USG went overboard in punishing Flaxman '07

Regarding 'USG vote encounters problems' (Dec. 6):

I was disappointed to read about the USG's witch-hunt of vice presidential candidate Freddy Flaxman '07. I seriously doubt that any member of the Jadwin Jungle perceived Flaxman's email as a threat to the existence of the organization. I understood the message as a statement of Flaxman's priorities, one of which is to continue the growth of the best campus tradition started in recent memory. Rather than reprimand him, I should think that the USG would applaud Flaxman's organization for encouraging student attendance and involvement at athletic events.

In my four years at Princeton I have seen clubs surge in membership, only to falter the next year as founding members graduate or become too busy with theses and job searches. If Flaxman had stated that he would ensure the propagation of the Juggling Club, I doubt that the USG would have taken action. If he had vowed to make sure that the fight for a 24-hour study space continues, I doubt his words would have been misconstrued as a threat.

Through its actions the USG leaves itself vulnerable to a variety of criticisms. Its actions suggest that it was intimidated by the fact that Flaxman has 800 student email addresses at the tip of his fingers. If the USG wants to maintain the student body's respect it should expend its energy on legitimate atrocities, and it should prevent the portrayal of its members as overzealous, power-hungry remnants of the McCarthy era. Jiffy Bennett '05

Vision without a plan no way to change Princeton

Yesterday's letters to the editor in support of Leslie-Bernard Joseph '06 make me understand how a nation misled, desperate and disenchanted can vote for the guy who led them down that dubious road.

The first writer points to the uniqueness of Joseph's posters — which I found particularly unremarkable and uninformative — and his idea of "fulfilling Princeton's motto." I have no idea what that means; it's a nice idea, to be sure, but how we go about achieving that goal is the key.

For all the flack the 'Prince' received for its lukewarm, guarded and slightly ambiguous endorsement, it pointed to the crux of the issue — the need for a plan.

Vision is one thing and Joseph is right to point to critical issues facing this student body. However, Joseph's candidate statement builds a cathedral of hope with no mortar. Lack of a plan is his main problem; his platform is one of lofty goals and empty promises to "make our world a better place."

How lovely.

Callaghan, on the other hand, has a vision and a plan — just look at his website — that speaks for itself.

Somehow the American people reelected the man who had no plan for postwar Iraq; let's not elect a USG president with no concrete plan to change Princeton. Brandon Parry '06