A thank you

To the Editor:

There are several things for which I would like to thank the administration.

First, I thank you for rescinding the graduation fee for current seniors. It is always difficult to reverse a decision and acknowledge a mistake, but your choice will result in a much happier graduation atmosphere.

Next, I was extremely pleased by the choice to hold a town hall forum even after the graduation fee was no longer an issue. I hope that this move toward transparency will continue in future years, perhaps holding a similar forum at least once every semester.

Last, I thank you for allowing me to make a presentation to the Executive Council regarding the Worker Rights Consortium. This allowed us to open up new areas of dialogue that will eventually lead to affiliation with the WRC.

But most of all, I thank the students of SLU who have refused to be complacent on this array of issues. All of these choices and activities that I have acknowledged are the result of direct student action.

So let's continue to occupy hallways, sit on the clocktower steps and lay down our bodies in the Quad in hopes that all our voices will be heard.

Charlie Crowley

Senior, American Studies

Gamma Phi apologizes

To the Editor:

On behalf of the entire Gamma Tau chapter of Gamma Phi Beta, I would like to sincerely apologize for any offense that was taken by the chalk sketch with the words "Gamma Phi or Die" that was outside the Busch Student Center last week. The sketch was ill-timed to say the least, and was intended to honor the graduating seniors, because the slogan came from an old sorority T-shirt. However, that is not an excuse.

Let me assure you that the sketch in no way sought to disrespect human life. The sketch was not supposed to be an imitation of the earlier "sign of hope" sketches, and the sketch was not intended to undermine the efforts of all those who diligently worked to save a man's life. The sketch was nothing more than a few girls taking a slogan a bit too far. While I am sorry for this, I ask that you please do not generalize the one-time spontaneous actions of a few members across the entire chapter by questioning "if we [Gamma Phi] are [men and] women for others." This is simply not warranted.

I know that the Greek system as a whole has been under attack this past year, but Gamma Phi, along with the entire Greek community, truly are "men and women for others." If one were to look at the ongoing degree of philanthropic involvement that the Greek system has completed each year, as well as the key leadership positions that members of the Greek community hold on campus, one would find that these positives speak much louder than the few mishaps that the system is consistently ridiculed for. Or at least I would hope.

Please know that Gamma Phi is sincerely apologetic for the sketch and in hindsight, members realize it was a mistake. I assure you that, in the future, Gamma Phis will be more aware of the goings-on on campus. Yet, also remember that you fought for the life of man who messed-up once himself…we all do.

Amy Tocco

Gamma Phi President

Teams deserve recognition

To the Editor:

I have been a reader of the University News for the past four years, and I have enjoyed your coverage of many student events. There are a few things, however, that I feel need improvement. As a member of the SLU cross country team, I expected to see a couple of articles each season about the team and our progress. Over the course of my four years, only three articles were written about the team. Those three articles were written only at the urging of an upperclassman on the team. Each year, the team was promised more coverage. Even the swim team, which had one of the greatest seasons in school history, was completely ignored by the U. News until students asked for coverage.

When will the U. News give complete coverage of athletes on SLU's campus?

Joe Porter

Captain, Men's Cross Country

Where was Johns?

To the Editor:

Before I begin to make a few important points on the issue of our SGA president-elect and the recently rescinded graduation fee, I want to publicly congratulate Adam Meister, the SGA executive board and all others involved for successfully amassing a loud voice of dissent. As someone who merely signed the petition and voted for recent dissenting legislation in the senate, I have a genuine respect for those who stood up and let their voices be heard.

Despite the straightforward nature of this issue, there remained a side show that I would like to denounce. As a student, I fear that the future may be a dark one with regard to the leadership in SGA. Cari Johns, in last week's letter to the editor, outlined her justification for her "distance" from the issue. And, in last week's assembly of the SGA senate, she and Joe Cirillo (SGA financial vice president-elect) went out of their way to remove their names from the co-sponsorship list of the latter-mentioned legislation that advised students to "curb" donations to SLU for the next five years.

Overall, I still don't understand her reasoning for either action. She professes that she will be a true voice for the students, but she wanted to avoid, at all costs, the voices of the students to preserve her "image" to the administration. A lack of response for nothing other than a concern about image calls into question, for me at least, her ability to stand up for issues in the future.

"The time is always right to do what is right." -Martin Luther King, Jr.

If Johns really agrees "on principle," then why didn't she act, or at least consent? I have a hard time being excited about the future presidency of someone who will sacrifice her principles, for any reason. What happened to "Students First?"

Chris Pingel

Sophomore, Notre Dame Hall Senator

Photog was rude

To the Editor:

I am writing to criticize the poor choice of a photographer at the last 10 p.m. student Mass last Sunday. As someone who attends church on campus to reconnect with God spiritually and to celebrate in community, I am aware of the way liturgies are always carefully planned. For this reason, it struck me that the photographer chosen was so rude. Looking into things, I learned that it was not Campus Ministry, but the Office of Admission, that chose the photographer. I am surprised that someone in charge of presenting this school to potential students would choose such an insensitive, unprofessional photographer to capture the moment. I was distracted and later offended by the photographer's inconsiderate infringement on the sacred moment.

Last Sunday, the photographer got so comfortable that the liturgy coordinator had to ask him to step down from the stairs leading to the altar. I urge admissions to give more thought to the photographer chosen for the next event, especially if it is an event that deserves reverence.

Alejandra Iberico

Freshman, Cook School of Business