Letters to the Editor

Grad students 'don't bite'

More intellectual discussion on campus? Why not look to Princeton's most neglected resource: graduate students. We (well, some of us) love talking to undergrads and especially talking about ideas. Among ourselves, grad students just natter about work and academic gossip, it's so rare to engage with arguments, politics, religion, etc.

Perhaps those advocating for elevated discourse should invite some grad students out to the eating clubs, dorms, Cafe Vivian, cafeterias, even parties. Though some of us are "sketchy," we don't bite. Anyone interested? Elliot Ratzman GS

Defending the freedom to drive SUVs

Robin Williams's article ("Irresponsibility and SUV's," Jan. 10) is a distressing example of blue-sky thinking that would just be silly coming from the average voter, but is frightening coming from a Wilson school major.

Williams complains about the dangers SUV's pose to other people and the environment. But SUV's are safer than the average car for the SUV driver — an important concern for a family car. They emit carbon dioxide — just like any other car. They emit some toxic gases, but those are as strictly limited as in any other car. They get stuck in traffic, just like any other car.

By making cars twice as efficient, Williams says, we could cut our oil dependence in half. Engines these days tend to have thermal efficiencies on the order of 40-50% or higher. The laws of physics forbid combustion engines much more efficient than that. There are alternative energy sources, like fuel cells — but those can't deliver enough power to run a car yet. There are new fuel-electric hybrids — but then the pollution comes from the power plan that creates the electricity to power the car.

Apparently, the key concept "There's no such thing as a free lunch" isn't taught in the Wilson school anymore. There are pretty much always tradeoffs in a decision. My Chrysler Cirrus is a nice small car, reasonably cheap used, and gets pretty good gas mileage (~26 mpg highway.) My mom, on the other hand, owns a Chrysler Plymouth that gets maybe 18 mpg highway, and even worse when fully loaded. But my Cirrus can't hold as much cargo, and would be more dangerous in a crash.

There are benefits to small cars, large cars, and light truck/SUVs. In America, we let the consumer decide—without taxing products that some don't like. In America, we believe in freedom of trade and commerce, and the concept of consumer choice. Hopefully, Wilson school majors learn about such freedoms at some point. Brian Beck '05