Letters to the Editor

9/25/08 7:00pm

Praise for Bush's policies misplaced

To the editor:Caroline May's opinion piece really has me puzzled ("Bush's security policies deserve praise," Sept. 19). I felt as though I were reading an article from The Onion. If she really is sincere then, wow, look out Ann Coulter. She argued that "the wars abroad have had the added bonus of acting as a magnet for terrorists previously gunning for the American homeland. Instead of fighting these violent extremists on U.S. soil, American heroes are able to kill them on external battlefields." This is simply insane. War and "added bonus" do not belong in the same sentence. Also, the last time I checked, the terrorists are still most certainly "gunning for the American homeland."

Let's take Caroline's idea one step further: We could move American prison inmates to the Middle East and set up a county fair-style dunking booth. We could charge terrorists one dollar for a chance to blow up Americans. "Step right up, win a giant stuffed bunny rabbit!" Then we could use the money generated to bail out banking firms. Or invade more foreign countries. The president's job description is supposed to be along the lines of upholding and defending the Constitution. Any sane person, regardless of party loyalty, can only give George and company an F in this department.

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Chris Hamilton

Chemistry graduate student

Sport restaurant incident dismaying

To the editor:

I read Yan Digilov's article titled "BW3's steals wings from football Owls" (Sept. 12). The thesis of his article is right on. However, I was there as well, and, unlike him, I stayed there for the entire game, and his facts were a bit off. Indeed, promptly at 9 p.m. (just after Rice scored a touchdown to bring the score to 14-10), Buffalo Wild Wings turned every single big screen in the restaurant to the Ultimate Fighting Championships but they did change the channels of two small TVs to the Rice game.

As such, those of us at my table sat for the next hour and a half watching one of the most thrilling second halves I've ever seen on a dinky little TV. The irony is that we were watching the game at a sports bar - it shouldn't be that way! I was not about to give up my seat for the organization replacing the Rice game with some pay-per-view fighting show. For those of us who stayed, we were vindicated by a Rice win.

However, like Yan, I'm disappointed one of the closest sports bars to Rice refused to show the Rice football game for the fans and patrons of the restaurant.

The orchestrated boos by the remaining Rice students were definitely well-deserved, and I'll think twice before eating there for another Rice football game.

Jon Endean

Wiess College sophomore

Column brings to mind voter's roles

To the editor:

In a time when it's cliché to trash the president, when I routinely hear bus-stop remarks of "worst president ever," and "change" is the best ticket our presidential hopefuls can come up with, it's novel to see a show of support for our commander in chief. Yet, Caroline May's article ("Bush's security policy deserves praise," Sept. 19) takes for granted certain roles and responsibilities of government and glosses over what is perhaps the most important discussion for the future of every American: Who is responsible for your well-being? You, or your government? The question is simple, but the answers take us down two very different roads.

Choosing to be responsible for our own well-being; for defending our own family and property; providing for our own children; and taking personal responsibility for our communities by giving of our own time and efforts, gives the noble and staunchly individualistic flavor which made our country great. Moving away from personal responsibility gives us frivolous law-suits about coffee being too hot, entire communities who think that the government is responsible for maintaining their way of life, bail-outs for corporations who made bad business decisions and, of course, the "collective recognition of America's domestic vulnerability." And, polarized as it may be, both major political parties want to take us further in this direction.

So, before we cast our votes this November, instead of spending time on our laptops, surfing the Web to decide which candidate has the best plan for 'energy independence,' let's turn off our computers and do something about it.

Michael Weeks

Jones College senior

Grad students not assisted during Ike

To the editor:

As a graduate student not living in university housing, I am upset by the lack of protection I was offered by Rice University against Hurricane Ike and, particularly, about the late notification.

In 2005, when Hurricane Rita approached, all graduate students were offered shelter in McNair Hall. Last week, it was not until Thursday afternoon - a day before predicted landfall and too late to organize an evacuation - that I was informed I could not seek shelter on campus and I should follow my "own hurricane preparedness plan." Guess what? My preparedness plan included coming to campus. The university stated it could not provide the facilities to protect all graduate students, yet I have been told the overflow shelter in the Student Center was closed due to lack of need.

Hurricane Ike mostly spared Rice University, and most students felt safe in their apartments. However, had the storm been worse, the unannounced reversal of the previous shelter policy and the late announcement could have led to injuries and even loss of life. Considering that many graduate students are internationals and have never experienced a hurricane before, the message of rejection broadcast by the university has certainly caused enough anguish. The one exception has been Dr. Adria Baker and her staff at the Office of International Students and Scholars, who were helpful and reassuring throughout the storm.

I encourage the university to provide shelter to all of its students, regardless of where they live. Should this not be feasible, then Rice must send out a warning well in advance, to make students aware that they may have to rethink their hurricane preparedness plans. I knew that Ike was coming; I just did not know I could not rely on my university if worse comes to worst.

Mathias Ricken

Computer science graduate student

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