Paper gave ‘plain old people’ a voice

I am very sad because I am losing a good friend, the Citizen. I have enjoyed your excellent paper since we came to Tucson in 1951.

Special thanks to my journalism hero Tony Tselentis, editorial page editor, who shared his valuable insights about community issues, printed our letters and sent our questions and concerns to the news side to cover.

Thanks also to the wonderful investigative reporters (Jon Kaman, etc.), who dug out the facts about many critical issues like the fraudulent Butterfield freeway public opinion survey and the GAC plan to convert Empire Ranch to a huge bedroom community.

The Citizen gave us plain old people a voice so we could be effective.

Time has moved on. Thanks to the new crew who continue quality news and editorial coverage – Mark (Kimble), Billie (Stanton) and the other good folk who carry on.

Soon we citizens will lose an important voice. I will miss you greatly.

Ruth Holzinger Stokes

Kudos to former Citizen journalists

The only way I have to express how much I’ll miss the paper is to tell my story. Most of all I’ll miss Billie Stanton. She is irreplaceable.

The summer of 1967 was the happiest time of my life. The Tucson Citizen gave me the chance to continue my newspaper career in a new town, in a new job.

The job was as city desk assistant, working with Tom Duddleston and Keith Carew.

The staff was great – so warm and friendly, like a big family, pre-computer with more time for each other.

I was able to continue my journalism career, which began in Columbus, Ohio, in 1942 as one of five war-time staff photographers on the Columbus Citizen newspaper.

In 1956, I had gone to New York and married Bruce Hopkins, a New York Mirror photographer. The paper folded.

John Hemmer, a former staffer there, offered Bruce a job here. So here we were.

I retired when I was 62.

At the Tucson Citizen, we made longtime personal friends, such as my 30-year-friend Allison Hock-Rose, who started as a teen intern.

She recently was in town, and we discussed old times.

From the old building, these staffers deserve to be remembered – and bosses, too:

William Small Jr., Paul McKalip, George Rosenberg, Clyde Lowery, Tony Tselentis, Mary Brown, Mary Moody, Micheline “Mike” Keating, Nicki Donahue, Ellen Crosby, Anne Ross, Corky Simpson, Bill Hopkins, John Winters, Dan Pavillard, Sue Giles, Mary Gerdan Hunt, Judy Terlizzi, Regis McAuly, Paul Allen and Jeannie Jett.

WILMA S. HOPKINS

Fine work of staff won’t be forgotten

How do you say “thank you” to so many people who have made a difference in your life, professionally and personally?

After being in the military more than 21 years, you would think I would know how to say goodbye to friends and comrades on the newspaper side of the house.

News that the Tucson Citizen will close came as a surprise to me, and soon it will be a reality.

I want to thank all those reporters, photographers, editors and the weekly Calendar magazine for working with me for the past seven years.

Working together to get the news to and about our nation’s heroes, veterans and their families has truly been the fruit of our combined labor.

What a joy it has been to have worked personally with Anne Denogean, Heidi Rowley, Sheryl Kornman, Billie Stanton, Val Cañez, Norman Jean Gargasz, Larry Copenhaver and so many others who made our news a focus of interest and personal reflection.

As the book is slowly closed on this historical newspaper, let us wish all those who shared our cheers and sometimes our tears the best of future hopes and dreams, as they will not be forgotten in my heart.

Let us remember not how the newspaper died, but how it lived! Thanks for the memories, Tucson Citizen!

PEPE MENDOZA

fellow journalist

Gaslight indebted to Chuck Graham

We at The Gaslight Theatre will be forever indebted to Mr. Chuck Graham.

Over the years, Chuck has faithfully reviewed all of our shows. A large part of our growth and success can be credited to the dedication and professionalism of Chuck Graham. He has been fair, honest and always helpful with his reviews.

As a small business, we rely on every type of public relations opportunity available. Losing the Tucson Citizen and Chuck’s reviews will leave a gap that will be hard to fill.

All of us in The Gaslight Family would like to thank you, Chuck, for all of your hard work and support of The Gaslight Theatre over the years. We wish you all the best and lots of continued success as you set out on the next phase of your career.

Tony Terry & The Gaslight Family

owner, The Gaslight Theatre

Bryan Lee was advocate for athletes

It is a shame that the Citizen is closing; good people will lose their jobs, and the community will lose your expertise.

A free press is the cornerstone of a healthy citizenry, and we will miss your varied voices.

Thanks to the entire staff for working so diligently to provide our community with news of the city.

I want to acknowledge one writer in particular: Bryan Lee. Bryan has written countless articles about the health and fitness community over the years, whether in the Sports pages, Outdoors, Body Plus or elsewhere.

He has been an advocate for local competitive athletes and a champion of healthy living.

Thank you, Bryan, for all that you’ve done for Tucson.

Randy Accetta

Southern Arizona Roadrunners

Stay in Tucson, employees; we need you

My family and I will miss the Tucson Citizen. We’ve especially appreciated the thoughtful editorial page in recent years.

Arizona media will be poorer with the Citizen gone.

Hopefully, Citizen journalists and employees will stay in Tucson and be involved in the community in other positive ways.

Daniel Patterson

state representative, LD 29

Liberals denounce all that is good about U.S.

There have been many labels to describe those who are seen to be disloyal to their own kind.

When one betrays his own country, he is said to be a traitor. Traitors have been dealt with harshly during times past.

Lately, in the guise of being “diverse” or “tolerant,” many seem to have forgotten old labels such as “faithful” or loyal” or any other label identifying those traditionally valued virtues.

And so, there exist within organizations such as our country those who think nothing of betraying the entity that has given them so much.

To compound their felonies, so to speak, they are not content to sell their own souls cheaply; they feel the need to take others with them to their final dubious rewards.

Such it is with the modern liberal who denounces all that is holy, traditional and decent about his country.

He ignores history and he, like the lemming, does not see the cliffs beyond his limited view.

Eugene Cole

retired

Newspaper demise means city’s less Safier

The Tucson Citizen’s demise will at last give us relief from the disparate rantings of ultraliberal Joan Safier, retired teacher.

For years, Ms. Safier has been published at the frequency allowed by the liberal Citizen, always deprecating capitalism and freedom as though our constitutional government were our enemy rather than our salvation.

Ms. Safier’s viewpoint on banking shows a misunderstanding of our financial industry’s structure and functions. The recent collapse of these markets proves that capitalism works, for when people secure loans too large for their capacity or budget, the market punishes them.

The problem was compounded by the government bailouts, which did not allow the market to work until much greater damage had been done.

Foreclosures in Arizona are difficult for those who experienced them, but personal responsibility is necessary in all financial transactions. One must own his mistakes.

Ms. Safier did get it right when she said closing tax loopholes is like raising taxes on corporations for those corporations that have gone offshore.

Corporations are formed to provide goods and services and to make profit. When government intrudes, such as with “green” rules and regulations, the corporations sometimes must go offshore in order to stay in business.

So now the government wants to again penalize the corporation by confiscating those offshore profits through taxes.

Worse is her cry for “universal health care.” This plea for total “nanny care” will be the sandbag that breaks the nation’s back.

Universal health care will be used to justify any restraint on freedom. For if the state has to cure one, it will want to restrict or prevent the need for treatment in the first place.

When treatment must be provided, it will want to ration that treatment and so on.

Needs testing will follow for older people, and who is to say your need is high enough to warrant treatment? Hello Canada and Great Britain. No service available!

I am thankful Ms. Safier is now retired and can no longer indoctrinate her pupils with her liberal diatribes.

Garland D. Cox

Health of America depends on single-pay

It is critical that a single-pay health care system be implemented.

We have done the other way for years. Why are we the only First World country without a health care system for all of its citizens?

We can’t continue to support the CEOs and the top 1 percent of our country with money, or just insurance for our senators and members of Congress but not for the regular citizens.

Karyl Williams

Sahuarita

Reform is medicine to cure national care

With the United States at the top of every list of nations on health care delivery and cost, but way down the list on rate of mortality and morbidity, it is time for to put single-payer health care on the table.

Our present health care system must be reformed.

Dorothy McKenna

Green Valley

Privacy of minors online a major issue

Minors don’t have the legal capacity to sign away “privacy” on sites such as Facebook and MySpace.

That is an important thing to consider when all these sites claim the defenses of “privacy agreements.”

Minors do not have capacity to enter into contracts, and they can be disaffirmed at any time by minors.

Steve Brandon

Napolitano, get in line with Obama on border

Thank you for your May 10 editorial celebrating President Obama’s decision to pull funding from the budget for future border wall construction (“Obama move halts pointless, devastating border fence“).

The Sierra Club agrees this is great news for animals, plants and all borderland habitat.

But Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano has said she will finish all 670 miles of Bush’s border wall, 624 of which have been built so far.

That means 46 more miles of environmentally devastating wall – bad news for wildlife.

In California’s Otay Mountain Wilderness, extensive erosion damage is resulting from haphazard new roads plowed through this formerly roadless wilderness area.

In Texas, significant portions of the Sabal Palms and Southmost Preserve refuges will be walled off if construction continues.

The Sierra Club asks Napolitano to suspend border wall construction to allow on-the-ground consultation and compliance with federal laws. It is time to make a clean break from past border policy.

Dan Millis

Borderlands Campaign, Sierra Club

For better circulation, end the paper chase

Maybe the circulation of both newspapers would be higher if the carriers would throw the papers where the subscribers ask them to.

Maybe other people get tired of having to complain over and over and just quit taking one or both of the papers.

All we ask is that the carriers throw the paper on our brick walkway, not on the driveway for cars to drive over and not in the neighbor’s driveway.

Sounds simple, doesn’t it? Not for the carriers. One wonders how many subscribers have been lost over the years because of such a simple issue.

Barbara Young

Green Valley

Government dole isn’t limited to just the poor

Fifteen years ago, I worked for the Department of Economic Security as a computer programmer, and about 10 percent of Arizonans were receiving food stamps.

That number has not changed much. Today, about 10 percent of the population of Arizona still receives food stamps.

I don’t have the number for people involved in other government welfare programs, but I suspect it is just as high.

Poor people are not the only ones on welfare programs. A lot of rich people are on the dole and get what we call “corporate welfare programs.”

A good example is the current bailout of millionare Wall Street brokers and bankers.

Mike Ross

Tempe

Raúl with the punches: It’s always about race

It figures that bigmouth (U.S. Rep.) Raúl Grijalva demands an apology from Pima County Sheriff Clarence Dupnik, for having made supposedly insensitive remarks toward Hispanics.

It’s always about “race” with Raúl, isn’t it?

He constantly tries to throw his considerable weight around.

If only he were concerned with the lousy performance of his congressional staff, which is predominantly Hispanic.

Who’s racist?

Alan Neff

Chorus of arts lovers, speak with one voice

If you appreciate arts of all kinds in Arizona, this is the time to speak up!

If you haven’t done so already, please take the time to write to all Arizona legislators, not just your local representatives.

This (current state budget plan) is just incredible.

This would mean we will lose our federal matching funds for arts programs.

The U.S. government gives $2 for every $1 provided by Arizona.

But what legislators are proposing currently is way below the threshold that is necessary to receive Obama’s arts money infusion.

Add your voice!

Catherine Nash

Rob Renfrow

Reader single-minded on health care demand

We, the American people, want health care.

We don’t want more insurance. We’ve had it.

I’m sick of paying an organization to tell me I can’t have procedures or medicines recommended by my physician.

I want single-payer health care! NOW!

Bob Williams

Sahuarita

Kill vulturous insurers so rest can carry on

Gaining control of runaway health care expenditures is to be accomplished by merely excluding the greedy health insurance companies from the system.

Health insurance companies consume 1 out of every 3 health care dollars and provide no health care value added.

They rake in the premiums, pay out on some claims, deny the rest and pay themselves handsomely for their pitiful contribution.

Physicians, hospitals and pharmacy companies are not the problem with our system, as they do provide health care value added.

Health insurance companies are nothing more than greedy Wall Street buzzards.

America needs to excise them from the system, and the sooner, the better.

William Hatalsky

How could Obama smile at Sykes’ jokes?

Re the White House Correspondents Dinner:

What was Wanda Sykes thinking? Perhaps more to the point, what was President Obama thinking when he laughed and smiled as the comedienne wished Rush Limbaugh dead?

Although the left is reporting her speech as “taking shots” at Limbaugh and mocking everyone, that’s a gross misrepresentation of what turned into a hateful and disgusting diatribe.

But the speech took a very ugly turn when she laid into Limbaugh. This is what she said:

“Rush Limbaugh said he hopes this administration fails, so you’re saying, ‘I hope America fails.’ You’re, like, ‘I don’t care about people losing their homes, their jobs, our soldiers in Iraq.’ He just wants the country to fail. To me, that’s treason.

“He’s not saying anything differently than what Osama bin Laden is saying. You know, you might want to look into this, sir, because I think Rush Limbaugh was the 20th hijacker. But he was just so strung out on OxyContin he missed his flight.”

She then concluded, “Rush Limbaugh I hope the country fails: I hope his kidneys fail, how about that? He needs a good waterboarding, that’s what he needs.”

Obama seemed to think this bit was pretty hilarious, grinning and chuckling and turning to share the “joke” with the person sitting on his right.

There’s not much room for differing interpretations of what Sykes said. She called Limbaugh a terrorist and a traitor, suggested that he be tortured and wished him dead.

What was his crime? Hoping that Obama’s policies – which he views as socialist – will fail.

And Obama laughing when someone wishes Limbaugh dead?

Hard to take from the man who promised a new era of civility and elevated debate in Washington.

William Hurt

Green Valley

Single-most-feasible health care approach

Single-payer is the only way to fix this nation’s health care system, or at the very least, as a public option available to all citizens.

The insurance companies will not play fair until they are forced to. And even then, they’ll cheat and steal at every possible opportunity.

Get with it.

Richard Grossman

Vail

Needling for debate on accessible medicine

It is negligent to ignore the will of the majority of the people as far as single-pay health care is concerned.

The people of our country are in dire need of a health care plan that will ensure all our citizens receive the care our medical profession is capable of giving. A fair debate on this subject is a necessity.

Please see that this debate takes place.

N. Jean Rogers

Tubac

Spurring Giffords to rein in horse slaughter

I gave U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords my total support because I was under the impression she would help protect our wild horses.

I guess I was wrong. Since the election, she has given no support to the horse.

I do not believe in horse slaughter. I believe in euthanasia for unwanted or injured horses.

It may cost more for the owner, but it is the only way we can ensure they don’t suffer at a slaughterhouse, at home or in other countries like Mexico or Canada.

Horses deserve better than this. Are we a society that simply sends the unwanted to be tortured at the hands of humans so they can end up on plates in Europe and other countries? I hope not. I hope we can be better people than this.

I was hoping Gabrielle Giffords felt the same way.

René Iotti

Use fertilized eggs for stem cell research

America is known for incessantly moving forward and unraveling mysteries attached to life.

When it comes to stem cell research, America seems stagnant. We watch millions of people die of diabetes, and millions more from cancer.

If people keep dying of these same diseases, then it is time we realize that current treatments that suppress symptoms are not enough. It is time to move on.

Now that America can further treatments for terminally ill people, there are still questions on the ethics of stem cell research, especially with embryonic, which kills the embryo after extraction.

But consider in vitro fertilization. Fertilized eggs are left frozen and eventually terminated; however, that doesn’t raise as much controversy as stem cells.

When leftover eggs are used to further stem cell research, they can only lead to finding cures. There is nothing to lose since the fertilized eggs are destroyed in the end.

With the health rate of Americans decreasing, and new diseases emerging constantly, citizens need to keep up.

As many as 24 million Americans now suffer from diabetes. We are all somehow affected, either through friends or family.

It is about time people stop discouraging efforts made with stem cell research.

Researchers do not want to tackle this the controversial way, but if that is the only way now, it is worth pursuing.

Akua Minta

Has Giffords taken equestrians for a ride?

I am very concerned and upset that the passing of important equine legislation isn’t happening quickly.

Horses are transported in horrible, deplorable conditions across the border to Mexico and Canada for slaughter, and Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords is not co-sponsoring these bills even though we people and our horses campaigned for her re-election. Why?

Ms. Giffords is a sponsor or co-sponsor to HR322 to declare July 25 as National Day of the Cowboy.

How can she honor the cowboy and sell the horse he rode in on down the road to the slaughter plant?

E.J. Jones

Phoenix

Trial & error: Mockery needs work on attitude

Poor Corey Wlodarczyk (May 7 letter, “Mock Trial member judges UA to be unfit“).

His letter reveals an attitude that spells future disaster for this poor, disillusioned graduate.

Have you noticed what happens to lousy neighbors as they move from area to area? They’re still lousy neighbors.

Corey needs to move on, but an attitude adjustment would be beneficial. Could poor grades produce such hatred? I wonder.

Don’t let the door hit your fanny, as you slink away into the night, Corey!

Jerry Pulliam

Sahuarita

Sorry, but Dupnik does not owe any apologies

I am a lifelong Republican, but I have voted for Sheriff Clarence Dupnik for as long as I can remember because he does the job he was elected to do.

He does not owe anyone an apology!

While I disagree with his policy of enforcement in the illegal immigrant problem, I understand the constraints of budgets and personnel.

Still, I believe every law enforcement officer has the duty to enforce every law of our country, be it federal, state, county or city.

After all, he surely would not hesitate to apprehend a suspected terrorist planning to blow up the state Capitol.

Nevertheless, he does a fine job, and I applaud him! I repeat: Sheriff Dupnik does not owe anyone an apology!

D. Versluis

retired

Food tax will hit all, not just folks already down

The state, county and city seem to be determined to balance budgets by raising taxes: the state with higher income taxes, the county with higher property taxes, the city of Tucson with property taxes (renters tax), taxes on cable, trash pickup, water, electric and more.

Two to three years ago, renters began renting houses and now they are buying houses because it’s cheaper than renting an apartment.

Apartment complexes were feeling the pinch before the economy went south. Now the city wants to hit the working poor, disabled and people on Section 8 with more taxes.

If the city would begin saving enough money to last six to nine months with no income from the federal government or the state, we would be in much better shape today.

Perhaps this policy as well as a half-cent tax on food (excluding the disabled, elderly and Section 8 residents) would help balance the budget.

We may even be able to eliminate most of the other taxes under consideration.

Dwayne Giorsetti

laborer

Pass the buck . . . or simply print more

Simply priceless! Why should I be in insufferable debt when my children and grandchildren can suffer for me?

The right economic track of repressing investment and trade can easily be made up for by printing more money!

Why hasn’t someone thought of this before?

Shorty Griswold

May designated month for ALS awareness

ALS. Those three letters never held much significance for me until three years ago, when I learned I have amyotrophic lateral sclerosis – Lou Gehrig’s disease.

For those who don’t know, ALS is a ruthless killer. It gradually paralyzes all voluntary muscles, including those used for walking, talking, swallowing and breathing.

There’s no cure, and most people survive only about three to five years.

One thing about receiving such a terrible diagnosis: You learn who you can count on. My family and friends are absolutely amazing.

In addition, the Muscular Dystrophy Association provides invaluable help.

Besides sponsoring a worldwide program of ALS research, MDA provides me with medical care at the MDA ALS Clinic at University Physicians Healthcare Hospital at Kino Campus in Tucson.

MDA has helped me obtain expensive assistive equipment and its support groups and online communities offer advice and hope.

May is National ALS Awareness Month, and in this area, MDA will sponsor an ALS seminar May 14 at the Viscount Suite Hotel.

ALS attacks healthy adults in the prime of life – people such as me. This May, please help conquer this disease by supporting MDA.

Call (800) 572-1717 or visit www.als-mda.org to learn more.

Thank you, southern Arizona, for all your support.

George Borboa

Article wrong about mortgage brokers

A May 8 article (“Homebuyers sue KB Home, Countrywide, allege rigging to inflate prices“) contained two glaring misrepresentations.

“Homebuilders sold their homes for higher prices, the banks profited from making and selling loans and the mortgage brokers benefited from earning more commissions.” This is mostly accurate, but the phrase about mortgage brokers is not.

Countrywide and KB’s agreement precluded outside lenders. Mortgage brokers work with a variety of lenders to keep the market competitive.

KB and Countrywide prevented mortgage brokers from participating in the loan process and practically required borrowers to use Countrywide as the exclusive lender.

Also misleading is the revelation that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac adopted new standards for appraisals. This article illustrates the danger of the relationship between a lender such as Countrywide and its appraisal management company (AMC), such as Landsafe.

The standards adopted in the Home Valuation Code of Conduct between New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo and Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac doesn’t just allow this type of lender/AMC relationship. It virtually mandates it.

As of May 1, Bank of America, which acquired Countrywide and Landsafe, will only use appraisals by Landsafe. They are not alone. Most major banks only accept appraisals from their selected AMC.

Cuomo’s investigation results have never been released, but the impact of HVCC is to encourage the type of relationship that has led to the lawsuit.

Tom Heath

Government affairs chairman, Arizona Mortgage Lenders Association

board member, Arizona Association of Mortgage Brokers

Democrats responsible for current problems

Obama is just cleaning up what the last administration did when they deregulated the financial firms? Of such statements are fairy tales made.

The previous administration tried to regulate financial institutions. It was the members of the current majority who blocked any attempts to do so.

Obama and company are responsible for this mess, no matter how much they try to shift the blame. I am surprised people think the Bush administration caused the recession.

I lay the blame squarely on Barney Franks, Chris Dodd, Nancy Pelosi and the rest of their ilk. You want me to support Obama? To do what?

Raise taxes? His party members are experts at squeezing more money out of us.

Tell the rest of the world we are evil? He has done that.

Bow to people who want us dead? He’s done that.

Build a smart, cost-lowering universal health system? His own party says that won’t work.

Homeland Security? Doesn’t his administration want to bring the terrorists here?

And of course this high-tech electronic fence will be going up, so we can count the illegal immigrants and drug smugglers instead of catching them.

Come to think of it, our ex-governor, by her own words, doesn’t even know which direction to look for terrorists.

Obama was an expert at tearing down this country before, and it’s all better now? It’s not.

Expecting me to support him is about as likely as my believing that a rabbit paints eggs and delivers them in a basket every Easter.

John F. Sukey

retired military

UA student missed point about firearms

In a May 4 letter (“Student shoots down letting guns on campus“), University of Arizona student MariaElena Williams slightly oversimplified the controversy over allowing firearms on college campuses.

She assumes that if firearms were allowed, all students would have the legal right to carry a concealed firearm. This is incorrect.

The bill would allow only those people with concealed weapons permits to carry a firearm on college campuses.

This is a huge difference.

A concealed weapon permit can be obtained only by a person with no criminal history who is at least 21 and who attends a training class and passes a marksmanship accuracy test.

Only a small percentage of college students would be legally allowed to carry a concealed weapon on campus, and they would have formal training.

Every single one of them would be a deterrent to the person who comes to the campus with the intent of harming students. Why do you think so many schools are targeted by maniacs? It’s because students are defenseless.

The arguments against allowing legally concealed weapons on college campuses sound exactly like the hysteria that arose when Florida lawmakers first addressed whether to allow concealed weapons permits.

“There’ll be blood running in the streets. There’ll be gunfights on every corner. There’ll be shootouts over parking spaces.” There was none of that.

Less than one-tenth of 1 percent of all concealed weapon permit holders have had their permits revoked for criminal behavior. And the majority of those had nothing to do with firearms.

The vast majority of individuals who go to the trouble of obtaining the permit to carry a concealed weapon are more law-abiding than the average citizen. The people who go to schools to kill students don’t bother with minor details like laws. Have more faith in your fellow students.

Pat McGraw

Congress members do what’s right – for selves

In a moment of truth-telling, Democratic Sen. Dick Durbin from Illinois said the banking industry owns the Senate.

He should have acknowledged the influence of the rest of corporate America as well.

The banks’ lobbyists are as powerful as ever, but now, since most received federal bailout money, their lobbyists are being paid by We the People to work against our interests.

Like all Republicans and 12 Democrats, our Sens. Jon Kyl and John McCain voted for the banks and against giving bankruptcy judges the ability to renegotiate loans of homeowners facing repossession.

Arizona has been particularly hard hit by foreclosures, but that hasn’t caused our senators to stand with their constituents over the banks.

Obama has said he wants to close the tax loopholes on offshore accounts that allow almost all large American companies to avoid paying billions in taxes.

This would add $200 billion to the nation’s coffers and allow tax breaks for companies that create American jobs.

Will Republicans and even some Democrats side with the companies that fill their campaign war chests, or will they do what is right?

What argument will Kyl and McCain use to vote against closing the loopholes?

Oh wait, I’ve got it: Closing tax loopholes is really raising taxes.

Likewise, get ready for Republicans and some Democrats to protect the health insurance industry over the need for universal care and real reform.

Conservative Democrat Ben Nelson, who has taken more than $2 million from the private health care industry, said he will fight a government option similar to Medicare, because it would be so superior to the private care option it would harm the health care insurance industry.

We need to fight this corporate stranglehold on our political process.

We need to write our members of Congress and remind them that we elected them.

They work for us, not the corporations that are trying to sabotage the change we need.

Joan Safier

retired teacher

2 senators try to mend health care system

I was really proud to watch Sens. Max Baucus, D-Mont., and Chuck Grassley, R-Idaho, working together on the health care bill we need to take for-profit health care off Wall Street and put it on Main Street as nonprofit organizations.

My dad brought health insurance from Blue Cross nonprofit in the 1950s for $1 per kid. My sons were born preemies, and I was in debt more than $100,000 overnight.

John Crouse

Find respectable work . . . as a local volunteer

I am part of President Obama’s Neighbor to Neighbor program, and was relieved that the budget passed.

I know that it is not a perfect budget. Not much is perfect in these times. But I am continually amazed by the “get out, get up and move” initiative of many Arizonans.

I see senior reading volunteers work lovingly with kids from the Pascua Yaqui Reservation. I hear unemployed individuals talk about “showing their motivation to get a new job” by volunteering at the Community Food Bank.

It is easy to sit back and complain about how hard things are and what bad jobs CEOs and Congress are doing. But it is a wonderful and inspiring thing to see neighbors getting up in the morning to go out and help others in whatever way they can.

Being involved in community efforts will get the country back on track. Sitting back will not.

No, we are not “The Greatest Generation,” but I would be proud to be mistaken for any of them in my most unselfish moments.

Nora Cunneely

Paper’s support helped put arts on the charts

I want to thank the Tucson Citizen for its support of arts groups through the years.

Without the media bringing attention to concerts, drama and art shows, many of us would be unemployed. Many of us are still unemployed, but not because you didn’t try.

Special thanks to Calendar Editor Rogelio Olivas and the Calendar staff for producing previews and listings and being so lovely to work with.

I also want to thank Dan Buckley. In one of his columns, he urged groups to perform during the summer so that Tucson audiences could have access to the arts year-round and not just during the regular season.

His suggestion is the reason that the St. Andrew’s Bach Society Summer Concert Series exists in its present form. He gave us a big preview before the first concert and the series has gone from strength to strength, now under the artistic direction of Dr. Lindabeth Binkley.

Dan Buckley also gave my early music group, Musica Sonora, a great review and put a video clip up on the Web, which meant a heck of a lot to me.

I hope the Citizen will carry on, but in case you end up at the Great Printing Press in the Sky, I couldn’t have lived with myself if I hadn’t thanked you. I can’t thank you enough.

May you survive and thrive.

Christina Jarvis

former artistic director, St. Andrew’s Bach Society;

artistic director, Musica Sonora;

music director, Grace St. Paul’s Episcopal Church

Reader corresponds on news, its delivery

Many times in the last few weeks, I started a letter to the editor but didn’t finish any of them in a timely manner.

One was about the deplorable situation of the arts in Tucson Unified schools. The new superintendent apparently doesn’t appreciate the fine arts as a vehicle for stimulating students’ minds. She must believe they are an unnecessary expense because they don’t appear on the AIMS test.

Another letter to the editor was about the mismanagement of the Tucson Symphony Orchestra and its convoluted pricing system for season tickets that no one in their office can explain.

And the musicians, without whom there would be no TSO, played for more than a year without a contract and when they finally received one, the amount was below what they had received in previous years.

Now TSO management is asking the public to donate $1 million before the end of 2009 for the Emergency Bridge Campaign. I am more inclined to make a donation directly to the musicians.

The topic of a third letter was the Regional Transportation Authority vote recount and County Administrator Chuck Huckelberry’s “all’s right with the world – what’s the fuss about – my elections department is the best and has done no wrong” blathering. Thanks to the Tucson Citizen for including Attorney Bill Risner’s statement for balance.

A fourth letter would aim squarely at the powers-that-be managing the Citizen. Why don’t they ask the readers what we want in the newspaper? Did they ask if readers valued the daily bridge column or did they just drop it? It can’t cost any more than Mallard Filmore but the duck keeps flapping along ad nauseam.

What about the powers-that-be requiring local columnists to do blogs? When do I have time to read a blog? Did they ask if I wanted to read a blog?

The Citizen goes to the heart of issues. It’s an honest newspaper and doesn’t deserve to die. On National Public Radio, I recently listened to a discussion about the demise of print newspapers throughout the country. I hope that Tucson can pull off a class act and keep both our daily papers alive and in print form.

I want to get the news dropped on my doorstep. I don’t want to click a mouse to read the news. I want to turn a page.

Lee Oler

No contest between a rock & a green place

Re: the Tuesday My Tucson column by Melissa Lamberton (“Go green, UA, and let the grass die”):

There is more to being “green” than living in a world of dirt and rocks.

I totally disagree with Melissa Lamberton’s My Tucson view that UA should let the grass die.

Being green is an attitude that reflects concern for the planet and our future, but it does not mean we have to give up the beauty that is already there.

We have to make it more special and protect it. That is what UA does with its landscaping and plant life.

Anyone who knows Tucson knows that the UA campus is a veritable oasis in a desert. It is more than just a college campus. It is a place of solitude. It is a place of contemplation. It is a place for gathering and sharing.

The trees and grass and vegetation provide a source of comfort on a hot day, a source of learning about our plant life and a place to escape.

How exciting for us when the professor would say, “Let’s hold class outside today on the grass under the trees that line the Mall.”

Every time I drive by on Campbell Avenue and look down at the green grass Mall of UA, I feel good. It’s my Central Park, in the midst of an urban center.

Author Leo Buscaglia writes that the time to celebrate one’s life is when they are alive and when families struggle the most. Not when they are gone or when things are going great.

To get rid of the grass at UA because of tight economic times is shortsighted and senseless. It’s not like UA is wasting its resources. I see no water running down the streets.

The plants are well maintained and protected. It is a living museum we can experience each and every day if we want.

Is it a selling point for UA? Sure it is! It’s a beautiful campus and if it makes someone from New York want to go here, great.

The Mall is UA, so much so that when they wanted to take away part of it years ago for a new building, they decided instead to put the building underground and preserve the Mall.

I suggest Melissa take her family down to the campus someday, pack a picnic lunch, walk among the olive trees and find a shady spot and enjoy our little “green” area. Save the grass and all the plants!

Matt Welch

UA alumnus

Focus should be on fix, not more tearing down

I’ve been surprised to hear that “ordinary” citizens who are being interviewed on radio news appear to be concerned that President Obama’s budget plan is spending too much.

They might be referring to the money spent on bailing out financial goofs. But that is just cleaning up what members of the last administration did when they deregulated the financial firms or didn’t upregulate the right sectors.

What we should be watching for is how we can help Obama compete with lobbyists to encourage Congress to bring jobs back home, build a smart, cost-lowering universal health insurance program and a preventive homeland security department that recognizes quality K-12 education as a peacemaker and crime reducer.

Philip Torrance

Mean streets dead-end downtown junctions

Streets are an important part of the urban fabric of any city.

Ideally, streets serve a variety of functions – transportation, gathering spaces, public outdoor rooms and more.

In recent years (since mass industrialization), streets have started to serve singular functions of transportation for vehicular traffic, often forsaking pedestrian and bicycle use.

This single-track attitude toward streets is filtering out the vibrant life we need to revitalize the ghost town that was Tucson downtown.

Saving downtown will require that we not only get people downtown, but also keep them there. This is impossible as long as streets are designed only to move cars, and as long as there are no spaces to foster interaction between people from all walks of Tucson life.

It’s this sense of community that is so desperately lacking in suburbia, and the density of the urban center is the only chance to really bring our local culture to life.

European cities – which have existed far longer than any American city – all feature pre-industrial design and planning.

Before cities were designed for the automobile, streets were made for walking. Small squares dotted cityscapes and allowed members of neighborhoods to gather in these multipurpose outdoor rooms.

As a result, communities were stronger.

The redesign of downtown roads can and must include not only large-scale open space for events, but also smaller-scale spaces for community interaction.

Evan Shallcross

Mock Trial member judges UA to be unfit

I am ecstatic to graduate May 15 – not because I am proud to be a University of Arizona alumnus, but rather because it means I no longer will be affiliated with UA.

When I pack my room, get in my car and leave for law school this summer, I will never look back – ever.

I came to UA as a freshman in the fall of 2005. I watched tuition costs rise incrementally without apology. I accepted these increases by not transferring to another school, believing the extra money improved my educational opportunities.

I watched incredibly underfunded clubs struggle to exist, including my own (Mock Trial). I watched excessive spending, I saw two consecutive big-name concerts net two consecutive six-digit losses.

This university is a disgrace to advanced education. I have been cheated of four years I could have spent at an institution devoted to spending my tuition toward my education.

Concerts netting nearly a $1 million loss do not aid my education.

ASUA funding to Mock Trial alone never surpassed $1,000 this year. Mock Trial has more than 20 students, and the cost for one student to attend one tournament is more than $400.

This year, we represented UA competitively and professionally at the Regional Tournament, the Opening Round Championship Tournament and the National Championship Tournament.

It is one of the best extracurricular educational activities offered at UA.

Yet we watch UA lose more than $900,000 on an extraneous entertainment event as our program suffered because students simply could not afford to compensate for the massive lack of funding.

Concerts do not play any vital role at an institution of higher learning. They should only be run if they can break event.

ASUA should represent the students, but for two years it has only represented the individuals planning the events, hoping to leave a legacy.

The Kanye West concert and the Jay-Z concert lost more than $1.3 million.

Tommy Bruce called the Jay-Z concert a success and blamed the loss on the economy, but those statements are irresponsible, immature and wrong. The concert contract was signed March 24, well after the initial crash.

There is no excuse for this refusal to accept responsibility. There is no excuse for the increase in tuition costs. There is no excuse for this misappropriation of funds.

I will never contribute to any activity or fundraising event put on with UA alumni. I will never give anything to aid this institution in any way.

I will make sure every family member, colleague and friend knows that UA is not devoted to higher learning.

I am ashamed to be a member of this establishment, and I hope the Board of Regents realizes the UA administration’s failure to work toward the goals of higher education and spend its funds on better causes.

Corey Wlodarczyk

UA class of 2009

philosophy, political science

It does compute: Tech belongs in classrooms

Technology can be an enormous help to teachers; it helps prepare students for work and gives them a better grasp of concepts the teacher is trying to explain.

When all schools use technology, we will have a more computer literate populace.

Teachers must be given classes on how to use technology in the classroom, integrating it into lesson plans. Such education will help teachers to overcome their fear of change.

A technology team should provide technical support.

I believe more and better use of technology in education will spur higher test scores.

I cannot imagine trying to do a research project without computers, for example.

If a school has up-to-date technology, students will be better able to grasp the concepts.

Guillermo Vance

math education major

University of Arizona

Giffords fails cowboys by not backing act

The Kentucky Derby reminds us of our love and partnership with the horse.

But American horses remain in jeopardy of being stolen from our backyards and stables and taken to profiteers who sell them at auctions.

Killer buyers then transport them under horrendous condition to Mexico and Canada for slaughter.

Up to the day public pressure closed the last U.S. horse slaughter plant in Illinois, there were reports of mares giving birth to foals in holding areas while awaiting slaughter.

There were reports of injured, crippled and abused horses suffering miserably, provided no food and no water after long journeys under horrific conditions.

Seventy percent of Americans want to end horse slaughter, and Congress has concurred time and again.

Federal legislation pending in the House and Senate would end horse slaughter and prohibit the use of double-decker trailers, meant for cattle, to transport horses.

Congressman Raúl Grijalva and Sen. John McCain are co-sponsors of the Equine Cruelty Act. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords was a co-sponsor in the last Congress but has not yet signed onto equine legislation since her re-election. This is a great disappointment to her constituents and the horse community.

Among the 97 pieces of legislation for which Giffords is a sponsor or co-sponsor is HR 322, to declare July 25 as National Day of the Cowboy. How can Ms. Giffords honor the cowboy and sell the horse he rode in on down the road to the slaughter plant?

Call Sen. Jon Kyl at 202-224-4521 and ask him to become a co-sponsor of S 727. Call Giffords at 202-225-2542 and ask her to co-sponsor HR 503 the Equine Cruelty Act, HR 1018 Restoring Protection for Wild Horses and Burros Act and HR 305 Horse Transportation Act.

Legislation to honor the cowboy cannot matter much without his faithful partner, the horse.

Julianne French

Refreshing to watch Obama at work

It is refreshing to see our president go through a deliberative process.

He explains his decisions with logic, in speeches, press conferences and town hall meetings where “real” people from all parties ask questions.

With all the things on his plate, mistakes, even big ones are inevitable.

Some in his own party won’t stand up to banks on behalf of underwater mortgage debtors for the most important element of President Obama’s bankruptcy reform package.

Meanwhile, the other party has lost one of its three (of 41) moderating elements in the Senate with the switch of Arlen Spector.

There is so much to be corrected. Thank heaven the guy with the shovel has started to fill the holes instead of making them deeper.

Barry Kirschner

Students truly benefit from extracurriculars

College admissions requirements change quickly.

High school students need a good grade point average and a good score on their SAT or ACT. But they also need more.

Participation in extracurricular activities helps a student’s GPA, behavior, attendance and academic performance while building their résumé to help with college admissions.

Researcher Douglas Reeves studied a Woodstock, Ill., school that had added a comprehensive extracurricular program. In one year after the program became active, the ninth-grade failure rate in math, science, social studies and English dropped nearly 40 percent.

The school had more national merit honorees than ever and, in five years, it doubled the number of students taking and passing advance placement classes and exams.

The graduation rate rose to 88 percent – its highest level in 10 years – with 94 percent of the graduates planning to attend some postsecondary education.

With moderate participation in activities, students benefit. All it takes is a little encouragement by teachers and parents.

Sports, student council, debate, clubs, all build a student’s résumé, help build life skills and a work ethic. This is an easy way to help students succeed.

Jacob Rich

freshman

University of Arizona

HR 1388 passage gives support to terrorists

Why is this not being given proper coverage? This is nothing less than presidential support for terrorists who are enemies of America.

HR 1388 was just passed behind our backs. You may want to read about it.

It wasn’t mentioned on the news, just went by on the ticker tape at the bottom of the CNN screen.

By executive order, President Barack Obama has ordered the expenditure of $20.3 million in “migration assistance” to the Palestinian refugees and “conflict victims” in Gaza.

This is the news that didn’t make the headlines.

The “presidential determination,” which allows hundreds of thousands of Palestinians with ties to Hamas to resettle in the United States, was signed on Jan. 27 and appeared in the Federal Register on Feb. 4.

Few on Capitol Hill, or in the media, took note that the order provides a free ticket replete with housing and food allowances to individuals who have displayed their overwhelming support to the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) in the parliamentary election of January 2006.

Thomas Wheeler

Doubt weaver poses what’s in a name

Re: the May 4 column by DeWayne Wickham (“Specter defection shows GOP in death spiral“):

Specter’s a Democrat, Madonna’s a virgin, and I’m a platypus.

Weaver Barkman

Native Tucsonan right fit for police command

May 1, the Tucson City Manager’s Office announced its nomination of Assistant Police Chief Roberto Villaseñor as next chief of the Tucson Police Department.

The Tucson Police Command Association fully supports the selection of Assistant Chief Villaseñor as our next chief.

Villaseñor was born, raised and educated in Tucson and has been a dedicated member of the department for 29 years.

He completed his bachelor’s and master’s degrees as well as executive-level management courses specific to law enforcement leadership. He worked his way through the ranks, assigned to many positions and large projects.

As an assistant chief, he has successfully led each of the four bureaus of TPD.

Villaseñor has been actively involved in many community organizations and law enforcement affiliations.

His training, experience and education have prepared him to lead TPD.

As Tucson’s professional police managers, from lieutenant and above, we feel the City Manager’s Office has made an excellent choice.

We will strive to make Chief Villaseñor’s vision for our department a reality.

We look forward to his leadership and have confidence that the citizens and leaders of Tucson will appreciate his professionalism, abilities and his sincere concern for, and commitment to, our community.

Lts. Edward Schlitz and James McShea

Capts. Michael Gillooly, Perry Tarrant and David Neri

Lts. Jamie Turner and Elise Souter

executive board, Tucson Police Command Association

Lawmakers take lawman to task

An open letter to Sheriff Clarence Dupnik: Due to your long history of involvement and commitment to the community, we were surprised by your comments in the print media.

Children in schools, regardless of their immigration status, are not the cause of our problems, nor should we publicly target them. We have an obligation to protect those who cannot protect themselves.

It is our responsibility to ensure our children are always safe and secure. All children are vulnerable, and we must protect them like they are our own.

It is wrong to force teachers and school administrators to become immigration officers. We remind you to uphold the law established by the Supreme Court ruling, Plyer v. Doe, 457 U.S. 202 (1982).

This case established that children, though not U.S. citizens, are considered a “person” and therefore protected under the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment.

An additional cause of grave concern were your unsubstantiated charges that 40 percent of Sunnyside School District students are “illegal” and linking the South Side as the primary source of crime in Pima County.

These false charges are inflammatory and prejudicial. Your comments only further divide our community and debase a large part of the population.

The county electorate trusted you to protect and serve our community, not to humiliate and instill fear. Every child is entitled to an education regardless of race, religion, sexual orientation and status.

We urge you to apologize for your ill-advised comments and join us in a rational and honest discussion about solving our problems together.

Richard ElÍas, chairman, Pima County Board of Supervisors

Regina Romero, Tucson vice mayor

Adelita Grijalva, Tucson Unified School District Governing Board

Eva Dong, Sunnyside School District Governing Board

Daniel Patterson, state representative, LD 29

Matt Heinz, M.D., state representative, LD 29

Linda Lopez, state senator, LD 29

Jorge Luis GarcÍa, Senate minority leader, LD 2

Olivia Cajero Bedford, state representative, LD 27

Phil Lopes, state representative, LD 27

Raúl M. Grijalva, U.S. representative, Arizona Congressional District 7

Citizen has allowed this citizen a voice

A dozen years ago when I moved to Tucson, the slap of the morning paper on my doorstep awakened me into an exciting adventure.

The Arizona Daily Star! What a fantastic hometown newspaper. I bragged about it to out-of- town friends and used it (as I’ve done everywhere I go) as a venue for my opinions in letters to the editor.

Arizona was executing nearly one prisoner a month in Florence and, being fervently opposed to the death penalty, I wrote many more letters than the Star would publish. Although I hardly bothered to read such a conservative rag, I began sending letters to the Tucson Citizen as well.

I continued to subscribe to the Star and to buy the Citizen on the stand in the afternoon.

Both papers printed several of my letters and the Citizen said, “You should broaden your interests.” I was flattered by the attention and had a hard time doing that. Then my interests were broadened for me.

I had been protesting the legal killing of fewer than a dozen Arizonans a year and now, with the invasion of Iraq, I began protesting the illegal killing of hundreds of thousands of human beings, Arizonans – Tucsonans – among them.

I began writing more guest opinions than letters. And I began to prefer the frankly conservative Citizen over the becoming-more-right-wing Star.

I had the feeling the Citizen was growing up and the Star was burning out, or had it been a closet conservative all along? I’m afraid the Star I loved is gone, and I’m really grieving the loss of the Citizen.

You might wonder why a peace activist is teary over the end of a pro-military paper, and I wonder if there might be a little something wrong with me.

I’ve been living with threats (and being stalked and tormented by a counter-protester) because of articles I’ve published in the Citizen, and it’s troubling sometimes.

But I value free speech, and I’m enormously grateful to the Citizen for letting me get a word in once in a while.

It’s been an honor; the Citizen has some wonderful writers. Of course I’m a Billie Stanton fan, and I’ve admired Mark Kimble for more than a decade.

This town – this world – needs newspapers written by and for adults with a sense of humor who want to hear the worst possible news and think about how to make life better for everybody.

We need the news in our hands, in our pockets. I remember, as a kid, cleaning my room and reading last spring’s news before lining my dresser drawers with the latest edition of the local paper.

I believe we need to touch the words to connect and to feel a part of the news, a part of the world.

A historical treasure – a living monument – is being razed in our town. I take it personally.

Peace and good luck.

Gretchen Nielsen

Lack of compassion with flu editorial

Re: your April 28 editorial:

“Flu outbreak – Awareness, not hysteria, best response” is correct, but you might have added compassion.

Your “opinion,” such as it is, blaming the Mexican government for a “slow response,” leaves out the fact that Mexico is a Third World country.

Those of us lucky enough to have lived in Mexico and who own vacation homes there know how badly Mexico is suffering from the economic crisis, the drug wars, and now the flu.

Mexico is doing what it can with what it has. Efforts are under way in Mexico to stop the spread of the flu.

I have a sister in Guadalajara who e-mails us daily about her beloved city and what is happening. Before you point fingers at the Mexican government, just remember Hurricane Katrina and the response of our government in the richest, most modern country in the world.

“Mexico is suffering: What can we do to help?” should have been your headline. They are our neighbors and our friends.

Penny C. Johnson

Drive out cameras by driving speed limit

Here is an indecent proposal – how to get rid of speed-monitoring cameras.

The company that put up the cameras spent a large sum of money and has to pay salaries to the people monitoring them.

Their income depends on successfully issuing citations for speeding.

If all of us carefully stay within the prescribed speed limits, the company will have no income. They certainly would not be eager to renew a non-revenue producing contract.

How about it? Let’s drive them out of business.

Mark Popp

Embarrassed by lack of educational support

I would like Gov. Jan Brewer, Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne and the Arizona Legislature to know:

As a fifth-generation Arizonan, I am dismayed and appalled by the continued erosion of support for a strong public education system in Arizona.

There is nothing left to cut in education funding!

Where is our state budget?

Why are some $60 million a year in public monies still allowed to go to religious and private schools via tax credits?

How can you look your constituents in the eye and tell us we are already 49th in funding for public education?

How can you justify the gutting of public education if more cuts are made?

I support a small and temporary tax increase to get us out of our economic mess by not destroying education, critical services and projects that will keep, attract and create jobs in Arizona.

Kathy Krucker

retired teacher

In downturn, open up school of hard knocks

Proposition 300 makes it illegal for undocumented citizens to receive financial aid for higher education in Arizona.

Unfortunately, this is not the case throughout our country. Illegal immigrants can still gain financial aid from the federal and state governments in many other states.

With our struggling economy, our government is likely not focusing on sparing our last hopes on illegal immigrants’ education; more than 11 million undocumented people are residing in America, which makes the financial impact of this issue difficult to avoid.

Our country prides itself as “a land of opportunity,” but one should only have this opportunity as a true dedicated citizen.

As an out-of-state student at the University of Arizona, I see my family pay a substantial amount annually to the college so I can have a proper education.

I find it unethical to give illegal immigrants opportunities that even legal citizens struggle to obtain.

In light of the recent budget cuts at universities nationally, why do illegal immigrants expect empathy toward their situation?

The undocumented citizens (mostly from Mexico) initially took jobs away from many deserving Americans, by working for substandard wages.

They have successfully weakened the strongest nation in the world by increasing our unemployment rate and depleting our whole middle class.

Now is it time to hinder our higher education system?

Amanda Davis

Low-income class finds higher ed out of reach

As a student at the University of Arizona, money has always been an issue. Then again, when is money not an issue when you’re a college student?

One has to worry about food, transportation, rent, tuition, classes and health.

UA has created financial programs such as Arizona Assurance but should always find more ways to make college more affordable and draw students in.

One of the most common solutions to pay for college is loans. To many students, they are a necessity.

Fifty percent of U.S. students use loans, says a study by the national Center for Public Policy and Higher Education.

The study also states that 20 percent drop out of school without a degree and a stable job to repay their debt.

Loans were created to serve as an investment for a student’s future. They turn into a burden to many, however.

A possible solution could be keeping interest rates to a minimum. Yes, lenders need profit, but they also need to remind themselves that they are aiding students, not putting them down.

Yale and other universities have already turned to no-loan policies. This shows that change is occurring for low-income students.

Colleges cannot do everything. Students should always research their options, especially when it comes to loans.

The recent budget cuts will only create more issues. This is only a glimpse of the problems a low-income student must face, but if colleges continue to offer more financial aid, many of these problems can someday vanish.

Rosee Gonzales

Student shoots down letting guns on campus

As an Arizonan and student at the University of Arizona, I find the controversy over gun control on college campuses an important issue.

Arizona senators, as well as those in 17 other states, have been voting on bills that would override universities’ weapon policies and allow students and faculty members to carry guns on public school property.

Luckily, the bills have not yet passed in the state legislatures.

Supporters of the bills argue that the allowance of guns on campus would deter mass shootings, like at Virginia Tech in 2007, but this seems highly unlikely.

If most students and faculty members carried guns on campus, the number of violence crimes would increase. Think about it.

More available weapons mean more opportunity for stressed-out students to take out their anger in violent crimes against others on campuses.

These bills would not only pose the risk of more crimes on campus, but also the untrained students and faculty are likely to miss a criminal target and further injure innocent bystanders during a shooting.

Is this what Tucsonans want for their family and friends at UA? College campuses are not the place for firearms.

The risks that could come from allowing students and faculty to carry firearms is much greater than the possibility of a school shooting to occur, with them banned from college campuses. We should make use of democracy. The choice is ours.

MariaElena Williams

Motorcyclist thanks all who got show on road

The April 27 article about the motorcyclists who help the deaf and the blind schools was very nice (“Motorcycle run raises money for Arizona State Schools for the Deaf and the Blind”). All of the other members of the Old Pueblo Riders who were not mentioned have also done an outstanding job.

A total of about 16 of us work very hard for many months to make the fundraiser a success. So I would like to thank all the ones who helped this year and in past years along with the many donors.

It takes every one of us to make it work.

Ronald Johnson

president, Old Pueblo Riders

Professors’ minds are terrible things to waste

Since the early 1900s, tenure has been solely responsible for the long-term employment of professors of higher education around the world and the protection of their freedom of speech.

Unfortunately, it is only given to a few professors, and then only after a rigorous six- to seven-year probationary period.

Here in the United States of America, it is commonly known that the First Amendment guarantees freedom of speech; it, however, is not commonly understood that it does not guarantee that one cannot be fired for what is said.

This is an important thing to keep in mind when it comes to untenured professors. They must use caution with curriculum, exercise suitable conduct in meetings, and use their manners when it comes to senior faculty members – or worry about losing their jobs for speaking their minds.

Tenure allows for the progress of work, controversial and not, to continue without reprimand. Over the years, the numbers of tenured faculty have significantly decreased, and this is hurting American education.

It is this work that furthers and advances society. By limiting the number of professors able to do this, we slow our progress.

I suggest a new system be instituted, one that maintains the basic idea of tenure but also protects freedom of speech for untenured professors. By limiting our professors, we limit our potential, and thus slow ourselves down.

Quinton Price

Drinking college frosh learn lessons . . . later

I am a freshman at the University of Arizona, and I would like to talk about how college freshmen’s grades are affected by drinking.

Our economy is becoming harder to live in, so more high school students are beginning to pursue higher education so they are able to succeed.

Most first-year students engage in partying two to three nights per week. Does being a first-year drinking college student affect your grades?

I believe drinking does have an effect on freshmen. And according to research, most universities and counselors tend to agree.

Research has shown that students who have had one drink in the past 14 days spent an average of 10.2 hours a week drinking and 8.4 hours a week studying.

Out of 30,000 first-year college students, 70 percent said they drank; 49 percent said they spent more time drinking than studying.

Freshmen think they can do everything. They believe they are correct all the time and think teachers do not know a thing about college. But they do.

Freshmen tend to have lower grades than other college students because they are in a new environment and put partying before class. But once they receive their grades after the first semester, they stop and think how school should be at the top of their priority list.

Keri Haws

Lengthy hunt made short work of Macho B

Re: the April 28 guest opinion “Learning from Macho B – Jaguars can thrive in Arizona if we act now“:

Thank you for publishing Sergio Avila’s guest opinion on the killing of our jaguar.

I have been part of a group that maintained cameras to help gather jaguar data, and the unnecessary, unjustifed killing of Macho B affected me deeply.

The so-called Jaguar Conservation Team has been chomping at the bit to capture, knock out and radio-collar this jaguar for at least three years, and I support Mr. Avila’s call to disband it.

I agree that we need to protect habitat so that Machos and Machas can return to the land they once freely roamed.

That can happen with an honest Endangered Species Act plan from the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, but it will not happen with Arizona Game & Fish’s “assessment.”

Finally, as the investigation into this tragedy continues, let us hope that a few people at the bottom will not be scapegoated to protect those culpable higher up.

Albert Vetere Lannon

scientist

Safeguard creatures to protect our future

Thank you for publishing the guest opinion submitted by Sergio Avila (Monday, “Learning from Macho B – Jaguars can thrive in Arizona if we act now“).

It is heartwarming to hear the responses from folks who never knew Macho B existed and now are incensed that “they killed our jaguar.” More than a beautiful animal or an advantageous scientific study, he was a symbol of the unique biodiversity of southern Arizona.

As educators, we have failed to get the point across. All creatures are interconnected – including human creatures. We must not create gaps in that connectedness – for our own health and well-being – just as we must not allow a lack of knowledge and understanding to create gaps in the continuous access to habitat.

Where we set aside wilderness for jaguar habitat is as important as how much we set aside. We need to support U.S. Rep. Raúl Grijalva’s mission to protect the Tumacacori Highlands, as that is an important link for individuals who may migrate from south of the border.

Only man recognizes boundaries. And by attempting to enforce those boundaries, we have the power to create for ourselves an ecological island within which we cannot survive for long.

Does this make the jaguar an umbrella species? Perhaps so. By requiring U.S. Fish & Wildlife to develop a comprehensive plan to protect the jaguar, that protection is extended to other species that fall within the range. Eventually the human species will be affected positively or negatively by the decisions we make today.

Please continue to publish such articles. It is important to keep information available so the public may encourage and guide our officials to make decisions in our own best interest.

Kathy Cooper

Like idle GM plants, put Legislature in park

The trickle-down economic theory of the Republicans does not work.

General Motors is dealing with the reality by closing down 15 of its North American plants with a nine-week voluntary shutdown. They anticipate that workers will collect state unemployment.

Closer to home, this might be a good cue for the Arizona Legislature. Housing for these magnificent politicians includes mammoth air conditioning bills. (Those are two huge buildings.)

The AC savings alone might make the down payment on my new Cadillac. Then, add the state savings of the salaries of numerous staff.

The state of Arizona has no money. So why should the Legislature be in session? Maybe a nine-week shutdown is in order, maybe longer.

Fredrick Hermanns

Mesa

Erratic life decisions show Obama’s all wet

President Obama is full of contradictions! He expresses “horror” against “waterboarding of enemy combatants,” but he expresses no concern for the methods used in the “killing” of innocent babies during the final three months of their development in their mother’s wombs, the procedure called “partial birth” where the doctor begins to deliver a live baby, feet first.

As the baby passes through the birth canal and the head emerges, the doctor halts the procedure, stabs “him or her” at the base of the skull, and completes the procedure by sucking out the baby’s brain.

In other types of abortion, if the baby survives the botched procedure, Obama voted three times in the Illinois Legislature to deny the baby water and nourishment. The baby is then consigned to a soiled linen closet to die.

God help us!

Helen Seader