Letters to the Editor

Author: [no author name found]

To the Editor:

There have been many new objections to the war effort in Iraq recently. It is important to keep in mind that we have essentially reached a point of no return in our involvement in the Middle East. To withdraw troops now would be to surrender. We helped put Saddam in power. We now need to officially remove him. We have not found Saddam or discovered the extent of Iraq's holdings of weapons of mass destruction. Even if we withdrew in hopes of negotiating peace, Saddam speaks a language of violence. In order to make our point that his regime is unacceptable, we must speak the language of Iraqis and continue to dominate through force. As long as Saddam is alive, the regime will be alive. We need to show the people of Iraq that their leader has been removed from power and that they are free from any ties to the old regime they may still believe in. It is in our best interest and that of Iraq to persist and move beyond Saddam's practical ownership of Iraq and establish a strong Muslim state.



Colleen Sullivan '07

Undeclared

Concord, Mass.







To the Editor:

If I understand the new rules correctly, beginning this J-term, students will no longer be able to sign up for a gym class on the first day. Instead, gym classes may only be registered through Banner Web. Why? "Because gym classes are a requirement." To this, I say: All other classes, which are requirements, have an add-drop period. Students are able to join, space permitting, any normal class on the first day.

It is hard to anticipate what gym classes one will be able to take when one's schedule is still in flux (and many students' schedules are until the beginning of the semester). The new system will encourage students to register for several gym classes, but attend only the ones that fit into their next semester's schedule, barring others from registering for classes. Students will not be allowed to join the class the first day, even if there is plenty of space.

Finally, a student who is uncertain about his or her level, being beginning, intermediate or advanced, will not be able to switch into a class that is more geared toward his or her level later. If gym classes are a requirement, they should be made more accessible to students, not the other way around. A BannerWeb-only policy for gym classes is unnecessary and inconvenient. We should continue to be able to sign up for gym classes on the first day.



Nate Marcus '05

Political Science major

Dover, Mass.







To the Editor:

Apparently I stand ideologically behind casual sex. This is news to me. However, it was reported in last week's issue ("The Rise of the New Right," Nov. 13) that conservatism was on the rise as "college freshmen nationwide have voiced a distinct drop in support for casual sex, legal abortion, wealthy people paying a large share of taxes and provision for gun laws." As a registered Democrat and an active member of the College Democrats, I'm outraged at the implication that support of casual sex is a part of liberal policy like the protection of abortion rights, gun control and progressive taxation. I have been following the Democratic Party for as long as I can remember and have yet to find a candidate with a platform of casual sex. In an issue of the paper supporting open-minded attitudes, I am surprised such a stereotype would slip into an article. It is no more valid to say someone is politically conservative because of moral disapproval for casual sex than claiming that students are politically liberal because of a "distinct drop in support" for homophobia or racism. Both are outrageous cultural stereotypes. I would hope a Middlebury publication would have the foresight to separate dismissive stereotypes from political facts.



Willa Brown '07

Undeclared

Martinez, Calif.