Student offers other uses for raise money
I am writing in response to the article in the Monday edition of the Reveille about Chancellor Mark Emmert’s pay raise. I think it is ridiculous to use money, as stated in Donald Hodge’s letter in Tuesday’s edition, whose “original purpose was to support students through scholarships among other things,” just to keep Emmert here at LSU.
Don’t get me wrong, I have nothing against the guy, but it is just hard to understand the justification. I think if the foundation wants to support the student body of this campus, then it should find other ways than just handing Emmert $100,000. For example, I can think of one way the foundation can accomplish this task: to give money to departments, such as the Communication Studies Department, because they cannot even afford to print out quizzes for students. Instead, we are forced to take our quizzes off of a projection screen. Where are the real values of this campus, education or money?
Doris Glass
Junior — Mass Communication
Evolution counters to God’s teachings
Anyone who takes the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ seriously cannot believe in evolution. It is time for Christians to stand firm on the Word of God and yield to the authority of Scripture. If we can’t agree on the first chapter of the Bible how can we expect others to agree with us about the Gospel in the same book? Therefore, with great rejoicing I’m listing a few of the many reasons why evolution is in total conflict with God’s Word.
No 1. — The Bible says death came through Adam. How could God declare this after using a means of creation involving millions of years of death? God tells Adam that if he eats from the forbidden tree, he will die. How could God promise death to Adam if death was already a reality? He can’t because he’s not a God of contradictions.
No. 2. — The Bible says the world is decaying; this suggests that through genetic mutations we obtain different species of animals inferior to their ancestors. When Noah built the Ark he placed two of each “kind,” NOT “species,” on the boat. Because of sin, animals formed different variations of the same kind (i.e. There are many different species of dogs but they’re all dogs). There’s no evidence where DNA information was gained through a natural process, it is always lost.
No. 3. — Then where did information come from? Hint: In the beginning, God.
No. 4. — Noah’s flood caused billions of dead things to be buried under layers of rock. The solar system being the same age could support six literal days. The way we use these facts depends on how we interpret them. I will choose God’s infallible Word every time over man’s often unreliable estimations.
No. 5. — Finally, in Genesis 1, every time the word “day” is mentioned, it is preceded by evening and morning and a number. Everywhere in the Bible when evening, morning or a number is used it means a literal day. It’s as if God overemphasized this point. Don’t take my word for it, read it for yourself!!
Chad Chauvin
Senior — Electrical Engineering
Take more biology classes, please
It saddens me to see that in 2003 at a university in the United States of America, we still have students with so very little understanding of remedial science, especially when the student aspires to teach secondary education.
I believe in freedom of speech and freedom of the press, but those who exercise these rights should get their facts straight (if they are to state them as facts instead of opinions or beliefs). The term “theory’ has a much different meaning in science than it does in common language. A scientific theory is supported by an enormous amount of data, and has withstood many, many attempts to disprove it. The theory of evolution is the central organizing concept in all of biological science. Evolution is supported by anatomy, embryology, geology, geography, microbiology, biochemistry, genetics — the list goes on and on.
I suggest that the author of Friday’s letter, if he wants to make his views on evolution public, and if he wants to avoid corrupting young minds with misstatements of facts, should include several basic science courses in his college studies. LSU offers an excellent course in basic evolution for those who really seek the truth.
Whitney Watts
Senior — Biochemistry
Column ignored Israel’s indiscretions
I am very disappointed at Mr. Gremillion’s approach in his [column] Feb. 10. Not only has he painted a horrid one-sided picture to this tragic situation, but he is simply assuming that all Israel is is a victim. I urge Mr. Gremillion to realize that although Israel is in danger, it is not due solely to a madman, but it’s practices, numerous slaughters of innocent civilian Palestinians and it’s aggressive tactics throughout the Middle East and the theft of Palestinian land.
So I wish him to not simply paint the picture of Israel as simple victims, because simply that is not true. Although many civilians may be hurt and this should be avoided, it is only due to the actions of their government that they support and uphold. For example, remember that Ariel Sharon is an indicted war criminal, yet his numerous slaughters of civilians in Lebanon and Palestine are overlooked. This is a monster too, just as bad as Saddam, so feel for the entire innocent that will die, Iraqi or otherwise.
War is wrong, especially when as ill intentioned as it is in this situation. Learn the facts before making claims and determining that this country is suffering due to horrid others. Let them look at the mirror where the problem begins and learn that this isn’t a simple story.
I am thoroughly disappointed by the misleading reporting and by taking a side and ignoring the facts presented against it in history. Instead of simply looking at the repercussions to other nations in this war alone, we should also think about the innocent Iraqis who will die in this horrid event. The government has shown the world every reason that this is not about peace, but occupation by its lack of willingness to diplomatic tactics, and that the only reason it has chosen to take this approach was due to the repercussions a unilateral attack would have caused.
Think for yourself, people. Unity is only a good thing when the direction it takes is a positive one, and war is nothing close to a positive one.
Bilal Ghosn
LSU Graduate
Reveille misses an important story
I am a daily reader of The Reveille. As one knows, the media can dramatically affect a person’s opinion/belief about any and every topic it chooses to report on. The Reveille has always been avid in letting students know what is truly going on with LSU’s campus and the surrounding areas. For this, I have always been appreciative — that is, until now.
On Friday, Jan. 31, many of LSU’s student leaders, as well as persons of your own staff, attended the CATs Joint Leadership Conference in the Student Union of Southern University. There, the students attended different sessions and were able to dialogue between different organizations found on both campuses. Then, everyone sat together and “dispelled” some of the myths that are thought of both campuses. It was truly an amazing event.
Now, what seems to baffle me is that The Reveille has reported all types of events off-campus involving LSU students — why not this event? The Reveille had reported when student leaders have networked or come up with new ideas — why not these ideas?
So, what I ask of you today is not to merely print up what fraternity is in trouble, what fight happened near campus, or how administration is receiving extra funds. Print the whole story of your campus; print its true workings. To print what is only troubling about your campus is misleading, as there are many trying to right the wrongs that LSU has.
So, when you decide what to put on the front page tomorrow, do not pick the event that angered students the most, pick what they should be most informed about. You have a lot of great things happening at LSU — choose to showcase it all.
Thomandra S. Sam
Junior — Psychology & English
Column reinforced gender stereotypes
I was appalled to read Bradley Aldrich’s editorial which attempted to justify American draft policy. Claiming that the “essential femininity” of women is reason not to draft them is ridiculous.
Decades of research in a broad range of fields have served to demonstrate that such a thing does not exist. Rather, it is merely a contrivance of our society, and one with very little, if any, merit. Such a notion merely furthers the ignorant belief that women, for some reason, require protection.
Furthermore, if one looks past Mr. Aldrich’s inane pseudophilosophical drivel and examines the issue from a pragmatic perspective, it is clear that including females in the draft would serve to create a more effective military force. Not only have females proven themselves to be the equal of their male counterparts in every (yes, every) combat situation, they have oftentimes far surpassed the men.
Why, then, should women not be drafted alongside men? This is not to say that I approve of conscription; I don’t. However, if males are eligible to be drafted, there is no logical reason not to extend that to the other sex, “essential femininity” be damned.
Niels Paulson-Thorp
Physics
Discrimination in draft hurts men
Bradley — You’re joking, right?
Gender discrimination of the Selective Service is unfair to men. I think that your eagerness to respect women who choose a traditional role is self-centered. You explain exactly how women staying safely at home, and off of the battlefield, benefits YOU. If mother is not off fighting, she can wipe your snotty nose and calm you with her presence. That’s so cute, but it doesn’t make the situation fair for anyone.
And Odysseus? Of course he loved his wife. He loved that she was grounded in his home, remaining loyal to him, weaving and unraveling her tapestry over and over again while he was out banging Circe. What woman wouldn’t want that?
I think I’d rather go out and fight the stupid war.
Jennifer Maybery
Junior — English