Prop. 103 a ‘knee-jerk’ proposal

The Oct. 24 editorial “”Prop. 103 deserves a ‘no’ vote”” claims that a “”knee-jerk reaction”” concerning immigrants “”rejecting English en masse”” has “”been around almost as long as America has had immigrants.”” Should any readers doubt this assertion, consider the following “”knee-jerk reaction”” of Benjamin Franklin, who in a May 9, 1753, letter to his friend Peter Collinson, then a member of Parliament for Weymouth, England, expressed concern about then-recent immigrants from Germany not readily adopting the English language: “”Few of their children in our country know English. They import many books from Germany; and of the six printing houses in the provinces, two are entirely German, two half-German, half-English, and but two entirely English. They have one German newspaper and one half-German. Advertisements intended to be general are now printed in Dutch and English. The signs in our streets have inscriptions in both languages, and in some places only German.”” After listing these concerns, Franklin concluded, “”In short, unless the stream of their importation could be turned from this to other colonies (…) they will soon so outnumber us that all the advantages we have, will, in my opinion, be not able to preserve our language, and even our government will become precarious.””

Clearly, the slippery-slope fallacy Franklin employs above still applies: If America does not pass Prop. 103 to make English the official language, so the “”reasoning”” goes, then before long these foreigners will take over, resulting in not just forcing all citizens to speak their language but also compromising government.

If Franklin’s knee-jerk fears had any merit, then I would not be teaching English 101 at the UA: I’d be teaching students how to improve their written use of German. Prop. 103’s purpose, as the editorial smartly realizes, is not to make English the official language of the state of Arizona, an unnecessary and costly aim. Its purpose is to pander to xenophobia concerning immigration, with the intent of maintaining conservative control of the Senate and Congress.

When substantive platforms lack, divisive politics reign. Advancing hateful propositions against welfare recipients, against marriage, and against immigration has served the right-wing well in recent elections.

Greg Grewell
graduate student in English

Time for Stoops to throw in the towel

In response to Roman Veytsman’s column Wednesday (“”Throw in the towel””): Finally, a person who sees the same truth about the team as I do. I regrettably admit I’m a Cats fan, too. I have grown up Tucson my whole life accustomed to good football – well, at least until we got rid of Tomey (big mistake). I like Mike Stoops’ coaching philosophy, and when Arizona hired Stoops, I did all I could to support him, but I was still skeptical about him being hired!

I just felt that Mike Price would have been a better fit. Here’s why I thought he might have been qualified: Granted, he made a mistake before taking over the Alabama program, but he coached in the Pac-10 for 12 years, he compiled a 83-78 record, he had three 10-plus win seasons and five bowl appearances with one being the Rose Bowl. Now, I’m no genius, but I do know that Arizona is the only Pac-10 school to not play in the Rose Bowl!

Eric Townsend
undeclared freshman

Student union should ease control of laxatives

It’s 9 p.m. I’m way off schedule. Frankly, I don’t think I can make a full day of classes with this weight on my shoulders. What do I need? Laxatives. I scurry toward the Park Avenue Market, where a 30 pack of laxatives sells for a reasonable $1.5. “”You can’t put that on CatCard.”” Excuse me, clerk boy? “”It’s not food, you can’t use CatCard.”” “”But I’m going to eat them.”” “”You can only buy food with a meal plan.”” “”But I’m going to eat them. How do you know I don’t eat a bowlful for breakfast?”” Student Union: 2 Michael P. Hathaway: 0

Michael P. Hathaway
geography senior

Course availability disappointment

Last week, the Arizona Daily Wildcat ran a two-part series on course availability and registration issues. When asked about class availability, President Robert Shelton is quoted as saying, “”There is always some flexibility. You have to get people into their classes.”” Shelton, as a physiology major, this school has failed me. In this major, a person is required to take physiology 201 and 202 before he can take any of the other physiology classes. Ever since anyone can remember, physiology 202 is only offered once a year: in the spring at 8 a.m. on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Physiology majors are also required to take first- and second-semester physics. Generally, students take first-semester physics in the fall and second-semester physics in the spring. This year, the only class of second-semester physics conflicts with physiology 202. I intend on taking the MCATs and graduating next school year. Out of my physiology class of nearly 500 students, there are many others in my same situation.

During my advising appointment, I was told that I was the fourth student that day with the same issue. I decided to take my frustration to the next level by contacting the physics department, who in turn forwarded my complaint on to the director of undergraduate studies. His response to me was, “”We’re sorry that this is very inconvenient for you. We will offer physiology 103 during the summer….””

What he does not understand is that this is not only inconvenient for me but to a good portion of my class. This university often forgets that its prime responsibility is to its students. I will admit that not only do I not understand this university’s financial situation, I simply do not care. I pay tuition, deal with price increases, new fees and any other way this school can think to nickel and dime me. I do not complain; I only expect that this school give me the opportunity to graduate on time. I find it hard to believe that out of a school of 35,000 students, that we cannot offer more than one second-semester physics class when Pima Community College can offer nine.

The correct solution is not that we take class at Pima or during the summer. I am offended that this director even suggested it to me. I have already paid for this education and committed my time for the regular school year. Since this affects so many people, the proper solution is to either move the physics class so that it does not conflict, or create another class. No room availability or funding excuses are acceptable. I urge anyone who has this problem, or thinks this injustice should not go overlooked, to contact the physics department.

Jack Keenan
physiology junior