Dear Editor, I'd like to make some clarifications in the debate over the banning of military recruiters from American University.ÿ Firstly, there is a distinct difference between active-duty recruiters dispatched by the various branches of the military who promote enlistment in the military and student-organized recruitment for ROTC programs.
I wish to tell my readers the truth. So stating, it is imperative they primarily understand that I suffer from cynical objectivism and my veracity knows no bounds. I was deeply engrossed in a cynical and veracious moment walking around campus recently when I happened to observe the flyers advocating the President Ladner protest.
The Harriet Miers nomination is a joke. The American people should be insulted that President Bush saw her fit for duty the Supreme Court. In the minds of most people who have at least a clue as to how the judicial system works, Miers is a kindergartner on a playing field for grown-ups.
This past Thursday evening the Katzen Arts Center was officially opened during a black-tie, invitation-only party. While it was nice to see the complex lauded by the board, donors and others, it is disappointing that students were not welcome to attend the opening event.
Some Democrats are in the cheeriest of moods right now. They may not be in power, but their Republican rivals who are are not exactly having an easy go at it. The President entered his second term with political capital to burn, but since then his plans for Social Security reform have foundered, Congress embarrassed itself in the Terri Schiavo matter, Hurricane Katrina struck, gas prices and budget deficits will not go down and the war in Iraq slogs on.
Dear Editor, When conservative students such as Will Haun tout something as promising as "academic freedom", as Haun did in his column in The Eagle on October 17, it helps to provide a background on what "academic freedom" exactly is. The Students for Academic Freedom states that its mission is to provide "balance" to academia: Namely, that college and university professors should provide curricula that contain diverse views, presumably to educate all sides of the matter.
In recent months we have all seen what a miserable job AU has done managing finances, or so it would seem to those watching from the outside. Former President Ladner's scandal was only one of the university's missteps when it comes to finances. In the last school year, the athletic department unceremoniously cut the tennis and golf teams, as the school claimed it needed to save the money and find wiser ways to spend.
While AU students were on fall break, a massive earthquake shook Pakistan and the Kashmir region bordering India. This area is far from structurally sound, and crumbling homes and buildings only added to the death toll, which is believed to be as high as 79,000.
American University is a tuition-supported institution where many students work for meager hourly wages to make ends meet. Circumstances very often force them to take out loans to pay their tuition, loans they will be struggling to repay for many years after they graduate.
Dear Editor, I would like to address some of Will Mount's comments in the last edition of The Eagle. He claims that the Student Government is dealing with a "slippery slope" by passing legislation which would ban military recruiters from campus. Will questioned "who would be banned from campus next.
For those who did not know, people at college drink beer. Unfortunately, many abuse the drink and become more of a burden than they are worth. The university is sponsoring awareness activities all week to educate students on what alcohol does and what they can do to avoid bcoming a Sibley Hospital statistic.
Goucher College and SOCAL are making studying abroad a requirement for graduation from their respective institutions. The schools plan on making vouchers available or including the travel in students' tuition. Lately studying abroad has increased at AU, especially to destinations outside Western Europe and Latin America.
Thumbs up Dave Chappelle Sighting... Two sophomore lovebirds were traipsing through Georgetown while shopping and came across the hilarious comedian enjoying a cigarette with the nice weather. No autographs were received, but pleasantries were exchanged. The sun reappears.
Last Thursday while seeking the College Republican endorsement for an at-large seat in the undergraduate senate, I spoke about the importance of communicating both sides of an issue on our campus, something not as commonplace as it should be. We as the minority party on campus know why it's important for us to be organized and equipped with more activities to stay visible and have a fair voice on campus.
Dear Editor, I am going to miss Ben Ladner.ÿ I am going to miss seeing the perfect shine ofÿhis chauffeured black car drive by as I waited interminably long periods in theÿrain and the cold for an AU Shuttle to the metro. His license plate said AU One.ÿ Iÿthought about the AU one I had, as my middle finger tried to rise out of my coatÿpocket as I saw my tuition dollars drive down his driveway with my brokenÿdreams.
After a marathon nine hour meeting. the Board of Trustees removed President Ladner from office Monday. This was the end of months of investigation and came after increased student protest. Also leaving with Ladner were board chairman Leslie Bains and board member Paul Wolff.
The Avalon apartment complex, known for its nicely appointed living spaces, was the scene of a shooting Monday night, rattling the sense of security we all feel in Northwest. AU students are very secure in this section of the city, but it should never be forgotten that we are in a farely large city, and one with a higher crime rate than the suburbs most of us hail from.
Solutions by The State News