Racism works both ways

Dear Editor,

This letter is in response to the recent grafitti found in GHM and the response by Jonathan Hankins in the Feb. 2 edition of The Daily Mississippian.

Inside the article was a quote taken from resident Jonathan Hankins that stated "It will happen again. S--- like this has been going on all year. I feel like I'm not safe on campus, like I can't trust white people." I do not understand the basis of Mr. Hankins statement about "white people." To stereotype Euro-Americans on the actions of some idiot (whether he be white, black or other) shows ignorance on the part of that person.

I find it disheartening that Mr. Hankins would assume that because I am a "white person," I would mean to cause him harm or that I would hide hatred in my interactions with him or any other blacks.

My advice to Mr. Hankins and the idiots who placed the grafitti the walls is to overcome the barriers in their lives that prevent them from understanding persons of another race. When they begin to break these barriers, they will find that there is a person behind every color.

Billy J. Dycus Jr.
Senior
Psychology/Criminal Justice Major

Frats don't deserve bad rap

Dear Editor,

This is in response to the ridiculous article that was written in Thursday's edition of The DM by Nate Cosby.

Fraternities have been in existence since the 1840's, and since then they have produced some of the most successful people ever. My fraternity alone has produced four presidents, along with countless governors and congressmen.

Have you ever heard of companies such as AT&T, Southwest Airlines or possibly IBM? Well my friend, those are all run by "Frat Guys" and members of my fraternity. Let's talk about the generous gift that was given a few weeks ago to us by yet another CEO of a company.

He was an "intoxicated piece of frat trash" here at Ole Miss that just gave us $100 million. How much money have you donated to noble causes through philanthropies? Every year Greeks donate thousands of dollars to charities that range from cFldren with cancer to the elderly with Alzheimer's.

It saddens me that you feel this way about Greeks. See, Mr. Cosby, you need to be a "good journalist that prides yourself on seeking the truth" by writing the truth. You should try and have fun some time. You might like it.

Scott Burton
Sophomore
Journalism

Computer skills very necessary

Dear Editor,

I am writing this letter in response to the editorial of Kathryn Justice and her complaint of the Honor's College requirements and to comment on the insults she threw at the computing industry and those who are involved in it.

Ms. Justice, you complain that computers have no bearing on your grasp of Forster or Conrad. I am required to take a three-hour literature course. Do you truly believe that Hemingway will help me write a database? I am also required to take at least six hours of humanities. I chose philosophy, even though Socrates and Aristotle were not known for their abilities as network administrators.

I took these courses, and because of them, my knowledge extends past more than one subject.

Ms. Justice, the next time you insult a community of people by complaining that you are being turned into "a fully generic PC-lovin' member of mainstream society" you should think about what you are being forced to learn. You may not like computers, but they are going to be a part of all our lives for a very, very long time.

Michael Broadwater
Senior
Computer Science

Leave poor Eli Manning alone

Dear Editor,

In response to today's front page story of Eli Manning's recent arrest for public drunkenness I would like to say: Don't we have any more newsworthy stories than this? The present "plight" of Eli Manning is hardly an unusual one on a college campus. Why single out Manning?

Just because he happens to be the son of a former Ole Miss football great and is expected to be destined for such heights himself does not give anyone the right to place him and his life under the microscope of public scrutiny. The public displays a disgusting amount of presumption toward perceived celebrities.

They assume that just because they're famous, they have the right to poke and pry into every facet of their lives. It's not right. They are human and fallible after all--give them a break. I have never laid eyes on Eli Manning, to my knowledge, but I'm sure he would appreciate some level of consideration and discretion on the part of the public.

Kathleen Riddell
Junior
International Studies/ Psychology

School shootings not ever a joke

Dear Editor,

I am writing in regards to Nick Stakelum's political cartoon that appeared in the Feb. 3 edition of The Daily Mississippian.

There are some things that you just don't joke about. School shootings are one of them, and anyone who doesn't realize that is an idiot. We're talking about children murdering other children. It is not a joke, and as anyone with any sense of decency should be, I was horrified and outraged that Stakelum and the DM could make light of a series of tragedies like this.

This is not the first time I have thought Stakelum's cartoon was bad, but this was the first time I wanted to knock his teeth out after I read his cartoon. What is more appalling is the fact that an editor actually allowed this to be printed. Memo to the editor: Just because you have the right to print whatever you want doesn't mean you should.

No self-respecting newspaper in the world would have run that cartoon.

Stakelum and anyone else who didn't speak up against that cartoon ought to be ashamed of themselves.

Will Bardwell
Freshman
Journalism