Words still have meaning

Everyday, our generation is becoming more inconsiderate of others. We live in a time where most people just do not care what they say and how it affects the others around them: saying whatever you want is “in.” Honestly, I could not be more disappointed in our generation.

Rape has become one of those words that we just throw around in conversation. Most people do not see the problem in this, but I do. The problem is that when we use a word like that in a slang sense, the real value of the word gets lost. More importantly, it can be upsetting to a person who has a real experience with the word to hear it used lightly. Many people try to justify their words by telling others to lighten up or have a sense of humor, that it’s just not a big deal.

This is the part that gets me the most. It absolutely IS a big deal when your words and actions negatively affect someone, especially if it’s a case like a rape survivor who hears someone use the word rape in some slang sense. Put yourself in their shoes. How would you feel?

We are all human, and we all have feelings. While we all have the right to say and do what we want, would it not be better to be kinder? I think our society would be a lot better off if we all just stopped focusing on ourselves and thought about someone else every now and then.

Ramey Williams

junior, biomedical engineering

Editor’s Note: The following letter is an addendum to today’s correction.

Treasurers share similar tasks

I would like to thank Rachel Port and Technician (in the article “UGSA chooses new executives,” March 30) for covering the UGSA elections and helping increase awareness of UGSA amongst graduate students. UGSA’s work is often more behind the scenes, like granting travel funds to students attending research conferences; so getting the word out about what we do is very important — especially with upcoming events like bringing Jorge Cham of PhD Comics to campus on April 13. Building lasting ties between UGSA and Technician is a primary objective of the newly elected UGSA administration.

However, especially in light of an editorial (“Corruption is Everywhere,” April 5, 2010), I need to correct a statement from the original article. In it, I supposedly made a comment relating to a “power to abuse” of other treasurers. I said nothing of the sort. Technician has confirmed the misattribution and issued a correction in Wednesday’s issue.

In the interview, I stated that many UGSA costs are either fixed or very predictable, so my role is ensuring spending is in line with the budget. If any additional needs arise, I will work with the budget committee to address any new funding proposals; other student treasurers have similar jobs. I have great respect for work of other student treasurers, and do not believe in any way that they are abusing their power. I hope this letter has clarified that the reference to abuse was an accidental misquote and is not my opinion.

Zack Kenz

UGSA treasurer-elect

doctoral student, applied mathematics

More than freedom

As Chad Rhoades suggests, we are all not equal — each one of us has distinguishing characteristics. However, there are some qualities, such as happiness, that should be equal, or as close as possible. Rhoades would again suggest that a free person on the wrong end of the scale would see this inequality and be motivated to improve his or her happiness. Now we must truly realize what it means to be free, again as Hobbes put it, living in the absence of external impediments “which may take away part of a man’s power to do what he would.” A man can realize his unhappiness, but is he always really free to change that? Is poverty an external impediment? What disappoints me the most is the notion that without economic inequality or simply the differences between us, none of us would continue to push the possibilities. In other words, why try when we are all happy? This is a narrow view and doesn’t give any credit to human curiosity or wonder. It is essential to understand that none of us are truly free, for there are external impediments, namely the law, that forbid some of us from doing what we truly want to do. The government’s actual role in all of this is to bind us all to a social contract, limiting many of our freedoms, but making life and the pursuit of happiness much easier.

Adam Keith

senior, physics