of Dr. Bob
To the editor:
There have been many times when the gray-box editorials have made statements that I disagree with, but I have always resisted the urge to write until now. In the gray-box editorial titled "Communication Block" (Thursday, March 13), you ask several questions regarding School of Communication Director Dr. Robert Musburger's decisions. Allow me the space to answer your questions.
There are several answers in response to your first question asking why the School of Communication would want to keep the umbrella plan a secret. The most logical answer is that perhaps Dr. Musburger feels it should not be released to the student population because the plan is still a proposal. It seemed a little premature to release a story without all of the information. As a result, some School of Communication students had no idea how the change would affect them, if at all. I had to go to Dr. Musburger on the day the story broke in the Daily Cougar because the reporter was not clear as to what would happen to existing Communication-Unspecified majors. Only when the story was not ambiguous and the Daily Cougar had all of the facts would it genuinely be appropriate to publish such a story.
The second question you asked was, "How can students in a communication program headed by an instructor who refuses to release public documents to his own university's newspaper expect to learn anything about the free exchange of ideas?" That's a really easy question. The answer is to take classes in UH's School of Communication. Your idea that Dr. Musburger's alleged incompetence trickles down to his faculty is a faulty one. There are several competent full-time an part-time faculty members in the School of Communication who I have been proud to call my instructors. Don't think Dr. Musburger is not one of them. In fact, Dr. Bob (our nickname for him) is one of the best instructors I've ever had. In addition to being the director of a very large department, he teaches several different classes. His teaching style emphasizes what happens in the real world. He doesn't just say, "Here's the tools you might be able to use in the real world." He also uses his years of experience in the communication field as a teaching aid. He is the kind of instructor who I would take any class from as long his name was listed beside the class.
I have a tremendous amount of respect for Dr. Musburger, because he can balance his teaching responsibilities and his responsibilities as director very well. Nothing he has ever done in the past would ever make me think he or his department is as incompetent as your editorial implies. A wise man once told me that everyone should go out and do their best at whatever they do, whether it's to produce television or lead the country. This certainly is not bad advice, but who am I to argue with "Dr. Bob's" orders?
Brad Kimberly
junior, communication
To the editor:
It has been a week, and those blue and red Liberty ribbons are still adorning the trees around campus. Ben Fricke, instead of whining, start snipping.
Sam Jow
senior, education
To the editor:
Just a brief rebuttal to Jason Ginsburg concerning his substandard column on abortion. First, when you stated the "anti-abortion movement is the worst thing that ever happened to America" exclusive of slavery, did you forget other events such as the American fatalities in the Vietnam War, or the devastating oppression of the Native Americans? There are many other examples of "worst" things that have befallen the American people.
Secondly, you are brave, and I commend you on your passion, although misdirected, to call a fetus a "little lump of goo." Now, I am assuming your area of expertise is not biology. You stated that "being human ... requires an ability to consciously interact with one's own environment." Well then, what is instinct? Is that a conscious characteristic? What are feelings, emotions and other elements that humans cannot always consciously control? Are not these unconscious and instinctual elements part of "being alive?" Science proves these exist in the womb from the onset of conception. The fetus, then, is unconsciously interacting with its environment within the placenta.
Third, You say we cannot base life on potential. How can we not base life on potential? If a child has the potential to be an outstanding athlete, speaker, or even journalist, would that parent view that potential as a "lump of goo?" It is more likely that the parent would nourish and encourage the child, giving birth to that potential.
Finally, you have declared that a belief in a "Christian God" can be equated with opposition to science and reason. Your argument declares that God couldn't possibly care about humans, simply by viewing the suffering of the world. What you have simply excused as "God" is the choice of free will to act upon our potential and the knowledge that each person is more than a "lump of goo." Who are we, as finite and imperfect humans, to state whether the infinite and perfect Divine gives a "second thought" to his creations? Can you be so bold as to speak for God?
Emily H. Leffers
senior, sociology
To the editor:
I am writing to express my disapproval of the lower left photograph that was printed in March 12's paper. I realize that as our university's only newspaper, The Daily Cougar staff is responsible for covering everything that happens on campus, but I feel that the picture printed of Dr. Vobach being taken to the ambulance was tasteless and very disrespectful to him, his family and his friends. Didn't The Daily Cougar have access to a file or yearbook-type photo?
I happen to have known Dr. Vobach and I would like to say that he was an extremely nice professor who took an active interest in student affairs - a characteristic that is too often lacking from professors. He will be missed.
It is true that there is no crime in being tasteless, but I felt The Daily Cougar crossed a line of decency in printing that photograph.
Erinn Banks
senior, geology
To the editor:
This letter is in response to the Viewpoint expressed in The Daily
Cougar on March 11. I am appalled that The Daily Cougar would print something that displayed such an enormous lack of respect for an outstanding school organization like the Cougar Band. I am all for people expressing their opinions freely. However, I have this silly notion that an opinion should have at least a shred of evidence to back it up.
In response to the statement that the band has become "so big on itself it feels the students don't matter," here's a big news flash: The Cougar Band is comprised of students! Apparently, I'm supposed to believe none of the students in the band care about each other or anyone else at this university, even though they make up one of the biggest organizations here. In light of the fact that school spirit is desperately lacking at UH, I think it is very unwise to shoot down the most active spirit organization we have.
In addition, the editorial staff of The Daily Cougar stated that
the band "needs to be cut down to size." In what way? Where in the world would they cut? The Cougar Band has less than 200 students already, and the amount of funding it receives is dismally small compared to most other organizations on campus. Mr. Mayes works hard to stretch that money out every year.
I would like to know where the editorial staff of The Daily Cougar comes up with such ridiculous and untrue statements. Have any of you ever even stepped foot inside the Band Annex to see for yourself what kind of an organization it houses? I bet not, because if you had, you'd know that it consists of a diverse group of hardworking, dedicated students who all have school spirit, and who all have the utmost respect for this university. No matter how mistreated or under-funded the Band Program is, it has always supported the athletic programs and promoted school spirit to the best of its ability.
The next time the editorial staff of The Daily Cougar decides to bad-mouth The Cougar Band or any other organization like it, I suggest they do their homework first.
Valerie Hinman
Feature Baton Twirler
UH Band Program
To the editor:
This letter is in response to the Viewpoint in the March 11 Daily Cougar concerning the continuing saga between the SFAC and the UH Band Program.
I have a problem in referring to the Band as an organization created with the purpose of serving students that gets so big on itself that it feels students don't matter and needs to be cut down to size.
The UH Band is comprised of organizations (Cougar Marching Band, Cougar Dolls, Cougar Brass, Symphonic Band, Concert Band, Wind Ensemble, Jazz Orchestra) that are made up of UH students who support the university student body and its organizations by attending and performing at certain events. These students are hard-working, dedicated individuals who donate their time and expertise to help make campus events successful.
Students in the Cougar Marching Band and Cougar Dolls pay to be in the band. They pay to enroll in the course, for parts of their uniform (shirt, marching shoes, etc.) and instruments (roughly 1/10th of the students use university equipment). They spend six hours of class time rehearsing (where they receive one credit) and spend approximately six hours at the stadium for home football games.
They donate even more nightly time at events such as Cougar Kick-Off, Homecoming, pep rallies and other football and spirit events. These events take time away from students' study time, jobs and personal lives. On the rare occasion when the band is given money to attend an out-of-town game, the students lose two to three days of their lives to perform at a four-hour event. The band entertains the crowd, helps the cheerleaders in their cheers, and roots for the team at all these events.
In addition, the Cougar Brass performed at many games held during the holiday break between the fall and spring semesters. The Cougar Brass students dedicated their time and gave up a lot of their off-time during the holidays to perform at these games and support the basketball teams.
Less than one-fifth of Band Program students receive any type of financial assistance (scholarship) for performing in the band. The assistance those few students do receive amounts to less than one-seventh of their tuition.
In the spring, even though they have recommended that the band lose the money they were being given, students at UH will still expect the band to be at all of the aforementioned events and activities. Somehow, the students in the band, as dedicated as they are, will perform in spite of a financial setback, donate their time and money in spite of the complaints from other students and administrators who think the band is too full of itself simply because they can't perform at every event. These people are missing the point completely. The band members are some of the most dedicated individuals on this campus. I say you give them more support and less criticism!
Robert Meaux
Graduate Teaching Assistant
University of Houston Band Program
To the editor:
I've been meaning to write a letter to the Daily Cougar about the importance of having an HIV-1 antibody test taken, so when I saw the huge advertisement for Home Access on March 11, I felt that I should write to say "thank you."
I feel that society's awareness of HIV is an important key to our future. Everyone should have an HIV test taken. The UH health center offers tests for $10, and it also has anonymous testing available. Some places around Houston even offer free HIV testing. Take a look at the back of Tuesday's Daily Cougar for an at-home test for those who are uncomfortable taking a test in public.
Cougars, there is no excuse for being in the dark about HIV. It's your health; you will feel much better knowing for sure.
Holly Guynes
freshman, psychology