Readership Program

While the March 27 editorial argued that the student activity fee cost of $5.76 is far too high, I believe an increase of less than one-fifth of one percent of full-time tuition is more than justified in the value of current and convenient access to world issues.

The author assumes that the 700 daily papers are not adequate to serve the student body. While I find the cartoon supporting this argument to be hilarious, the facts are quite contrary.

According to the Readership Program delivery staff, only 90 percent of the papers are being used.

Also, the “needless waste” concept is severely overestimated. A newspaper may be recycled five to seven times before the fibers become too short to use.

The recycling program USA Today is providing free of cost to Northern is an excellent way to help motivate students to continue recycling newspapers, including the 6,000 weekly editions of The North Wind which are often left around campus.

The editorial concludes that students can view the papers’ content online. Although true, many students may enjoy being free of the obnoxious ads and monitor-induced headaches of online reading.

I urge students not to simply think about the Readership Program, but to vote on it on April 8 at asnmu.nmu.edu. We should have the opportunity to be connected to our world however we choose.

Neal Glatt,
Chair of the Readership Program

SFC censure correct

Regarding the decision made by the Student Finance Committee (SFC) to pass a letter of censure on Hobie Webster, I feel that they made the right decision. This individual’s behavior was clearly over the line, and I am disgusted by his apparent lack of remorse in his resignation letter for humiliating the individuals who cast votes with which he did not agree.

I am aware that yes, the SFC’s meetings are open, and that there is some awareness on how certain individuals vote. But to single out individuals because you do not agree on how they vote, in particular, online, is morally wrong.

I want to make myself clear where I stand. I am a Democrat, registered in Illinois.

I hate Ann Coulter with a passion, and I personally think she is quite possibly one of the most obnoxious people in this country. But loud protests and the morally low actions taken to prevent her coming do not and will not work. By doing these actions, one will only give her, and quite possibly, the College Republicans, more firepower. We want to put out the fire, not make it spread any further, and if one has such a problem with this woman’s outrageous views, just don’t attend her presentation. It is simple and silent protest, and it is far more powerful than grumbling or stooping as low as Mr. Webster has done.

Are we going to continue to throw logic, reason and morals to the wind when an objectionable person comes to speak on campus?

An absence of rationality and reason is what is causing polarization in this country and it is highly detrimental.

Do we really want to continue with such polarization at our campus?

Melissa Winecki
Senior, pre-law