Excellence Awards will be presented in spring

The statements made by Mr. Cuevas in his letter Wednesday concerning the summer session Excellence in Teaching Awards were inaccurate. The awards will be presented to the winners in the spring semester this year. The awards will occur a little later this year than last due to a number of factors, but primarily due to a change in the format of the presentations.

Beth Acree
senior program coordinator, UA summer and winter sessions

More important topics in world to cover than sex

Wednesday's Wildcat featured an article by Caitlin Hall urging students to have more honest sex. Aren't there more important things to report about in our culture than faking an orgasm? Homeless are starving, millions of unborn will never see the light of day and the presidential primary is mere months away. Yet, the most pressing societal issue Ms. Hall finds to critique is how we "need to reclaim our sense of heroic sex." The Wildcat's mission statement says "to encourage an exchange of ideas." Shouldn't those ideas be a little more thought-provoking? Perhaps Ms. Hall would be better suited for the porn industry than the news media.

Christopher Ryan
aerospace engineering sophomore

Med Tech program has high community demand

I am writing in response to the Jan. 23 article on the elimination of the UA Medical Technology Program. When I read the quote, "Interestingly, there's not much demand for the program. Do you want to work with a lot of blood samples?" by Provost George Davis, I was appalled. This is not just a dreadful statement; it is insulting to the laboratory profession. Clinical laboratorians not only "work with a lot of blood samples," but the amount of testing and clinical knowledge that they are required to possess to be able to perform their jobs is endless. Without technologists, doctors would not have the necessary information in order to diagnose their patients. I think the public has misconceptions, or perhaps is uninformed, about what clinical laboratory testing involves. Not all tests are automated, or completed by pressing a button. Some tests require seasoned technologists in order to read or interpret results. Others that are automated still need to be interpreted by an experienced technologist to make sure they make sense and to decide if any further testing needs to be done. The presence of lab scientists is very important in the field of medicine, along with the doctors, nurses and all of the other people that work in hospitals and other businesses related to healthcare.

As for the demand for the program, I remember an article that the Wildcat published on Oct. 4, 2002, regarding the program closure, which stated that over 200 UA students who had taken 2 1/2 years of prerequisite science courses in order to qualify to apply to the program had to look for other majors. A number of people who spoke at the Regents' meeting Jan. 22 had studies and factual information supporting their argument: the demand for laboratorians and impact on hospitals if we don't do something about it. Provost Davis did not provide any information supporting his statement that there is "no demand" for the program. If the reason for elimination is simply monetary, why can't he leave out the excuses and just be honest and forthright, rather than letting students and professionals wait until the very last minute to try to find solutions to the problems that we will be facing if we don't do something now? It is unfortunate that in a few years we will end up spending more money starting up a whole new program to compensate for the vacancy and demand. Where will the money come from then?

Diana Filippelli
medical technology senior

Public art important as social commentary

This letter is in response to Tim Belshe's misinformed bashing of public art ÷ for example, "the ghastly wall thingy" at the Student Union Memorial Center last semester. While I do agree the UA needs some careful reallocating of funds, public art is not at all trivial or a waste of space and money as Belshe describes. Granted, to each his own aesthetic affinity. However, appreciation of art is something that should transcend personal preference or bias. Too often, public art is reduced to face value and the powerful symbolism and painstaking work behind it is not appreciated or recognized. The "ghastly wall thingy," more respectfully known as "Border Dynamics," dealt with sensitive but critical political and societal issues that are close to home, and something we should all recognize, regardless of our opinion toward them.

Alberto Morackis and Guadalupe's piece was an incredible and powerful visual representation of the struggles of illegal Mexican immigrants and stood for more than a temporary obstacle at the union. Art penetrates controversial issues in a way that words should and cannot. For example, "Guernica," by Pablo Picasso, was a raw depiction of oppression and cruelty that reigned during Spain's 1930s civil war and was one of the most profound war statements in history. However, most art like this is housed in museums; not everyone has the time or means to attend such exhibits. Therefore, by displaying it publicly, the artist's message is able to serve its purpose on a grander scale and to a broader audience. Belshe might want to investigate how these art displays make their way onto to campus; many sources outside of the UA helped to fund "Border Dynamics." Furthermore, would Belshe rather our campus be constructed according to conformity ÷ in other words, rigid walls, bare paths and empty courtyards ÷ all to save a buck? I say the visual diversity is worth it and is what helps make the campus interesting and beautiful. Public art exists to challenge our beliefs and make us think critically, and rather than considering it a waste of money, it should be valued and embraced.

Cassidy Reis
studio art sophomore

Poreda criticizes a bit too much about UA

The UA has serious funding problems, and some serious thought about ways to allay them would be welcome. But the tone of the Wildcat's question ÷ "If you were calling the shots, what would you shoot first?" ÷ does not invite serious thought.

It invites smirky adolescent attack, and Jason Poreda proved up to that task. After insulting the department in which he spent four years, the Arizona International College, he goes on to insult the one in which he spent four minutes ÷ Women's Studies. He seems to have a relationship problem with whatever institution he interacts with.

Mr. Poreda is studying political science and communication, but all he seems to have learned is impolitic miscommunication. I suppose we can next expect to see him in the Arizona Legislature, happily hacking at his alma mater ÷ but surely representing a district in Maricopa County. In this town, he could not get elected. Tucsonans value education.

Claudia Ellquist
UA alumna