Tri-Beta not just
for med students
The Oct. 11 Signal reported that the SGA described the Tri-Beta Biology Honor Society as a student organization that "(helps) to facilitate the transition from undergraduate studies to medical school." This statement is false. As stated in its constitution, which is on file with SGA, the mission statement of Tri-Beta is as follows:
"The purpose of Beta Beta Beta Biological Honor Society shall be to function as an honor society and service organization for students of the biological sciences. Its goals are to stimulate interest, scholarly attainment and research in the biological sciences and to promote the dissemination of information and new interpretations among students in the life sciences."
As can be seen, in no way is Tri-Beta associated specifically with pre-medical students, nor is the organization involved in the transition of any of its members to graduate or professional schools of any kind.
Jessica Paciorek
and Matt Meigh
Open-mindedness
is a two-way street
I'm responding to the venom spat at Brian Hackett for his column about abortion and women. I skimmed both his column and the responses with mirth. Daring to challenge the liberal catechism on women's rights is bound to illicit an angry and vocal response. I should say I don't particularly care about the details of his argument: men and women will continue to have premarital and irresponsible sex despite God's word or the laws of this country. And leftists will continue to defend these behaviors as natural rights that especially benefit women.
My primary point is that the revisionist/relativist people are the same ones who have closed the door on their own beliefs. They've managed to quash the Western tradition of free inquiry (cherished by conservatives like myself) and the postmodern "challenge everything" view many of them claim to hold.
These women's advocates pontificate to us what is best for women. We are told that in order to actually care about women and consider them equal, we must adapt a specific set of beliefs. This is like certain politicians saying that in order to be patriotic, you have to adapt their beliefs on current foreign policy. Just to be sure, please tell me whether we can accept either or neither of these above statements.
The failure to understand the Bible is usually due to narrow readings. I make at least a cursory attempt to understand the rot of socialist economics, radical feminism and other world religions. So be a sport and show up a narrow-minded bigot by at least asking a qualified person (a pastor, perhaps) or at least doing a private search on Wikipedia so people don't think you are actually open-minded to other ideas.
I hear liberals talk all the time about being open-minded and not judgmental like those rich white men who rule the world. Open-mindedness has seemed a one-way street. Let's see a really self-critical analysis from a women's activist that asks, not presupposes, whether liberation is an appropriate term, or whether reproductive rights actually exist.
S. Lee Whitesell
Good intentions can't stop stupidity
The following is a reaction to an article that appeared in The Signal on Oct. 18. Matt Ganz, the author of "Irresponsible drunk students soil their reputations, dorms," appears to have good intentions. However, his message that "underage drinking is a problem which needs to be stopped" is seemingly contradicted in a number of ways within the article he published Oct. 18. Mr. Ganz mentions, "If the College is liable for student irresponsibility, then he fully supports the action the College has taken." The College will not be held liable for any act of student irresponsibility unless a court of law rules that the College has acted negligently and has posed a threat to people on campus.
We must remember Mr. Ganz's quote: "it is ultimately our own responsibility" or irresponsibility which leads to campus problems. Thus the college may be scrutinized for not pursuing significant security initiatives; however, the students are ultimately the ones who are responsible for their choices.
"Students who obey the law ... truly have nothing to worry about." Indeed this statement is haunting. Not every person who obeys the law is safe. Humans are not perfect and since humans design the law, our laws are not perfect either. Therefore, we have something to worry about.
The rules of conduct that the government has established exist, theoretically, because a majority of the people believes these rules are still applicable and good. The law expects obedience, regardless of whether one agrees with the law or not.
In North Dakota a teenager is permitted to drive a car at age 14 and three months with a learner's permit. In New Jersey, the law permits a teenager to drive a car at age 16 with a learner's permit. The same teenager is permitted to drive in one state and not the other. Is that because a 14-year-old North Dakotan teenager is more qualified to operate a motor vehicle? Can it be argued that because of his age, an underage drinker in the United States is less qualified to drink at a bar in the United States than he is to drink at a bar in Portugal where there is no minimum drinking age?
"The biggest problem of all that I experienced was the two counts of defecation that occurred on my floor last year." When a College resident defecates in a strange manner, we find something repulsive about it. Granted TVs are not meant to be shat on. Nevertheless, it is reasonable to suggest that the head case that is prepared to squat over a TV while drunk is probably just as likely to do it sober.
Ranting about a "rampant underage drinking problem" isn't going to change much at the College. Ranting about human stupidity won't change much either. Even your demand for the College to open an Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) chapter will likely prove to be less than fruitful. Perhaps reading the first three steps of the 12-step AA program will lend some insight into the contradictory nature of your solution to the alcohol problem. Step 1: Admit you are powerless over alcohol - that your life has become unmanageable. Doesn't this mean alcoholics have no free will? And what is responsibility without free will?
For without free will, history is nothing more than cause and effect with every thought and movement, from the big bang to a choreographed ballet to a steamy pile on a TV, having been determined and necessary in the scheme of things.
Benjamin Libert
