Advice to Cucher: It's time to stay awake in class

Daniel Cucher's April 11 commentary, "General Education Reform Now!" reflects a student that is not interested in learning more than it promotes his opinions on the general education's need for improvement. For example, I find his view on NATS 101 curriculum nearly idiotic. He claims that "Remote Sensing in Geological Information Systems should not be required." If he had been paying ANY attention whatsoever in his NATS 101 lecture, he would have known that Remote Sensing and GEOGRAPHIC (not Geologic) Information Systems are two separate fields. In fact, these two fields are very applicable to everyday life and not limited to the scope of natural sciences. My advice for him is to stay awake next time, and he just might benefit from class.

Jacqueline Smith
geography graduate student

General education classes introduce other viewpoints

I find Mr. Cucher's view to be narrow-minded. This is ironic, as it is the very thing he accuses the university of. If students are allowed to take student electives, they will take things that make them comfortable. General Education courses are just that: general education. These courses serve their purpose, and that is to introduce students to other fields, viewpoints, and maybe, just maybe, something they might find interesting. Not everyone enters college knowing that they want to graduate with a triple major in astrophysics, economics and sculpture. Taking GenEd classes can help undecided students decide on their major. Those that have decided might take a GenEd course that changes their mind. Taking electives might aid in this, but how many people know that they might like Geographic (not Geologic-that is a whole different science and a very big difference) Information Systems unless they take an introductory course in it? GenEd classes force you to examine possibilities that you might not otherwise think of, whether you like it or not. Is that so bad? How do you know whether or not you like apples until you try one?

In a perfect world, allowing people to take whatever they want would be great. But, human nature interferes in most cases, and people will take not what is challenging, but what is familiar.

Tyler Jones
geography graduate student

Linux system deserves a chance

In response to Creighton Anderson's letter on April 12, I feel I need to point out one important thing. Mr. Anderson's sole excuse for dismissing alternatives to Microsoft was that people "like to take the easiest path." I wonder if Mr. Anderson has considered this: How many paths have I really been exposed to?

Microsoft makes its money from 1) usurping its competitors and 2) keeping its consumers dependent on its products. This can be seen from anti-trust lawsuits, complex licensing, proprietary software and the Microsoft/Unisys anti-Unix smear campaign.

The effort required to use something non-Microsoft exists because Microsoft has inundated the market with its products. Microsoft has manipulated many users to believe that other alternatives are either too alien to learn, or not mainstream enough to compete. It's sad to see a graduate student fall for this kind of propaganda. (It's also sad to see the ILC only sporting two platforms, Windows and Mac. One table of Linux machines would go a long way to show students another robust and feature-rich platform.)

People can't choose paths they don't know exist. Mr. Anderson, before you dismiss Linux because you're "unfamiliar," take a look at www.lycoris.com; you'd never know you were using Linux. It's free too.

Matthew Olson
computer science senior and Linux user

Getting what he deserves

Josh Pastner has been a staple of Arizona basketball for the past six years. Students, Tucson citizens, and fans from all around the country have seen him playing in "Pastner games," in which Arizona was the constant victor, to having him trade in his uniform for a coat and tie during the past two seasons.

Finally, our Josh, is moved to the official position of assistant coach. There is not another who is more well deserving of this honor.

In the world of basketball (high school, college, professional), we too often hear about the negative or materialistic aspects of the game. Drug abuse, spouse or partner abuse, disrespect towards coaches and players, discussion and competition between who has the most expensive car, house, boat, etc.

We have, at the University of Arizona, a basketball figure who defies all of those elements. We have someone who truly cares about the players he will soon be coaching. We have someone who has the utmost respect for his fellow coaches and administrative associates. We have someone who gave up a six-figure salary to return to undergrad classes and stay with his team. We have someone who has a constant smile on his face as he walks through campus.

We have someone with the attitude, "Any day I wake up above ground is a good day." In short, we have someone who the University of Arizona and Tucson community should be extremely proud of. We are blessed to have Josh Pastner.

Jessica Wilson
UA alumna