Other colleges should follow biz school's lead

This letter is in response to the Wednesday article "Business college hires more profs." Well, if $500 per semester for out-of-state students and $250 for in-state could bring newer and improved facilities or more professors to the business college ÷ as claimed by Dean Zupan ÷ I ask Tom Peterson, dean of the College of Engineering and Mines, to consider this "formula." Melanie Rainer looked at this increase as "another tuition increase." I am paying $1500 more this year, and what I am getting? Absolutely nothing. Just a bunch of new buildings every semester. Is President Likins looking to increase tuition to save existing programs or to fund the construction of new buildings? I don't know how much the latter would justify an increase. I'd rather pay directly to the college if this ensured it would hire more faculty and provide better service.

Prashant Rajgarhia

engineering management junior

Underage drinking illegal ÷ akin to murder, theft

I am writing in response to a letter from Kyle Booen about the recent TPD raids on parties that resulted in the arrest of underage drinkers.

Perhaps Mr. Booen doesn't realize that underage drinking is an ACTUAL CRIME. It is illegal to drink under the age of 21. If you are under 21 and you drink, you are just as much a criminal as a murderer or thief. His belief that the police should look the other way when it comes to the ACTUAL CRIME of underage drinking is like asking them to ignore murder, robbery and assault because minors are doing it.

Since those under the age of 21 are breaking the law, the officers of the Tucson Police Department are well within their rights to raid these parties to put a stop to this illegal activity. Live with it.

C.M. Mitchel

UA staff member

Pride of Arizona works very hard, Îbest' in Pac-10

This is in response to a letter written by Jon Fast yesterday. Mr. Fast, I don't know your experience with college marching bands or music in general. So I will assume you know nothing.

The Pride of Arizona is the best marching band in the PAC-10, and certainly among the elite in the nation. Every year, 250 individuals of diverse backgrounds and ability come together to create music and work as a cohesive unit. It is a group where everyone is welcome but where hard work is always required.

If you are unaware, the band practices and performs 22 hours a week. That "six minutes of music" you refer to took two weeks of intense work and is actually the most music the Pride has put on the field on the first game of any season. Rest assured, we will have 13 minutes of music on the field in a matter of weeks. Sure, we could only practice a few hours a week and play popular music, but we would end up sounding like the "band" from ASU. Go up north and listen to them sometime, and you will realize how damn lucky you are.

Every year, the band is criticized for playing alternative music that no one listens to anymore. This year, we are moving in our own direction and pushing the envelope for music and movement. The fan reception for this new show was incredible at the UTEP game, in case you were not noticing. I do believe you are in the minority when you say the band needs to improve.

I dare you to come participate in one of our rehearsals, Mr. Fast, to see how hard-working and motivated our students are. I think it would surprise and even shock you.

Geoff White

anthropology freshman

No time to resurface Zone 1 lots if lack of spots exist

I am deeply concerned that the Parking and Transportation Services folks are not going about the parking issue in the right way. In my time here at the UA, the Zone 1 parking issue has gotten continuously worse and I have found that each semester I am forced to park further away from the center of campus because lots are filled to capacity. It has gotten to the point where I'm forced to walk at least 15-20 minutes just to get to class in Harvill.

To make matters worse, I just found out today that they are closing off three Zone 1 lots (2146, 2147 and 2149) at Vine and Helen, and Cherry and Helen for resurfacing (through Oct. 1). I park there. I didn't count, but I'm sure at least 50 others park there too. With all the Zone 1 lots already at capacity, where are these cars going to go? This is clearly not the right time for this.

Perhaps instructors who take roll daily should allow for parking-related tardies from now on.

Abe Rahey

computer science senior

Bands should remember the music, forget money

When did enjoying music become wrong? When you enjoy it without giving money to the people who made it. I have always played music to play music, not to make money. Any band who goes up against the music piracy issue is just asking for more money. If I remember right, it should be about the music, not the green.

Alan Fullmer

journalism freshman

Homosexual Americans should get same treatment

I was disappointed to see some of my fellow students' discriminatory views against same-sex partner benefits. Only one state recognizes same-sex unions: Vermont. Due to Arizona's discriminatory legislation, these unions are not recognized in Arizona. In the United States, a nation where individual freedoms are held so highly, some of our citizens are unable to marry the person they love. Thus homosexuals continue to be persecuted just because they love someone of the same sex. Some consider homosexuality gross, but is that a just reason for denying a group of people their rights? I think not. Homosexuals only want to feel safe in their relationships and to have the rights that come with marriage. We do not want to have to worry that our partner won't be let in to see us when we are at the hospital. We want our partner to be taken care of after our death. We want the rights that heterosexual couples have enjoyed for decades. Is it too much to ask to be treated as an equal? As Americans, we should be appalled that a group of our brothers, sisters, sons and daughters are being unjustly withheld from all the freedoms an American deserves.

Brittain Hastings

accounting and economics senior

Don't underestimate Ch‡vez, King ideas

While attempting to find a reasoned basis for her political disagreement, Jessica Lee on Tuesday fell far short in her effort to discredit the decision to rename the Economics building after Cesar Ch‡vez.

Claiming no disrespect for Cesar Ch‡vez, Ms. Lee argues the name change violates university

guidelines. However, she grossly mis-states the guidelines. Wisely, the guidelines are not limited to measuring one's contribution to the university or one's academic rŽsumŽ. Instead, the guidelines expressly provide one may be considered for "contributing in other exceptional ways to the welfare and reputation of the university, to education, or to the community in general." A direct connection to the university is not required.

While inaccurately describing the scope of the regulation, Ms. Lee postures the issue in racial terms. By naming every Mexican-American organization in the Economics building, she dismisses the renaming as simply an effort to help "recruit Mexican-American students." More disturbing, Ms. Lee presumes a racist reaction from others by suggesting "such a building name could have unintended consequences for the AREC Department."

Cesar Ch‡vez's contributions to the "community in general" cannot be denied or underestimated. He spoke in favor of economic justice for exploited persons who otherwise had no voice. He is directly responsible for achieving just and tolerable living and working conditions for farm workers throughout the Southwest. Indeed, any

objective analysis of Ch‡vez's goal of economic justice and his extraordinary accomplishments reflect that he improved the welfare of the community in a fashion far exceeding that of any native Arizonan.

I also find greatly offensive the criticism of the naming of a building after Martin Luther King Jr. His efforts truly affected our society, both its laws and the attitudes of citizens. Through his work, African-Americans now enjoy fundamental rights denied them by prior bigoted laws and attitudes. If anyone wants to argue that Dr. King's efforts did not bring about positive social equality to the community in general, I would like to hear what they have to say.

Perhaps, Ch‡vez and Dr. King fall outside of Ms. Lee's political agenda. However, it is upsetting to see people take politics to such extreme measures. Cesar Ch‡vez and Dr. King made enormous contributions to the "community in general" for which we all should be grateful. Political rhetoric that tries to minimize their contributions is just absurd.

Patrick Barrett

mechanical engineering freshman