The fundamental building blocks of a quality lifestyleessentially revolve around the concepts of honesty, telling the truth andhaving a modicum of pride in oneself. Really, it doesn’t take a rocketscientist or a reprographics specialist to delineate on these concepts.
Thefirst things that our parents taught us were much more important than wegive credit for and will define us for the rest of our lives. In thehousehold I grew up in, my parents were firm and insisted that I gravitatetoward honesty, integrity and having pride in the family name. Now that’snot too difficult to grasp, is it” However, in the quest to succeed, theseconcepts all too often are relegated to secondary or tertiary status behindthe pressures we encounter to “do a good job” or to “be the best at what wedo.” Unfortunately, a student lost his life at a major university and I’msure the pressure to “solve the crime” became pre-eminent. To bend the rulesand give false testimony before the grand jury and later during the trial isnot the way to “solve the crime.”
The accused have lives to live also andall members of their extended families suffer as well. The elders in thefamily suffer as much as the accused and feel helpless as they watch thetrial unfold. No, I don’t think John Ryan Schlamp’s lawsuit is frivolous ashis fundamental civil rights were violated and his family was devastated bythe incompetence of the police and state’s attorney. Once again, is tellingthe truth and being honest under all circumstances that difficult” I thinknot.
Mark P. Hawkins
Uncle of John Ryan Schlamp
I was disappointed to see the Stamp Student Union supportChic-fil-a’s Cow Appreciation Day, a national corporate advertising campaigntaking place July 14. While this campaign might appear funny and ócuteà atfirst glance, the truth behind the chicken industry is far from a joke tothe animals who must spend their entire lives in cages or confined spaces onfactory farms. Almost all of the chicken consumed in this country come fromfactory farms, in which chickens are denied many of their basic and naturalbehaviors. Broiler chickens, in particular, are selectively bred for fastgrowth, causing the chickens to suffer acute and chronic pain, as well asdisabilities and illnesses, including leg disorders, crippling lameness,organ failure and heart disease. In addition to the suffering endured bythese animals, factory farms are also major polluters of the environment,and one of the most dangerous workplaces for people, often exploited illegalimmigrants in our country.
This university has taken many other steps to place itself as aleader in socially responsible practices, such as establishing theEnvironmental Stewardship Guidelines and purchasing Equal Exchange FairTrade coffee for The Diner and South Campus Dining Hall. It is time forstudents, faculty and administrators to look more closely at the sources ofthe food we offer and what industries we wish to support. If we are indeed asocially responsible university that respects people, animals and theenvironment, let’s start removing our support of factory farms. Switching tothe use of cage-free eggs would be a good step in the right direction.
Kim Charmatz
Graduate student
Science education
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