American in Europe calls on youth to vote
What does it take to get a college student to actually go outand vote on Election Day? Where I sit in Europe, there is regularnews about huge numbers of folks back home registering to vote. Thenews says many of them are on university campuses. But I wonderwhat percentage of those registered voters will actually make theeffort to vote on Nov. 2.
I admit to being a fossil now, with my own daughter in auniversity. But I long remember my college days during the Vietnamconflict when I, and all of my classmates, wanted to vote but couldnot as we were then too young to do so.
I guess I am somewhat hopeful that what I was unable to do backthen, those of you in college today could do for me.
So whatever it takes, I hope you will make me and all otherAmericans living overseas proud. Please go out, punch, pull, key orwrite — however you cast your vote — on Nov. 2.
Many thanks.
L. J. Zani
Frankfurt, Germany
University shouldn’t sell student housing
As a native of Louisiana and a University student, I amhorrified by LSU’s decision to tear down student housing in favorof lush, ridiculously-expensive condominiums. Once again, LSU’sstudents are being disenfranchised while the favored few benefitfrom their misfortune.
And for what? A temporary stay for rich ticket-holders.
I realize that sports generate much revenue for LSU — but atwhat cost to its students?
What point is there to making millions when the very studentsthe money is supposed to benefit are forced to interrupt theireducation to find replacement housing?
I concur with Gena Olson’s earlier Letter to the Editor — thismiserable treatment is precisely the reason why so many bright,young students leave for out-of-state colleges. I know itinfluenced my decision to leave for Massachusetts.
Stephanie Yang
Sophomore
Business
Astros are important part of fall sports
I am writing in response to sports writer Jeff Sentell’s columnabout October sports being disappointing.
While I agree that there are many problems with athletics rightnow (Ricky Williams, Kobe Bryant, etc.), I strongly disagree thatnothing good is happening this month.
Mr. Sentell is not looking beyond the typical teams andathletes.
He has failed to mention one of the biggest stories in sportsthis year or ever — The Houston Astros. The team is playingperhaps the most exciting National League Championship Series everagainst the St. Louis Cardinals.
What makes it so exciting is that this is the first time Astroshave ever played in the series. They took the wild card after beingbehind eight games in the regular season. Then they won their firstever post-season series on Oct. 11 against the Atlanta Braves, afeat made even greater by the fact that it was in the midst of thetragic death of former Astro Ken Caminiti, a good friend of severalveterans of the Houston team. The only part of this series that Mr.Sentell mentioned was that Rafael Furcal got to skip out on jailbecause an Atlanta judge wanted him to win. Guess what — he’sgoing to jail now.
I have never quite understood why the Astros don’t get thepublicity they deserve, especially considering this past season,when Roger Clemens came out of retirement to play in his hometownof Houston with buddy Andy Pettite (also a native Houstonian). Notto mention the fact that he had 18-4 season — amazing for a youngpitcher, much less a middle-aged veteran.
Why is it that New York and Boston receive all they hype inMajor League Baseball? Pettite and Clemens both took pay cuts tocome from the Yankees to the Astros, yet Mr. Sentell did notmention Clemens’ post-season pitching. I would say that is worthmentioning.
The Yankees get the most media buzz in baseball. But Mr.Sentell, the Red Sox are not the Yankees’ only rivals, and you canalways watch the National League series — you know, the one youfailed to mention — if you are dissatisfied with the AmericanLeague.
 
Krysten Oliphant
Freshman
Mass Communication