Column should have mentioned other insurance options

Although Mr. Fishman's comments about SHIP's non-existing drug program are true, he does not include other options that students can take in order to bypass the high cost of medical drugs. Before students decide not to pay for the student insurance program (or not sign up in the case of TAs) or cut back on the amount of hours they take, I urge students to talk to their doctors.

Several programs exist where students can receive drugs for free or at reduced cost, but there is a catch. You have to prove that you cannot afford the medication in the first place.

I would suggest talking also to a woman named "Trish" at the Campus Health Service. Her phone number is 626-9305. She will probably tell you to download a form at www.rxassist.org. You must complete the form and attach a copy of your tax return forms (to prove that you cannot pay for the medication). It typically takes six to eight weeks for the medication to arrive at Campus Health where you can pick it up.

Laura E. McCormick
musicology graduate student

Fraternity deserves local recognition

In response to the article concerning Phi Kappa Psi's attempt at being granted recognition by the neighborhood association, I sincerely wish this group of gentlemen all the luck in obtaining that goal. These men have worked very hard balancing respect for their neighbors and having 16+ men living in one house. Of course, with that many people in one space the noise level is bound to rise; however, they have never deliberately attempted to be disrespectful. These men have shown that they are responsible enough to handle recognition by choosing to uphold the standards of the Interfraternity Council on their own account; therefore, it is only obvious that they will continue this action if they are officially recognized. It is time for the neighbors surrounding the campus to truly realize that the University as well as its greek system were here long before they were and will not be going anywhere soon. Instead of being uncooperative and unsupportive, maybe it's time to embrace the fact that you live in such a diverse community and work with these fine young men to achieve a solution that would satisfy all parties. Good Luck, PHI PSI!

Brandi Dilday
pre-nursing junior

Belly dancing article objectifies dancers

I am writing in response to LiveCulture, "All in the Hips" and the commentary: Belly dancers and strippers not one and the same in Tuesday's Wildcat. The positive points mentioned in the articles are soured by a few issues.

To start, the front-page teaser for the article calls belly dancing the forbidden art. Why forbidden? Is it because the dance celebrates the empowerment that a woman can feel when she is enabled to embrace her body through the dance and use it to create art and to express herself? Or is it forbidden because our society automatically sexualizes and objectifies women who show skin?

Secondly, why are the names, or even the troupe name, of the dancers pictured in the article not mentioned? It seems to me that this is against the journalistic standard of getting the captions for photographs, especially seeing as how the dancers were photographed at an event held on private property and gave the photographer contact information. I feel that the absence of captions is misleading because it causes one to believe that the dancers are linked to the university and the class discussed in the article, which they are not. Also, the layout of the photos has removed the dancers from their context and left them nameless, objectifying them for the art of the articles. Did the articles not discuss how the dance is not meant to objectify women?

A particular segment from the commentary struck me as being uninformed: A woman writhing her body seductively for an audience is the defining characteristic of both. The mere act of dancing in front of an audience is not seductive in belly dance. People in the audience may sexualize the performance, but that is neither the goal nor fault of a decent belly dancer. I, and 99.9 percent of all belly dancers, do not dance to please others. I dance to please myself. While belly dancing can be sensuous, it is also so much more.

Overall, I was disappointed in the articles and journalistic practices used in displaying them because they seemed to miss the point of belly dance. This dance is about a positive expression of feminine power and confidence.

Emma Graham
art education graduate student

Mexico travel advisory shows US problem of blaming foreigners

I am sorry to see the way in which the Wildcat issues an alert about travel to Mexico, and as any other news agency, they never report the exterior point of view.

Many of my friends ask me why the United States is hated abroad: "But we give so much money in foreign aid." Just like a rich dad throwing money at a teacher to educate his misbehaved child.

The problem with the United States is the way in which they love to blame others for their own problems. Drug violence a consequence of drug consumers. Once your kids stop consuming, other countries will stop growing the drugs. Are all dealers from Latin America? Who distributes it in the United States? People don't spend thousands of dollars to travel to the United States, learn how to fly an airplane and then smash it. Maybe they have a reason.

The terrorists killed almost 3,000 people on Sept. 11, 2001. How many innocents has the United States massacred in Iraq? Now you have more to worry about. Close your borders, build walls like a bad neighbor who doesn't want to see across the fence.

Ever heard "think outside the box?" Well, "think outside the United States." Put yourself in the position of others, and maybe one day you won't be part of the problem and one by one this country will be respected and not feared and hated.

Here's your next headline: " Mexico issues a travel advisory to its citizens in fear of the thousand of American spring breakers coming to its beaches. These immature, wild and uneducated individuals will drink, puke and trash the neighborhoods of these Mexican resorts. Be advised: Avoid any contact with them, as they come here not to enjoy the nature, but to do all the illegal things they can't do at home."

Roberto Nungaray
systems engineering senior

Don't allow one letter to represent all conservatives

With regard to Annie McIntyre's complaints of the Wildcat's coverage of a pro-choice event, the Wildcat did not fail to do the proper research and present the right side of the story. The article by Zach Colick was not an editorial; rather, he was reporting on a campus event. There is no research to be done; Colick had to gather some quotes and tell the Wildcat readers what happened at the event. Had McIntyre actually read his article, rather than just reading the headline, she would have seen that Colick had included the archaic opinion of a student who opposes a woman's ability to control her life.

There is nothing immoral about sex. Sex doesn't magically become a moral activity after marriage. Sex is not, and should never be, merely a means of procreation. We're not animals; we have emotional and physical needs. Believe it or not, there are many sexually active and responsible people who never want to have children.

I consider myself a very conservative person. Not the Bible-thumping, gun-toting, homophobic, forces-my-morals-down-your-throat, Christian fundamentalist. Rather, a fiscal conservative, who feels that hard working people should be able to live their lives how they chose without government intervention (see Ayn Rand's "Atlas Shrugged"). I worry that religious zealots like McIntyre give conservatives a bad name and will eventually be the downfall of the Republican Party. Don't lump all conservatives into the same category as McIntyre, as many of us do posses some common sense.

Brian Danker
alumnus