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With all the talk of air quality in Woodbury Campus Center, and the
smoking ban around buildings, one would think that the University would start thinking about the idling buses around campus. It hurts my lungs more to inhale a fresh cloud of diesel fumes, than a cloud of second hand smoke from the smokers on campus. How hard is it to shut off a bus? This is something that I hope that our student representitives and university management will seriously consider if they are actually concerned with student health.
Jason Klucik
Junior, Physics
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I must say that I was completely shocked when I learned that our United States Legislature approved a bill that would allow for partial birth abortions to be illegal. I was even more appalled to learn that this passed 64-33.
I don’t believe that our nation really understands the severity of this proposed bill.
For one, banning partial birth abortions is unnecessary. The majority of abortions that are done during the second or third trimester are done because the woman’s life, or the child’s life is at risk. Partial birth abortions are not the norm.
Secondly, I believe that Bush is pushing for this bill to pass in order to continue his crusade against women’s reproductive rights. Because there is no set definition for a partial birth abortion, this term can be loosely interpreted. I have read many articles that state that this vague term will cause for misinterpretation of abortions as a whole, specifically those done during the first trimester.
Causing this undefined term to be illegal will result in many problems for women’s reproductive rights as a whole. I honestly believe that Bush is pushing for this bill so that he can then use this loose interpretation against us. There will be a case that will go up to the Supreme Court, questioning the legality of an abortion that a doctor preformed. If the Supreme Court is represented by a majority of anti-abortion judges (which is what Bush intends to do during his presidency), then the legality of abortions as a whole will be at stake. Roe v. Wade would be overturned.
We cannot let this happen. We cannot allow our president to slowly destroy a woman’s right to choose. The decision made in Roe v. Wade had the laws in 46 states changed and abortion became legal. The reversal of this decision would cause for the laws in 50 states to be changed, and abortion to become illegal. We must let our president know that this is not acceptable; we will not stand by and watch him reverse the rights that took women hundreds of years to ensure.
Sincerely,
Erin Brown
Women’s Studies major, University of Southern Maine.
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I was reading this week’s Free Press and would like to share some issues I have with some of the articles and your delivery policies with you.
First issue; If the “Students for Green Politics” are going to ask the Student Senate to pass a Peace resolution against the war in Iraq they should remember that they are only a few voices in a large university. If the Student Senate decides to take up the subject of sending a message to anyone concerning the war in Iraq in the name of the university they should only do so after polling the entire university, staff and students. The results of the poll should be posted for all to see before any resolution is passed.
Second issue; would it be possible to be able to read at least one issue of the Free Press without a story from someone spouting off about being Gay, Lesbian, Bi or whatever. I can’t understand why someone thinks the entire campus would be interested in his or her sexual preferences. I have to admit the titles some people use in describing themselves are very interesting. I thought the title genderqueer was a little odd. I’m 50 years old and still not sure what genderqueer really means. The story about “The Great Fagolito” (I think this was the term used in the column 2 weeks ago) was a little over the top and this week’s story is about Intersexuality. So you dress differently and enjoy different life styles, SO WHAT!! I prefer boxer shorts instead of briefs, SO WHAT! Do you think everyone in the university needs the mental image of me in my underwear? I don’t think so. Do I need to read about someone’s alternative lifestyle bedroom choices every week? I don’t think so. Give it a rest for a couple of weeks will you? Why don’t you print a nice story about spring Turkey hunting or fishing season opening?
Technology Education major, senior. Thank You, Joe Aldoupolis
Editor’s Note: “Count Me OUT” is a regular column which was accepted by The Free Press after the column submission guidelines were met. For a copy of these guidelines, please feel free to e-mail The Free Press at [email protected] or call to request a fax (207) 780-4084 x. 1.
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Ms. Adams- Thanks for your fine and sensitive editorial. I would only point out that the we ought not think that the Holocaust was a Jewish event or that it ought to remain a Jewish concern. No, rather this was a human event and remains a human concern and it should not matter whether or not someone Jewish supported the PETA campaign. That someone –anyone- funded it and did so in a way that devlaues the lives of those lost is the problem.
Many thanks,
Mark Lapping Professor of Public Policy in the Muskie School of Public
Service.