Eliot Hall will be missed
To the editor:
Your front-page article in the Jan. 26, 2003, issue had a picture with a caption that basically said that Eliot was a building to dread. As it would turn out, Eliot is a great place to live and play, and that caption was insensitive to myself and the people who like the dorm. For you, perhaps Eliot is just something to get rid of; but for others, including readers of your paper, Eliot will be missed. So on that note, please just realize that your front page worthy opinions are like unnecessary barbs to some. Thank you.
Rob Collins
School of Art
Class of 2005
Editorial made generalizations, petty accusations
To the editor:
I was highly incensed upon reading the Jan. 26 staff editorial criticizing WU’s recent decision to include telephone services within tuition. I found it impossible to overlook the generalizations, petty accusations, and flaws in reasoning on the part of the editors in condemning the university’s decision. Particularly, I find claims that the low number of students voting on the matter renders the decision invalid to be ridiculous-WU students are fairly notorious for neglecting voting and activism, as recent editorials have noted, and even expecting most students to vote in the general Student Union elections is a bit much at times. A 10 percent response rate is admittedly low, but typical of the WU student body.
As for whether the vote was adequately publicized, what does the university need to do-get on loudspeakers and shout, “Vote today!” from the rooftops? Pepper the campus with flyers? Students are daily inundated with demands for attention from well-meaning (and some not-so-well-meaning) student groups, professors, and other sources. Many students simply cannot find time to meet all the demands placed upon them, much less do what a piece of paper tells them to do. However, students must seek shelter and find time to eat, and thus dorm stairways and the walls of Wohl Center are the place to advertise. Student Union advertised its telephone service initiative in those places, where the majority of students were most likely to take notice.
To me, the current method of payment for telephone bills is inefficient and rather a hassle. I was ecstatic when I heard about the chance to vote on the issue and change the current system. However, I am certain that dozens of other students who saw information about the initiative paid little attention to it, simply because any advertisement for the vote was just another piece of paper on the wall. It is very easy to ignore all the pretty colored pieces of paper after a while, to become jaded and disinterested. It takes a lot of effort to discern between legitimate offers and others, especially when that means taking the time to peer between those ever-exciting fraternity party flyers.
Taking into account the difficulties involved in reaching students, much less persuading them to effect a change, I believe it is perfectly acceptable that the conscientious few who took time to vote are the ones that make our decisions, especially if the majority is too lazy to actually express an opinion. I congratulate those who proposed the change in WU’s telephone billing system, as well as those who bothered to vote on the initiative.
Margaret J. Bauer
Arts and Sciences
Class of 2006
WU should not have snow days
To the editor:
This letter is in response to Jesse Krohn’s “Give students snow days.” Jesse points out several items in support of the enactment of a WU snow day policy. I too can remember the joys of childhood, especially when it didn’t include paying the $26,900 a year/$300 a day that my education costs in this university. Unfortunately, my childhood is long past, along with free education, and it’s time to grow up. Now, I believe the column was more nostalgia than an actual proposition. However, just in case people begin to agree with Jesse, I wish to point out that since we are paying our $300 per day, WU has no right to call off classes without an extremely important reason. I have taken many classes with students that had to commute on a daily basis, and I have never seen a teacher penalize a student unfairly because of traffic or weather conditions. I rather take my chances with the weather and know that WU is always there, than feel cheated out of my tuition just because the snow plows are late. Although I agree with Jesse in spirit, I cannot bring myself to support her position. I’ll have winter break to throw snow balls.
Paul de la Iglesia
School of Engineering
Class of 2003
Inaccuracies in article on Kohl
To the editor:
I was flattered that Student Life thought my impending retirement worth a front-page story. I was reluctant to agree to an interview since I was aware that journalists do not always get it right. (Student Life once attributed to me the sentiment that, as a socialist, I thought it was incumbent upon us to overthrow the leftist government of Nicaragua!) As a condition of being interviewed, Student Life agreed that I would see the text of the story before it went to press. I told them I knew I had no right to control what they printed, but that previewing the text would allow me to do a “fact check”. Unfortunately I did not see the article before it appeared. The result was (1) a trivial error-I have been at WU for 43 years, not 30, (2) an amusing error-noting my work in “magnetic residency”-this didn’t matter much since scientists would know that they meant “magnetic resonance” and non-scientists would not care, (3) an embarrassing over-statement of the difficulty of my pre-academic years. The only thing that bothered me was Student Life attributing to me the patronizing opinion that some WU students came from less than “stellar” backgrounds. My opinion is clearly stated in the next paragraph, taken from a written statement I supplied. Some students with talent and potential come to WU with low SAT scores and from high schools that do not offer many AP courses. They need help in playing catch-up. Dean James McLeod has done much to nurture such students. It has been my pleasure to have played a role in encouraging these talented students and a real thrill to witness their successes.
Daniel H. Kohl
Professor of Biology
Editor’s Note: As a policy, Student Life does not show anyone complete articles prior to publication.
Sports article was inaccurate
To the editor:
In the past, Student Life has featured articles about the swimming and diving team that included some false information, but the Jan. 21 article “Competitive Spirit” seemed to get more facts wrong than right. It began by reporting that the “team partook in only one competition”-a rib-eating contest-during our winter training trip. However, we did have a meet in Florida against the St. Bonaventure University men’s team. While the writer mentioned national qualifying scores by divers Julie Heidbreder and Ryan Braun, it neglected Paloma Garner’s 1-meter qualifying score of 252.38 in Saturday’s meet. The article also stated that the women’s team defeated Lindenhurst that day; we did indeed win, but the meet was against Lindenwood University from nearby St. Charles, Mo. That the 200 medley relay team of Boettger, Jacobson, Wang, and Ames “made an automatic national qualifying cut with a time of 1:57.00” is also incorrect as an automatic qualifying time in that event is 1:48.59. Although mention of our upcoming meet is appreciated, Drury University will not be attending our invitational this weekend. And finally, the picture of diver “Ryan Braun” was actually of Craig Goergen.
Next time Stud Life writes an article about the swimming and diving team, perhaps the facts should be checked before it is printed. So far this season, the swim team has set 10 new school records, defeated a Division I team, and made 21 national qualifying times yet one of the only true statements in the article was that Mike Slavik really did eat 45 ribs. At least the writer got the important stuff right…
Colette Smirniotis
Swim Team
Arts and Sciences
Class of 2003
Metrolink expansion has long history
To the editor:
I suggest you check your archives for another article from Student Life regarding the proposed CrossCounty Extension of MetroLink.
I don’t have the date of the previous article (year or two back) which credited the concern the university has for the electro magnetic field effect on the various science labs on campus. The article stated that the study the university commissioned to study the possible negative effects led the Bi-State Development to be quoted in the article as saying the tracts were moved to the north side of the Parkway from the south (as previously offered by the university) to mitigate the EMF on the lab data.
Also, the university hosted a meeting between the various neighborhoods in 1999 and (excuse the expression) ram-rodded the idea that the affected neighborhoods would be better served with the tracks being on the north side. The reasoning being that a bell would have to be rung each time the train crossed the surface street of Hoyt where cars would be turning into the campus across the tracks.
You see, there is a history that the community (of both WU and outside) need to reflect on to really understand the train that keeps moving around.
Pat Fitzgerald
Area Resident
Pershing Avenue