Comment could be misconstrued
I just wanted to make a quick remark about Hannah Anderson’s column, “Sodomy law takes a hit.” In the article, she talks about the state’s homosexual community.
Her exact statement as printed in the column was, “This state has always had a vibrant homosexual community whose members have contributed many things to our state (e.g. John Kennedy Tool).”
I am assuming she is referring to the author of “A Confederacy of Dunces” by John Kennedy O’Toole, a book which I personally found difficult to read with little redeeming value but which was also awarded a Pulitzer Prize as I recall.
My personal feelings on the book are that it was abysmal, but in a country founded on personal freedoms, I can say that without fear of recrimination, except from individuals who like the book.
In the context of the column, referring to the author as “Tool” instead of “O’Toole” could lead the reader to other interpretations.
Charles Gordon
Campus worker
Book Barn says thanks
The Friends of the LSU Libraries Book Barn Workers would like to thank you for the front page article about the Book Barn which appeared in The Reveille of Thursday, June 26.
Hopefully it will help educate student customers as to our new location.
I would like to point out that we take 60,000-70,000 books to our annual Bazaar, l500-2000 boxes of books, and the highest price of books in our textbook Room is $3.00.
Our Bazaar this year will be held at the 4-H Mini-Farm on October 2, 3 and 4.
Marion Spann
Co-Chair, Friends of the LSU Libraries Book Barn
Tigers also have sold out
I agree with Mr. Martin’s column about the corporate sponsorship of sports teams around the nation. It has become rampant in the last few years with no end in site. One often overlooked sports team that has sold out to corporate greed is our own LSU Tigers.
I had the opportunity recently to review the “qualified corporate sponsorship agreement” between Bank One and LSU. It is a lenghy document with a few surprises that not many people know about.
First is the obvious payment from Bank One for the sponsorship. LSU receives $560,000 annually plus royalty payments $1.00 for every new Credit Card account opened with Bank One in addition to .50% of the sales from these credit cards (with a guarantee of at least $250,000 annualy in royalty payments).
In return for this money, LSU has several obligations as well. First, LSU must hand over the name, address and phone number of EVERYONE who is a season ticket holder in the Athletic Department database.
Bank One is permitted to harass fans on the phone and through the mail about applying for the LSU Credit Card.
LSU also must allow Bank One to harass fans on game day to apply for credit cards (you might often see them hollaring at everyone waving free t-shirts in your face).
What is even more disturbing about these “Tiger” credit cards is that the interest rate for students is 14.99% while for everyone else it is 9.99%. It’s all about making students pay more!
I guess I don’t blame the Tigers for allowing this corporate agreement, though. After all, we have to raise the funds for Jolly St. Nick’s $6 million salary somehow. What better way is there to do this than selling Tiger sports fans names, addressess and phone numbers along with making money off of students’ backs who sign up for the credit card at a higher interest rate. Money I tell you is the name of this game.
A wise man once told me the secret to getting rich in life is to make money off the backs of the poor. Apparently LSU has learned this lesson quite well.
From Mark Emmert dipping into the coffers of the LSU Foundation (which is used to fund student scholarships and professorships) to pay for his $590,000 a year salary to Nick Saban’s making money off the backs of loyal tiger fans everywhere, LSU can truly say they are funding the rich off the backs of the poor! Go Tigers.
Donald Hodge
LSU Law Student