The problem I see in an ASU professor's decision to send a letter to Sheriff Joe Arpaio over the comment he made concerning a black student's possibility of being a student-athlete because he was dressed like one is that the professor fails to recognize that this officer of the law, Arpaio, has a quick-to-react mindset.
Such a mindset (in as dangerous a field as law enforcement and corrections) has definite survival benefits. A man who can think quickly on his feet and process given visual information without a seminar or meeting to help mold his decision is going to stay alive in his field longer than the slow-witted, dull types who have to make a decision based on the current politically correct filters that haze our reactions today.
Arpaio saw a large man in athletic dress and quickly gave him a compliment (football players are usually treated with more respect than the average student) when he identified him.
--J.D. Wade,
student
iPods only go so far
To anyone thinking about returning to the dorms on campus for a second or third or fourth year just to get an iPod, let me tell you this: It's not worth it.
Upperclassmen aren't treated as well as freshmen, so I would put my money somewhere else and ask for an iPod for Christmas.
Take it from someone who has already made the mistake.
--Delaina Biernstein,
ASU student
Arpaio article overreaction
I thought your story entitled, "Arpaio comment irks ASU class," was totally ridiculous. This proves how overly sensitive everyone is about racial issues. I can't believe this is even in the paper. I can't stand Arpaio: I voted for the independent candidate for sheriff, but I do not believe that his comments were even remotely racist.
He said he called Ubong Ekpo a football player because he looked strong and athletic. It seems to me that Ekpo's and your stance is that football players are dumb and should not be in classes based on their own achievements.
This could have just as easily been said to a white guy -- would he have taken offense? Everyone needs to quit being so easily offended. I think media outlets like The State Press help to perpetuate the illusion of mass racism by printing such bogus stories like this one.
Do you realize the conclusions you are drawing from Arpaio calling him a football player? Did he use the "N" word? Did he say that all black students were only attending because they play sports? I think your paper should stick to real news stories instead of making stories out of nothing.
I hate Arpaio, but I will come to his defense when unfounded accusations are made against him.
--Sterling Crandell,
civil engineering student
Boo to "Boos & Bravos"
"Boos & Bravos" is usually redundant and worthless, and this week's was no exception. In fact, it was one of the worst yet. Every issue addressed in Friday's editorial had already been covered by The State Press in a full-length article at some point in the week.
This space should be used to briefly mention items that are interesting and noteworthy but not necessarily important or complex enough to require an in-depth look. It should not be simply a recap of what one might have missed in the newspaper during a particular week.
Your readers deserve better and should be offended (as I am) by your assumption that they need to be reminded of something they read about a few days prior or worse, on the front page of the same issue.
Please make a New Year's resolution to change the content of the weekly "Boos & Bravos" editorial or just discontinue it completely.
--Kyle Wilkinson,
humanities senior
