Letters to the Editor

Let Public Safety use Facebook, if it helps

Regarding 'Facing facebook.com' (Thursday, March 16, 2006):

Maybe it is because I am not on campus this year and have not felt the effects of Big Brother, but I can't help but feel that the issue of Public Safety using facebook.com is being blown out of proportion. Public Safety using Facebook means that we shouldn't post incriminating photos of ourselves online, which is probably a good rule to follow in general. And though I don't mind that Public Safety's Facebook presence might discourage someone from filling the hallways with trash or climbing up my hallway, it doesn't necessarily spell the death of those activities.

It's silly how we are trying to punish Public Safety by telling our friends to block them and to poke them repeatedly because they are simply doing their jobs. I have visited a lot of other Ivy League campuses, and I have to say that we got it pretty good with our Public Safety. We could be at Dartmouth and have to go to parties in dark, musky cellars where they keep turning off the lights every five minutes to tell underage drinkers to drop their alcohol because their public safety is inspecting the party for underage drinking. If Facebook makes Public Safety's job easier or saves time, I don't see what the problem is. Public Safety being on Facebook is not something we should start a war over.

Edward Hoa '08

No cheater deserves diploma at Princeton

Regarding 'A code to be proud of' (Tuesday, March 14, 2006):

Chris Lloyd's hope that convicted students return "having learned lessons of integrity" is honorable but inappropriate. The Honor Code is not a rehabilitative system. It should be enforced in order to punish those who cheat in equal proportion to their crime, and there is no moral wrong more severe in an academic setting than cheating. "Having to take a year off" is more of a slap on the wrist and an admonition to "do better next time" than true punishment. Princeton, one of the greatest academic institutions in the world, should not concern itself with teaching academic integrity. We should expect it, require it, demand it and expel from our community permanently those who fail to live by it. Cheating at Princeton is an insult to the institution, to the community and to anyone who has ever honestly attempted to graduate from the University. No cheater deserves a Princeton diploma, ever.

Michael Short '07

Heal thyself, doctor

Regarding 'Muslims and the media' (Thursday, March 16, 2006):

Jason Sheltzer imagines that religiously-inspired injustice is at present largely confined to the lands of Muhammad. As he says, "Many religions go through periods of violent, xenophobic turmoil. It so happens that Islam is going through such a phase now." Ah, what relief! The medieval mindset vanquished, modern Judaism and Christianity have happily moved beyond that sort of thing. If only Islam would follow suit.

Is Sheltzer aware that not so long ago, under the pernicious influence of the Roman Church, the law of the Republic of Ireland denied abortions even to young girls who had been raped? Sheltzer faults the Palestinian electorate for installing Hamas. Perhaps he has forgotten the Israeli habit of making terrorists into prime ministers. No less than two prime ministers of the modern state of Israel headed up the murderous bombing of the King David Hotel; indeed, the current prime minister, never mind his connection to the illegal occupation of Palestinian soil, was named culprit in the brutal Beirut massacres by a tribunal of his own countrymen.

The passion aroused by ancient scribblings can undoubtedly be a dangerous poison. But before we hurl indignant accusations at the believing Arab world, ought we not to examine our own standing in this respect, and that of our allies? Heal thyself, doctor.