Lee column on School of the Americas lacking in research

The Wildcat has taken to printing so many columns with ridiculous and uniformed content that I, and most readers like me, have apparently become used to it. Nevertheless, when I read, "Time to topple the ÎSchool of the Assasins'," (Thursday) I couldn't help but think that Ms. Lee is even less informed than most of the columnists.

She glibly mentions the names of a handful of SOA graduates who have perpetrated human rights abuses and cites this as a reason the SOA should be closed. Perhaps she doesn't realize that the SOA has thousands of graduates, 99 percent of whom have done much good for their people.

I think if she actually took the time to do some research, she'd find that nearly every institution of higher learning has graduates it probably wishes had never studied there.

One question she doesn't seem to answer is: "How much worse might these people have done if they hadn't been given some sort of education on Democracy?" The SOA has played a key role in teaching our way of life to people from all over Latin America who went on to fight Communism and establish democracies.

But Ms. Lee doesn't seem to be concerned with any of that. For her, America is always wrong, and our detractors are always right.

If she really believes what she says, then perhaps she should quit school, give up her U.S. citizenship and move to Iraq. I'm sure she'd have a much happier time there.

Jim Morford, II
East Asian studies senior

UA should have given Nobel Prize recipient what he wanted

I am writing in response to Thursday's front-page article concerning Vernon Smith's Nobel Prize ("Former prof wins Nobel Prize"). In moving forward from this event, I want to give some constructive criticism to the administration. Next time someone is up for the Nobel Prize five times, give him what he wants. I am not aware of all the details, but I am confident it was more than just money that caused Prof. Smith to relocate.

It is clear that when someone relocates after 25 years, he is upset with something or someone beyond the reach of money. With talent like this, I am wondering if he got a call from President Peter Likins himself asking him to stay. If Likins did in fact do this (although outside sources claim he did not), then I stand corrected. I am personally very fond of Likins and am very proud to have him as our president, but that does not mean I am going to ignore mistakes ÷ if I did, I would be doing the UA a great disservice.

The cost UA suffered is world recognition and the first Nobel Prize for the state of Arizona. In moving forward, we should be more inclusive to our outstanding faculty, even if it is to just make one phone call.

Johnny Tellez
political science and philosophy junior

Those with Îbone to pick' should give thanks to Îthe white man'

I think it is very funny when someone accuses me and other white people of being ignorant, when the accuser, Jesus Jimenez, is blatantly ignorant! There have only been five "five star generals," the last of which, Omar Bradley, died in 1981. Nowhere in his distinguished military or post-military careers did he work for another nation's government.

It would appear to me that you have a bone to pick with the civilization that brought your ancestors out of the proverbial dark-ages. You are seeking a doctoral degree in psychology now. If "the white man" had not come to this continent and settled it, your people would probably not even have a grasp on the idea of psychology, let alone its depths.

Silas Montgomery
history freshman