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Opinions: Letters to the Editor


Sex in the stacks sickening (literally)

I have worked in libraries for a long time and may I just say: ew!

Do you have any idea what you're subjecting yourself and other library users to when you decide to have sex in the library stacks?

First, library books are dirty. I don't mean "Lady Chatterley's Lover," either. They are dusty. They have passed through many hands, so they are covered with germs and more dirt.

Second, many older books are held together with old horses - and by old horses, I mean animal-based adhesive. I have had the unhappy task of removing this stuff, which actually begins to eat through pages and binding.

Imagine what it must do to your exposed parts.

After a while, this yellow-brown gunk provides a perfect breeding ground for bacteria and mold. And not just any mold, but the kind that gives you a rash.

A nasty rash. In fact, there are some kinds of mold growing on books that can make you very sick.

Third, you may think you are safe if you stick to the new arrivals sections, but no. Humidity fluctuates, especially around doors, air vents, bathrooms and high traffic areas.

Also, a book that is used often picks up even more dirt and germs. Which means these materials are also a germ, dirt and mold convention.

Don't believe me? Go carry a random sampling of books around the library. Place them in the proper re-shelving area and go wash your hands. That black stuff is dirt and mold. Yum!

Fourth, if you are, as suggested in the article, using books for support while copulating, you are transferring more germs to the books. The moisture inherently present while doing the nasty is also creating more breeding ground for bacteria and more mold.

Fifth, your libraries have spent a lot of time and money to provide you with stacks of books so that you can have the opportunity to not be stupid. These brave souls work hard to keep the stacks in good condition so the money they receive can go to getting you the most current and useful materials.

Books covered in human secretions or severely damaged have to be removed and replaced because they are unusable and/or a biohazard.

Sixth, the position that "it doesn't matter since no one uses those books anyway" is a remarkably arrogant coming from someone who chooses to have sex in corridors of flesh-eating mold because they can't find anything better to do at college.

Seventh, seriously guys, it's time to grow up. If college bores you, go home and get a job.

Name could not

be confirmed

Civil War discussion

has nothing to do

with rationality

Jon Frosch's perspectives and belief systems [see yesterday's letters to the editor] are at the root of why we kill each other and then justify and reinforce our behavior.

Frosch used words like noble, rational, nuanced and "facts surrounding this conflict," which leads me to believe that Frosch never had to wipe the brains of another human being off his face or pick up the body parts of a friend so his family could have enough to bury or blow somebody's head off with a sophisticated, state-of-the-art assault rifle.

The hubris, the misguided reasons and the fraudulent rationales continue to dominate the American psyche. The seemingly intellectually superior attitudes are from those who are well protected and lacking in the real life experience of ripping the life out of another human being.

If Jonny was ever to "come marching home again," he might be singing a different tune.

David F. Lucier

ALUM

No reason to honor

Confederacy

Upon first reading yesterday's letter to the editor entitled "April's Forgotten Designation," I at first thought that the writing was a joke. How can someone subscribe to such ideals?

I think it's ridiculous that Jon Frosch recommends that we celebrate Confederate History Month, for only a bigot would want to honor the Confederates.

I'm all for accepting other cultures and beliefs, but to remember a group who oppressed and exploited the African-American race through slavery, harbored racist ideals and succeeded and went to war with the United States is just wrong in today's day and age.

The point is brought up that we remember the "admirable conduct of the Confederates." What admirable conduct is that? The Massacre at Ft. Pillow, or maybe it's the bravery and honor of Robert E. Lee and Nathan Bedford Forrest?

After reading that letter, I can only ask myself, "What's next?" Should we have an Islamic Terrorist Remembrance Month to remember the hijackers of 9/11?

As a senior at ASU, I would hope that Frosch would be more enlightened to understand what the Confederacy really stood for.

Wally Hirsch

JUNIOR

Danger of speeding

depends on context

There are two types of driving; one is dangerous and takes lives, one is safe but labeled "speeding."

Traveling 60 mph in a 55 mph zone, weaving in and out of traffic, 1 to 2 inches between cars, this is reckless driving.

Traveling 80 mph in a 55 mph zone, sparse with traffic, two to three full seconds of following distance, rarely changing lanes, with properly inflated tires with plenty of tread, a well maintained and checked engine, and an observant driver, this is speeding, but perfectly safe.

This is made even safer when one considers that a good flow of traffic is doing the same thing.

Also, on this issue, I would like to point out to Aimee Vondrak (whose letter to the editor was published on Monday) that license plate covers and protectors are not illegal - they are perfectly legal.

The law states that a license plate must be visible 100 feet directly behind the vehicle. This is still possible with the various protective covers on sale.

My final thought is about the comment that Vondrak is "amazed that this article was even allowed to print." This nation has something that we call freedom of speech.

This includes freedom of the press. We have the right to print anything that we want to print. To go against this right is completely un-American. I cannot believe that she even made this ridiculous statement.

Bret Reese

SENIOR

Bong hits 4 Jesus shows

no rights for students

Students are now on the front lines of the war on drugs. Whether it be random, baseless student drug testing or having police dogs sniffing around school lockers for drugs, students are now feeling the heavy-handedness of the government's overzealous efforts to keep them "drug free."

Get busted smoking a joint and lose federal funding for education. Talk about bong hits and face suspension. Where will it end?

Kenneth Starr used the Supreme Court as a worldwide theater to advocate the government's zero policy views on the war on drugs. He even had former drug czar Barry McCaffrey stand beside him on the Supreme Court steps for a photo op.

Win or lose this case, he got his point across to millions of people. The student in the case was punished with suspension for displaying a banner off campus that went against the school's anti-drug mission.

In the government's attempt to win the drug war, it has little regard for our precious given rights as outlined in the Constitution.

Drug users and people wrestling with addiction everywhere are routinely demonized by the moral majority. Chip by chip or, in this case, bong hit by bong hit, our fundamental rights are going up in smoke.

Americans across the land must be made better aware of this travesty.

Everyone who is concerned about free speech should be concerned with the outcome of this case.

If the government can silence us about the drug war today, they can silence us on Iraq tomorrow and global warming the day after that.

Anthony Papa

WEB DEVIL READER


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