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Opinion
 

Letters to the Editor

Write to your senator about fee cap

To the editor:

Your senators will be voting at the next Student Government Association meeting on Wednesday to allow the UH System Board of Regents to increase the Student Service Fee above the $150 per semester limit. There are two ways to increase this limit set by the Texas Education Code. First, a referendum by the students; second, a vote by the elected student government. 

You can guess which way the SGA will vote without your comments. In the next several months, without student input, more fees will be raised. Students need to stop complaining about tuition and fee increases unless they plan on taking action. I urge you to e-mail your senator, along with each regent and kindly tell them what you think about the skyrocketing cost of education. Start being more vocal because no one else will speak for you.

Mark Annas
CLASS senator

McDonald's targets children

To the editor:

Dante Eglin's article concerning McDonald's, "McLawsuits overlook real issues," (Opinion, Friday) missed the core issue surrounding the lawsuit in New York. He briefly mentions the lawsuit is brought on the behalf of two children, and later forgets this.

What is the difference between Joe Camel and Ronald McDonald? Well, for now, it's that Joe Camel is illegal, and Ronald McDonald isn't. The basis for making Joe Camel illegal was that it marketed to a part of the population that is not able to make reasonable decisions. In other words, it isn't fair to push Camel Cash and Joe Camel on 10-year olds because they don't understand the risks of smoking.

Recently, obesity has become the No. 1 preventable killer in the United States according to the Center for Disease Control. McDonald's is everywhere. When you buy Hot Wheels, there are McDonald's logos all over them. A lot of idolized athletes will play at the "McDonald's All-American" game. There's a Beanie Baby tattooed with the McDonald's logo. There are comic book series featuring the Ronald McDonald gang. Throw in all the television advertising and it begs the question, how is a child, or their parents, supposed to combat this bombardment?

To say a citizen must take responsibility for his or her actions is the least we should expect. McDonald's has now recorded 23 consecutive months of growth, with an annual growth rate of 8 percent, twice that of the gross national product. That buys a lot of Happy Meals. Maybe McDonald's needs to take some responsibility as well.

Ryan Croke
graduate, math
 

Letters to the editor are welcome from all members of the UH community and should focus on issues, not personalities. Letters must be typed and must include the author's name, telephone number and affiliation with the University. Anonymous letters will not be published. Letters are subject to editing for clarity, language and space. Letters may be delivered in person to Room 151, Communication; e-mailed to dclettrs@mail.uh.edu ; or faxed to (713) 743-5384.