Tollison's vote protected the College Board from unwise appointments

Dear Editor:

Quentin Whitwell attacks Senator Gray Tollison because he voted against confirming Fordice's nomination of two Ole Miss alumni to the College Board.

Instead, we are forever grateful to Senator Gray Tollison for voting against confirmation of Fordice's odd nomination of four white males to the College Board. In the years before Fordice, our governors have made appointments which recognized the value of diversity on the College Board, a board which makes decisions for the entire population of the state --women, men, minority and majority members.

But for the rejection by the state senate of Fordice's four white males, the College Board would have labored for years and years under this stigma of sexism and racism. The work of the College Board is far too important to saddle it with that unnecessary baggage. So stigmatized, the College Board would have had less credibility with members of the state legislature which appropriates state funds.

Senator Gray Tollison did nothing to keep Ole Miss alumni off the College Board. He did help protect the College Board from the unwise appointment pattern that Fordice, alone among our recent governors, initially adopted. After the Senate's rejection, Fordice then made other appointments which included two Ole Miss people, both also highly able.

We are Ole Miss alumni or faculty who hope for and work for the betterment of the university.

Josh Bogen, president of the Law Alumni Chapter
Robert Haws, history department chairman
Amy D. Whitten, law faculty
Ron Rychlak, dean of the law school
Michael Landon , professor of history
John R. Bradley, professor of law

Whitwell's loyalty would make him an asset to the Mississippi Senate

Dear Editor:

As leaders of the College Republicans at Ole Miss, we would like to express our respect for Quentin Whitwell in his bid for the State Senate. His loyalty to Ole Miss and powerful message has excited the campus for this year's election. Quentin will be an asset in the State Senate for this community. We encourage everyone to vote for him today.

Howie Morgan, executive director, Ole Miss College Republicans
Justin Davis, chairman, Ole Miss College Republicans
Nic Lott, chairman, Mississippi Federation of College Republicans

Proposed honor code would be redundant and stifle learning

Dear Editor:

Do the proponents of an honor code really know what it is like to have one? The School of Law enacted an honor code quite some time ago. In theory the honor code is supposed to deter people from academic misconduct and prosecute them if a case is proven against them.

But, as I have found out many times before, what works in theory does not actually work in the real world.

In its practical application the honor code creates a sense of anonymity among the students. With the fear of honor code violations hanging over their heads, students are afraid to give, or ask each other, questions about assignments and projects.

Although the action in question is clearly within the scope of fair play, there is always a fear that any action of collaboration among students may be construed as a violation, which if prosecuted, could loom over us for the rest of our professional careers.

This seems to completely contradict the idea of education as I have come to know it. A university's mission is to generate new ideas through the open exchange of thought, thereby educating its students.

A second and more obvious statement about the honor code is that it is redundant. In the M-book, university policy on academic conduct is clear. Ole Miss does not tolerate misconduct and penalties are quite severe. If this is the case, then what is the honor code supposed to make up for that the existing policy lacks?

It is very clear that an honor code does not provide any positive benefits to the student body. Instead it will only create a sense of fear and animosity towards your fellow student, while also creating another redundant university policy of which Ole Miss already has too many.

Justin Cluck
first year law student
Tulsa, Okla.