Never have I seen such biased journalism as in your representation of Values Week. When we had alcohol awareness on campus, nobody questioned whose alcoholism was to be the standard. When we had gay awareness, we didn't ask whose homosexuality was to be considered. When condom week was presented, no one wondered about the coordinator's motives. And yet, as soon as we have Values Week, accusations fly, fingers point and debates ensue as to whose values are to be
It seems the greatest criticism has been that Sen. Grimit was pushing his own values. Be that as it may, you fail to acknowledge that distribution of condoms this past week was just as pushy, if not more. Having a condom handed to me every time I walked on the mall is something I resent, and I didn't appreciate finding a condom in my mailbox, let alone being asked if I've used it yet. The entire campus seemed to have been bombarded with condoms, but nothing was said of that. There is a blatant double standard on what you consider to be pushy.
As for Grimit's values, the Wildcat can't seem to decide if they are too broad or too limited. One topic considered too open was date rape. The editorial (Feb. 16) stated, "you'd be hard-pressed to find someone who is pro-date rape." If, as you said, nobody is for it, why is it that about one in four women will be raped by someone she knows? Lack of values, maybe? According to your editorial, though, these values must remain nameless and obscure, or we run the risk of educating people.
Once the editorial declares Values Week to be too broad to be effective, it then accuses Grimit of being too specific, of having a personal agenda. The only examples given of this are his references to virginity and that he thanked God upon winning his election. How shocking that someone would value either! It seems Values Week can't be objective unless we deny both God and virtue.
I am only recently acquainted with Sen. Grimit, and I don't know that I agree with all he does. I do believe, though, that in a time when your paper reports on crime, HIV statistics and brutalities worldwide, it should come as a welcome relief to have an opportunity to evaluate what we believe, both individually and as a society. Values Week was a valid attempt to do just this, and was worthy of more than your one-sided coverage.
Martha Kartchner
Education Sophomore