College Democrats
There are a couple of errors in the article “College Democrats” (3/17) which deserve published correction in the interest of accurate reporting and an informed student body.
First, in the discussion reported on by David O’Donnell, “economic equality” was never mentioned as a value held by any group member. What was mentioned was equality of opportunity.
“Economic equality” sounds synonymous with communism, a system that commonly breeds equality of poverty and not one advocated by any Democrat.
Equality of opportunity, on the other hand, is something far different both philosophically and in practice.
People’s interests and abilities will always vary; some people will choose more arduous work for the financial benefits it entails, others will choose a more leisurely existence. Incentives for hard work need to remain.
What seems most just, then, is to establish policies that allow a person adequate choice in how to live his or her life. This means, at the preliminary level, ensuring that educational opportunities are available that allow for upward social mobility.
Bill Clinton may have been a controversial leader, but the Democratic policies of his administration allowed millions more people to attend college than during the last eight years of Republican rule.
Second, I cannot recall any group member demoting “free and open debate” to second in value to anything: we cherish it as the fundamental component of good government.
We share Learned Hand’s view that “opinions are at best provisional hypotheses, incompletely tested. The more they are tested…the more assurance we may assume, but they are never absolutes. So we must be tolerant of opposite opinions.”
Jeff Doucette
Senior
College Democrat
Request for the “Right”
I am writing to commend Dustin and his column. In the three years I have been at USM, no one has been able to stir up as much debate as his column, an achievement in itself.
What disappointed me though, was the lack of mention of the flag in the list of things in his column of March 11. Does Dustin not believe in the flag as the representation of the living country?
The lack of discussion of flag code and the numerous violations visited upon this important symbol was a real oversight. For a person claiming to be a patriot of the United States, they should be sure to be familiar with these important laws.
The not-punishable nature of flag law has meant people, on a daily basis, get away with insulting the very symbol designed to represent them.
I call on Dustin to address this serious oversight in a future column.
David Brown
Senior
To Whom It May Concern:
This fall, I will begin my senior year at the University of Southern Maine and for the first time I have not been granted Federal Work Study. When I reviewed my award, I thought there had been a mistake.
As a full-time student, I rely on work-study to help pay my bills so I can continue my education unhindered by a full-time, off campus job.
After communicating with the Financial Aid office I was rudely informed by an advisor that, due to new policies, I had not fallen within the parameters of the work study award. This happened despite my standing as a senior, having financial need greater than the past and applying well before the priority deadline.
I soon realized that I was not alone.
Many of my peers have received substantially smaller aid packages than ever in their academic career, and very few have been granted work-study, despite having previously received and utilized it.
USM is in a financial crisis. This has led to budget cuts and widespread layoffs, which influence campus morale.
As students, my peers and I also feel the affects of the administrative decisions made.
Not only are we worried about how to support ourselves while taking classes, but are also subject to employees of the university taking their frustrations out on us.
While trying to figure out how to pay my bills next semester, I was interrogated and dealt with callously by a financial aid officer. I understand her frustration, but I deserve better than this.
I chose to come to USM for many reasons, and as someone paying to be here I believe I deserve as such.
A co-worker, currently a USM undergraduate, has been forced to reevaluate her plans to attend USM for grad school in the fall, owing to a poor financial aid package.
Understandably, the university’s situation is severe, especially given the fact that student enrollment and retention are major issues. But without students, you don’t have a university.
We need a positive environment to learn and work in, and without that, we will look elsewhere.
Financially in need,
Hilary Manuel
Junior
Media Studies
Granny’s writes
The following response to “Mourning the big burrito” (Feb. 11) was written last week on our website edition:
A friend offered me a quote one day when I was frustrated by the incredibly inaccurate bullshit rumors I had heard about myself.
“Great minds talk about ideas, good minds talk about events, weak minds talk about people.”
It is so much easier to project weaknesses and faults towards others than ourselves.
Not to say that connecting alcohol and drug abuse to the restaurant business is a big stretch, but look around you: do you have any concept of how expensive it is to run a reasonably priced and socially responsible business in this world?
Walk a mile in my shoes and then make your assumptions.
Christopher Godin
Owner of all the blame for the demise of Granny’s Burritos
The Declaration makes no guarantees
I am unsure which “left” or “right” perspective first made this mistake in the recent issues of the Free Press. I caught it in the most recent issue, March 17th in Laura Ashworth’s column, “Some food for thought…”
The following snippet is incorrect:
“… the Declaration of Independence, which guarantees every American citizen the right to “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”
The Declaration makes no such guarantees. The Declaration is a condemnation of British rule of the colonies and makes the case for separation. It is not the document that sets out our rights as citizens of the United States.
The Constitution sets the framework for, and the Amendments (Bill of Rights, etc.) set out our rights and the limits on our government.
Stephen Houser
Professor of Computer Science
Director of Information & Technology