Letters & Submissions
To the Editor:
I love reading newspapers. I find that they give me decent
quality, in-depth information on what is going on in the
world around me. Sadly, many newspapers’ circulations
are dropping as people in our generation are getting their
news from different sources such as “The Daily
Show.”
Newspapers offer readers a diverse array of news. One can
skim and just read the articles they like. The advertising is
not as intrusive as other forms of media (Internet pop-up ads
or TV ads). The great thing about newspapers is that they
offer more depth than television can ever imagine. Stories
tend to have more background information in newspapers than
on TV news. The reason for this is because TV news is under
huge time constraints and therefore stories are compressed
into one to two minutes at the most.
I love newspapers’ editorial pages. They give one the
opportunity to read about not only the papers’ take on
issues but other people’s perspectives through both
guest columnists and letters to the editor. I enjoy how USA
Today has “our view” and then the “opposing
view” for the issues that they decide to editorialize
on. Gaining these perspectives can be valuable in voters
deciding on how they will vote.
I would like to praise my local newspapers at home in Maine:
the Portland Press Herald/Maine Sunday Telegram. In my
opinion, they are some of the better newspapers in the
country. They show a strong commitment to the community by
having four traveling editorial meetings with readers per
year along with the weekly invitation for the public to come
to the newspapers’ offices and meet with the editorial
board members to discuss any opinions or insight they might
have on certain issues. They also have their own reporter for
Washington, D.C., who covers Washington, D.C., news through
the lens of a Mainer.
The aspect I like most about the Portland Press Herald/
Maine Sunday Telegram is that it is family-owned. Formerly
owned by the Guy Gannett family, they were purchased by the
Blethen family in the late 1990s. The Blethen family owns the
Seattle Times, which is one of the last major-market
newspapers to be family-owned. I greatly admire the The
Seattle Times publisher Frank Blethen. He is ardently against
the deregulation of the media industry even though it would
be in his best financial interests to buy many more
newspapers and television stations in order to make more of a
profit. He believes in high-quality journalism with integrity
at its center. I have asked him to come to Elon to speak
someday and hope he does. He would be a great person to speak
here, offering his perspective on the media.
Please read newspapers! The New York Times, USA Today,
Burlington Times-News and Greensboro News & Record are
all available during the week in McEwen for everyone’s
taking. Take advantage of this opportunity to read good,
quality news that is in-depth and informative on issues that
matter to you.
–Charlie Remy, Class of 2006
To The Editor:
Seven world leaders had the chance last weekend to approve
the most powerful weapon yet against global terrorism.
They failed. At a G7 summit in Washington on Oct. 1,
global debt cancellation was put off for another eight
months, and thus 38,000 African lives are at stake every day
until the G8 summit next summer. According to Jubilee USA,
every African nation pays more on debt repayments, $15
billion each year, than on health care. With 8,000
people dying every day of HIV/AIDS in these countries, 30,000
dying each day from preventable diseases, and estimates
indicating that wealthy nations must pay $10-15 billion each
year to curb the HIV/AIDS pandemic in Africa, the math seems
elementary.
Myriad developing democracies including Afghanistan are
endangered by the burden of debt repayments of loans made
primarily to ruthless dictators, long overthrown. U.S.
leaders, including President Bush, have proclaimed time and
again that democratic development is the most effective
measure to counter terrorism and have pledged to defend
democracy everywhere. I beg our country and all
influential world leaders to cancel the unjust and deadly
debts of all impoverished nations. To find out more
information on this issue visit http://www.jubileeusa.org/
–Jenn Pierson, Class of 2006
To the Editor:
Canden Schwantes’ article last week, hit the nail on
the head.
Not only has my GPA risen a full point since I’ve been
a member of Pi Kappa Phi, but I would never had such a great
group of guys that would do anything– and I mean
anything– for you. As far as fees go, Schwantes
is dead on. Each party we throw, we must pay for police
officers. That means $250 out-of-pocket money.
Insurance is nearly $12,000 for the entire year. Elon
has a huge fee they collect and our National Headquarters
collects a fee as well. Absolutely no money goes to a
single brother or or alcohol.
Joining a fraternity or sorority is not paying for friends;
you are paying for successful venue, charitable gatherings,
and safe parties. I had the same stereotypes Schwantes
had before coming to Elon. I hate the media for it. I
wish they could truly understand what kind of brotherhood I
have. Then again, people always despise what they
can't and won't ever be a part of. Greek life
helped make me the gentleman I am and will always
be
.
–Brian Gill, Class of 2005
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