After reading Technician for three years, and writing it off as one of the worst publications I’ve ever read — due to the editorials whose purpose is to evoke a negative reaction from people, rather than to spur any intellectual discussion, and the pervasive lack of any coverage of world events — I was surprised with yesterday’s paper. Not because either of these things changed, but because the other areas where Technician usually performs inadequately actually excelled. The editorial by Kenneth Ball was more or less dead on to every guy’s experience of college who does not buy their way into a social system, and still maintains a social life. Then there was the long overdue full page story on one of my personal favorite local bands, Inflowential. And lastly, a pick for Top CDs of the year that was one of my favorites, but I thought went completely unnoticed, Sage Francis’ A Healthy Distrust. Well done, Technician.

Donovan GrometJuniorApplied Mathematics

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I just wanted to applaud Ian Booth’s column about helping those in need. Poverty is, needless to say, a huge problem in this country, and a lack of sympathy and generosity on our part only makes things worse. Whenever I can spare it, I’ll give to someone who asks me, because chances are, they need it more than I do. Oftentimes whoever is with me will point out afterwards that they’ll only use the money for alcohol, but so what? If I can spare it, then I’m not planning to use it for anything important. Besides, it’s better to take a chance and spare the dollar than it is to say no and possibly deny food to someone who really needs help. After all, being kind never hurt anyone; a lack of generosity has a better chance of that. It was refreshing to see Ian’s column acknowledge this, especially when the media is usually quicker to point out people who misuse the help given to them than those who don’t. Hopefully it will make people think next time they are asked to spare some change.

Sonora BostianJuniorCommunication-Media