Student challenges hazing report
Freedom of the press is one of the rights granted to us under the First Amendment to the Constitution. This means journalists can print almost anything they want to print, and their speech is protected by law. This is a valuable freedom and is one of the many aspects that make our country what it is today. Unfortunately, this can also mean not everything printed in newspapers is required to contain completely accurate information.
It seems there are students on our campus who have forgotten this. In regard to the article on hazing that was printed Tuesday, I just want to urge the public not to believe every word of an article simply because it is in the school newspaper. Don’t be afraid to ask questions and find out what really happened rather than reading the newspaper and accepting the words in the article as the truth.
Matt Kern
Junior — Political Science
Stereotypes about Greeks abound
I am writing in response to the article titled “Greek system should not allow hazing.” Although I do agree with Ms. Hatch that the hazing in the Greek system should not take place, I think she, like many others, is mistaken when it comes to what she feels the Greek environment is “supposed” to be.
The common misconception that “the Greek environment is supposed be your family that you pay for,” probably comes from those who have not experienced anything like that of Greek life. Being part of a fraternity or sorority is a privilege, just as it is to be part of any honor club or other organization on this campus. The maintenance of any group requires monthly or yearly dues. Sorority/fraternity dues are broken down into house maintenance, socials, philanthropic donations, etc. Last time I checked, pulling money out of our dues for the “buy- a-friend fund” still did not exist.
Hatch does have some truth in saying the Greek community could be considered a family. Like any family today, it also has its problems (hazing and drinking) but always manages to pull through and come together in the end to make rational decisions for the betterment of the chapters involved. You join a sorority or fraternity to be given the chance to meet people, not a guarantee you will like them or that you will consider them all “family,” but an opportunity to be a part of something that exists because of the attitudes and hard work of its members.
I have been a member of a sorority for four years now and have had friends come and go throughout the years. What will never change is the opportunity given while being part of a fraternity/sorority during and after your four years of college. After reading this, some of you will probably not change any preconceived notions about Greeks and still believe we are simply “buying our friends” when joining. If that is so, I must say I consider it one of the best investments I have yet to make.
Sally Stiel
Senior — Communication Studies
Rape kit testing a good step forward
I am writing in response to the article about rape kit testing. I am very glad the state is taking this investigation to the next level. There are many times when I felt not enough was being done as far as investigation goes.
Now, however, I feel officials are out there taking the right actions to find this serial killer. I know officials have been doing the best they can, but this is a big step that will hopefully lead investigators in the right direction. I hate that every day, we, as women, have to watch our backs everywhere we go. I feel safe to a certain extent when I’m on campus, but once I leave this comfort zone the campus has created, I become scared and worried. I do not go anywhere alone because there is a crazy man looking for his next victim. I am ready for the serial killer to be caught, and hopefully by testing these rape kits, we will make the city of Baton Rouge a little safer.
Lindsay Quebedeaux
Freshman — Mass Communication
Prescription articles raise questions
I couldn’t help but notice the articles relating to prescriptions and over-the-counter drugs seen in Tuesday and Wednesday’s Reveille. The article in Tuesday’s paper titled “Health Center sees increase in Adderall use” really caught my attention because of the number of students who self-medicate with the drug to aid in studying. On the other hand, I found the article in Wednesday’s paper titled “Morning-after pill may not call for prescription” pretty disturbing because of how subjective it is in the topic itself.
Now, after reading both of these articles I began to question their validity. Why would they make something like the morning-after pill over-the-counter and something like Adderall available only with prescription?
After reading the article about the increase in Adderall it is quiet clear this drug is widely requested by students all over campus. A graph alongside the article showed a large majority of students who have self-medicated. If they are even considering making something such as the morning-after pill over-the-counter, it seems logical to make a pill so widely sought after over-the-counter also.
In the article relating to the morning-after pill, Shelly Haffner, nurse manager at the University Health Services Women’s Health Clinic, says making the morning-after pill over-the-counter would be a good idea because it would give women easier access to medication. “It’s a way for women to help unwanted pregnancies,” says Haffner. But what about the people on this campus that want good grades and easier access (in this case) to studying by making it easier to focus? Something that would make EVERYONE’S life a little easier sounds more convenient to make available to all.
Carrie DeVries
Freshman — Mass Communication
Fidel Castro not ‘Cuba’s Saddam’
In response to a recent Reveille column titled “Cuba’s Saddam,” I’ve decided to take it upon myself to prove the writer’s ignorance and misconception about Fidel Castro and his government.
First of all, regarding the execution of the three ferry hijackers, he failed to mention the hijackers held 50 other passengers hostage with guns and knives which was clearly an act of not only “terrorism” but also “attempted” murder. I am not justifying their executions, but a country has the right to prosecute its own “criminals” according to its standards. About the 75 dissidents, my opinion is each government has rules that are expected to be followed. In Brunei, jail sentence or worse is the penalty for insulting the sultan. Has Brunei ever received any “heat” from the U.S. or U.N. about human rights violations?
The real question is: How can Fidel ever be compared to Saddam? Of course through the process of revolution, which the U.S. supported and aided, he killed many people while liberating Cuba from tyrant Batista, but is Fidel Castro threatening humanity or any country? Of course not! The U.S. will find any reason to pressure Fidel simply because he doesn’t support capitalism which would add to the ever-growing wealth of the U.S. Cuba has survived more than 40 years without the support of almost all countries in the world. Despite its isolation, Fidel’s country has a better health care and welfare system than the U.S., lower illiteracy rate, lower infant mortality, free education (college) and is extremely advanced in many research medical studies.
In the past, how many of Cuba’s positive aspects ever hit the headlines? How many negative headlines about Cuba have there been? Not many. How can Fidel be a tyrant and a violator of human rights like Saddam? Do you consider not living in luxury a violation of human rights? The U.S should address the real injustices like the ones that are going on in Central and South America.
Hector Narez
Junior — Sociology