The Rice Thresher

Location: http://the.ricethresher.org/opinion/2005/04/29/letters_to_the_editor

April 29, 2005 > Opinion > Letters to the Editor

Letters to the Editor

Article placement shows disregard

To the editor:

Shame on you, Thresher, for placing the departure of our women’s basketball coach as the top story in last week’s issue while leaving the article about the passing of one of our professors hidden at the bottom of the page (‘Basketball coach McKinney resigns to take Clemson job,’ and ‘Students remember English professor’s passion, concern,’ April 22). You also did not even mention her passing in your unsigned editorials. 

Rice University is a community, and the death of a member of our community should be recognized before any other story — especially one about our sports program.

Professor Elizabeth Dietz’s endurance and willingness to teach even while she was sick are inspiring and heartwarming. We are an institution that stresses academics and the close relationships between students and professors. As stated in the article, Dietz’s students were touched by her passion and commitment. 

It is not that the departure of McKinney is not important, but there are some things in life that are more important. This is a matter of respect. Let’s get our priorities straight.

Apoorva Shah Sid freshman

Pro-life, pro-choice must come together

To the editor:

I’d like to thank you for the article about Rice for Life (‘Campus hurt by Rice for Life’s playground politics,’ April 22).

I agree with the points made in the article. It is our duty as members of the human race to overcome our differing opinions and work together, united, to solve the problems we as a race create. But I’d like to take these sentiments a step further.

Recently I went to a Rice for Life meeting to discuss the very issues in last week’s article. I told them I was not there to argue, but rather proposed that we all — pro-life and pro-choice alike — work together to promote contraception and stop the problem where it begins: with unwanted pregnancy.

I discovered that most Rice for Lifers are not as unreasonable as they make themselves out to be. Although some were against all contraception, most of the members agreed with me. But unfortunately, Rice for Life does not ‘officially’ take a stand on anything except the issue of abortion and euthanasia.

Ultimately they thanked me for attending their meeting and said they wished pro-choice people would come more often. I told them why pro-choice people do not usually attend: The only element most people see of Rice for Life is the propaganda, which gives the impression of a closed-minded, super-religious group of radicals — an inaccurate impression, in fact.

My point is this: True, it is not a good thing to consistently attack the other viewpoint, but it is also not a good thing to boil with anger and make judgments in reaction to every offensive bit of ballyhoo. As responsible citizens, in order to help, we need to live our beliefs, take initiative, be proactive and go talk to the other side. Those are the first steps toward solving our problems.

Katina Mitchell Martel freshman

Abortion’s absolute evil escapes writer

To the editor:

Last week Evan Mintz wrote a very idealistic but misguided article in which he charged pro-lifers of being overly emotional and accusatory. He suggested we all come together to reduce abortions as opposed to fighting over whether we should allow abortions at all. Mintz evidently does not understand the pro-life position that abortion is murder and an intolerable crime against humanity. There can be no discussion, and there can be no compromise. If we seem emotional and accusatory, it is because emotion and accusation are the proper responses to the murder of an innocent, helpless child. A mother has no choice in this matter because it is no longer her body.

Furthermore, a woman’s pregnancy usually means she has already exercised her right to choose; she chose to have sex and to face the associated risks. The exception to this is rape. I deeply sympathize with women who have been forced to have sex, but is it right that a woman should make an innocent child pay for a crime committed by someone else?

Though I do not advocate taking the law into one’s own hands by killing Planned Parenthood doctors as Mintz mentioned, I strongly believe that doctors who perform abortions should be brought to court on charges of murder and face the death penalty. People who support abortions are murderers and the law should punish such people according to their crimes. I will not stand by and condone the murder of innocents. I will stand and fight in any way I legally can. This is a matter of life and death.

Philip Cornell Lovett sophomore

Social science issues deserve more respect

To the editor:

Regarding last week’s letter (‘Rice wastes funds on obesity study,’ April 22): Rice may be known for its research in nanotechnology, but that does not mean the institution should not conduct research in other important fields. More important is that Rice, like other universities, receives funding that is specifically designated for an area of research, whether it be psychology, nanotechnology or computer science — to name a few. If Rice did not receive a grant for a study on the psychological effects of obesity then some other leading university would have gotten that money.

It is a shame that some Rice affiliates consider grants spent on psychological studies ‘wasted money.’ It is difficult enough that many social science majors and departments feel their areas of study are considered less important than those of their science and engineering counterparts. However, Rice has worked hard to establish equality between all areas of study offered. Opinions like the one expressed in last week’s Thresher make it even more challenging for us to overcome this problem, and make Rice less attractive to prospective students.

According to the National Center for Health Statistics, over 60 percent of Americans adults are overweight, and over 30 percent are obese. The majority of these individuals are in socially disadvantaged groups and do not always have the means to employ a doctor, a nutritionist and a gym to help them lose weight. Sure, nanotechnology may someday change our way of life, but it is clear that studies like the one described in the April 5 New York Times affect a large portion of our population now.

Meena Chahar Baker junior

Obesity study shows societal problem

To the editor:

In response to Tim Davis’s letter, I have one point of contention and one criticism. First, Davis contends that the study ‘confirms easily observed reality.’ Yet the Rice study is the first to document how discriminatory attitudes toward obese individuals have a negative impact on the bottom lines of stores. Assuming stores are interested in profits, managers have an incentive to discourage discrimination, given that discrimination decreases the money obese individuals spend in stores and decreases the likelihood they will return. Clearly, discriminatory behavior is not apparent to these businesses or else they would have already addressed it.

Davis also states that obesity-related discrimination cases are ‘nonsensical.’ From my perspective, we all have an interest in eliminating discrimination; otherwise, we would be judged on our appearances rather than on the merits of our actions. To suggest that society should ignore any form of discrimination is disturbing.

Winston Liaw Wiess ‘01

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