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Show PAGEA5 Readers Forum... Senator explains Utah legislature's actions toward UVSC Dear Editor: Much has been written about the Utah State Legislature's decision not to fund UVSC's Digital Learning Center. Several recent articles and letters suggested that an antiliberal bias was the primary factor influencing thelegislature's budgeting process. As Senate President, I can provide some insights into our budgeting calculus that address this concern. Additionally, this is an excellent opportunity to address the underlying issues at play in this matter. A recitation of some of the factors that influenced our decisionmaking should clear the air. The comparison between our decisions to fund the U's library, while not funding UVSC's, is illustrative for reasons other than those cited. The legislature has been considering the University of Utah's Marriott Library funding proposal for four years. This was thefirstyear that UVSC's request for funding for its library reached the legislature. Furthermore, the U was able to raise nearly half of its needed funding through private donations. In addition to the U's proposal, the legislature has also been considering similar proposals from other state institutions for several years. These factors, coupled with limited resources, led myself and many of my colleagues, who support Play at UVSC appalling and offensive Dear Editor, I am writing to discuss the insufficient review of UVSC's play "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum." The play is cruel and hateful, and I am appalled that UVSC could even consider producing something so heartless. What's worse, it lurks about disguised as a comedy, and the play cleverly attempts to throw us off with the opening musical number, as they sing about not taking it seriously because it's a comedy tonight! And, at the end they try to trick us again with "morals tomorrow comedy tonight!" Yeah right. I'm not stupid, and I didn't buy it. As a man, I was shocked and offended, and did not find anything funny about the portrayal of men as lust-crazed dullards. Fathers and young men are just a few of the members of society cruelly mocked by the bigots who wrote the play. Many others are denigrated in this dangerous social commentary; slaves are bumbling idiots (except for Psuedelous the lead), eunuchs are cowering fools, soldiers are bloodthirsty tyrannical idiots, pimps are apparently all gay, courtesans (classy prostitutes) are all beautiful dancers with no education, and corporate-brown-nosers, portrayed by Hysterium who grovels before the unjust economic system, are all addicted to pornography. Thank You, Michael Monson UVSC, to prioritize the Marriott Library this year. As to the issue of anti-liberal bias. It is true that several UVSC activities, programs, and events this year have raised some controversy. While there are some in the legislature that perceive this behavior as a direct attack on our state's and this community's predominantly conservative values, this is not the majority view. I am certain that some of my colleagues were negatively influenced by the controversies. I am also equally certain that, for the most part, my colleagues were motivated by the numbers. However, the priority of the U's and other's projects, coupled with the negative reactions of some to the various controversies, made consensus to fund UVSC's library this year unachievable. It is my hope that as the community becomes aware of these facts, we can turn down the volume of the rhetoric surrounding higher education funding in this state. This will enable us to focus on the substantive issues at the heart of the matter and work toward a mutually beneficial outcome for UVSC and the community. Sincerely, John L. Valentine President Utah State Senate Happy Valleygoers not hatemongers, Jesus not kind to everyone Dear Editor, I've lived in Happy Valley for a long time, I am what Neel deridingly labels a Happy Valleygoer. Neither I, nor any other Happy Valleygoers I know, have ever tried to kick Homosexuals out of Happy Valley, or treated any women as less than human. It is appalling for Neel to generalize and stereotype the residents of Happy Valley. I am deeply offended that Neel has decided that my friends and I are all prejudiced hatemongers. After Neel's deplorable attack, he tries to make people feel guilty by spewing misleading statements about Jesus. Jesus was not kind to everyone, as Neel states. Perhaps Neel was too busy blindly judging and condemning people he has never met (Jesus had a few things to say about that) to actually read the Bible. For example, Jesus was not kind to Pharisees, hypocrites and liars. He was extremely unkind to money changers. Jesus was kind to most but not all. Neither I, nor anyone I know, has ever done the hateful things that Neel so blithely accuses us of, and Jesus was not kind to everyone. Ned's two main arguments are simply meanspirited and inaccurate. Is Neel . being kind to everyone: you decide. Ryan Mahoney Provo One student's suggestions for how to make ASUVSC elections better Dear Editor, I was frustrated with our recent elections and have a few ideas on how to improve the UVSC election format. First, dealing with the concept of a team running for office, I fail to see how this benefits the school or its student body. Perhaps a better method would be to have candidates run as individuals on their own platforms. This method would help to ensure that those running for office would have to win on their own merits and qualifications and not that of team members'. Individual candidates should create posters with their picture and their platform. This would, for example, the school. Each day, there would allow students to see all the canbe an hour or two that candididates running for President of • dates could spend time answering Student Life. The students could students questions in the student then compare candidates to each center for those who are interother more easily. ested. There should be at least two debates throughout the week where Secondly, I propose that all campaign materials used for campaigns candidates could talk in more detail about their goals. be standardized and printed at the UVSC copy center. All candidates And last of all, a committee should be allowed a predetermined should be organized by student number of posters. These posters government to help with advertiswould be placed around the school ing the election week: remindin designated areas. ing students to vote, advertising Thirdly, I believe instead of three debates, and holding an open forum days of chaos, there should be one where students could talk to the week where candidates' posters are candidates and learn more if they placed in a few designated areas in want to. This would allow students LETTERS TO THE EDITOR * E-Mail letters to uvscopinions@hotmail.com * The NetXNews room is located on campus in SC220. * All letters become property of NetXNews and may be edited for content, specifically clarity, length or other concerns at the discretion of the Opinions Editor. * Letters between 50-250 words are encouraged and those letters marked by their succinctness are more likely to be published. * Letters must be accompanied by full name, address, and phone number for verification purposes (contact information will not be published). Occupation, title or major is optional. Letters with an asterisk at the head have been abridged due to length and space considerations. If you enjoyed reading the abridged version visit www. netxnews.net for our reader's original uncut letter. to walk the halls without being bothered by flyers and volunteers. The elections provide us with an opportunity to gain knowledge of how to evaluate candidates and select the candidate that best represents our goals and values. This is an institution of learning. Shouldn't our election be a time of learning? These are just a few suggestions. If you have any questions or ideas, email me at daboyzclub@hotmail. com Kougar Korner Feminism, democracy BYU style If you're like me, chances are you have a close friend or roommate that goes to the Y. And you've been treated like a second-rate citizen in the valley because you don't go to the "Lord's University." But after living with these students you realize that they aren't any smarter, stronger, or faster than us, (and definitely not better looking). So in order to level the playing field I have devoted this Korner to enlightening UV students to the ridiculous happenings at the Great and Spacious School next door. So for all of you who couldn't get in, (apparently that's the only reason we attend UVSC) this is what you are missing out on. Actual Letter to the Editor of the Daily Universe March 8,2005. BYU student Tiffany Vranes writes: "Now, I'm not anti-feminist. I wasn yt raised to be one by any means. However, I don V want to be equal to a man. For example, you have a 10-year-old in the back seat along with a 300 lbs. football player. If you go to Burger King and buy six Whoppers, does it make sense to give each 3 whoppers? Of course not. It's all about equity, not always about equality. Please, quit thinking that women are so underprivileged. I'll be much happier devoting my time to raising my children than caring that if I were in the workforce, my husband might be making more money than me." It's because of logic like this that the feminist movement has struggled so much. I recommend taking Dennis Potter's Logic class Phil. 3000 offered right here at UVSC. BYU Democracy at its Finest: Last week's BYU elections were decided by the BYUSA Elections Committee and not by the students themselves. Apparently, one of the teams was disqualified because a candidate failed to observe curfew rules, and coincidently was turned Logan Densley into the Honor Code Office the week of elections. The team who was disqualified had won the primaries by more than 9 percent, and were predicted to win the actual elections. But even after an appeal, the administration refused to release the election results. The president-elect was quoted in The LDS Church has said time and last Wednesday's Deseret Morning time again that it will not in any News as to why he won't release way support any political candithe results. "If they release them date. I would like to say that, in this and we were ahead, it would make reader's opinion, UVSC's student Smith and Griggs look really dumb body elections are just as much for making a big deal of it," Larson about politics as any city, state or national political race. If so, should said. "If they show Smith and Griggs were ahead, it would make the LDS Institute take sides in us look really dumb for being in ofthe local race here on campus? I checked and found that there is no fice. It's a lose-lose situation." Well Mr. BYUSA President rule right now that forbids canElect, maybe that should be your ; didates from campaigning in the first hint at how ridiculous this parking lot of the Institute building. election scandal is, and maybe it And I imagine that there will not should tell you how undemocratic be one in the future. What candiyour victory was. We may buy off date running for the student body votes with snow cones and cotpresidency would want to pass ton candy, but at least our students up a prime area to campaign and made the choice. And furthermore, not once again play "the Mormon card?" This will only happen when if staying out past his bedtime was "his only crime, then over half of we get a candidate who realizes that this election here at a state run BYU should be put on academic probation. school is not about what religion you practice. If you have any true stories or news related events associated withBrian Maier those... oh7so-nuts Zoobies drop me Orem a line at ammonvanorden@hotmail. ASUVSC candidates campaigning at LD.S. Institute inappropriate Dear Editor, I was angered as I arrived at school last Wednesday, to see one of the parties running for the Student Body Presidency out in the LDS Institute parking lot handing out hot chocolate and campaigning for their team. Here, once again, we have an example of people in this city playing what I call "the Mormon card." I really doubt that any of those running for the Student Body Presidency would give the idea of campaigning at any other religious institution a second thought. These campaign teams know that by putting themselves right in the middle of the LDS Institute parking lot that they can give the appearance of having the support of the LDS Institute and, might I go as far as saying, to give the impression that somehow their team was divinely appointed to be the next UVSC Student Body Presidency. Once again we see religion putting its nose where it shouldn't be. Ammon Van Orden |