Partisanship, not science supports Tilghman's stance

Regarding 'Tilghman to address stem cell symposium' (April 22):

President Tilghman says, "We have to weigh the rights and privileges of a ball of cells versus those of a child with juvenile diabetes and judge between them. I'm willing to trade a potential life for the sake of helping living human beings who are suffering from intractable diseases."

Tilghman has no concern with the bearing of scientific fact on her own partisan viewpoint. She says the public has to judge in this matter, then misrepresents what the judgment is about, claiming that is issue regards the rights and privileges of "a ball of cells" and "a potential life." Perhaps her emotions and personal faith tell her this is all an embryo is. But the facts of science prove otherwise, and Tilghman, a biologist, should know better.

The human embryo is not "a ball of cells." It is a unique, genetically complete and distinct human being.

Furthermore, a human embryo is not "a potential life." Rather, it is a human life at an early stage of development. Shirley Tilghman herself began her life as an embryo.

Unfortunately, our University's president is promoting a partisan viewpoint, unsubstantiated by both science and reason, in addressing this important issue. Margaret Zagroba '07 Vice president, Princeton Pro-Life

Amid campus bustle, a Veterans Day memorial

In our busy lives of classes, practices and meetings, it was difficult to take time Thursday to remember that it was Veterans Day. Many students with whom I spoke had no idea that Thursday was even a national day of remembrance; others, including myself, spent little time thinking about the sacrifices American soldiers have made for our freedom.

As I was walking back from Firestone Library to Witherspoon Hall Thursday evening, I saw that someone had placed a bouquet of flowers on the Class of 1944 World War II memorial bench, just south of West College. I stared at the moving image for several moments, and then I kneeled down and, for the first time since I've been at school, read the names of the soldiers for whom the bench is dedicated. In the next few days, I hope everyone takes the time to do the same. To whoever laid down the flowers, thank you and God bless. Rob Bernstein '08

Article omits Arafat's terrorist activities

I was shocked and dismayed by the ridiculously laudatory coverage given to terrorist mastermind Yasser Arafat in 'Campus speculates on impact of Arafat's death' (Nov. 12).

Not once was it mentioned that Arafat had a history of direct involvement with such terrorist groups as Fatah, Black September and the al Aqsa Martyrs Brigade. Not mentioned was Arafat's involvement in the Munich Games massacre, the Ma'alot school attack, and the Ben Gurion Airport attack to name only a small sampling, not to mention direct involvement in the attack on the American Embassy in the Sudan, which led to the death of Cleo Noel among others. Not mentioned is Arafat's rejection of a two-state solution at Camp David in 2000, thus ending hopes of peace in the Middle East. None of this is even raised for consideration in the article.

Arafat was a terrorist. He appeared in the General Assembly of the United Nations wearing military fatigues and a pistol belt — hardly the attire of a distinguished statesman. William O. Scharf '08