Student Life opinion staff
needs more women
To the “promiscuous editor:”
Maybe the next time you choose to cover women’s issues such as the female orgasm, you should have a woman do it. Oh wait-there are no women on your opinion staff.
Lucy Biederman
Arts and Sciences
Class of 2003
Free sanitary napkins are a
great campus service
To the editor:
Washington University deserves 10 juicy points. While Wash U does many things to redeem itself, there is one reason in particular that has gone unmentioned time and time again. This reason, this glory of Wash U’s quieter side, is the supply of free sanitary napkins that can be found in any women’s restroom all over campus. Yes, they may be huge, uncomfortable, rough, boat-like pads, but they are free. Wash U paves the way in this respect, recognizing the emergency need for these products on a monthly basis. Public bathrooms everywhere should follow this lead as menstrual products are as vital as toilet paper.
Merissa Gerson
Arts and Sciences
Class of 2004
If you will take the time to vote, I will take the time to listen
To the editor:
Allison Barrett appears to be the first student to recognize what now seems obvious: the student body can benefit by participating in local politics. In her well-written Jan. 31 op-ed (“Think local for this year’s alderman election”), Ms. Barrett presented an opportunity and a challenge.
Ms. Barrett first broached the idea of representation for WU students in a Post-Dispatch letter to the editor on Oct. 29, 2001. She responded to comments made by my previous opponent, Bev Wagner, by stating, “These students live and work alongside what Wagner might claim are the true residents of Clayton. The students, faculty and staff of the university need and deserve representation in the Clayton community.”
Ms. Barrett is right, and I would welcome the opportunity to represent WU students who live in Ward 1.
When I ran for Alderman in November 2001, I had 10 years of fair-minded decision-making on Clayton boards and commissions. A group of anti-WU residents organized to oppose me. My opponents are easily characterized: they are the individuals who complain and call WU or the police when a student parks her car on public streets near their homes, the same individuals who ensure that the lights in the Psychology Building are turned off because they claim they’re too bright. They are the same people who oppose new residential halls on the South 40.
While I discussed pertinent issues during the campaign, Ms. Wagner did not. She instead focused only on my wife’s position as associate dean of Arts and Sciences at WU, alleging that I had a conflict of interest and would not be able to vote on any issue involving WU.
A city attorney ruled in 1996 that I had no conflict of interest. The city attorney confirmed this again in January 2002.
But my opponent’s professionally designed negative campaign, based on innuendo and conjecture, won the 2001 election.
I am running for Alderman again on April 8 because I know I can do an excellent job of representing all of the residents of Ward 1-including you.
Get a voter registration form at the Clayton Department of Motor Vehicles, 32 N. Central Ave., or the Office of Student Activities. It takes five minutes and one postage stamp. If you live on the South 40, you’ll vote at Wydown Middle School. If you live near DeMun, you’ll vote at Captain School across from Kaldi’s. The deadline to register is March 12.
If you’d like to help with my campaign, or have a question, contact Ms. Barrett, chair of Students for Porter, at [email protected].
If you will take the time to vote, I will take the time to listen and ensure that you have a voice.
John Porter
Candidate for Clayton Alderman, Ward 1