Headline too extreme
Regarding 'Senator Hart attacks evangelical Christians' (Wednesday, March 7, 2007):
When I read the title, I was surprised — I thought the title was needlessly provocative and could unnecessarily polarize evangelical Christians on campus — because Sen. Hart made it clear that he was just criticizing a small wing of evangelical Protestantism. While the article did point that out in the first line, it didn't seem to be reflected in the title and other parts of the article. Generally, what the author attributed to "evangelical Christians" would be better attributed to the "religious right," a wing of evangelical Protestantism that hardly describes all of evangelical Christianity. Felix Huang '07
Editor addressed animal rights well
Regarding 'Judge a society by its dish, says Gourmet editor-in-chief' (Wednesday, March 7, 2007):
This article skimmed over Ruth Reichl's main question, namely, why are modern Americans so disturbed to discover the resemblance of their meat to formerly live animals? Why was the audience so shocked by the projected slide of a smiling pig head on a bed of greens?
As the article noted, Reichl looked for this answer in the socio-political stability of past civilizations. Perhaps Reichl would suggest that our modern "squeamishness" is due to our not being on the brink of a revolution.
I wonder whether Reichl missed the more fundamental reason for our squeamishness. Could it be that to look animals in the eye before eating them would require us to recognize our role in the slaughter and suffering of a being — a role that people have the potential to judge immoral?
The nice suburban women who so admire Riechl, after all, can buy clean, blood-free chicken breasts at the supermarket with no thought to the neck-slicing that put them there. Before the industrialization of animal agriculture, people were not so removed from this unfortunate aspect of a carnivorous diet.
I commend Reichl for her answer to an audience member's question about factory farms: Citing the cruel confinement those animals face, Reichl emphatically denied buying or eating factory farmed animals. While I was puzzled by Reichl's failure to mention this distinctive moral stand to adoring fans during her hour-long lecture on meat-eating, I am hopeful that her influence will encourage people to question their blind consumption of dead animals in disguise. Jenny Palmer '09 Co-President Princeton Animal Welfare Society
Not the Wa, but Wawa
Regarding 'Letters to the Editor' (Thursday, March 8, 2007):
I don't really understand why Matt Margolin '05 insists on perpetuating the misguided Princeton stereotype that "the Wa" is somehow an abbreviation for Wawa. It is the same amount of syllables and more letters than Wawa, which is its actual name. Perhaps Margolin should have spent less time emailing his fellow students as USG president and more time studying the English language. Brian McKenna '04
Gag rule outrageous
Regarding ' 'Gag Rule' doll reported stolen' (Monday, March 12, 2007):
I would like to clarify a mischaracterization of the Global Gag Rule. This article about the theft states that "the policy stipulates that foreign NGOs cannot receive U.S. aid if they support abortions as a valid form of family planning."
In fact, the GGR is much more restrictive than that. NGOs are barred from even discussing abortion with patients who request information. Furthermore, if women come to a gagged clinic (any clinic receiving U.S. funds) and request information about abortion providers in her area, the clinic is not even permitted to provide the patient with a referral to an abortion provider.
Unsurprisingly, many NGOs have found this policy unacceptable and have been forced to close clinics for lack of funding. These clinics would otherwise provide a wide range of healthcare, including child immunizations and contraception. The results of the extremely restrictive Global Gag Rule are truly outrageous. Sara Viola '08
Read More
$56,000 in debt at graduation is not the financial aid Princeton advertises
Avi CheslerTake my story as an example — despite repeated evidence, both before and after taking out loans, that I would be unable to pay what Princeton asked of me — the University never set a cost that I could truly meet loan-free.
In the Garden State’s service and the service of humanity
Olivia Ragan, Lauren Aung, and Madison LintonIt is important to cultivate in students interest in local and state level change, because it is the most direct way to give back to the New Jersey community that sustains the University.
Why do two-thirds of your summer research wages go to Princeton, anyway?
Isaac BarsoumThe income that students earn from employment is not “miscellaneous.” So Princeton must decide: Does it want its students — all of them, not only those who can afford it — to be able to work on the important research happening at Princeton, or be forced to go home?
The income that students earn from employment is not “miscellaneous.” So Princeton must decide: Does it want its students — all of them, not only those who can afford it — to be able to work on the important research happening at Princeton, or be forced to go home?