Failure to recognize golfer Wildcat's fault

In the Family Weekend insert, you had a blurb about Erica Blasberg: "Erica Blasberg is not only the best athlete nobody in Tucson knows of, but possibly the best college athlete nobody in the entire country knows of. Blasberg won her second straight individual title earlier this week in Seattle. Just a sophomore, Blasberg has been ranked No. 1 in the nation for almost her entire collegiate career, and deservedly so. Lorena Ochoa revisited? Oh yeah."

No wonder no one knows who she is ÷ her own school paper doesn't even seem to know what sport she plays. Parents reading this probably said, "What is her sport · athlete?"

Michael Brooks
computer science
graduate student

Midnight Madness not a UA tradition

A couple of points in answer to the polling about the end of Midnight Madness:

The event has been held at Arizona just four times in 100 years of men's basketball. Its cancellation (this year) is not "ruining school spirit and tradition" or the death knell for "one of the great traditions here at the university," as one letter writer opined.

Its cancellation was not an athletics department conspiracy to rip off students. It was a judgment call made by the coaching staff in order to have the practice schedule dovetail more effectively with recruiting activities. Also, the initial practice will have more family appeal at 4 p.m. on a football open date.

Zona Zoo was not a "scam." It offered students season football tickets, plus admission to five other sports' contests, plus automatic entry in the men's basketball ticket lottery. We feel it greatly enhanced the student-section experience at football games, to begin with, and frankly was one of the smart ideas to emerge in sports marketing this year.

Tom Duddleston Jr.,
athletics media relations
director

Planning needed for future water shortage

One of the most immediate problems around the globe is water scarcity. Oct. 20-25 is World Population Awareness Week, and this year we need to recognize that over 1.2 billion people in the world do not have access to safe drinking water and that half of the world's 6.2 billion people lack adequate water purification systems.

If we don't do something to reverse current population trends, the statistics will get worse. The world's population is projected to increase to over 9 billion by 2050, at which time almost 7 billion people in 60 countries could face water scarcity.

It is clear that if the world's population continues to grow, there will not be enough water to go around. The math is simple ÷ more people means less water available per person.

Global population growth can be slowed if women around the world who want to control when and if they have children have access to family planning and education. Unfortunately, President Bush ignored the causes and consequences of increased population growth when he reinstated the global gag rule that limits access to international family planning and canceled the scheduled $34 million in funding to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) that could have prevented nearly two million unwanted pregnancies and approximately 800,000 abortions.

Our earth cannot sustain continued population growth. Rapid population growth translates into fewer resources, such as water, for everyone. In order to stop overburdening the earth and its resources, we must allow every woman access to voluntary family planning.

In observance of World Population Awareness Week, it is imperative to make the population connection ÷ increased access to family planning will lead to a solution to the problem of water scarcity.

Holly Swenson
public health
graduate student

Israeli children live with terror everyday

My 10-year-old cousin is more concerned about whether he is going to survive his bus ride to and from school every day than he is with video games. A trip that once seemed exciting on an accordion bus now is a frightening target. He has seen a car explode. He has watched buses explode from his house window. These are buses that take him to school.

Due to the Middle East controversy, I thought I should share my Israel experiences over the past 20 summers. My mother left Machaneh Yehudah Market minutes before a bomb went off. My grandmother left her dentist minutes before a bomb went off. My friend had a day off work at Sbarro's the day the bomb went off. My teacher's 7-year-old was shot in her car and killed. I have been to many of the places that have exploded, and recently I have stayed in when in Israel for legitimate fear for my life. The country lives in its own form of house arrest on its own land.

When Israelis and Arabs try to run a restaurant together in Haifa, it is blown apart. Entire Israeli families are buried and their loved ones watch. When we hear of a bombing, we listen for the number dead, failing to realize that 40 injured means three children from the Cohen family have no legs. No legs.

Life is difficult for Palestinians. However, Israel is the country that affords them the most freedoms in comparison to any of their Arab brothers. It is unfortunate that Palestinians have corrupt leaders that spend money on terrorist funding rather than factories that provide jobs. Life is difficult and the situation is miserable. Nevertheless, there will never be any justification for terror and what my cousin witnesses. Never.

Hadar Avrahami
Judaic studies and journalism
senior

Teach for America vitally worthwhile

I felt Ashley Nowe's article in last Monday's Wildcat could use further perspectives on Teach For America. I graduated from the UA in 1999. Following my graduation, I taught in the Bronx as a Teach For America corps member. Currently, I teach at KIPP Academy, an exemplary charter school serving grades 5-8, founded by TFA alums. KIPP students go on to attend some of the most elite high schools in the country. Our first class of students entered college this fall, all of them receiving large financial aid awards. In a community where less than 25% of high school students plan to go to college, this is big news.

I know that there are many students at the UA who are interested in the expansion of opportunity in our nation and who possess the talents and skills to make a huge impact on the lives of students growing up in low-income areas. I would like to encourage more of these students to apply to Teach For America, the national corps of outstanding recent college graduates of all academic majors who commit two years to teach in urban and rural public schools.

My experience in the classroom has helped me to gain an incredible amount of insight into what long-term changes are necessary in order to ensure that ultimately, all children grow up with an equal chance in life. Whether or not they choose teaching as a lifelong career, TFA corps members become lifelong leaders in the effort to expand opportunity for children in America.

I have no doubt that if I decide to leave the field of teaching, the leadership skills I learned during my Teach For America experience will be invaluable.

Whitney Grese
alumna

Bunis, an 'amazing man,' missed in class

I want to thank Elizabeth Demar for her article on Bill Bunis, "Lecturer battles cancer, hopes for strong recovery." Bill Bunis is an amazing man. Last year, I took his INDV class, Social Issues in America, which has easily been one of favorite classes here at the UA. Professor Bunis has a strong passion for sociology, and I in turn came away with a great interest in it as well after taking the class. His simple lectures in front of the classroom, with no PowerPoint slides or notes on the board, was a method in teaching which I thought was going to be tough to deal with. However, I got used to him simply sitting in his chair and lecturing to us students about different aspects of sociology. His teaching methods were great. I know my friend and I really enjoyed coming to his class every Tuesday and Thursday for the silly jokes he made, intentional and non-intentional alike, and of course the material we covered in class. Even last year Professor Bunis was struggling with cancer and had to miss a few lectures. I always knew he would pull through and come to class because no one was more eager about coming to class and teaching than Professor Bunis. In turn, he brought about a positive learning atmosphere where students were eager to hear his lectures and learn something new, exciting, and important. "Well, good afternoon to you," was his typical welcoming to the class. I don't know if he realized that, but it seemed to be said every class meeting, exactly like that. I hope others will take the opportunity to partake in that particular INDV class or any other sociology class taught by him. Professor Bunis is a great man and I wish him the best of health and a speedy recovery. Fight the good fight sir, and come back strong!

Zach Colick
journalism
sophomore

Closing Rec early on gamedays good idea

This past Tuesday, I read Gabriel Leake's request to not close the Rec Center early on home football game days. I just wanted to say that closing the Rec early is a darn good policy from my perspective. Although it is true that many people have "serious exercise schedules," the Rec Center only closes two hours earlier on days of home football games. (On Saturdays, the regular hours of the Rec Center are from 8 a.m. ÷ 9 p.m.) So if someone is honestly dedicated to their exercise routine, I feel that they can make time in their day to workout during the 11 hours the Rec Center is open. And lastly, I just wanted to say that Gabriel Leake's statement, "I promise you that the employees at the Rec don't go to the games after work on Saturdays ·" is absolutely not correct. I am a Rec employee, and I can say that I have been to all but one of the home football games this year. And I'm not the only one from the Rec that goes to the games after work. I always attend the games with my sister, who is a lifeguard at the Rec Center, and we always sit with other lifeguards from the Rec as well ÷ not to mention that I see many employees from the Rec sitting in the stands. So, as a Rec employee, (of the lovely weight room,) I would like to say that closing the Rec Center early for home football games is a great idea!

Christina Gomez
undeclared freshman
SRC weight room staff

SI On Campus gives students good laughs

Although I typically do not pay attention to any of your paper's inserts, I have lately found myself looking forward to Thursday's Sports Illustrated On Campus. As an avid sports fan, especially collegiate, I regularly read through the entire magazine for some good laughs and college sports-related stories. One of the more interesting issues was the Sept. 30 edition, entitled "The 100 Things You Gotta Do Before You Graduate (Whatever the cost)." In this article two things were mentioned specifically pertaining towards our beloved campus: number 18 ÷ roll out of bed late and catch a Wildcat football game at Arizona Stadium ÷ and number 62 ÷ paint the "A" on A Mountain in Tucson. While I've never done either of these, there was one in particular that I have done which promptly granted me ten life-fulfilling hours of community service. The culprit was number five: Make like Rodney Dangerfield in "Back To School" and do a Triple Lindy off your school's highest diving board. Now correct me if I'm wrong here, but the only way you could possibly do this is by being on the diving team · or you could trespass late Saturday night, get busted, do community service work and then read that what you did ÷ which was illegal ÷ was also the number five thing out of a hundred things you MUST do before you graduate. My only complaint here, UA and the Wildcat: Watch out for what you advocate. Sports Illustrated thinks I'm cool and the dean does not. Does the dean know what the students are reading every Thursday?

Collin Walzak
communications senior

Protesting Econ name change 'ridiculous'

I thought that some of the opinions held by those opposing the renaming of the Economics building were ridiculous. It is ridiculous to state that President Likins only approved the renaming to improve Hispanic attendance at the UA. First of all, this takes away any credit from CŽsar Ch‡vez and the icon he is. Secondly, so what if he did? Being a Hispanic here at the UA, I have to say that I am glad that the building is being renamed. Has it ever occurred to anyone that the main problem is the ignorance people have towards our culture? Apparently not, if people say that the renaming is a "racist statement that all Hispanics would revere this man." So maybe CŽsar Ch‡vez is not everyone's favorite guy, but we believe in him because he fought for his race. So until you get a Hispanic's perspective, save the ignorant statements for something else.

Susana PŽrez-AbrŽu
pre-education freshman

History shows Israel not rightfully Jews'

In reality the "historical evidence" mentioned in a letter on Tuesday proves merely that history can be molded to fit anyone's desire. True historical evidence shows Palestine to be anything but the rightful land of Jews. No matter where you get your historical evidence from, be it the Bible or archaeological evidence, history shows that the Phoenicians and Canaanites inhabited Palestine long before Judaism or any Jewish state arose in the area. Since the creation of ancient Judea, numerous other nations have grown in, fallen on and conquered the land of Palestine, including ancient Egypt, the Hittites, Persia, Alexander's empire, Rome and countless Arab (Islamic) and Crusader (Christian) states. The modern state of Israel only arose after years of bloodshed and the displacement of millions of non-Jewish inhabitants. At Israel's inception, Hebrew was a dead language and a Jewish state had not ruled the area for thousands of years. Palestine is NOT the rightful land of the Jews. But then, perhaps, the whole argument as outlined here and in Tuesday's column is just conflating two different issues. Palestine is a holy land to many different religions and the rightful land of millions of people, including Jews, Arabs, Christians and others. It's too bad that so many, especially the Israeli "democracy," have forgotten this.

Matthew Chuvarsky
senior majoring in Russian and anthropology

Laundry prices cheap compared to others

This year I am taking part in an exchange program in England, and I've been trying to keep up to date with things going on back at the UA by reading the Wildcat online. Today I had to laugh when I read the article about the increases in price for laundry in the dorms. All I have to say is, be glad that you even have laundry rooms in your dorm. There is one laundry mat for the entire campus at this university, and as for the prices: about $3 to wash and $1.75 to dry. And we're not talking industrial-sized washers either. So just be grateful for what you have and stop whining over a measly 25 cents!

Erica Yoder
journalism
senior

Both sides wrong in Israel-Palestine fight

Lately I have read numerous articles in the Wildcat from people decrying the evils of Israel or from those condemning the Palestinians. My question is, "what is wrong with all these blind sheep unwilling to recognize the truth?"

The truth of the matter is that the Israelis are guilty of many atrocities. The truth of the matter is that the Palestinians are guilty of slaughtering innocent cafe-goers.

Are we incapable of seeing that both governments have failed their people and the region? We must quit condemning one side or another and start condemning both as a whole. Hopefully the average, peace-loving citizens of both sides can rise up against their establishments and forge a bond of peace.

I, for one, am sickened that anyone even chooses a side in this conflict.

Jamie Dawson
biochemistry and molecular biophysics
senior