Disrespect for the victim’s family The photo Technician ran in association with its front-page story Thursday (“Crash kills woman on Avent Ferry”) was entirely inappropriate.Not only was it unnecessary to publish a picture of the poor victim, even covered by a sheet, but also it was disturbingly insensitive to show the woman’s son in such an intense and private moment of grief, especially since he is a known member of our University community. While I understand that the photo succinctly and powerfully captured the scene of the accident, publishing that raw and intimate moment showed such disrespect for the family that the tastelessness of the decision ultimately overshadowed the story itself.Please be more judicious in the future about how you choose to visually report these kinds of tragedies.

Leslie TitchnerGraduate studentLandscape Architecture

Staff should show compassion Having grown up the son of a volunteer fire fighter in a district including I-40, I have been on many wreck scenes, including those where the victim(s) did not make it. I have seen the grisliness of a bad wreck, and though this is the reason most students have given when complaining about the accident picture being on the front page, I give another: compassion.The EMS workers could not legally keep the press away as road right-of-ways are public property, and press photographers can become caught up in the emotion of the moment due to the gravity of the situation, but the editors should have used better judgment Thursday and are present for this very purpose. The accident was just that, and you have every right as a news organization to report the facts, but showing a son grieving the loss of his mother on the front page of a newspaper with thousands of readers is distasteful and morally apprehensible. More compassion should be felt for this professor by the newspaper staff as they report his loss, and showing his grief is not news, but sensationalism.Whether this kind of criticism of Technician will appear in the Viewpoint section is a measure of your regard of freedom of speech. I respect your freedom of press and its greatness to this society, but it must be used with good judgment and compassion toward those whose misfortune it reports.

Jeremy PageJuniorElectrical Engineering and Science, Technology & Society

Intrusive photograph I was horrified by the picture on your April 20 cover, which showed the scene of the accident that took place on Avent Ferry Road. How dare the photographer think it appropriate to take such a repulsive and intrusive picture, and how dare Technician and its editors think it appropriate to print? Have some respect for the people involved, especially those who have lost a loved one. I am sure a less graphic and jarring picture could have been used. I think Technician owes Ashmawi and Brandon a huge public apology for its lack of taste and respect.

Victoria HolderJuniorCommunication

Humiliating caption I think this paper owes Hillary Paul an apology for the poor choice of wording that described the photo of her. That caption has made her a laughing stock. I know this paper will say that it was unintentional and not meant to be funny, but the jokes around campus about it have been nonstop. Congrats on accomplishing your goal; now it is time to get back to high school.

Justin Chambers EdmonsonSophomoreCommunication

Give me my logos back I agree with Technician that the logo changes were unnecessary. Not only was it a waste of money, I think it’s completely out of line with the spirit of Wolfpack athletics. Yes, the Mr. Wuf changes weren’t that drastic, and I can deal with it. I think he looked better the old way.But the Block “S” is part of a heritage and tradition that shouldn’t be altered. I wonder if someone with real ties to the school made the call to change it, or if some no-account marketing firm trying to make a quick buck just threw it together. Do we remember a few years ago when the school previously wasted money on a new logo design? That one looked like three rabid badgers trying to escape a burlap sack. (A real winner!) I understand that our University is trying to look toward the future, but we need to remember that certain things are sacrosanct. Now give me my damn logos back.

Casey CollinsSenior Mechanical Engineering

Tried and true mascot I am very concerned about the state of traditions at NCSU. First, Camp-Out was stripped down of its former glory by an over-reactionary administration that preferred to simply blame the students rather than actually assess the cause and fix the problem. Second, the tailgating atmosphere at Carter-Finley is under assault, because some nonstudents got dangerously violent, and supposedly keg-beer is now the devil incarnate. Third, this venerable news organization abandoned its best issue of the year by scrapping the Daily Tar Hell spoof. And now, some marketing genius has decided to “revamp” our logos and has instead robbed one of them of its glorious detail.In answer to the article’s question, “will anyone notice — or care?” I do! Why does the University see a need to change the “Struttin’ Wolf,” a logo that has served it well for 30-some odd years and was originally designed by a NCSU student? Change is often good, as is the case with the improvements to both academic and athletic facilities all over campus. However, it is also often bad and completely unnecessary.I never complained the first time the administration redesigned the NCSU Web site, while I was a student. I didn’t even complain when they redesigned the Web site again, while I was still a student. The Web page is the first source of information for many prospective students and visitors and, in this role, should be constantly evolving with Web site-design trends.The “Struttin’ Wolf,” however, is a tested and true symbol of the NCSU community at large and deserves the respect that this status should afford. Changing the “Struttin’ Wolf” design in such ineffectual and minor ways is a slap in the face to the Wolfpack community. He is a creature of distinction, poise and intelligence. He proudly dawns his NCSU letterman’s sweater (not shiny new sweatshirt), cap (which should read NCSU, as we are North Carolina State University (at Raleigh, thanks Board of Governors)) and gloves as he swaggers on to meet his adversaries, knowing that he is superior in both mind and body. He is not some over-the-hill actor or faded beauty queen in need of a face lift or wardrobe change. He is a classic – born in 1887, named in 1922, confirmed in 1945 and made sacrosanct in 1965, when he thwarted the evil forces of the UNC BOG and a Tarheel Governor. He is found today, in 2006, still strutting the halls and fields of NCSU screaming “Go to hell Carolina, Devils and Deacs, stand in line.” It’s not too late. Don’t steal the strut! Visit him, in all his glory at http://www.ncsu.edu/nso/traditions/athletics/mascots.htmGO STATE!

Matt MurphyAlumnusClass of 2005