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Show LETTERS . . . Real heroes of Vietnam Era remain unnoticed To the editor: I am writing this letter in response to the article about Jerry Rubin, the yippie gone yuppie. I agree with some of Mr. Rubin's ideas concerning Central America and the use of propaganda instead of the use of military might. However, I do not like what Mr. Rubin stood for during the Vietnam Era and I would like to explain why. When Mr. Rubin was so gallantly burning money and inciting riots in the 1960's, my older brother was quietly drafted into the Marines. He was sent to Vietnam just in time for the Tet offensive. Among many of the battles that he took part in, the worst was the battle of Khesanh. To refresh your memories, at this particular battle, approximately 6,000 U.S. Marines were surrounded by approximately 40,000 North Vietnamese. My brother was awarded a Purple Heart during this battle, unfortunately his wounds were not severe enough to keep him out of the war. Upon my brother's return home, he was met at the airport by Yippies and other radicals who spit on him and called him obscene names. I know this because I was there. I will never in my life forget the tears of humiliation that this proud Marine, decorated with medals, shed for weeks after his arrival home because of the warm welcome that the people like Mr. Rubin gave him. My brother was so ashamed of what he had done, he burned Professor protests censored presentation To the editor: I received with interest an announcement of the forthcoming Sigma Xi lecture on "Biological Warfare," to be presented under the conditions of censorship of classified material. 1 found it particularly interesting that I received this notice on May 1 - a particularly infamous day in the history of freedom of the press, freedom of inquiry, and academic freedom in general. The following provisions contained in the Policy and Procedures Manual of Weber State College seem particularly pertinent. In a section devoted to the meaning of academic freedom and the relationship of tenure thereto, the document states that the faculty member has responsibilities to the profession. More specifically, the faculty member "accepts the obligations to exercise critical self-discipline and judgment in using, extending, and transmitting knowledge. He practices intellectual honesty. Although he may follow subsidiary interests, these interests must never seriously hamper or compromise his freedom of inquiry." It is the responsibility of the faculty member, states the Policy and Procedures Manual, to help "preserve an atmosphere congenial to philosophical speculation, the reasonable interpretation of data, and the uncensored exchange of views . . . Academic freedom and tenure bring with it a special responsibliity ... in maintaining an atmosphere conducive to continued academic freedom in the face of current public criticism of the parctice." "As a citizen engaged in a profesion that depends upon freedom for its health and integrity, the professor has a particular obligation to promote conditions of free inquiry and to further public Candidate offers thanks To the editor: For me, the student elections have come to a successful end; but I believe 1 speak for all of the candidates when I say thank you to the faculty members who helped us reach a record turnout by allowing us to speak in their classes. The very nature of a campus makes campaigning difficult; being able to reach students in the classroom is a valuable way to discuss issues and receive in put. 1 was pleased at the response of the faculty and students in the over 80 classes I was able to reach. I found that students and faculty alike are interested in issues, and that a major problem is a lack of information; concerning the open hour, for example. In many cases, the faculty response was enthusiastic and this made the campaign a success for students because they were allowed close contact to understanding ot academic freedom." There is a continuing debate concerning the appropriate role of higher education in the support of secret and classified research and the dissemination of such research resultspropaganda. I believe that reasonable people can disagree on the merits of the situation. I believe, however, that in the case of higher education, the burden of proof lies with those who would abrogate academic freedom andor support censored presentations of classified research. As a form of subtle and peaceful protest, it is my intention to boycott the Sigma Xi lecture. I encourage others committed to the principles of academic freedom in higher education to join with me in that protest. Richard M. Alston Professor of Economics those seeking to represent them. Moreover, the candidates had direct feedback from their intended constituency.Again, my thanks and appreciation to the faculty and students who weathered the campaign with us. Your continued input and support is encouraged and will be actively sought. Todd Anderson ASWSC president-elect The Signpost is now accepting applications for fall quarter, 1985. Positions available are: Editorial Managing Editor News Editor Assignments Editor Government Affairs Editor Signature Editor Advertising Sales Representatives Entertainment Editor Sports Editor Assistant Sports Editor Photo Editor Copy Editor Production Typesetters Layout and Paste-up Summer quarter positions are also available Applications may be picked up from Rae Dawn Olbert, editor-in-chief, in UB 267. Applications must be turned in by Friday, May 24, 1985 his uniform. He would have thrown away his medals, but I stole them from him so that he couldn't. Approximately six months after my brother's "homecoming," he decided he could not cope with things on the home front so he re-enlisted and returned to Vietnam. He was 22 years old. I never saw my brother alive again. He was shot and killed by a 10-year-old Vietnamese boy in Saigon. My point is this: Without the brave Americans like my brother who died in the service of this great country, Mr. Rubin would not have a government to protest against. My brother gave his life so ' Mr. Rubin would have his rights. I am sick and tired of the attention showered on the "Mr. Rubins" while all of "My brothers" go unnoticed. Mr. Rubin did not start the Yuppie revolution as he claims. My brother did. Someday, everybody else will realize this. My brother's medals hang on my wall and every day I thank God for putting him on this earth and making him my brother. I wonder what memories of the Vietnam Era Mr. Rubin recalls the most clearly? Name withheld by request. Signpost -Tuesday, May 7, 1985 5 Computer students organize by JaNae Barlow Entertainment Editor If you are involved with computers in any way you should be a member of ACM, according to Rama Rasmussen, ACM prewsident. ACM, Association for Computing Machinery, is a national organization designed to bring the many interests of computer users together to a common meeting groud. The meetings are bi-monthly. They plan to have speakers from companies in various aspects of computing.The group hopes to give its members first-hand information on these companies, their job requirements and their personnel and to help the companies to get to know ACM emmbers. Jim Frank, TRW manager of logistics engineering laboratory, Ogden engineering operations, will speak at the May 22nd meeting. Applications for ACM are available in the Computer Science office or at any of the ACM meetings. Meeting dates are included in the sign-on message when you log on the Harris computer and are posted in the halls of the technical education building. Annual student membership fees are $17.00. This includes chapter and national fees. Members of ACM receive Communications of the ACM, a monthly publication which contains refereed technical papers, reports and features of interest to ACM members. New student officers of ACM are president Rama Rasmussen, vice president Kathy Oliver, Secretarytreasurer Dawn Flynn and Liaison officer Brad Jolley. The faculty advisor is Dr. RonaldPeterson. FARR'S SELLS HIGH QUALITY at THE LOWEST PRICES Shop Around & Then Shop FARR'S Randy Dodge & Kelly West August 1985 Guarantee: If your diamond does not appraise in writing (within 30 days of purchase) for AT LEAST 40 more than your purchase price, your money will be refunded. 2434 Washington Blvd. Idaho Falls, Ogden, Salt Lake, Denver, and Aurora OPEM Sat. 9:30-6:00 p.m. Fri 9:30-9:00 |