First Amendment protects sex column
I’m writing in response to an article that ran in Friday’s Reveille about a student senator complaining about the Reveille sex column.
I was wondering if America was still a free country? Did I miss something?
Student senator Brian Drake doesn’t like Jessica Pivik’s “On Top” column and wants it removed. Have we forgotten about a little thing called the First Amendment? Freedom of the press is one of the important founding principles of this country.
And though others argue Ms. Pivik’s column is improper, I argue it is not — it is simply stating clinical facts.
While we’re on the subject of freedoms, may I remind Mr. Drake and all others who do not like Ms. Pivik’s column that you have the freedom not to read it, instead of interfering with the freedom of others to read it. This is a college newspaper, and while it is an excellent paper with exceptional writers, it cannot be compared to publications such as the New York Times or the Washington Post.
It amazes me how when we’re in the midst of a war that is fighting for freedom, so many Americans are passive about all the freedoms we enjoy in this country.
 
R. LeJeune
Sophomore
Civil Engineering
Fees didn’t fail in original election
I am writing in response to the Letter to the Editor concerning the recent fall 2005 Student Government elections. As a student senator and a co-author to both of the fee referenda that were on the recent ballot, I think the letter’s author, Bryan Beyer, has been severely misinformed.
The move to online voting has truly been a milestone in Student Government’s accountability to the student body. Voter turnout was outstandingly higher this fall election compared to ones in the past.
Mr. Beyer assumes that both fees failed in the original fall election — but that’s nothing more than just an assumption. If Mr. Beyer, or anyone else for that matter, wishes to come up to the SG office and view the original election results, they can see that both fees passed by a large margin.
As far as the concert fee is concerned Student Government in partnership with the University has already begun to make efforts to reconcile with booking agency William & Morris, that represented Chingy. With the increased concert budget LSU will move a step further in becoming a school whose standards are a step above the rest.
In regards to the Coca Cola grant money, it’s used to support various programs and initiatives both within SG and the throughout the whole campus. Just because SG has control of the funds this year that does not mean they will be allotted the money in the years to come.
The student senate believes students have a legitimate desire for better concerts and performers as well as a real appreciation and use for having the New York Times and Wall Street Journal on campus daily, free to students, (not to mention the fact that various academic departments require their students to read one of the two papers regularly for class.)
If anyone ever has any questions and concerns about what’s going on in Student Government, I invite them to come to student senate meetings at 6:30 p.m. each Wednesday night and voice your opinion.
 
Chris Odinet
UCFY Student Senator
Sophomore
Political Science
Tax benefits thrifty, not wealthy
The Reveille ran an opinion from the Minnesota Daily Nov. 12 about the national consumption tax that was flat out wrong.
The column puts forth an ignorant view on the national sales tax — its author must not have read the Congressional legislation pertaining to it.
The national consumption tax we have today is known as FairTax. Despite the assertions of the Minnesota Daily, the poor actually benefit from this sales tax. Let me explain its intricacies.
First of all, as the column correctly stated, FairTax requires a national sales tax that would be implemented with around a 25 percent national sales tax. Before you balk at that percentage, note that every household receives a rebate that is equal to the FairTax paid on essential goods and services. In addition, wage earners are no longer subject to the most regressive and burdensome tax of all, the payroll tax. Spending at twice the poverty level will pay a tax of only 11.5 percent — a rate much lower than the income and payroll tax burden they bear today. Whoops. Minnesota Daily, your ignorance is showing.
Some of us have had the fortune of never filing income taxes. I am one of them. But from what my father tells me, and what your parents can tell you, it’s a pain. They can spend weeks trying to figure it out. I tell you, a huge reduction of the IRS (which that FairTax entails) would do wonders for public sanity and save the government budget (and thus the American people) a good chunk of change.
While FairTax does have its problems, it deserves closer inspection. If I’ve piqued your curiosity about FairTax, I encourage you to google it and read up some more about it.
 
Jonathan Lo
Freshman
Premedical