India Club thanks UA
On Jan. 26, a shock wave reverberated across the Indian subcontinent in the form of the worst earthquake in the country's history. Many towns in the state of Gujarat have been totally wiped out and thousands of people have died and still more have been left homeless.
We, the India Club, felt it was our responsibility to do our part for the unfortunate, for which we had held a fundraiser from Jan. 30 to Feb. 2.
The overwhelming response and support given by the UA community has given us and many others a greater amount of hope for those involved in the immensely destructive earthquake.
We want to thank all those whose generous contributions have helped us succeed in our mission and all those people who kept hopes and prayers in their hearts for the people of India.
We are proud to announce that due to UA's generosity we will be sending the earthquake victims $7,000. We know the contribution of clothes and money that we are sending through charities will make a big difference in the lives that have been so gravely affected.
We thank all of those who helped out in every way.
Amrita Rajagopal
On behalf of the UA India Club
Boy Scouts could benefit from gay scout leaders
I would like to respond to the article written by Tom McDermott titled "Finally, Boy Scouts Get A Break." Specifically, I would like to ask what he feels the "radical homosexual rights agenda" is trying to accomplish?
Does Mr. McDermott feel that allowing homosexuals to be Boy Scout leaders will results in an increase of gay Boy Scouts? After all, we all know how homosexuals like to "recruit" to increase their numbers!
Perhaps there is a fear that a gay Boy Scout leader will be a child molester, in spite of the fact that studies have shown that there is no significant relationship between homosexuality and child molestation.
While I think that sexual orientation shouldn't be an issue at all, if it must be an issue and "out in the open," allowing homosexuals to lead Boy Scouts could be beneficial. While it is highly unlikely that a gay Boy Scout leader could "make" a straight boy gay, he could most definitely help those boys who are already questioning their sexuality.
According to the Youth Risk Behavior Survey, Massachusetts conducted in 1999, 49 percent of gay, lesbian and bisexual youth had contemplated suicide, and 29 percent had attempted suicide. Comparing this to other youth, 20 percent had contemplated suicide and 7 percent had attempted suicide.
I personally find these numbers rather depressing. Regardless of whether or not one thinks that homosexuality is a sin, I am fairly certain that most people would not like to encourage gay youth to kill themselves, or at least ignore the fact that these children are troubled.
Perhaps if more young people who are questioning their sexual orientation had a positive role model in a position of authority, who just happened to be gay, these numbers would go down.
Finally, I would like to add that I think that the Boy Scouts should be free to exclude homosexuals. I don't agree with this policy, but they should have the right to exclude anybody they like. However, with this freedom comes a price, and the government has no business financially supporting such an organization.
Laura Sharp
Tucsonan
U.S. should keep hands off Iraq
What's the deal with politics and Iraq? When Clinton was president, we bombed Iraq twice, both times when Clinton was in trouble for personal matters at home.
Now Bush is in office and we are bombing the Iraqi people again. For what cause do innocents die by our hand? Is it simply to help our president at home? I'm no fan of Saddam Hussein, but it does seem like our nation bombs this poor country every time the president needs to feel good or deflect interest elsewhere.
I was against it when Clinton did it, and I'm against it now. Hands off Iraq!
Seth Frantzman
History and political science senior
