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Letters to the editor

Endorsement of Obama reflects Miami's needs

With the recent historic endorsements of Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) by the Los Angeles Times and The Chicago Tribune, The Miami Student's endorsement adds to the increasingly evident diverse support of Obama in this presidential election. However, The Miami Student's endorsement is more symbolic of how Barack Obama is the best candidate to ensure a better future for every Miami student.

At a time when record numbers of workers with college degrees are being turned away from jobs or laid off their current ones, we need assurance that our investments in college will be profitable. Barack Obama plans to ensure job availability by investing in green collar jobs and providing benefits to companies that do not ship their jobs overseas. At the same time we transition into the work force, we will have to purchase an insurance plan. Barack Obama has a plan to make health care available and affordable for every American. Additionally, we will have to face the issue of energy independence and global climate change. Barack Obama wants to invest in clean energy and his record proves his commitment to alternative energies that will wean us off foreign oil and provide for a healthier environment.

A sound economy, affordable health care, and energy independence are only a few of the important issues that we face while choosing a candidate this election. We believe that The Miami Student has made the right decision: one that will provide for a better future for every Miami student.

Executive BoardMiami University College Democrats

Concerns invite Miami to support its community

Our family moved to Oxford 47 years ago when I started as a freshman at Talawanda High School. All seven of our children attended Talawanda and we have sadly watched its deterioration through the years. There is no doubt that the thought of paying more taxes in today's squeezed economy is difficult; however, the financial impact of a grossly outdated school on a community can be much greater than the actual cost of the levy.

Couples with children are hesitant to move to Oxford because of our inferior school facilities, and more local families are driving their kids to schools outside our district. Professors with kids don't move to Oxford; rather, they commute to and pay taxes into their well-equipped school district. The end result is a decrease in the values of our homes, land and businesses. As for our children, they are missing out on the educational experience required to be competitive in today's technologically advanced world.

Miami students do have a vested interest in the outcome of this levy because their expensive education depends on attracting quality professors. They understand the negative impact poor school facilities have on a professor's decision to teach at Miami. Since Miami does not contribute to our tax system, I would also invite Miami's Board of Trustees to consider donating an appropriate amount of money on behalf of the new high school. It would be a great way to launch their 2009 bicentennial celebration by giving back to the community in which they have lived and prospered for 200 years.

Do you know that if we pass the school levy the state of Ohio would give our district 11 million tax-free dollars to build a new elementary school upon completion of the new high school? This is a remarkable opportunity for our community that will pay huge monetary benefits down the line.

A $100,000 home would cost the taxpayer $146 annually to support a new high school and a new elementary school. Let's say at the minimum, the new schools increase the value of that same home by 1 percent, we are looking at a $1,000 increase in home value. Your one vote would preserve your investments while building two much needed schools!

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Di Princell and familydi.pincell@followthefrog.com

AWS stands by Take Back the Night decision

This letter is in response to the letter in the Tuesday, Oct. 21, 2008 edition of The Miami Student titled "'Take Back the Night' Hurt by Male Involvement" written by Dr. Kathy McMahon-Klosterman. As the past and present executive board members of the Association for Women Students (AWS) we are very sorry to hear that we will be losing her support for Take Back the Night (TBTN). We have always appreciated her for bringing TBTN to Oxford, and for her continued involvement. However, we disagree with her assertion that including "all people" in the empowerment chant trivializes the victimization of women.

There are several reasons that AWS chooses to include "all people" in our empowerment chant. Dr. McMahon-Klosterman quoted the US Department of Justice statistics estimating that 91 percent of victims of rape and sexual assault are female. This means that, although the majority of rape victims are female, almost one in 10 rape victims is male. Like female victims, the majority of male victims never report their sexual assault. Although most rapes and sexual assaults are perpetrated by men against women, all genders can be perpetrators or victims.

It is irresponsible to completely disregard the experiences of these men simply because they are members of the group that most often perpetrates rape. That they are men does not make their experiences any less valid or tragic. Excluding them from the efforts of TBTN will not help these men heal, nor will it help the community by hiding a problem that exists.

AWS believes that stating "all women" poses gender as a binary concept, when gender exists on a spectrum. Concentrating solely on women disregards anyone who does not identify as man or woman. All genders need to be included in empowerment efforts like TBTN, and including "all people" accomplishes this task.

In response to Dr. McMahon-Klosterman's assertion that "perhaps TBTN has run its course," we believe that TBTN truly fulfills a need in the Oxford and Miami communities. The speak-outs can be extremely healing for anyone who shares a personal experiences and can raise the consciousness of anyone listening to the experience of others. The candlelit march is an inspiring event for anyone involved, as well as for anyone who witnesses hundreds of candles moving through the darkened campus.

Many members of AWS developed an interest and became involved in feminist efforts through our initial participation in TBTN. This event is meant to empower all victims, survivors and allies, regardless of gender. AWS welcomes students, staff, faculty, and the community and we hope to see everyone, including Dr. McMahon- Klosterman, at future marches.

Caroline Renfrorenfroca@muohio.edu

Back off of Bush, he deserves some respect

As of late, it seems to have become in vogue to take "last minute" cheap shots at President George W. Bush and his personal character, as evidenced by Isaac Walkers latest joke of a editorial cartoon with zero social commentary. Now I am not the largest Bush fan, but I do recognize that he is an intelligent enough president who has surrounded himself with competent public servants and advisers. Perhaps since he only has two months left in office, Bush dissidents feel the need to get in as many jokes as they can, at Bush's expense, to make themselves feel better before they run out of time. This is just ridiculous. At least honor him for nothing other than the office he holds, and let us all look forward to change in the coming year.

Joe Polzinpolzinjw@muohio.edu


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