Still proud to be Catholic

This is in response to Laura Winsky's Feb. 18 column "Oughta Be Ashamed." After the incidents that happened in recent times in the Diocese of Tucson, I am proud to be a Catholic and a priest now. I disapprove wholeheartedly of the priests' actions and abuses. I consider myself as part of a family where some members have gone astray. Even in a nuclear family, there are times when a member commits a crime or does something wrong. We do not desert the family or be ashamed to belong to that family because of the individuals(s).

Catholics do not have to be miserable in these days of Lent because of a Hollywood movie. And in spite of what Hollywood projects, people still do works of justice during this season. In fact, we are taking 11 students to the San Carlos Reservation during the spring break to work with the people at the reservations. And may I add that our chapel at the Newman Center was packed at every Mass on Ash Wednesday and the following Sunday.
Fr. Albert Felice-Pace, O.P. - director, UA Catholic Newman Center

SALT Center not an 'economic drain'

Mr. De La Rosa, in his Monday letter titled "Demand the demise of inflated bureaucracy," makes several statements pertaining to the operation of this university that demand response. I will, however, confine my comments to educating your readers regarding the inaccuracy of his comments regarding the Strategic Alternative Learning Techniques (SALT) Center and the students it serves.

Apparently, Mr. De La Rosa is unaware of the proud history of the SALT Center on this campus dating back to the early 1980s. He seems equally unaware that this program is regarded as one of the most successful programs of its kind with a model of service that has been emulated on other campuses in much smaller form. Mr. De La Rosa is apparently unaware that students served by the SALT Center successfully graduate from UA at a rate that is envied, and rarely equaled, in other areas of our campus. Clearly, Mr. De La Rosa knows little of the nature of services or accommodations and how they are determined to be appropriate for students with disabilities. In fact, UA's criteria for qualifying for accommodation of one's disability are among the most stringent in the nation. To imply that they are granted when not necessary indicates Mr. De La Rosa's need for further education on this topic.

Mr. De La Rosa seems intent upon convincing your readers that the SALT Center is an economic drain on the university. Nothing could be further from the truth. The recently completed SALT Center was constructed entirely through private gifts. Not a penny of state funding has been used. The SALT Center, in fact, receives no state funding and all staff and associated operating costs are covered by fees paid by participating students. In reality, the SALT Center contributes to the health of the university's economy by paying administrative service charges to function as a part of the university. I suggest that Mr. De La Rosa check his facts before implying that this department is an unnecessary drain on the institution's resources. Unless, of course, he considers the nearly $4.8 million tuition revenue generated by the existence of the SALT Center to be unnecessary to the university.
Diane Perreira - director, SALT Center

Wildcat ad not derogatory

This is in response to Michael Robinson's Feb.22 letter about the Feb.15 Wildcat Housing Guide ad. It is a spoof on ASU. In the early 20th century, ASU was called the Tempe Normal School. When I read the ad, I assumed it was a joke because the basketball game with ASU was the following Wednesday. Mr. Robinson's letter sounded serious, so I felt obligated to inform people who feel as Michael does that the ad was not making fun of disabled.
John Hasebrook - CCIT computer operations

Money is not speech

In regards to Shane Dale's Feb. 19 claim that campaign finance reform blatantly violates the First Amendment: Money is property, not speech!
Joe Ellison - geography senior

UA drinking water safe

Kendrick Wilson's Thursday commentary about the potential risk of cutting state WQARF funds for water pollution projects was well-written and timely. It is true that the UA campus is down-gradient from a known plume of solvent contamination at the Park-Euclid WQARF site, and that continued migration of this pollution may threaten UA wells. I want to assure the campus community that a diligent and continuing process is in place for the UA to know very quickly if this starts to happen. ADEQ and the UA coordinated the installation of three sentinel wells south of Sixth Street to provide groundwater monitoring well in advance of any impact to campus wells. These wells are not used for drinking, only for testing. Each sentinel well and the main campus wells are tested monthly by ADEQ for any sign of contamination, and results are immediately communicated to the UA.

Currently, the southernmost sentinel well indicates a very low, but detectable concentration of tetrachloroethene (PCE). No contamination has been detected in any campus drinking water well, and these conditions have been relatively stable since monitoring began two years ago. Facilities Management has modified the campus drinking water system in a way that allows an immediate switch to Tucson Water if this becomes necessary at any time. Questions about this project may be directed to the Risk Management and Safety Department.
Steve Holland - UA Director of Risk Management and Safety

Tired of Lucas bashing

OK, I'm a little tired of all the Anti-prequel Star Wars People out there. Like you Sanders, after G.I. Joe, Transformers, Legos and Nintendo, there was only Star Wars. And to this day and until the end, it will always be Star Wars.

Do I like the fact that N' Stink is in Episode II? Hell no!! But take them away and the promise Lucas made to his daughter to have them, and you still have Lucas's imagination and the whole Star Wars "Universe" and not a mere "Galaxy" like you stated.

You talked about imagination in your article. Is there a greater gift in the world than being able to share your imagination with someone, let alone with millions like Lucas has done with the Star Wars Universe? He's merely living out his imagination, his dreams, for you, me and every other Star Wars follower. Think about it, Sanders. Were would we be without imagination?

Would have the Wright Brothers ever made a flight? Would Armstrong have taken one step and a giant leap? It was imagination that drove them, and it's this same imagination that drives Lucas and his universe. You talked about decent acting. Ever see Portman in "The Professional"? Or McGregor in "Black Hawk Down?" Was that decent acting? How about Alec Guinness in the Academy Award-winning "Bridge On the River Kuai?" Come on, there aren't a lot of science fiction films with great dialog, nor do the actors in them get recognized for their acting. It's the imagination of the story which they are acting for, not for an award or for the fame of the movie.

Finally, you talked about questions being answered. Wouldn't you like to know were humans came from? Who killed Kennedy? What happens to us when we pass away? If you do have an imagination, you could make your own theories about them and Who is Boba Fett, What's the Force, and Where was R2. If you have an imagination like you say you do Sanders, then you would understand why Lucas is doing what he's doing in using his own imagination to answer his own questions for us.

And Sanders, unlike you, I'll be there May 16, not to see a horse get beaten, but to see the unbelievable and unparalleled imagination of a man's universe who dreamed, created and is sharing it with us. And I'll appreciate every second of it.
Tony D. Boucher - physical education and criminal justice senior

Soren commentary 'great'

I want to thank the Wildcat for publishing the guest commentary from David Soren. I took a classics class from Soren last semester and found him to be one of the most passionate professors I have ever had the privilege of learning from. He truly loves the material that he teaches, so much so that he was moved to tears on more than one occasion when lecturing on actors and song writers of the first half of the 20th century.

The advice that Soren gives in his commentary is great; I especially liked his recommendations to "cast aside ego and do good works." Every student at the UA has an opportunity to enrich the lives of the people around them, and following Soren's advice is a good start.

If any UA students have the opportunity to travel abroad, I highly recommend it. I was fortunate enough to travel to Italy over the summer and found it to be one of the most breathtaking places on earth. Travelers learn not only about the great Roman ruins and the incredible food, but also gain invaluable knowledge about cultures different from our own. Even a vacation to a place like Italy is a learning experience unlike any other.

I thank you for providing the student body with the opportunity to have a short glimpse of the character of this remarkable professor.
Jenny Rose - journalism junior