Keeping cactus garden stays true to Krutch's ideals

I just learned of the University of Arizona's plan to move the Krutch cactus garden to the west side of Old Main, and I am disheartened. What kind of university dedicates a garden to memorialize a man who warned repeatedly about civilization's encroachment on the natural world, then decides to move that garden because it does not fit into future building plans?

In "Grand Canyon" Krutch wrote: "We do not tear down a high school because the building industry can prove that it could profitably erect an apartment house on the site and that tenants would be glad to occupy it. We say, instead, that education pays off in a different way and that the space occupied by schools is not wasted. Much the same thing we say also of the space taken up by the green of a city square. But if parks and other public lands are to be held only until someone can show that a 'use' has been found for them, they will not last very much longer."

Apparently, university administrators have found another "use" for the Krutch garden space, and they justify their decision by saying that the garden does not fit into the Alumni Plaza plans, and that the garden obstructs the view of Old Main. But what they are really saying is that the university's word is good only until the university says otherwise.

Is that the kind of lesson a major institute of higher learning should be teaching today?

Robert Rowley
Las Cruces, N.M.

Durrani column needs more facts

Mariam Durrani claims that it is wrong for Mr. Rumsfeld to call the Cuban detainees "unlawful combatants" in her Friday column, "U.S. must follow international laws." However, if she had done her research, she would have found that the detainees do not meet three out of the four requirements for lawful combatants according to the governing Hague Convention as well as being considered so by U.S. domestic law. And since, according to international law, the United States is at war, the detainees are subject to military court proceedings. As far as the question over POW status, Ms. Durrani should read Article 4 of the Geneva Convention, where she will find that the detainees do not fit into any of the categories defining Prisoners of War.

Karen Ellcessor
political science junior

U.S. policy toward prisoners in Cuba flawed

I do agree with Ms. Durrani's assessment that the prisoners in Cuba are not illegal combatants. Calling them such would imply that the prisoners actually were involved in combat. From all the accounts in the news media, the members of al-Qaida preferred the cold, dark shelter of their miserable little caves to actual combat. Keeping them in open cages in Cuba would actually give these troglodytes a chance to get re-acquainted with the sun.

Having said that, I do believe that the U.S. policy toward these men is flawed. It would have been a lot more expedient for almost all parties concerned if the world at large had not had an opportunity to get acquainted with these "folks."

Amar Venkatesh
UA alumnus

ASUA did not let students down

This letter is in regards to William Paul Miller's attack on the ASUA in his Monday letter. The ASUA isn't letting the students down; the students are the reason for the cancellation of Better Than Ezra. The band isn't going to just play for a few hundred students who purchase tickets. If the students don't buy tickets, how are they expected to pay for their act? Music is dead in this town because the students don't care about it. There are other venues being closed or are already closed down due to lack of interest in the community. As UA students, we are an essential part of the community. Good bands are reluctant to come to this town because they can go to Tempe or somewhere else and find a real crowd. There are so many activities that a lot of students would pass up to go party and drink. Once most students can wake up out of their stupor and take a look around, they can start to get involved. When the students become involved, people can then have a right to criticize the ASUA for not living up to their expectations. But until then, make an effort to travel around this city and discover what is left of the dwindling culture.

Erika Mahoney
general biology freshman