Uninformed and insulting
Dear editor:
I am extremely disappointed in the column “Why Kerrydoesn’t cut it,” by Swede Hanson. It was one of themost insulting and uninformed columns I have ever read. I wonder ifthis boy has ever even thought to check out Kerry’s ideas onnational security or even the Democratic viewpoint on nationalsecurity (www.johnkerry.com).
“He doesn’t care about national security”— what an extreme and ignorant statement. And while he thinksthat John Kerry would be “subjecting our troops to adysfunctional world body,” at least he would not sendsoldiers to fight his father’s “war.”
I admire most of the columns written by SMU students, but thiswas disgusting.
Emily Eckner
Junior cinema-TV major
Hazy solution
Dear Ed Board,
I was surprised at the suggestion you made that the process fortrying the responsible parties in the recent hazing incidentshould be more public. Discipline of students is protected by theFamily Educational Rights Act of 1974. That’s why namesaren’t listed in the police blotter in your paper.Having people sit in on a hearing who didn’t have anythingfactual to offer to the case, only opinion, is both illegal andunproductive.
In the first place, the decision to try the students togetherdoesn’t guarantee an all or nothing conviction. Historically,in the criminal courts system, co-defendants are tried together allthe time, and all parties aren’t always convicted, and thesentences often vary. The fact that two have cases with the Stateof Texas and two don’t has no bearing. They all hadcases with SMU.
Secondly, public opinion should never be considered by a jury orby judges. The students all had the chance to call witnesses ontheir behalf. Whether or not they did, I don’t know, but theyhad the chance. Justice isn’t something that is decided atthe whim of the public, but by the impartial weighing ofevidence.
My guess would be that the judicial panel didn’t find thestudents guilty of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, but inviolation of the Student Code of Conduct. If that was the case, thejudicial panel acted within its bounds.
We can discuss the aftermath and hazing as a topic, but arguingthat student discipline should be open and with public input isabsurd. The process is fair and adequate as is. They hadthree hearings. If you want to see a hearing, theirpublic trials will be held at the Frank Crowley Court House in thecoming months. You are free to attend.
Justin Nichols
First-year student