Benefit policy deters student
I am not a student of the University of Texas at Austin, but was considering it. I was accepted into the graduate advertising program, which is well-respected in the field, and I was also offered a fellowship that covered tuition and living expenses for one year. I accepted the fellowship, but later found out that the University does not offer to domestic partners employee benefits or the same graduate housing that they offer married couples. I could not, in good conscience, accept the fellowship after discovering this about the University, and I have since resigned from the offer. Considering 100 universities offer these benefits in America, including virtually all top-tier universities, I assumed that UT-Austin would as well.
Bryan Chauvel Optimization Specialist Google Inc.
Chorush: 'Getting shot sucks'
In response to the April 17 Viewpoint and April 21 column regarding guns on campus: The chances of being shot on campus by a lunatic are probably the same as the chances of being struck by lightning. Because of the wealth of UT, we have a UTPD station with many officers patrolling the campus and a great communication network. I have gone into drinking bars in poor neighborhoods and have felt less threatened than the people who complain about feeling defenseless on campus.
People get angry all the time and can become impulsive.
Now, while it may take some effort to throttle someone or pick up a baseball bat, it would be quite easy to lash out by squeezing a trigger. Carrying a handgun may seem cool, but I could care less about image in this matter. Getting shot sucks, and even though police get out of hand at times, at least they are more trustworthy than over-empowered college students.
Ben Chorush UT alum
Brush fires for guns
In response to "The right to be protected," April 21: Jeff Shi is right. Our nation and most of the world have become indoctrinated by images of weapons being used for murder and crime, while the man down the street who saves his daughter's life when the presence of a weapon scares away the thief breaking through his window is never even heard of.
It's nice for once to see somebody actually use a logical argument regarding gun control policy. For too long have ridiculous policies that don't make us safe or reduce crime and only strip us of our rights been in effect. For too long have we let our society take the blame away from criminals and put it on a piece of property. The demagogues have had their way for long enough, and it's time we put some sense back into this thing we call our government.
I doubt this article will get much sympathy, considering its audience, but as Samuel Adams once said: "It does not require a majority to prevail, but rather an irate, tireless minority keen to set brush fires in people's minds."
Micah Scheler Mechanical engineering junior
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