Anti-gun violence
The article "Anti-violence group questions school gun policy" (Aug. 26) got several facts just plain wrong. First, the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence is not an "anti-gun" group. It is a "Gun Violence Prevention" group. I have belonged to this group since 2000 and should know. The Brady Campaign in against guns in the possession of the wrong people. The Supreme Court has even noted that certain restrictions on gun ownership (felons, mentally ill etc.) should be regulated. Currently, this is not the case and that is what the organization is trying to fix. When portraying a certain activist group, the media needs to publish the correct facts (and not blatant false perceptions).
Secondly, the Brady Campaign does not employ consultants. They have their own legal staff which analyzes state regulations and laws.
Lastly, whether on one's person or in a teacher's desk, guns do not belong in our schools. The chance that a child will pick the firearm up and use it or misfire it are increased when guns are in schools than if they are not. The chances are increased which means death and injury are increased. I don't believe any parent would want to place their child in an environment where this can occur. Chances for injury and death from easy access to a firearm in school far outweigh the chance that a rampage shooter will enter the school. These competing probabilities need to be considered when enacting these policies. To do otherwise is simply to propagate the NRA agenda and to sell more guns and increase profits for the firearm industry.
Anna Astalas Online reader
Mooov-In thank you to UT community
Now that classes have started, I want to thank UT faculty, staff, the entire Division of Housing and Food Service and the University Residence Hall Association for all the efforts during Mooov-In. This out-of-classroom interaction is a value-added component of the learning environment here at UT.
We would particularly like to thank our Faculty Fellows for taking the time to volunteer for Mooov-In during this busy time of year. As always, we appreciate their commitment to our residents and the students of the University.
We in the Division of Housing and Food Service would also like to invite all faculty members to join our Faculty Fellows Program. This is another fun and rewarding opportunity for faculty-student interaction. Faculty Fellows meet with a team of student Resident Assistants to create opportunities for residents to interact with faculty in a casual setting, helping students to become more comfortable in their relationships with faculty. For more information on joining the program, please contact Cat Sanders (232-5590, csanders@austin.utexas.edu).
Thank you again for your help.
Floyd B. Hoelting Division of Housing and Food Service director
Mixed messages
While the death penalty may be (and probably is) immoral, ineffective, bad policy, etc., Hooman Hedayati's suggestion that we could all use more of Justice Stevens' "clarity and vision" borders on the absolutely ridiculous ("No moratorium on the death penalty's flaws," Aug. 27). His view that the death penalty violates the Eighth Amendment showcases all that is problematic with the idea of a "Living Constitution." How can a document ban a punishment that it specifically permits? Outside of simply ignoring the Constitution itself and substituting one's own personal beliefs, there is no reasonable argument to be made for the idea that the Eighth Amendment (ratified in 1791) prohibits what the Fourteenth Amendment (ratified in 1868) specifically allows.
Micah Kegley Graduate law student
Putting Wilson in perspective
Recent news items about Charlie Wilson portray him as a lone superhero who, for better or worse, set in motion seismic events in the Hindu Kush that ultimately led to the attacks of 9/11 ("Faculty dispute plan to honor Wilson," Aug. 28). In the post-Vietnam War 1980s, the U.S. chose to use surrogates such as Jonas Savimbi and UNITA in Angola and the Contras in Nicaragua to counter the expansionist goals of the USSR. Wilson was simply the instrument, along with the Afghan mujahadeen, of the U.S. policy of containment of the USSR.
After the victory of the mujahadeen over the USSR, the U.S. should have stayed on to nurture progressive movements not only in Afghanistan but also in Pakistan. Instead, the U.S. slipped away and left those countries to fester with economic difficulties. Fundamentalist mullahs with anti-U.S. rhetoric filled the gaps in the government educational systems, and the heroic mujahadeen morphed into the despicable Taliban.
Instead of building long-term, committed relationships with nations and ethnic groups, the U.S. has often been involved in the diplomatic equivalent of one-night stands, moving on after satisfying certain ephemeral needs. At worst, Charlie Wilson's ventures may present some evidence of self-promotion. At least he was able, as an individual, to sustain the respect and friendship of peoples whom the U.S. has alienated with its fickleness. Having a chair of Pakistan studies named after Charlie Wilson should make us cringe no more than having the Nobel Peace Prize named after the inventor of dynamite. By having a forum to freely discuss issues relating to Pakistan, maybe we can open up new ways to connect to the country and people which formerly enjoyed a close friendship with the U.S.
Bob Gallagher South Asia Institute graduate student
Putting Wilson in perspective II
While it is not surprising that academics would sign a letter to prevent the chair for Pakistan studies to be named after former congressman Charlie Wilson, it is unfortunate. Wilson was a great American who strived to further U.S. interests in the region, fight communism and bring democracy where there wasn't any. Sadly, his efforts to bring to democracy to Afghanistan fell short, but his hard work did play a major part in bringing down the evil empire of the Soviet Union.
As the University of Texas is a state-funded institution, its regional studies departments should exist to train and educate people who will go on to promote U.S. interests, whether they're economic, political or military. Faculty should remember that they too are responsible to American taxpayers.
Given his service to his country in the U.S. Navy and in Congress, I can think of no better person to name the chair after than Charlie Wilson.
Samuel J. Ellison Middle Eastern studies senior
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