Smokers need to be careful with butts
On my usual route to class this morning through the parking lot between Howe-Russell and Nicholson Hall, I noticed that a pile of leaves which had accumulated along the sidewalk was smoking! Right on top of the pile of leaves was a cigarette butt, still burning.
I would like to call the attention of all smokers who don’t snuff out their smoking butts. There are many places throughout campus that you can discard them, but the sidewalk near a pile of dried leaves is not one of those. And especially to the person who’s burning cigarette butt I encountered this morning, such a place is only a few steps away in the Quad.
If you don’t care about defacing our beautiful campus, then that is your problem, but don’t let your irresponsibility hurt others in accidental fires. It is my hope that I don’t have to jump on a pile of burning leaves the next time I walk to class.
Nhu Nguyen
junior
biological sciences
Article misleading toward Sudanese
While I understand the Reveille’s intention of making the LSU community aware of the diversity within Baton Rouge including the presence of refugees and their struggles, the article “Volunteers offer tutoring to refugees” appearing on Wednesday, Oct. 22 was very much misleading.
America is a land of immigrants. My own grandmother of Southern Louisiana doesn’t speak English. And my grandfather has worked back-breakingly hard all his life.
Historically, many immigrant populations show progress over time, gaining education and prosperity from generation to generation.
But comparatively, the Sudanese refugees have excelled. Some have already purchased homes; some of the older children are pursuing higher education. I have never in my life met a group of people with so much dignity and reverence for life.
The Sudanese here in Baton Rouge are overwhelmingly full of love and peace, working hard to achieve what comes easy to natives. The support with in the group is astonishing.
It is true that they face obstacles, living in a completely different culture and immersed in a new language. But they have taken the hardship with grace. Their lives have been more difficult than I can ever imagine. What they have managed to accomplish is beyond my understanding. The children have made leaps and bounds in their English studies, being totally fluent within four years.
Their parents (most of whom are highly educated) support and help their kids and each other. The statement in the article “the children seem to be improving only by a small margin” does not reflect the children as a whole but only within the Faith, Peace6 and Justice committee.
The organization has only helped a small margin in their greater understanding. The children and their families are wise beyond their years.
My full apologies go out to the Sudanese community who deserve our utmost respect and admiration.
Nichole A. Morales
sophomore
religious studies
Letters to the Editor
October 30, 2003