west coast during the last decade. Thousands of small labs
are seized annually in Midwestern states, notably Oklahoma and Missouri;
recently Alabama and Tennessee have been heavily afflicted. Sharp
regional outbreaks with dozens of busts, lately seen here, are ordinary
occurrences in these locales. Determined enforcement, harsh punishment
and shrill, overheated propaganda haven’t slowed the trend
much, if any.
Our enforcement officials have been quite aware
of these issues and have long anticipated meth labs’ arrival,
giving Wilson and colleagues ample time to request appropriate sentencing
revisions and calmly educate the public. It appears they’ve
forsaken such preparation in favor of awaiting the inevitable crisis,
feigning surprise and capitalizing on public alarm to stampede lawmakers
into hasty enactment of expensive, politically expedient remedies
known to be marginally effective. In this context, equating drug
manufacturing with terrorism is easily seen as merely a ploy to
amplify the hysteria. Policy makers should denounce these theatrics
and obtain sober disinterested advice from experienced sources not
bound to predictable criminal justice perspectives.
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Mett
Ausley, Jr., MD
Lake Waccamaw NC
causley@cchospital.com |
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| "Metal" reformation |
To the Editor:
"WASU DJs mix heavy metal, banter, Oct. 7) The
bands listed in the article, while I speak nothing of quality, are
not metal, beyond End of All. To those unfamiliar with the genre
it’s difficult to place these things, and so the terms “metal”
and “metalhead” are typically thrown around a little
too casually.
Speaking as owner of a good number of metal albums,
ranging from Decapitated’s new-age brutal/technical death
metal to At the Gates classic Swedish Melodic Thrash Metal album
Slaughter of the Soul to Morbid Angel’s early masterpiece
Blessed Are the Sick, I’ve come to know and appreciate the
genre for what it is, and felt the urge to write due to a number
of misconceptions about this music that are apparent in those unfamiliar.
The term “nu-metal” is most fitting
for many bands called metal. It would be an accurate description
for Slipknot, Spineshank, 3 Quarters Dead, Korn, Linkin Park etc.
Some tunnel graffiti brings up another issue.
Metal has a nasty reputation, some of it deserved, some not. Please
do not read too much into it, everyone. There IS an excellent Icon
E in there, from Emperor's logo, in red, but plenty of unnecessary
racism and immature religion-bashing as well. This is frustrating
to those of us who enjoy metal and wish to distance ourselves from
that.
I can speak for much longer than anyone would
like to read, but am merely writing to ask for a reform of the misuse
of the terms "metal" and "metalhead" as well
as misconceptions around the music.
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R.C. Killian
rk53542@appstate.edu |
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| A rewarding career |
To the Editor:
As students of a respected undergraduate program,
you are gifted with the opportunity to pursue to nearly any imaginable
career...
I would recommend that you seriously consider
attending a school of law. There are countless jobs available to
those holding a Juris Doctor (J.D.) After passing the bar, you could
eventually become a judge, a captain in the army, a firm lawyer,
or even run for office.
And while it is true that a J.D. is not required
to become a politician, one finds that many of North Carolina’s
leaders are indeed lawyers. Our governor attended N.C. Central Law,
Senator Dole attended Harvard Law, and Senator Edwards attended
Carolina Law (Chapel Hill).
This is not to say that law school is right for
everyone. It is a strenuously intellectual experience that would
push you to the limits of your capacity, and the cost of tuition
can be prohibitive. The best institutions receive thousands of applications
above and beyond their seating limits ... entrance is competitive,
and last season, more people applied than ever before.
However, if you want a career that will demand
excellence of the mind, an education that promotes critical thinking,
and job that will reward (and compensate) you well ... you should
seriously contemplate living law.
|
John T. Plecnik
Duke Law, Class of 2006
John.Plecnik@law.duke.edu |
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To the Editor:
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Erin Heuermann
Erinbree08@yahoo.com |
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| Ending hypocrisy |
To the Editor:
I wanted to thank you for publishing the letter by Ian Granucci.
Finally someone using common sense and logic!
Never mind the fact that our current and past presidents
have used some of the very substances that have sent others to prison.
And our elected officials conveniently exempt themselves from drug
testing.
Our “leaders” need to end this hypocrisy
and start holding persons responsible for their actions. Not criminalizing
them for what they put in to their bodies.
Respectfully submitted for publication,
|
Scott Russ
Baton Rouge, La. |
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| Stereotypes & labels |
To the Editor:
In response to Justin Butler’s Letter to
the Editor (Oct. 7), I congratulate him for alienating himself and
his beliefs by invalidating the very point he tried to make. By
labeling Leslie Rasimas as ‘clueless white girl from the suburbs‚
you’ve successfully classified yourself as an angry, presumptuous
racist.
The simple truth is that we do attach style to
a group. Whether it be Abercromie to frat boy, trench coat and black
makeup to goth, or baggy jeans and bling to gangster, we define
people by what they wear and dreadlocks are no exception.
The point of the article was that people are
sometimes clueless about the origins of their style, not an attack
against Rastafarians or any other groups. If I were to come on campus
dressed in a Japanese Kimono and, when asked, could not explain
why, I think I might be laughed at or thought silly; this is exactly
the response wearers get when they can't offer any viable explanation
for wearing their hair that way. Personally, I see uninformed style
as just another person blindly following a flock, pretending to
be something they're not, or just wanting to fit in.‚
And furthermore, there is, in all honesty, a
big difference in wearing the new Steve Madden shoes and binding
your hair in dreadlocks, especially when it goes unwashed for extended
periods of time and other people have to see and smell it.
|
Jonathan Ogilvie
jo51340@appstate.edu
Senior, Creative Writing |
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| A challenge issued |
To the Editor:
The Anthropology Department's stated mission
is “to provide a comparative and holistic approach to the
study of the human experience." They undercut this mission
entirely by banding together with High Country Students for Peace
and Justice to cosponsor an "educational series" on U.S.
foreign policy entitled "Oil, Blood and Money II." This
politically charged series (ironically one with a proper concept
of neither peace nor justice) is filled with lecturers, films, and
the occasional Ph. D. What is the goal of this series?
Theoretically, it is to educate the ignorant.
Practically, it is designed to preach to the converted. Implicitly,
it will attempt to undercut the means by which humanity sustains
its existence on this earth: objectivity, individualism, technology,
and capitalism. How will it do this? By appearing to champion human
progress and freedom while obliterating the foundation on which
these concepts rest.
I do not have the time, space, or desire to correct
the errors that will be made by the intellectual thugs featured
in this series.
It would take a book to untangle the evasions,
lies, and misrepresentations committed by Michael Moore alone. But
it is within the scope of this letter to point out that the upcoming
series cannot be characterized as either "holistic" or
"comparative." As such, I invite the Anthropology Department
to start putting their money where their collective mouth is; either
stop claiming to offer a broad view of the human experience, or
start integrating opposing ideas into lecture series in the future.
|
Brandon Byrd
bb47783@appstate.edu
ASU Objectivist Club |
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| Be Respectful to the Culture Your
Style Portrays |
To the Editor:
To imply that it’s disrespectful for a
non-Rastafarian to knot their hair ignores thousands of years of
history. Further, to imply that Rastafarians should take offense
to non-Rastas wearing dreadlocks is absurd.
Dreads, whether worn for spiritual reasons or not, have been around
since the dawn of time; but the Rastafarian movement didn’t
begin until 1928. The first written documentation of dreads dates
to 1800 B.C. in the Veda scriptures of India, and to this day dreadlocks
are associated with followers of the God-figure Shiva. Before this,
cavemen are thought to have worn knots. Certain Germanic tribes
and even early Asian emperors wore them. Some ancient Egyptians,
particularly pharaohs, had dreadlocks -- King Tut’s remain
preserved to this day. Members, especially priests, of at least
a half dozen African tribes also knot their hair. Naga Indians wear
dreadlocks. Aborigines and New Guineans wear them. And the list
goes on…
Rastas should only take offense to non-Rastas with dreads when those
people claim to be of the faith when, in fact, they aren’t.
It’s true that people shouldn’t portray “themselves
as something they do not truly identify with.” However, you
said it yourself -- none of the people interviewed purported to
be Rastafarian. Simply having knots isn’t enough to associate
someone with Rastafarianism, seeing how people of so many different
cultures do it for so many different reasons. And there’s
over 3700 years of history to prove it.
|
Kelly Cousino
kc56447 |
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| Animal testing is worth saving a
human life |
To the Editor:
In response to Thursday's editorial, "Animal
testing is worth saving a human life (Oct. 9)" A couple of
corrections ... modern medicine can 'extend' lives, not 'save' them.
And the notion that animal testing will produce medical miracles
such that "... the human won't have do die" is ludicrous
when carried to its logical extension.
All humans die. Nothing can change that. Unfortunately,
our modern philosophy that medicine can "cure" all ills
has led, not to eternal life, but to a hyper-wealthy class of doctors
and insurance agencies.
Modern medicine can not save you, but it can make sure that you
die without any of your savings intact.
Animal testing is inhumane, but not simply because
of the damage done to the animals. The pain and trauma levied on
the sick and elderly, and their families, through these so-called
“miracle cures” can be just
as inhumane. Anyone who has seen a grandparent in ICU tugging listlessly
at an endotracheal tube has experienced this. Because such sights
are disturbing to robust, healthy Americans, the elderly in this
country are often confined to nursing homes; sprawling institutions
not unlike livestock farms, where people can be held at the edge
of death for years, out of sight, until financial hardship brings
about the inevitable.
We don’t need to increase our life expectancy
up into the hundreds. We need a rational re-examination of our approach
to death as a culture, and ultimately an acceptance of euthanasia
as a more desirable end than the hopeless quest for one more breath.
After all, it’s good enough for our pets.
|
Eric Kesler
Junior, English
EK61102 |
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| Be Respectful to the Culture Your
Style Portrays |
To the Editor:
Before Leslie Rasimas trashes any more students
("Be Respectful to the Culture Your Style Portrays," Oct.
2), let me point out a few things. I find it ridiculous how you
can label everyone who has dreadlocks as Rasafarian, and then trash
them for not being Rastafarian.
You turn dreadlocks into a symbol of Rastafarianism
by saying "Jewish people do not get tatoos of Buddha."
How do you think Rastafarians feel when you reduce their religion
to a hairstlye? I have just as much right to assume you are Irish
because you said "bag o' goodies." It is a totally superficial
stereotype and is detremental to both Rastafarians and students
choosing to wear dreadlocks.
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Brock Gordon
jg57301 |
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| Chancellor Search Committee forum |
To the Editor:
I was upset after reading about the Chancellor
Search Committee forum. The choice of our chancellor is very important
to me and for every person on this campus, even if they think so
or not. The choice of a person that will be the representative of
our university should be one that a majority of the population agrees
upon, not just the committee's choice.
I had not heard of any such forum until the article
was published and I share Justin Pittman's feelings about the forum
not being advertised enough. I am not a member of the SGA, however,
I still would like to think that I have the opportunity to share
in what will be a very important change on campus. I am glad that
Ms. Johnson is taking on the responsibility to hear the students'
opinions and I hope that the committee will get the point that the
choice should not be held from the campus population.
|
Courtney Cooper
CC60164 |
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| Respectful to the culture your style
portrays |
To the Editor:
Respectful to the culture your style portrays
(Oct. 2)? Leslie, did you do any research into Rastafarianism and
it's culture before you wrote your article? One stereotype that
you left out about bald men would be "slave". Rastafarian's
do not cut their hair because that's what the slave traders did
when they captured blacks from Africa and Jamaica. The dreadlocks
signify power and they believe in cutting your hair you become powerless,
a slave.
Your article states that people don't wash when
they have dreadlocks.
That's a misconception. Dreadlocks can be washed
and a simple Google search on dread maintenance can enlighten you
on how clean they can be.
How should Christian's dress? Is there a dress
code for Buddhists? Your ideas sound familiar to the ranting of
Hitler's perfect society in which Jewish people wore a Star of David
so that they could be recognized. I only bring this up because I
feel your article spreads the same unaccepting ignorance of expression
through dress and culture. Yes, it is true that people judge you
by the clothes you wear. PEOPLE ARE WRONG. Albert Einstein (a Jew)
would never comb his hair and reportedly was seen leaving his apartment
without his pants. Our shallow society would judge this person as
a homeless man or a crazy person. If your friend or sister got dreads
would they not be the same funny, smart person except with dreadlocks?
Please be a person who stops the cycle of stereotyping, labeling,
and segregating instead of one who promotes it.
|
Robert F. Burke
Rb60161 |
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| ASU RA's pay makes up for lack of
benefit |
To the Editor:
Upon reading the article "ASU RA's pay makes
up for lack of benefits",
I became very upset. Myself being an RA, I was
perturbed by some of the aspects in the article. First of all, people
who want to become RA's have to go through a long, grueling process
of interviews, applications, and training. You are accepted based
on your character, leadership skills, and a cumulative GPA. I am
not saying that this is a downfall, but I think people fail to realize
how much RA's actually go through. We have a lot of work on our
shoulders, being RA's, students and people, and the article made
it seem to appear that we didn't do anything and are only in it
for the money. I actually didn't know that RA's got paid until after
I was an accepted RA. What does this mean to me? All I can say is
that I wish the article had gone into more detail about how much
RA's actually do instead of how much we "complain" about
benefits we don't get. You have to look at the hidden aspects of
being an RA; You become a role-model to numerous residents, you
learn leadership and organizational skills, and you gain respect
for yourself and from others.
Those benefits can't actually be obtained physically,
and can't be written down under "RA benefits", but they
are few of the many emotional benefits that will influence our lives
forever.
Thank you!
|
Amanda Mahaffee
6th floor White resident assistant
am54820 |
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| Respectful to the culture your style
portrays |
To the Editor:
Tiffany's argument that the price of going out
to eat will skyrocket if Boone legalizes liquor by the glass is
just plain stupid! Last I knew, the menus of places like Macado's
and Klondike were a far cry from that of Olive Garden and Red Lobster.
The comparison of prices is weak. Liquor will surely bring in corporate
restaurants who's standards for food quality and cleanliness are
far higher than many of the locally restaurants. Take a look at
the floors and ceilings of some of these independent restaurants
some time if you doubt me. As for watered down liquor, this is extremely
rare in the restaurant industry, especially with corporate restaurants.
This practice is much more common in bars and clubs that do drink
promotions to increase attendance. Liquor will not bring in bars
and clubs because Boone doesn't allow bars which has nothing to
do with whether or not Boone legalizes liquor by the glass.
Again Tiffany's argument doesn't make much sense.
In the end, if Liquor gets passed, the restaurants that come to
Boone will create many more jobs than the independents could ever
hope to, helping to generate that extra cash that Tiffany feels
we will all need to buy overpriced and watered down liquor. Oh,
and by the way, if Tiffany thinks $50 is cheap for a meal then mom
and dad may be giving her too much money.
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Nathan Lambert
Senior
Nl49182 |
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