Letters to the Editor

Arbiter, administration atheist communists

Personally, I am glad to see the Arbiter dethroned as the only paper on the Boise State campus. I was getting tired of its administration-backed messages of liberalism, communism and atheism delivered to me twice a week. BSU must be held accountable for the lies it spreads, promotes and encourages to all the students it harbors.

Mike Allen

ASBSU doctored photo letter inaccurate

I would like to take this opportunity to clarify a letter to the editor in the Dec. 3 issue regarding the use of a photo on a Boise State advertising panel at the Boise Airport. The letter, for some reason known only to the author, claims the photo features Boise State administrators Peg and Larry Blake and that it was taken in Nebraska, rather than in Idaho.

The author asks the question, “Why is this picture on the sign promoting BSU?”

Here is the answer. The photo, which has been used in several publications as well as the airport sign, was taken by the Boise State photographer during an Introduction to Field Geology field trip near Marsing in October 1998. The individuals who are supposedly the Blakes are either students or their colleagues who were on the field trip. That is why it is on a sign promoting BSU.

The accusation that the photo is an instance of “deceptive and misleading advertisements” that “passes administrators off as students” is, to put it mildly, irresponsible and inaccurate.

Larry Burke

University Relations

ASBSU doctored photo letter still inaccurate

Trevor Klein’s letter about the “misleading” display at the airport raises some interesting questions:

Accountability: Does Trevor have a responsibility to retract and/or apologize for falsely accusing the University of lying? Might he consider an apology to the Blakes for charging them with putting “themselves before the fine students” which is the antithesis of their years of service here at BSU?

Investigative Skills: Where did he develop his “investigating” skills? Based on the actual facts it seems he might consider some electives in our Criminal Justice program.

Visual Acuity: How does he possibly see the images of Peg and Larry in the photo? Is it a significant vision issue or has he never seen the Blakes up close?

Geography: Does Trevor really believe there is a “desert area” in the State of Nebraska? Does he know that he’d be hard put to find a hill similar to that in the photo in the entire state? I would suggest some electives in our Geo-Science program might prove beneficial.

Representation: Given he signed as ASBSU Student Relations Coordinator do his faulty observations, inaccurate assumptions, and off the wall charges reflect the opinion of ASBSU? I doubt it.

Robert S. Fritsch

ASBSU photo letter indeed inaccurate

As an individual committed to accuracy and fairness in the media, I publicly retract the letter to the editor written by ASBSU Student Relations Director Trevor Klein in the last issue.

Klein claims that a student picture is actually a picture of the Vice President of Student Affairs Peg Blake and her husband. This is inaccurate and unfair to Blake, who in fact was not in the picture.

I sincerely apologize for the article being written and for any ill effect that it might have incurred upon her. The article was not meant to be false and the messenger was an unknowing carrier of false information.

Nate Peterson

ASBSU president

Opinions should not be based on race or background

Are members of minority groups the only people who are allowed to voice opinions on issues of race and gender? I’ve noticed a lot of people citing their race when they write-in to The Arbiter as though their race makes their opinion (note: not experience) more valid than someone else’s.

Since when does the color of your skin, heritage, or gender determine if your opinion and thoughts are valid? Do we censor people based on race and gender when it comes to social issues? It all sounds like a step back in history to me. Why don’t we judge an opinion based on clear reasoning and debate rather than resorting to outward appearances?

Is my opinion on gender and the role of females in society of more value than that of a man’s? Or is my opinion valid because I am a free-thinking individual in a free society?

The beauty of freedom is that I can use reason and choice to either agree or disagree with various opinions. This choice has nothing to do with my physical appearance, but with the thoughts within my brain.

Genetics may have made me who I am on the outside, but it is my mind that formulates opinion, reason, and belief. So why are some people’s opinions discredited based solely on their race or gender? If we buy into the notion of living in a free-thinking society then why does the vehicle or mold by which a message is delivered important?

Should anyone who is not white be able to talk about anglo issues? Of course! Should anyone who is not an American Indian be able to talk about American Indian issues? Of course!

Finally, is Mr. Thomas’ opinion invalid because he appears white? Or is it because he does not take a leftist stance on the issue? What if I told you his Grand-father was a member of the Sioux tribe? Would his opinion be valid then?

Christy Gunnerson

Right or Left – what’s the big deal?

I must say, all the quarreling back and forth between the so-called leftists and conservatives has provided me with much entertainment over the course of this semester. However, I still do not understand why on earth people insist on arguing over such petty topics. Allow me to explain.

Everybody has the right to their own unique opinion. Although, at least in terms of what I have seen and also experienced first hand, most people in this university, in this city, and in this country seem to feel the need to debunk every other theory out there except their own. Why is this? There is absolutely nothing to be gained by arguing with people over which opinion is the most correct. In the grand scheme of things, does it really matter? The answer, in my own opinion of course, is no.

I find it very sad that so many people in the world today think that they have the right to criticize other people for holding different beliefs.

In my own opinion, both ‘liberals’ and ‘conservatives’ are extremely closed-minded. Let me explain my reasoning behind this. Each side has firmly held beliefs on many issues. However, neither side is capable of even seeing where differing viewpoints are coming from. Those who believe in a woman’s right to choose do not even try to see why others would believe in the right to life for a fetus. In contrast, those who believe in the right to life for a fetus are guilty of the same crime. This is just a simple example, but it serves the purpose.

In conclusion, I just wish that people would have enough faith in their own personal beliefs to go ahead with what they believe in, instead of trying to tear down someone else’s beliefs. After all, when it comes down to it, all that really matters is what you believe, not what someone else may wrongly believe.

Elizabeth A. Steffen

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