Coulter will foster campus-wide debate
I am writing to respectfully disagree with my colleague, Dr. Mohey Mowafy (Feb. 28), in his opposition to Ann Coulter’s imminent visit to Northern. Although I believe that Coulter is an abomination, I welcome her visit and relish the opportunity to challenge her appalling ideas in a public forum. I also believe that the College Republicans could have made a much, much better and less expensive choice. But that’s beside the point.

The university is a place where reasonable people can and should debate all ideas without restriction in wide-open public forums. This fundamental principle is central to the meaning of a university, and Northern is no exception. Moreover, the College Republicans have as much right to apply for Student Activity Fee funding as any other legitimate student organization. It is not for me or Dr. Mowafy to challenge that right simply because we object to their choice of presenter or the content of the presentation.

A better response would be for all students of good conscience to join the Progressive Student Forum in developing an appropriate response to Coulter’s visit in the form of concurrent or next day presentations, workshops and information tables.

Having said all this, however, I must say that I sympathize with those individuals and groups who are the target of Coulter’s nastiness. I can imagine a Muslim or a gay person saying to me, “To hell with your high-minded ideals, this woman wants me dead.” Regardless, my hope is that we can learn from Coulter’s visit, transcend our fears, and confront this nightmarish person with courage and with the strength of our convictions and intellect.

I am reminded of the movie “The Ten Commandments”, in which Pharaoh at one point hollers at Moses in exasperation: “Let him rave so men shall know him mad.” In this case, of course, let Coulter rave so we shall know her mad.

Marcus C. Robyns
Associate Professor and University Archivist

Michigan beef is safe, despite national recall
In light of the recent Hallmark/Westland beef recall, I want to remind consumers that the safety of Michigan’s food supply – from farm to fork – is paramount and continues to be the Michigan Department of Agriculture’s (MDA) top priority. This is a serious responsibility in today’s global marketplace where, if we’re not vigilant, problems of every type can impact our food – whether it was produced here or on the other side of the world.

On a daily basis, local and state food inspectors assure the safety of the food supply by conducting inspections, collecting samples and testing food to detect hazards, responding to consumer complaints, enforcing food standards and labeling, removing unwholesome food from commerce, responding to recalls, food emergencies and disasters, licensing facilities, and providing food export certification.

The bottom line is Michigan consumers expect that the food they purchase and eat is safe; and MDA will continue to be vigilant in protecting the state’s food supply.

Don Koivisto, Director
Michigan Department of Agriculture