As a Greek community, we would like to take time to shine some positive light onto what we do for the Platteville community and UW-Platteville. | Dec. 10

Thanks to Laura Becherer for her insightful column highlighting the insidious nature of sexism in our culture. Her experience in an ethnic studies class is a perfect example of how sexism is so pervasive that it is trivialized. | Dec. 10

In the Dec. 3 Exponent, your most outspoken columnist wrote an article about the discriminative treatment of women. I find this and similar opinions quite idealistic and intolerant of the things some people feel are wrong. This is not a bad way to be in theory, but idealism cannot work in real life. | Dec. 10

At the beginning of November UW-Platteville hosted the System Student Representatives meeting. … One of the issues that are always discussed is tuition, and at the last meeting some interesting ideas were discussed. I don’t want to bore you with details. What it comes down to is this: money from the state goes down, your tuition goes up. | Dec. 10

After reading “Respect imperative for change” in the Dec. 3 Exponent, I think something needs to be said about derogatory words. It is not the words that hurt people; it is the people using the words that hurt people. | Dec. 10

As a weekly reader of the Exponent, I enjoy catching up on the various news stories around campus. However, in recent weeks there have been a few stories that have unfairly singled out members of this community. | Nov. 19

I am saying now, as loudly as I can with these words: STOP IT — IT IS NOT OKAY. | Nov. 19

I have to disagree with some of last week’s opinion piece “Texting language leaking into daily speech, academic areas.” I fully agree with the writer’s opinion that in academic and professional writing it is important to remain as formal and traditional as possible; steps into the casual should only be made after signaled OK by the superior party (for example, your professor or your boss). However, trying to stagnate the language by condemning all quirks of electronically-mediated language is futile. | Nov. 12

Regarding the column “Youth doesn’t excuse assault,” I completely agree, as I think any reasonable person would, that what this individual did is wrong and disgusting. … The problem I have with this story is that the child is only 14 years old. If he is charged to the full extent of the law, this child, which he still is, is going to be put on the sexual predator list for the rest of his life. | Nov. 5

As the College of Engineering, Mathematics and Science Alumni Chapter President, I would like to extend my thanks to the Alchemists and the UW-Platteville chemistry Department for taking part in a long-standing tradition, the lighting of the “M.” | Oct. 15

In the spring of 2003, three college filmmaking graduates traveled to Africa. What started out as a post-college adventure transformed into the discovery of a tragedy: over 30,000 children the weapons and victims of a war between the Lord’s Resistance Army and the Government of Uganda that has spanned 23 years. | Oct. 15

All of the hype about the Greeks being unable to drink at their own house is getting ridiculous. It is their own choice to become Greek, and as a part of a school organization the amendment is definitely necessary. | Oct. 1

… You may think you are a responsible adult and that you are drinking responsibly. The issue is not about whether you agree with the law.
Our state legislature is where a law gets challenged, not with those hired to enforce laws. | Sept. 24

At this point, you have met with your academic adviser, and planned out your Fall semester. You are now on to final exams and the end of this semester. But wait! Take a moment to reflect on that adviser you went to see, time they took preparing for your visit, support and advice they give [...]

It’s necessary to clarify some of the points addressed in the April 23 issue letter to the editor. If I am reading the letter correctly, it says Laura Becherer and I found common ground over three points regarding a story about the excommunication in Brazil of the mother and doctors who facilitated an abortion for [...]

No one enjoys having their routine disrupted by the road construction on Hickory Street. However, if you must cut through Parking Lot 6 as a detour, please slow down.
Lot 6 is not a street; it is a parking lot. The speed limit is not 25 mph. At most, it is 10 mph.
In the past couple [...]

It is important to be as environmentally cautious as possible in today’s world. Recently, Glenview has taken some steps to become more environmentally friendly.
For instance, last summer they implemented a green roof, which will help reduce energy use, as well as rain run off. This is great, and I’m glad that our campus is working [...]

I want to thank all the blissfully uninformed for once again staying home and not voting. It pleases me to no end that the majority of the people in Wisconsin and the U.S. are willing to exercise their right not to know what is going on and not to bother to show up to vote. [...]

I completely understand the concept of the “Antagonist.” Having read the “Antagonist” for 13 years and having been a target on numerous occasions, the stories have always been exaggerations and poked fun at various people. But your “shot” at the men’s basketball team was inappropriate. The pain you caused has impacted the students, coaches, staff [...]

In her Feb. 19, 2009, article “Black President Doesn’t Solve All Inequity,” Angela Jones mentions that the U.S. was rated No. 1 in a U.N. Quality of Life study. The U.N. report that addresses the quality of life in various countries is called the Human Development Index (HDI). The index assigns a number based upon: [...]

Summer break may still be a couple months away, but it’s time to start thinking about where you will be living next semester. Many students will need to find an off-campus apartment for the summer or fall semester.
When thinking about off- campus housing options, it’s important to put together a budget to determine what [...]

In the last letter we spoke of using coal gasification as a way to instantly generate electric power when there is no wind to drive the windmills. The current lack of instant on power generation from coal fired boiler plants has been the primary reason our electric companies have been slow to adopt windmills. This [...]

My clothes do not define me. Personally, I’m more concerned with my performance in the classroom than whether or not the person sitting behind me thinks I’m a scrub. Furthermore, scoring high on an exam will impress my professors and show my respect for their class more than my “Abercrombie, Gap, or even Finish Line” [...]

In our last letter we spoke of replacing our old coal fired electric power generating plants with some new energy efficient plants. Obviously wind power will be of great importance, but sadly its deployment has been delayed simply because the wind does not blow 24/7. An exciting new technology is just now coming on the [...]

First off, I would like to express my gratitude for the feature on ASIA Club in the Feb. 19, 2009 issue. However, I would like to clarify and elaborate on a few points.
The name of ASIA Club’s upcoming event on Wed. March 4, 2009 was printed as “Taste of ASIA”, though the actual name of [...]

The students of Fundamentals of Energy Sources 3240 would like to thank the electrical power plant crew for the gracious hospitality they showed us while giving us the grand tour of their power generating plant. We found the machinery to be exceedingly well maintained and in museum-like quality. I very much felt like I had [...]

Twenty-five teddy bears armed with knives were allowed on campus. You’re kidding me, right? What next, 50 rubber ducks with police batons? 100 Elmos with brass knuckles demanding to be tickled or else? I would like to thank the campus police for risking their lives and limbs in disarming these clearly out of control, [...]

I am often asked about my experiences studying abroad in Australia my sophomore year. Generally the questions are easy to answer. Yes, the beaches are amazing; yes, the people are great; yes, the classes are interesting; and yes, vegemite is revolting. However, when asked why I went abroad and what it has done for me, [...]

I want to express my appreciation for the front page coverage in last week’s Exponent!
Just a few clarifications.
You mention the “group,” but ALL trips are open to ALL UW-Platteville students and costs typically reflect transportation as well as part of any admission fees. I guess I should have made that clearer for you.
I have [...]

I attended the recent Safe Zone training session offered by University Counseling Services.
During my eight-plus years on campus, this workshop was far superior, in all aspects, to any diversity workshop I have attended. I strongly encourage everyone to participate in future offerings.
I commend moderator Deirdre Dalsing, and hope she keeps up this excellent, and necessary, [...]

Many people are not properly informed of the pro-choice standpoint.  First and foremost: Pro-choice is not pro-abortion.  Pro-choice is working for affordable health care and available birth control for women. The pro-choice standpoint views abortion as the last option in a difficult situation. A government run by men should not be the authoritative figure in [...]

After reading the guest column “Conservative ideals unrealistic” in your Oct. 23 paper, I feel I must comment. The author is sick of conservative rhetoric. I agree but I am also sick of the liberal rhetoric. The column talks about the poor and uneducated, and how conservatives don’t care about them. It seems neither do [...]

The column, “No confidence, no vote,” from the Oct. 30 issue of the Exponent commits a few logical fallacies and, not surprisingly, reaches some questionable conclusions in its effort to defend the decision not to vote in the upcoming presidential elections. Venting outrage at several of the current administration’s policies, the column declares our federal [...]

I’m not voting on Nov. 4, and I am absolutely psyched. That’s right: I’m not rocking the vote, getting out the vote or doing anything related to voting on Nov. 4. I will not vote on Election Day for a fairly simple reason: I don’t want to legitimize them. It is often said “If [...]

I would like to thank David Nevins for his excellent Guest Column in the Oct. 16 issue of the Exponent, providing reasons as to why Sen. John McCain should be elected president this November.
I feel that too many people are simply choosing to vote for Sen. Barack Obama because of his rockstar status in America [...]

This election year all eyes are at the top of the ticket as Sen. John McCain and Sen. Barack Obama seek the presidency. In all the attention that the presidential race is getting, it is easy for some important local races to not get the attention they deserve. That’s why, as a student at UW-Platteville, [...]

Over the past couple of weeks, our society has been inundated with unprecedented amounts of political advertisements encouraging you to vote Obama, vote McCain or vote whoever. The amounts of mudslinging, misleading statistics and distortions of records have left me, a fan of politics, frustrated and cynical about the process. What has frustrated me even [...]

Now I am angry. Less than a week ago I received an automated message on my answering machine from the Republican Party telling me that I should not vote for Barack Obama because he associates himself with terrorists. I know that Sen. John McCain is an honorable man who has served this nation both in [...]