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Letters to the editor

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  • Displaying 1 - 11 of 11

Raymond Burke

posted 11/18/08 @ 12:28 AM EST

Ben,

Do you honestly think that with the financial situation the University is in that President Hodge has the time to look at a proposal to send flowers to a deceased Miami faculty member? The answer is: while Hodge is a decent man who always makes an effort to console those who are lost from the Miami family, there is no way that you can assume that he turned down, yet alone even saw, this proposal.

I agree that it is a shame that the money was not able to be allocated for this occasion, and I hope that you are all able to collect enough to pay a proper respect. But I would bet that this was the decision of a department chair at the highest.
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Ralph Wiggum

posted 11/18/08 @ 9:30 AM EST

Originally posted by

Raymond Burke

 Ben,

Do you honestly think that with the financial situation the University is in that President Hodge has the time to look at a proposal to send flowers to a deceased Miami faculty member? The answer is: while Hodge is a decent man who always makes an effort to console those who are lost from the Miami family, there is no way that you can assume that he turned down, yet alone even saw, this proposal.

I agree that it is a shame that the money was not able to be allocated for this occasion, and I hope that you are all able to collect enough to pay a proper respect. But I would bet that this was the decision of a department chair at the highest.


Thanks, Ray. That is an across-the-board Miami policy that office funds can not be used to purchase flowers because they can be seen as 'gifts.' It's a tax issue - not not a lack of humility.
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Ben Metcalf

posted 11/18/08 @ 10:08 AM EST

I agree that President Hodge has a great number of important things to do for the university. I expect him to be working hard. However, the point I was trying to get across is the inappropriate use of funds in difficult financial times. If we can give our top administration raises and perks why are we losing faculty members and consolidating classrooms? Students choose Miami for its small class size and personal relationship with qualified professors. And yes, when we lose a longtime member of the Miami family I believe there should be an appropriate, dignified response. "Gift" or not there's something to be said for a sign of respect.
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Roy

posted 11/18/08 @ 11:09 AM EST

Originally posted by

Raymond Burke

 Ben,

Do you honestly think that with the financial situation the University is in that President Hodge has the time to look at a proposal to send flowers to a deceased Miami faculty member? The answer is: while Hodge is a decent man who always makes an effort to console those who are lost from the Miami family, there is no way that you can assume that he turned down, yet alone even saw, this proposal.

I agree that it is a shame that the money was not able to be allocated for this occasion, and I hope that you are all able to collect enough to pay a proper respect. But I would bet that this was the decision of a department chair at the highest.


Does this also apply to flowers, catered meals, mementoes, etc. at Roudebush and the large number of administrative gatherings across campus each day? Aren't those gifts too?
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Bill Friedline

posted 11/19/08 @ 7:35 AM EST

Dear Mr. Wettlin,

Do you not see that what the OPD is doing is to incentivize you into doing the right thing? The goal: to get underage students to think twice before drinking. In the last two years more than few students have paid a much higher price-their lives-for getting drunk. There is pressure from parents and the community to "do something". The $100 "donation" wasn't working, but it would appear $750 finally has your attention. No doubt you've mentioned it to friends, as well.

This is not exploitation. This is a consequence of a poor choice. You are not required to fork over the bread unless you are caught doing something illegal! YOU have a choice! So quit whining and start taking accountability for your actions. It might be worth mentioning that in today's hyper-competitive job market, if an employer like me has a choice between two people, one of whom has several underage alcohol violations, that to me, show both a lack of respect for the law and for self, it is likely that even though you might be well qualified, the other candidate will get the job.
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Student

posted 2/20/09 @ 10:40 AM EST

Originally posted by

Bill Friedline

 Dear Mr. Wettlin,

Do you not see that what the OPD is doing is to incentivize you into doing the right thing? The goal: to get underage students to think twice before drinking. In the last two years more than few students have paid a much higher price-their lives-for getting drunk. There is pressure from parents and the community to "do something". The $100 "donation" wasn't working, but it would appear $750 finally has your attention. No doubt you've mentioned it to friends, as well.

This is not exploitation. This is a consequence of a poor choice. You are not required to fork over the bread unless you are caught doing something illegal! YOU have a choice! So quit whining and start taking accountability for your actions. It might be worth mentioning that in today's hyper-competitive job market, if an employer like me has a choice between two people, one of whom has several underage alcohol violations, that to me, show both a lack of respect for the law and for self, it is likely that even though you might be well qualified, the other candidate will get the job.


The police department is just trying to steal your money. How is not drinking the "right thing?" An 18 year old student is legally an adult and has just as much right to drink as any other person. Students are being extorted out of their money because of people with twisted views such as yourself.
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William Wallace

posted 11/19/08 @ 9:01 PM EST

Mr. Friedline,

You sure are an idiot. Do you think that in whatever the OPD does is going to stop underage drinking? We are in college, where if you do not drink underage, you will be an outcast. And no one would want to work for your GDI company. I was hired by a Fortune 30 company and paid 60K a year starting, and I had 3 underage alcohol violations. Does holding a beer outside and having the OPD jump through the bushes to arrest me, mean that I am a bad person? if so, then i guess i am
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I AM SAM

posted 11/20/08 @ 4:46 PM EST

Mr. Friedline,

If the goal is to stop underage drinking and teach us a lesson how about the "Donation" goes to an actual charity that fights to stop underage drinking. The OPD could do this instead of wasting our "Donations" on Segways. Segways that will just lead to even more students getting underage arrests; many of whom will still be getting thoroughly inebriated the following night.

If you have not figured it out yet, which clearly you haven't, anything and everything the OPD is doing to stop or limit underage drinking is not working. This is obvious by the 86% percent of students who continue to drink at Miami with the rate still rising and showing no trend of a down hill spike at anytime.
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Interested Alum

posted 11/21/08 @ 9:40 AM EST

Mr. Friedline,

I commend your common sense answer and advice to Mr. Wettlin. Unfortunately, the only comments you seem to be inviting come from those who are not yet of sufficient age or maturity to appreciate your wisdom. It is lamentable that, instead of appreciating the advice you proffer, others choose to denigrate it in favor of defending their puerile behavior, even to the point of inventing lucrative rewards. I hope that these defenders of illegal and immoral behavior will one day attain sufficient judgment to be able to discern for themselves the foolishness of both their behavior and their arguments.
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Bill Friedline

posted 11/21/08 @ 11:57 AM EST

To those who disagree with me, why don't you put some of that righteous effort into getting the law changed?
The only reason you face a 21 drinking age is that lawmakers view you as politically inert. While I don't agree with the 21 drinking age, your defensive, immature comments only reinforce the stereotype of the typical underage drinker who acts as though since they do not agree with the law, it somehow doesn't apply to you.

Fact: there is a 21 law in Ohio. You are apparently aware of it. Don't want to face the consequences? Then don't be so stupid as to get caught. And believe me, it takes acting like a real idiot to get the OPD's attention on the weekend. If you consume privately and sensibly, it is likely no one will ever bother you. Can't walk down High St without falling down? Caught peeing in the bushes with glazed eyes and slurred speech? Now you're just another drunk that would be arrested in any city.
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Steve

posted 2/19/09 @ 8:08 PM EST

Mr. Friedline,
I certainly understand and appreciate the comments you offered, but I feel as though you are missing the greater point. By raising the cost of the "donation" to the OPD, the police have turned the ability to expunge one's record into an issue of economic stature. Aren't all people equal under the law? If that's the case, (which one quick glance at the Constitution would verify) then why is it right or just for the OPD to disqualify those who are unable to fork over the $750 to join their program.

The whole point is everyone makes mistakes (I'm sure you made a poor decision or two during your time in college), and it is reprehensible that the OPD is limiting the expunging to those who have money to pay them off. All charged with their first offense should have equal opportunity to expunge their records, not just those who are rich enough.
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