Speak Out 9/2/05

Beautiful chimes

FOR NEARLY 40 years I've lived within earshot of the university's beautiful chimes, which started long before I moved here. The patriotic music the chimes play is wonderful, and it's a charming part of the campus. To the Speak Out caller who complained about them, did you just discover them? They're not new. Please don't mess with one of the best traditions of Academic Hall.

Bad dress, bad image

THE CALLER who said there should be a dress code on the college campus is right in his observation but wrong in his prescription. When I was in school not long ago, individual faculty members defined requirements for their classes. For example, no baseball caps for young men. No bare midriffs for young women. If a student did not live up to the standards, he or she was asked to leave, which counted as a class absence and which affected the grade. Instead of the university establishing a dress code -- which the faculty would have to police -- faculty members should be encouraged to individually establish higher standards. Additionally, the university should look at orientation classes that delve into the issue of dressing for success. Currently, the general attire on SEMO's campus is among the worst I've seen at any Division I campus. It reflects on the university.

It's still painful

WHEN I start buying water, which is a replaceable commodity unlike gasoline, by the tankload, then I will worry more about its price. In the meantime, gasoline, which has no substitutes that I'm not already using (yes, I walk some places) continues to climb. Is gasoline a historical bargain? Perhaps, but that doesn't lessen the additional pain I feel each time I'm at the pump. Do I blame President Bush or the oil companies or even the oil cartel for my dilemma? No, of course not. Like any product, gas prices are affected by supply and demand. And world demand, given the explosive growth in China, will only grow. All this logic, however, doesn't lessen the pain.

Controlling grass

JOHNSON GRASS is everywhere, not just in Scott City. The Missouri Department of Transportation has let it get out of control. It's all over Cape Girardeau County. I thought some of our taxes went to Johnson -grass control. It needs to be sprayed and cut before it seeds. Mowing should be a priority every summer.

Bad impression

PLEASE, WHOEVER is responsible, mow the weeds and grass along the highway coming from the new bridge in Cape Girardeau. This doesn't give a good impression for people coming into Cape. It's a beautiful bridge and a good highway, but look at the weeds. When it does get mowed, please do a good job and get up close to the fence. That shows too.

Thanks for purse

I WOULD like to thank the person who found my purse at Hardee's and turned it in. It's greatly appreciated. May God bless you.

Cemetery upkeep

MY PARENTS are buried at Forest Hills Cemetery in Morley, Mo. I was there this past weekend, and the grass is not being mowed. It's at least a foot tall. It looks terrible. Something has to be done.

Dress violations

WE GOT a letter this summer from Dr. Mike Cowan, the principal at Central High School. It went on and on about the dress code and how it was going to be strictly enforced. I paid a lot of money to buy clothes to fit the dress code because we wanted to adhere to the policies. I picked my daughter up after school and was absolutely shocked at the way some of those girls coming out of the building were dressed. The principal needs to apply all the rules fairly. Don't send a letter home telling us what's going to be done and then ignore those standards and those rules.

Disaster aid

IN YEARS past when foreign countries were hit by a natural disaster, the United States sent relief aid in many forms. After the destruction caused by Hurricane Katrina at New Orleans and the Gulf Coast, it will be interesting to see if any foreign countries will send aid to us.

Missing the middle

JUNE SEABAUGH and the rest of what passes for a Religion page in the Missourian usually seems pretty innocuous. However, with the "no one gets to heaven but ..." and "Jesus is either Lord or liar" stuff, she nearly steps over the Pat Robertson line as she condemns 70 percent of Earth's people to hellfire. Also, the "Lord or liar" thing is strictly baloney since it excludes the middle. You could also believe that Jesus' sayings in the Bible are open to serious questioning, especially among the faithful. Or you could believe any number of other things including a rejection of belief in favor of reason.

Bi-directional loss

MICHAEL DEVANEY should wake up and smell the coffee. The competition for academic excellence among former bi-directional colleges in Missouri is over. Truman State University and Missouri State University won. Southeast Missouri State University lost.

A fair story

I DON'T understand why some people have taken offense with Scott Moyers' story about Debbie Shank. As a person who went from job to job until I found the one that suited me and where I could contribute most, I understood and sympathized with Mrs. Shank. Moyers' article was a fair story. Keep up the good work, Southeast Missourian.

Inappropriate dress

I AGREE with the person complaining about how some female students dress at Southeast Missouri State University. Even though some choose to dress like prostitutes, I'm sure there would be an uproar if male students started to solicit their services.

Too simplistic

THE SIMPLE lesson on economics was simplistic. Politics plays a big role in the economy. Prices and wages are determined by much more than the market or the laws of supply and demand.