Neglected computer lab doesn't reflect standard of excellence

I am writing this letter in regard to the sub-par Sands computer lab that students of the Eller College of Business and Public Administration are given. For four years, I have been subjected to this thrown-together, understaffed, under-funded computer lab. I know money is very tight throughout the university and that that might cause shortages in some areas, but the lab's status has become ridiculous.

This problem came to a head last week when I attempted to use a lab computer and it stalled every 10 minutes. Originally, I had thought that it was a glitch in one of the computers, told the lab monitor and changed to another terminal. As soon as I sat down, I noticed that this one also was frozen. Upon examination, I noticed that one out of three computers had stalled and became unusable.

I asked the monitor what the problem was and he stated that a virus had corrupted the server. That was an understandable problem; the university does run a very unsecured site and these types of problems are bound to happen. The major problem, however, exists with the fact that it has been over a week now and there has been nothing done. In addition, when I asked the lab monitor if it will be fixed soon, he stated, "Probably not."

Would this type of neglect occur at a peer institution? Is this the type of thing that is supposed to lift us to the top ten status that President Likins would like to see?

Ron Lev
MIS senior

Those who pick up trash, clean bathrooms make life possible

As I wander lost in thought through campus, thinking of Searle's arguments and McLuhan's media theory, it is the men and the women who clean the bathrooms, pick up the trash and fix the elevators who make my day possible. They rescue my forgotten bag in the restroom and return it to me unharmed, they tell me where the elevators are, and most important ÷ what time the coffee stand opens.

They provide the day-to-day ambassador service that makes my achievements possible.

Lisa Elliott
psychology senior

ĪZona Zoo' an embarrassing joke that lacks any real school spirit

Once again, the effort to form a respectable student section for men's basketball games has been thwarted by the powers that be. While producing student section shirts was a fantastic idea, it has been ruined by the selection of the student section name.

The Zona Zoo? The name was supposed to be selected on tradition, originality and school spirit, which this name has no part of. It has nothing to do with Wildcats, cats in general, athletics traditions here ("Bear Down," etc.), and does not even sound good with the contrasting vowel sounds. Zoos are places where apathetic animals sit all day amongst their own filth while mothers and children stare at them ÷ this should not be a suitable comparison for our student "section" at McKale.

Furthermore, the name "Zona" is primarily used as a reference for our school by ESPN personalities including Dick Vitale and Andy Katz. Although Vitale and his friends have jumped on the Arizona bandwagon this year, historically they have been anti-Arizona ÷ and any reference they make to our team should not be recognized by any true fan. In order to make a good shirt that the students going to the games will proudly sport, the contest should have been narrowed down to finalists by Pepsi, the athletics department and ASUA, and then voted on by the student body.

Please join me in my efforts to encourage Pepsi and the athletics department to reconsider the shirt for next year so that we can have a shirt that we are not embarrassed to wear in front of other people, let alone on the nationally televised games. Go Cats!

Scott Barker
mechanical engineering junior

Band, athletics should coexist peacefully, to entertain the fans

Since when is it the job of a reporter to assault the interests of a particular group of students?

I recently read the Nov. 6 column "Their music is mightier than a writer's pen" by Jessica Lee, in which she defends the marching band. I also read Ross Hammonds' Nov. 7 response, "It's not the band, it's the selection," in which he defends the football team.

I am a student at Northern Arizona University. At NAU, the football team and the marching band have a mutual respect. When the team wins, they gather on the field near the band. The team is respectfully quiet as the band plays the Alma Mater, and the players cheer for the band as the song comes to a close. Then the team does their victory yells, and the band cheers for the team as they celebrate their win.

The fact that the writers at the Wildcat have pitted the football team and the marching band against one another is beyond me. It is true that each organization stands for something different: the football team for athletic superiority and the band for musical excellence. But when they are together in front of the crowd at Arizona Stadium, they share a common goal: to entertain the fans.

Alan Kinnaman
NAU electrical engineering major

Band more important, athletic than some give it credit for

We'd like to thank columnist Jessica Lee for bringing to our attention in Nov. 6's column "Their music is mightier than a writers pen" that we failed to realize that the band members were better physical specimens than UA athletes like Luke Walton who, apparently, couldn't run formations with a 35-pound drum on his shoulders. OK, so it was a bad comparison; but Luke Walton could still probably not run (literally) formations with a 35-pound drum.

I wonder if any one of the band members could box out the 7-foot-1, 285-pound Chris Marcus, get the rebound, then turn around and get down court to run a give-and-go to Jason Gardner through Western Kentucky's defense. We would probably have a better chance at doing that than any of the student athletes would have at marching a flawless field show.

The football game is very anaerobic, which is completely different than a band member's carrying around a tuba for an hour. To compare them is not completely relative. Has Ross Hammonds ever marched one of Prof. Rees's shows?

Faithful readers, please forgive us; we seemed to forget that 58,000 people show up on game day to visit the concessions and relieve themselves at the restrooms during the first half just to make sure they have a seat for halftime. When was the last time there were 58,000 people in Arizona Stadium? More importantly, when was the last time Arizona Stadium was even remotely close to being full during the fourth quarter?

OK, explain what happens when someone scores, gets sacked, makes a catch, knocks down a pass, returns a kickoff or comes onto the field. We must be watching different teams.

And who wants to get rid of the band? The crowd doesn't know "Bear Down" by itself. If they were loyal to their school, they would.

At halftime of that same game was a tribute to Damon Terrell, an Arizona football player who collapsed and died at practice. What did the band play right before that? Oingo Boingo's "Dead Man's Party." It is the name of a song that the band had been preparing for months previous. Get over it.

Scott Pederson
pre-business freshman
tubist, The Pride of Arizona marching band

Band members more athletic, appreciated than sports writers

I would like to write a letter in response to Ross Hammond's "well-thought" Nov. 7 column "It's not the band, it's the selection," about Jessica Lee's Nov. 6 column "Their music is mightier than a writers pen" and the band, plus Jeff Lund and Connor Doyle, who also have opinions about the band. Until you are on that field carrying an instrument in 100-degree weather, you need to stop and think about what you are writing. When was the last time you picked up a musical instrument, memorized music in two days, or gave up most of your afternoons and Saturdays to support UA athletics? Oh, you can't think of anytime, can you?

You say we aren't athletes? I beg to differ. We practice three to four days a week, we practice at home, we are out in the heat, we have standards ÷ oh, and we run! We run while counting, we run carrying something and blowing through a mouthpiece. We run 40 yards in 32 counts (or steps for you non-band people). Do you know how many feet in a step that is? Since you are so smart, I'll let you figure out the math.

You said the crowd isn't paying attention to us at the games. I guess you weren't at the last game. What do you call that when people stand, clap and cheer? Oh, a standing ovation? They must have been cheering for the grass growing on the field if it weren't for the band, because we were the only ones on the field!

In reference to your part about Connor Doyle's article in 2000, like him, you also need to do your research. You obviously don't know your music, because UCLA's unofficial fight song from "Gladiator" has no relation to "Carmina Burana," the song we were really playing. The song "Dead Man's Party" was a part of our show that we didn't play at just that game, and there were other songs that we also played. Are there any other songs you want to rip apart from the amazing composer Danny Elfman, who wrote "Dead Man's Party?" What about the music from "Sleepy Hollow," or the theme song from the TV show "The Simpsons," which Danny Elfman also wrote?

You obviously don't know what an amazing feeling/opportunity it is to be in the band and to create music. Am I ripping on what you enjoy? Then don't rip on what 250 members of the band enjoy.

Melanie Cooley
elementary education senior

Don't rely on a Īsports monkey' to analyze band's athletic ability

I would like to congratulate Ross Hammonds (Nov. 7 column "It's not the band, it's the selection") on being the first "sports monkey" at the Wildcat to research his material when slamming the band.

He interviewed Preston Greene, the assistant strength and conditioning coach, about the athletic ability of the band. Now I'm not in the band right now, but I have been in the past, and I was never aware of Mr. Greene being present at our rehearsals analyzing our "energy systems" and athletic ability.

Marching band is more than just "carrying around a tuba for an hour." The drill that Professor Rees writes requires the band to sprint around the field, while carrying a tuba (or drum, or piccolo for that matter) while in step, while making sure they get to the right spot at the right time. And this is all while playing an instrument, which requires the lung strength of an ox.

But of course, Mr. Greene would be right that the football players are in better shape. The Pride of Arizona doesn't do strength training everyday like the athletes do. However, professional marchers probably are in comparable shape to college athletes. Huh? What's that? Professional marchers? Yeah, Drum Corp International (DCI). These were the guys that Jessica Lee (Nov. 6 column "Their music is mightier than a writers pen") was talking about when she cited that study. They strapped breathing gear and heart rate monitors to tenor players (that's the one with four drums on one harness) and their rates were comparable to marathon runners. But since Ross Hammonds wasn't really debating the athletic ability of the band, I wonder why he took all the trouble to research it. It's just too bad that he didn't take the time to research the point that he was arguing ÷ the music. Dude, just schedule an appointment with Professor Rees. Hear what he has to say, and then you can make informed judgments. And make sure that you go see "BLAST!" at Centennial Hall.

Katie Stika
studio arts senior