Letters To The Editor

WASHINGTON STATE UNIVERSITY

Rowdies disgraced WSU nationwide

I’m writing this to the most despicable people I have ever heard of. The ctions taken at the Washington State University campus on May 2 have me totally disgusted, embarrassed for our university and apologetic to our law enforcement.

I was not fortunate enough to go to college, but I’ve always backed the Cougars, especially in the sports environment. I also have a WSU license plate on my car - which I am not proud to display today. I haven’t decided yet if I’m going to continue to display that plate after it expires.

I know this was not done by the majority of students, but no matter how few or how many, this is a disgrace to WSU. These ridiculous people have no idea as to the result of their actions, especially in the recruiting of athletes to the WSU sports programs. Parents read papers and watch television. My relatives in Maine called me after it made the national news; it was embarrassing.

I hope that all those involved are prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. This should send the message that we do not stand for these type of actions at Washington State University.

As Bob Robertson says in his broadcasts, “Always be a good sport, be a good sport all ways.” This is a lesson that needs to be learned at WSU. Robert L. Hoagland Spokane

No cause, no reason and no excuse

I commend The Spokesman-Review on a truly professional approach to the riot in Pullman. The Spokesman was one of the few media sources that didn’t succumb to the temptation of sensationalizing their story. Agencies like Q6 News, Northwest Cable News and even CNN reported that the riot began as a protest against the current dry policy on the WSU Greek Row, when really it was nothing more than an end-of-the year party that escalated out of hand.

To say that the students responsible had a purpose behind starting the riot is to give them an excuse they should not have been given. There is no excuse for this behavior and they don’t deserve the amount of press they are receiving. Already, the students have been portrayed as protesting the university’s dry policies. The television media took advantage of a few clips of students acting for the camera, yelling about the “oppression of the system.”

It’s too bad that not everyone responsible can be punished properly.

I also commend the police for their restraint in settling the matter. Some students have argued against the use of the tear gas by the law enforcement at the scene. From the perspective of the police, though, they were highly outnumbered and they were suffering the higher number of injuries by far. Obviously, their presence did not deter the antagonists. Tear gas was the only thing they thought would be effective against them.

This truly unfortunate incident is going to hurt everyone connected to WSU. Forest M. Payne Washington State University, Pullman

Time for expulsions, zero tolerance

Haven’t heard much talk about civil rights stemming from the Washington State University riot, but I suppose we will. At some point, some soft-headed twit will blame the violent actions of a bunch of spoiled babies on racism, poverty, alcohol restrictions or some other violation of someone’s “rights.”

Actually, this is a matter of rights. We have the right to go out in public without being confronted by drunks or druggies. We have the right to sleep at night. We have the right to not have our property destroyed and our lives put in danger. We also have the right to insist that our public institutions be civilized places.

Those involved in this mess should be suspended from school immediately and permanently. I don’t care if they’re three hours from graduation, they shouldn’t get a diploma from WSU. This should be followed by the total prohibition of alcohol from school property, and a zero tolerance (mandatory expulsion) policy toward any future student felonies or liquor law violations. This policy should be advertised nationwide.

I assume WSU will take such actions and this won’t happen again. If it doesn’t do so, its state funding should be reduced. If this doesn’t work, it’s obvious that we don’t want these people in our community. In that case, I’m sure Sen. Jim West will see the problem, have the Legislature ban WSU graduate programs from Spokane, and give this job to Eastern Washington University! Jim Shamp Cheney

Don’t stereotype 94 percent majority

We are writing in response to the May 7 column by an ignorant Doug Clark, who took it upon himself to stereotype the entire WSU student body as drunkards, rabble rousers and disgraces.

As Clark has forgotten, along with the rest of the media world, it is wrong to stereotype. It is wrong to publicly prosecute a student body of approximately 17,000 students for the wrongdoings of only 1,000. This is only about 6 percent of our total student population. Have you failed to realize that the remaining 94 percent of students had no part in this atrocity? Have you failed to realize that the remaining 94 percent are embarrassed for what our fellow students have done?

Quite frankly, those students involved in the riot should not even be considered Cougars. They have not acted like Cougars. They have let Cougars down!

In the future, please remember that a few rotten apples don’t spoil the whole barrel. We are proud to be Cougars and will continue to uphold our esteemed Washington State University Cougar tradition. Please do not take it upon yourself to maim our university. We remind Clark it is always wisest to think before you speak. You never know who will be listening. Michelle Whitney and Dusti Dufault WSU students, Pullman

Decisive display of immaturity

After reading the many articles and the various interviews with students concerning the May 2 WSU riot, it is obvious many of these students maintain the belief that drinking is their “right” and that somehow the ban on alcohol has stripped them of this so-called right.

Unfortunately, despite all their education, these students have failed to grasp the concept that drinking is not a right but a privilege, and along with this privilege comes responsibility. Their actions speak for themselves in that by expressing their upset in such an unnecessary and destructive fashion, they have proven they are not yet ready to handle the responsibilities that come with drinking.

Therefore, the ban on alcohol should remain if for no other reason than to protect these students from themselves. Mary Sharon Bowman Spokane

SCHOOLS AND EDUCATION

Job training education is not enough

In the April 17 Spokesman-Review there appeared an item revealing that members of Congress do not trust the public to be informed on issues. If the public is uninformed, one possible cause was evident in a May 3 feature, “High school becomes ‘real world’ prep”.

Education that is dictated by marketplace applications may better prepare students as workers and consumers but has little to do with what Jefferson said was indispensable to democracy - knowledge “to enable every man to judge for himself what will secure or endanger his freedom.” This knowledge is premised on literacy and critical thought. Training students for a job is different from teaching them to be intelligent citizens who can discern self-interest beyond their own immediate, private gratification.

Computers in schools may teach some technical skills but as Steve Jobs of Apple Computer stated in 1996, in Wired magazine, “what’s wrong with education cannot be fixed by technology.” Sociologists speak of “the information age” and “post literate” society. Are these contradictory views or a causal connection in a time when more is less?

I commend my colleagues for preparing their clientele for the “real world,” but who will teach students to imagine and create a better reality? As the public condemns politicians, remember that they are only as good as the best of us and if functional mediocrity is our standard, then why should we in the land of the blind expect anything better than the one-eyed king? John B. Hagney 1997 U.S. presidential scholar-distinguished teacher, Spokane

Rethink ‘real world’ approach

As a parent of two children who have received an outstanding education at Lewis and Clark High School, I was dismayed to read “High schools become ‘real world’ prep” (May 3), especially the article that highlighted the senior English program at Ferris High School.

The primary objective of the district’s senior “English” program seems to focus on training students. The district is mistaken if it believes it must move from educating to training. If a student can insightfully read the works of Homer, he can readily learn to read technical manuals. If a student can write a thoughtful essay about the ethical issues in the “Grapes of Wrath” or “Huck Finn,” she can be trained to write memos.

I understand the pressures that the Washington public schools are facing with the state essential learnings, but District 81’s interpretation is a travesty. The irony is that the 21st century will require a more highly educated work force; therefore, we should be doing a better job of educating all students. These training skills are fine in an elective class, but please don’t call Integrated Communications an English class.

The great works of literature are alive and relevant. In the spirit of truly educating all the children, I strongly urge District 81 to reconsider this trend toward training. It is very easy to train but difficult to educate. To be successful, students must be given the opportunity to read, write, speak and think in meaningful and challenging ways. Great literature provides this opportunity. Mark A. Bowman English and humanities teacher, Mead High School

OTHER TOPICS

‘Skin deep’ and all about hollowness

I read with anger your article on cosmetic surgery (“Skin deep,” May 3). Shame on The Spokesman-Review for presenting such a callous view of this very serious subject.

Today’s young women are being raised to believe the “normal” female form is a combination of large breasts on a flat-hipped, reed-thin body. Although in reality this atypical body type seldom occurs naturally, it has become the common goal of most women in America, thanks to the media. How sad that the beauty industry can make us feel so bad about ourselves that cosmetic surgery is now as ordinary as “washing your car.”

I was appalled at the woman in the article who underwent breast augmentation at her lover’s request. Why would any man who truly cares about a woman ask her to go through what is in essence a mutilating procedure? If size is so important, perhaps he’s the one who needs augmentation.

Why should we believe the cosmetic industry when they tell us the lines of life on our faces are ugly and undesirable? These very lines symbolize the wisdom and power which comes with age something to be admired and appreciated, rather than discounted. Please don’t promote the idea that people should strive to match the beauty industry’s ridiculous stereotype with surgically altered bodies. I can’t respect your implication that it’s acceptable to cause trauma to a healthy body for the sake of money or vanity. Carole Richardson Rathdrum, Idaho

Food stamps for wine - no way

To Judith Maibie (Your Turn column, May 6).

You are using food stamps and now you want the government to buy you wine. With what you save with food stamps, buy your own wine.

Do you have any idea what impact this would have on people who depend on this food stamp program? Suppose, for example, dad or mom decides baby can do without food or formula so they buy wine or perhaps a case of beer with the food stamps. And if you think everyone on food stamps is a moderate drinker, think again.

I hope Maibie’s letter is not for real and is intended just to get people riled up. Louise T. Mitchell Coeur d’Alene

Don’t shoot pecking birds

I hope people who have problems with birds pecking at bugs on their houses find a solution other than shooting them.

The nuthatches, flickers and red-winged woodpeckers have actually saved some of our trees from bug infestations.

We have lots of bird houses, bird feeders and fresh water for many different kinds of birds. The violet-green swallows raise their young in one close to our house, so we can enjoy the whole process. We have found birds to be not only smart and beautiful but very necessary in God’s plan for this Earth. Donna J. Warner Colbert