I want to thank all NMU students that attended last Thursday’s nationally televised football game. Your enthusiasm, signs, body painting and behavior were tremendous! We have heard many compliments regarding you, and want each and every one of you to know that you can be proud of yourselves.

Tom Izzo, head basketball coach at Michigan State University, was amazed at the student enthusiasm and the excitement it brought to the game.

We hope you had a great time. Attending different campus events (not just athletic events) is all part of the collegiate experience. Take advantage of the many campus events offered. Those involved with the events — musicians, actors, student-athletes, etc. Appreciate your attendance.

Again, thank you for attending and GO CATS!

Ken Godfrey

Athletic Director

Palin critique faulty

I am writing in response to Claire Abent’s Sept.. 18 column on Sarah Palin.

I won’t even comment on the ridiculous accusations Claire dotted her editorial with, including my personal favorite, “Palin may be a woman, but she is, without a doubt, against women.” That statement bears not one facet of lucidity.

Correct me if I’m wrong, but I was under the impression that liberals love powerful women who build substantial careers and possess enough depth and intellect to hold public office. I guess the fact that Sarah Palin is able to do so while remaining faithful to her husband and raising five beautiful children is enough to throw any Democrat for a loop. An intelligent woman with a loving husband, a bunch of kids, a successful career and a staunch dedication to life and her country? Wow, I can’t even fathom anything quite as “frightening.”

There are only a few weeks to the election and I love seeing Sarah Palin’s name in the press. In my opinion, her name being seen or heard every day is only heightening her popularity and proving that (although Democrats hate to admit it) America is involved in a deep, obsessive love affair with her.

So, as your fellow American voter, I extend my deepest thanks to the North Wind for printing the column on Sarah Palin. While it may not have been the motive, you succeeded in putting her in the spotlight once again, which will probably and hopefully benefit the McCain campaign in the end.

Emily Schmitz

senior, elementary education

In the Sept. 18 2008, North Wind, Claire Abent wrote that, “What scares me most is that with her (Sarah Palin) as vice president, we as a nation would regress away from anything resembling forward thinking.” I have news for Abent though, Americans are not looking for forward thinking; they are looking for better thinking. I would rather have backward thinking in the right direction than forward thinking in the wrong direction.

I am an undecided voter but the systematic rant which sought to pick apart Palin for her pro-life stance was, to say the least, disturbing. Abent writes when referring to abortion that, “Palin may be a woman, but she is, without a doubt, against women.” Really? Well then, maybe next week we should expect to see an article in the North Wind accusing Barack Obama of being racist against African Americans. The truth of the matter is that being a woman and being pro-life is not a contradiction, it’s the logical position to take. Why? Female fetuses everywhere from China to the United States are aborted with higher frequency. Being pro-life protects a woman’s most fundamental right then: the right to life.

Characterizing Palin as a radical because she opposes abortion in cases of rape and incest seems fair. However, being a radical doesn’t make you wrong. I know children that are the result of rape, but should they pay the penalty for their father’s crime? I have cared for kids who are the products of incest; they have a right to life as much as you or I.

My little sister was an unplanned pregnancy, and I couldn’t imagine my life without her. Please don’t kid yourself, men and women who are pro-life are not against the women, just ask one of the many pro-lifers I know who have adopted children, even children with severe handicaps.

Anders Gillis

senior, secondary education