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Another Pro-life Response

By Ruth Yusckat | April 22

Editor, The Auburn PlainsmanThis letter is in response to "Pro-life a sad misnomer" by Marcus Goff and "Preachers, protesters only upset the willing" by Lindsey Davidson.While I love to see people discussing abortion and the issues that surround it, the arguments in these two articles are poorly thought out.For one, the Students For Life displays on campus last week were not created simply for "shock factor," but were instead meant to raise awareness and start dialogue.One of our main goals was to collect signatures in support of a free day care for students' children.

YOUR VIEW: Grad Student Takes Aim At 'Gay Animals' Article

By Austin Mercadante, Graduate Student | April 15

While I welcome any Plainsman article about science, nature or research, The Plainsman article "Can animals be gay?" (Intrigue, C1, 8 April 2010) was far too similar to the recent New York Times article "Can animals be gay?" (29 March 2010).Both articles discuss the Laysan Albatross (in The Plainsman article referred to as simply "albatross") in Oahu, using the same numbers and similar language (39 of 125 nests were female-female pairs, albatrosses live 60 to 70 years, 450 different species).It is clear that The Plainsman article is a summary of the New York Times article, but without citing or mentioning Jon Mooallem (the original author).I applaud The Plainsman for quoting Linda Wolfe (a scientist with research in the subject), but the quotation from veterinarian Ted Albert is both false and absurd."Everything animals do is instinctual" is obviously not true to anyone who has ever trained a pet or studied animal behavior.I am glad to see space devoted to current scientific research, but summarizing articles in prominent journals without citing original sources and quoting individuals without any relevant knowledge of the subject matter cannot be acceptable journalistic procedure.

YOUR VIEW: Alumna Raises Concerns With New Student Activity Center

By Rebecca Anthony / AU Alumna | April 8

I regret to inform you that my vote for the new Student Activity Center is in no way "yes." If there are so many students using the current Student Act at localized times of the day then may the authorities consider extending the operating hours.

YOUR VIEW: Student Describes Bad Night With 'Unwritten Rules'

By Heather McElwee / SENIOR IN POLITICAL SCIENCE | April 1

My roommate and I just got kicked out of a bar--one that is very popular here in downtown Auburn.

YOUR VIEW: Fascist Reminds All Of Meaning Of Easter Holiday, Jesus' Life

By Jackson Grimes | April 1

The Eucharist is a Christian sacrament or ordinance, generally considered to be a commemoration of the Last Supper, the final meal that Jesus Christ shared with his disciples before his arrest and eventual crucifixion.The consecration of bread and a cup within the rite recalls the moment at the Last Supper when Jesus gave his disciples bread, saying, "This is my body," and wine, saying, "This is my blood."To the Church at Corinth, St.

YOUR VIEW: Reader Pleased With Editorials About Drinking

By Shelly Aono / HISTOLOGY TECHNICIAN | April 1

I was glad to see the staff columns addressing under- age drinking, how to care for drunk people and drunk driving issues.Considering the number of Auburn students who have died, been injured or been arrested in alcohol related incidents I hope you will continue to address this issue.You will not reach the people who see nothing wrong with drinking so hard that they are losing more than their memories, but there is value in making your fellow students not feel so isolated or unusual if they choose to abstain from the drunken lifestyle.It's hard to think of alcoholics as anything other than old, fat, bald men with red noses, but many young, fit, men & women in the bars around town and on the bleachers on gamedays also fit the definition.I hope The Plainsman will continue to raise awareness of this problem in Auburn and the programs available to students with alcohol issues.

YOUR VIEW: Incorrect Facts In Editorial

By Adrian Carlson / SENIOR IN FINANCE | April 1

While I agree with your overall condemnation of the bill, I can not help but to point out the problems in the article that are simply untrue.

YOUR VIEW: Opting Out of The Third-Party System Will Save Doctor-Patient Relationship

By Dr. Richard Amerling / New York, NY | March 25

Now that the Senate version of ObamaCare is moments from becoming the law of the land, we need strategies to safeguard the doctor-patient relationship from government intrusion.The most effective approach is for both patients and physicians to opt out of the third party payment system.From the patients' perspective, opting out makes sense.

YOUR VIEW: College Republicans respond to letter

By Allison Kajs, AUCR chairmain | March 4

In response to the letter by Brent Culver in the Feb. 25th publication of The Auburn Plainsman, Auburn University College Republicans would like to clarify our position on several key issues concerning the 2010 elections.Auburn University College Republicans has not, and will not, endorse a candidate in the primary race.When Mr. Culver was accusing College Republicans of compromising their credibility with a primary endorsement he was referring to the College Republican Federation of Alabama's endorsement in a press release on Jan.

YOUR VIEW: Sophomore responds to last week's letter

February 25

Editor, the Auburn PlainsmanI was a little surprised when I read Dr. Penaskovic's letter to the editor in the Feb.

YOUR VIEW: SGA Vice President Urges Students to Pay Attention and Have a Voice

By Sarah Molony SGA Vice President, 2009-2010 | February 25

Editor, the Auburn PlainsmanI would like to thank you for emphasizing the importance of SGA elections in your recent editorial.The SGA is always working to increase publicity for our elections in an effort to encourage more students to voice their opinion on who should lead the student body.Your editorial mentioned many powers that SGA student leaders hold, including the annual allocation of student fees by the Senate Budget & Finance committee, campus organizations requesting status approvals and fees from O-Board, and Cabinet's outreach projects that represent all Auburn students to the community and state.One factor that you did not mention, however, was that the SGA President is the student voice to the Board of Trustees.

YOUR VIEW: College Republicans Wrongfully Endorse Candidate

By Brent Culver junior, public relations | February 25

Editor, the Auburn PlainsmanI am a conservative student and I consider myself to be a Republican.I have always thought that the College Republican organization did a good job of providing opportunities for all students to hear the views and opinions of all candidates running for office on the Republican ticket.It had always been my understanding that the role of organizations like the College Republicans was to provide students with information without preference in a primary election and, as a result, students could use that knowledge to make their own decisions at the ballot box.To that end, I was shocked and disappointed when I read that the statewide organization had decided to take the unprecedented action of formally endorsing a candidate for governor in the Republican primary.I believe that this move does not help the College Republicans in any way.If anything, it damages their credibility when endorsing a specific candidate in a primary election, especially so many months in advance.This action is antithetical to the purpose of such organizations and is contradictory to the organization's purposes and goals.I urge all Republicans to research each of the seven Republican candidates as well as the issues and make your own decision when you go to the ballot box.It appears the leadership of the College Republican organization thinks that its members are incapable of deciding which Republican to choose and would rather listen to the views of the small majority that hold the power.

YOUR VIEW: On Misplaced Blame

By Richard Penaskovic professor, religious studies | February 18

Editor, the Auburn PlainsmanI have been a ticket holder for men's basketball at AU for the past 26 years.I am dismayed, even shocked, that a recent editorial in The Plainsman asks for the resignation of Jeff Lebo, the men's basketball coach.The problem with the men and women's basketball teams are neither the coaches nor the players, but the lack of community support for the team.Look how well, for example, the men's basketball team did when Kentucky came to town and we had a full house.I would note that a writer on ESPN recently called Auburn the worst town in the entire SEC when it comes to fan support.

YOUR VIEW: Constant C-zone parking changes continue to cause conundrums

January 21

Editor, the Auburn PlainsmanI would like to know why the University has decided to make C-zone parking even smaller.Now, no complaint, in my opinion, should ever be voiced without a solution.Here are my solutions.The University decided, since it spent so much money on the new dorms, called The Village, it would require all freshmen students to live in the dorms.I have no problem with that philosophy.Auburn is one of the very few campuses that allow freshmen to have cars on campus: i.e.

YOUR VIEW: Alumnus Troubled by Players' Behaviors in Outback Bowl

January 21

Editor, the Auburn PlainsmanWhile I was thrilled with the outcome of our Bowl game, I was very disappointed with the way the team conducted itself on the field.I have always taken a great deal of pride in the way Auburn conducts itself compared to a lot of other teams during competitive events: not taunting, no excessive trash talking, etc.I realize players get pumped and it is ridiculous to think that none of it should go on but not to the extent that I saw in this bowl game.We looked like the Miami of old or worse yet, Bama.On almost every play I saw us trash talking for a while to the player that had been hit Not once did I see us help an opposing player up.This is a bowl game, not Bama.

YOUR VIEW: God, Gambling and Randy Owens: Where Does it End?

January 21

Editor, the Auburn PlainsmanThere is a strange business relationship that has emerged involving gambling and bingo in Alabama.I am sure it surprises no one in Alabama that those entities and individuals who continue to push gambling in Alabama, specifically bingo, seem to have a limitless supply of cash and are being somewhat successful in using their clout to force their interest on the rest of us.The news media has touched on possible conflicts of interest involving Attorney General King and possibly Gov.

YOUR VIEW: Auburn's Hazing Rules Out of Line?

January 21

Editor, the Auburn PlainsmanI am a FH Alum (93) and, like many others, think that the sanctions against FH fraternity are excessive.There were three hazing items listed in The Plainsman article: verbal harassment, requiring pledges to perform errands or chores and conducting interrogations.If there was verbal harassment, it was, much like the "interrogations," isolated.FH is about "Building Men," not tearing men down.If FH was not serious about what it is doing on the campus of Auburn University, it would not have expelled three brothers who were involved in any hazing activity.As far as the chores that a pledge does, they are no different from any chores a brother performs.This is not a hazing violation (Ala.

YOUR VIEW: Benefits for Same-Sex Couples at AU Not Fine With AU Alumnus

December 3

Editor, the Auburn PlainsmanThe Plainsman editors argue that Auburn adopt a same-sex benefits policy.