>>February
      6, 2001


      


      
Put money to better use

      

      
Dear editor:

      


      What could an educational
      institution do with $30,000? It could provide 30 scholarships
      at $1,000 each for students from low-income families, an investment
      in their future. 

      


      Or it could purchase 500 acquisitions for the library or research
      areas, at a cost of $60 per item, for the long-term benefit of
      the students and faculty. 

      


      Thirty thousand dollars could also purchase a series of films
      or speakers that could address issues such as cultural diversity
      throughout this semester.

      


      Or it could bring in a "big name" entertainment figure
      for one evening, at a cost of $333 per minute, and hope to recover
      the expenditure by charging an admission fee.

      


      Perhaps it is such financial decisions that underlie the necessity
      for continued increases in student fees. I don't know. What do
      you think?

      


      Phyllis Van Horn

      Community Member and Taxpayer

      
Respect law, not ridicule

      

      
Dear editor:

      


      This letter is in response
      to the article entitled "I fought the Moscow law and the
      law won" (Argonaut, Feb. 2).

      


      I must respectfully disagree with the author of this article
      (Ryan Mackowiak) regarding his opinions on police intimidation
      tactics. The actions of the Moscow police (following too closely,
      being condescending, etc.) pale in comparison to the actions
      of other police departments across the country (such as racial
      profiling in New Jersey and New York).

      


      Does it occur to Mr. Mackowiak that a police officer is just
      as scared as the person he's pulling over?  The officer has no
      idea if the person is armed/drunk/dangerous/mentally unstable,
      etc.  Given the small salaries, high stress, and unbelievable
      amount of danger involved, I'm surprised there are dozens of
      brave men and women who would even consider law enforcement as
      a career.  Mr. Mackowiak should think of these people and their
      families before telling them to "kiss mine."

      


      I'm sorry if Mr. Mackowiak thinks that he is being treated unfairly,
      but I do not think he should judge the actions of police based
      on his own limited experience here in Moscow. This is the most
      offensive article I have ever seen in your paper, and Mr. Mackowiak
      owes the police department an apology for his inflammatory comments.

      


      Robert A. Anderson

      Computer Science major
 

      
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