The Reveille should inform voters
I feel obligated to those uninformed voters to point out the errors in Jessica Keller’s letter regarding voting ignorance yesterday.
When Glynn Wallace wrote he did not know how to vote, it was an honest statement. It was not a pathetic one, however. Relying on The Reveille, the school newspaper that is the voice of the students, to provide information on voting procedures in a big election should not be unexpected. After all, it takes only a few sentences and inches to show the public how, when and where to vote.
With all of the columns regarding “get out the vote,” campaigns in last week’s issues of The Reveille, it is apparent some of the staff overlooked the need to explain the process of how to do it.
Wallace said he did not know how to vote, but his heart was in the right place. If he knew to look on the Internet, knew the phone number of any political science professor or knew where the candidate’s headquarters were, he may well have found a way to vote.
I, like Wallace, am new to the Baton Rouge area and was uninformed on where to vote. If I had the knowledge, I would have voted as well.
For the new and out-of-state students, it is justifiable to think The Reveille should have provided guidance on voting procedures. The fact that Wallace took the time and effort to show his lack of knowledge in this area shows how grown up he is. He simply was trying to prevent this occurrence from happening again. To say Wallace was whining is rather misleading. He voiced his opinion on a struggling, yet important aspect of our democracy.
Jimmy Dunphy
Junior — Mass Communication
LSU can’t afford workers in all labs
In response to Ms. Breaux’s letter: The Union Computer lab is at most times an unmanned lab. Periodically, workers are scheduled to check on the lab. Because of this, there is a sign posted, indicating if help is needed, dial “1” for the Help Desk, as well as other options. The Help Desk employees are aware of this and can direct phone calls to one of the three main labs (Middleton, Coates or CEBA). Unfortunately, that night there was some miscommunication between the help desk employees and the lab workers. The student worker mentioned to be “having a great time with her apparent boyfriend,” worked in Middleton that night and was taking her break. She was not just hanging around. Had you mentioned the problem, she would have ensured everything was okay and clarified the situation.
There are signs on every printer in every public access lab advising against loading paper or printing transparencies. This sign is because users placed transparencies, sticky paper and other types of paper in the printers. When this occurs, the paper either gets stuck because of the heavier weight or melts, and can cause expensive and time-consuming repairs. The signs help — although do not avoid — this problem. When the printer is out of paper, it clearly is indicated on the LCD screen. I’m sure if you had taken paper located around the student worker desk, no one would have minded. It would have saved you time and aggravation.
I agree student workers should stay in the labs. However, the problem is with the lack of funds to hire the large number of workers required to be in all labs at all times. There is a strict budget Computing Services employees must follow in the hiring of student workers. Analysts are trying to budget for more workers and are looking into the problems, but unfortunately, this is a more difficult problem to resolve than just getting workers to show up and stay put.
I advise next time you write a heated letter insulting businesses and individuals, you find out the facts first.
Sarah Butler
Junior — Psychology