Title IX now neglects male collegiate ranksAcademically, Title IX is a complete failure.

Proponents validly point out the increase in women’s athletics. But they fail to mention male enrollment at the University of Arizona and other big state schools nationwide has been under 50 percent of total enrollment for decades.

Further, as is regularly reported by The Chronicle of Higher Education, the fraction of male enrollment continues to decrease.

However, despite this difference that should violate Title IX, universities have continued to add programs more likely to attract female students, such as women’s studies.

Title IX, by any definition, should be chiefly about academics, not athletics.

However, if it is interpreted as a strict quota when applied to athletics, it should also be interpreted as a strict quota when applied to academics.

Male athletes have been subsidizing female athletes for 35 years in the guise of gender equity. Why shouldn’t female students be subsidizing male students for the same reason?

MATTHEW LEIGH

Online debate sheds light on immigration
I’m a bit late with this thank you, and I’ve mislaid the clipping so I don’t have the name (June 25 RealFAST ONLINE COMMENTS “The big debate: Deaths in the desert”).

But I wanted to thank you for running the differing opinion on the issue of illegal immigrants, where the person suggested that if Jesus were here, he’d be offering water and food and help to the immigrants.

I’ve often thought of that when reading the bitter and vitriolic comments regarding the immigrants, so I was delighted to see it in print.

BARBARA YOUNG

Green Valley and Tubac

Vehicle border barrier won’t stop trafficking
Americans who promote vehicle barriers on the border (instead of fences) must think the Mexican coyotes are too dumb to drop people off on the south side and have them picked up on the north side.

IVAN RUSSELL

Armed campus staff could offer protection
Re: the June 25 Associated Press article “2007 legislative accomplishments”:

A glaring omission in the 2007 session was the failure to pass a law that would allow University of Arizona staff and faculty who have concealed carry permits to have their firearms on their person on campus.

I can think of 32 reasons why this is a good idea.

The same 32 reasons illustrate the impossibility of any law or government intrusion that is a better guarantee of personal safety.

We should remind our elected servants early and often in the next session to get this done.

DAVID VANGELDER

Occasion arises to talk of fortifying San Pedro
With recent announcement that Grupo Mexico (owner of ASARCO Mining) is expanding operations and investing $1.4 billion at its Canonea operations just south of Arizona at the headwaters of San Pedro River, this is a dynamic opportunity to open a dialogue pertaining to the environmental impact on the river system as it flows north into Arizona and adjacent to Fort Huachuca.

Perhaps conservation efforts could improve the watershed, now deteriorating at a rapid pace.

RUDY REUSER

Happy Trails sign cause for concern?
I searched carefully through the new Pima County budget, but I did not find a section for grammar corrections.

Hard to believe that with so many excellent Spanish speakers, this county street sign got by them: Feliz Paseos.

It should be Feliz Paseo (both singular) or Felices Paseos (both plural).

Please get this corrected!

OSCAR-ERNESTO MORALES

Continue effort to save Arizona’s bald eagles
Re: the June 27 article “Az’s desert nesting bald eagles exception to species recovery”:

The dilemma of Arizona bald eagles is a very serious one.

Since the number of breeding pairs of the Desert Nesting Bald Eagle is still only in the 40s, taking their protection will be a fatal blow for the species.

The word “species” is vital. They have adapted to their desert habitats and become irreplaceable within those habitats, so considering them part of the rest of the bald eagles is irrational.

Besides this, developing cities are ravaging the eagles’ habitats. Groundwater pumping, diversions and dams are depleting the Salt and Verde rivers, along which the eagles have their best nesting sites.

If the eagles keep their place as an officially endangered species, they will receive the protection they need.

Otherwise, the minimal protection they would get cannot save their habitats from utter destruction.

Bald eagles are a symbol of our country, yet most people are lucky to see them once in a lifetime.

If we let this species die out in Arizona, what does that say about us?

I encourage readers to ask Gov. Janet Napolitano to continue her effort to keep the Arizona bald eagles on the Endangered Species Act.

ANIKA LARSON

Phoenix

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