Asking the wrong questions
The past few editions of The Cavalier Daily have been distressing to me, with all the stories surrounding the current crisis in higher education. Between the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s efforts to teach their courses online, the free online content of The Faculty Project, President Sullivan pressing against Gov. Bob McDonnell’s limit on using in-state [...]
Read moreA native history
Edward Rothstein’s Jan. 27 review in The New York Times of the new National Museum of American History’s exhibit, “Slavery at Jefferson’s Monticello: Paradox of Liberty,” notes that American Indians, indentured servants and women need a separate historical examination than that offered by the Smithsonian exhibit, which is also opening at Monticello. How I wish [...]
Read morePersonal rights
It deeply disturbed me in 2010 when the ruling by five Supreme Court justices bolstered the idea of corporate personhood. Fundamentally, corporations have been given the same constitutional rights that were intended solely for human beings. Subsequent to the American Revolution, corporate power was limited through state legislatures. In 1886, however, the Supreme Court ruled [...]
Read moreA religious foundation
I most heartily agree with Katherine Ripley’s Jan. 19 column about the establishment of religion, titled “(Ripley’s) Believe it or not.” There is no way the Founders would have ever allowed any elected official to make any political decisions based on religious conviction. Can you imagine the chaos that would have ensued if the people [...]
Read moreFacts and opinions
While I am disappointed at the apparent outcome of Johnathan Perkins’ honor proceedings, I was even more disappointed to read the January 18 lead editorial, “A degree of injustice.” We are able to infer from Law School Dean Paul Mahoney’s recent statements that Perkins was subject to an honor trial. We can also assume that [...]
Read moreSupporting the occupation
I am writing again to declare my support for all occupations including Occupy Charlottesville. All over the country, the work is just beginning to address what is both morally and economically unjust. Here in Charlottesville, the plight of the homeless has been brought into our visual collective consciousness more so than it has in the [...]
Read moreHumane research
As one of the physicians who co-signed the complaint against the University’s use of kittens and adult cats in pediatrics training, I want to point out that, contrary to the University spokesperson’s claims in the Nov. 28 article, “Group protests medical training on cats,” it is never necessary to use an animal for this training. [...]
Read moreEvolving an intelligent design
I agree completely with the students’ goal of saving the magnolias (“Students hope to save magnolias,” Nov. 17). They are iconic Southern symbols that the University should think twice about chopping down for the sole purpose of making its job easier. Although I am unaware of the construction concerns these trees may pose, I believe [...]
Read moreFalse starts
Last Saturday night was a perfect evening for football. The weather was nice. Field conditions were excellent. Virginia was competing for the ACC Coastal Division title. Scott Stadium was rockin’ and rollin’ and never looked better. Expectations were high. Unfortunately, the game did not go as hoped. Still, school spirit reigned for three and a [...]
Read moreOur class tree-rings
I am writing to support my fellow alumnus, Guy Geier, for his letter (“Constructive criticism,” Nov. 18) in which he requested that our University administration and architect accelerate the renovations to the Rotunda so that the commencements for the classes of 2012 and 2013 will not be impacted. As an alumnus and a father of [...]
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