Affirmative action is necessary force in university considerations, admissions

This is written in response to Chad Mills' opinion about affirmative action law. Chad, lets take a look at what you are saying before you go around spewing this bullshit for us to read. After all, that cannot taste very good.

Mr. Mills thinks that skin color should not be a factor in college admissions; however he only concerns himself with affirmative action. The truth is, if affirmative action were declared unconstitutional tomorrow, there would still be race biases in admissions. The quality of high school one attends is a factor in admissions. Thus people living in richer neighborhoods, whose children have richer schools are more likely to be admitted to a good university.

ACT and SAT scores are higher among white people than among minorities. Either Mr. Mills thinks that this proves minorities to be inferior to whites, or he doesn't think that ACT and SAT prep courses and better-funded schools have any effect on one's score. Since these classes are taken mostly by middle- and upper class people, the rich have yet another factor in their favor when it comes to admissions.

Since we can all agree that the lower class caries a heavier burden and since the lower class is disproportionately minority, it is safe to say that minorities carry a disproportionately large burden. Thus I say the minority student who is admitted partially because of skin color is not less qualified, but instead has not yet had the chance to prove his or her qualifications. Let's not be Mr. Mills. Think through your arguments before you fly off the handle, thus you will avoid putting your foot in your mouth.

Reuben Goodman
psychology senior

Lawsuit is the wrong way to correct unfair tuition hike, unfair to students

I don't understand why the four people suing the UA and the Board of Regents are also requesting that the school be barred from using any additional funds from the tuition hike. If you'd ask one of the plaintiffs, it seems that it's okay to perhaps jeopardize the education of thousands of others because they like to make spectacles of themselves.

I don't agree with the tuition hike either, but the way to change things is not to deprive the school of its own money nor is it to chain (plaintiff) Rachel Wilson to a handrail in the Administration building. Additionally, contrary to Mr. Gattone thinks, it is the responsibility of everybody in the community to figure out a solution, not hinder the activities of a school that educates thousands.

Yes, the tuition hike sucks. But when you think of taking actions like this, try to consider if your ends justify the means ÷ they don't.

Jeffry Gardner
political science sophomore

Focused Excellence leaves students scrambling for class seats and sanity

I love the availability of classes that we students receive. Really, scrambling around trying to plead and bribe professors with such enticements as to name my first-born child after them hardly seems conducive to my education. What do I know though, especially when I cannot even get into a class to begin with. Where is the Focused Excellence in that? I cannot even stray far from my computer because of my empty hopes that someday someone will hear my cries and drop the classes I need. Of course, I would then need to beat the other hundreds out ÷ all stressing why they need the class more than me. Ah yes, welcome back to school. Well, congratulations, President Likins (and whoever else wishes to take credit for cutting classes so skim). We students who wish to graduate on time must resolve our summers to taking the classes we could not get during the year ÷ or heaven forbid, stay here longer than 4 years. I have almost given up hope on even that.

Jennifer Harris
pre-business sophomore

Bus stop lacks shade, rain protection

I'd like to send a big "screw you" out to whoever designed the bus stop on the east side of the Mall. I mean yeah, that thing looks kind of cool, but it also utterly fails to keep bus riders protected from rain, wind or sun. During Tuesday's deluge, people were huddled together under the awnings that didn't have holes in them and, due to the construction of the roofing, were still getting wet. In July when it was 106 outside, those things offered no shade. Their main purpose seems to look cool and maybe to attract lightning. The next time the university needs a bus stop, I would highly suggest the architect be someone who has actually spent time waiting for a bus.

Mariah Freark
Lunar and Planetary Lab office specialist