A student paper doesn’t have the right to mock

As a Christian, I found Paul McCauley’s Tuesday column, “A revelation: everyone is crazy,” offensive in the mocking way McCauley chose to portray my God in the first paragraph. Please don’t label me an irrational religious zealot, but my faith is important to me, and I humbly and sincerely try to follow the will of God in my daily life. There are many students and faculty on campus who do the same. Even though McCauley believes differently, he should have been more tolerant of these beliefs. I expect nothing less than tolerance from Technician, since it represents the values of this University to not only students and faculty, but also to visitors on campus. I also found McCauley’s comparison of the Tea Party activists to Timothy McVeigh very disturbing. The modern Tea Party protestors are a far cry from a terrorist extremist. The fact that McVeigh’s action failed to ignite the violent revolt he was trying to cause proves this point. In contrast to the way McCauley portrays them, members of the modern Tea Party movement support limited government and fiscal responsibility while opposing federal handouts and bailouts through legal means. In fact, their actions are much less extreme than those of leaders during the civil rights movement — a movement I think we all see the merits of. Just because you write for the student paper, McCauley, you don’t have the right to mock people whose opinion differs from yours. 

Thomas Ray

sophomore, mechanical engineering

Rhoades, a voice of reason

I would like to thank Chad Rhoades for being a voice of reason in Technician‘s opinion section. His writing is always a breath of fresh air for myself and — I’m sure — other conservatives. The past few editions of Technician have housed article after article that insulted the Tea Party movement and conservatives in general. When I opened up my Technician and read Monday’s article, “One if by land, two if by tea,” I was completely astonished. The description of the Tea Party movement was offensive, to say the least. Does Dan Smith really think that he will change people’s opinions to align with his own by using sarcastic tones and over-the-top rhetoric?

However, that article was not nearly as distasteful as Paul McCauley’s opinion piece. Comparing the Tea Party movement to Timothy McVeigh was completely outlandish and uncalled for, yet typical of McCauley’s writing. Again, thank you Chad Rhoades, your articles always encourage me.

Meredith Haddock

sophomore, agricultural business management

Originality isn’t everything

Did Hitler write Thursday’s editorial, “It’s more like a Happy Meal?”  The narrow-minded, egotistical views make me wonder why I ever defend Technician as a good, credible newspaper to my friends who talk down about our acclaimed student publication. The editorial’s views on the Interfraternity Council’s Chick-fil-A Challenge accentuate exactly what is wrong with Technician. Instead of taking a positive approach and supporting UNC’s Chick-fil-A Challenge, it’s bashed over and over in a side-by-side comparison of the Krispy Kreme Challenge.

Why not give the Chick-fil-A Challenge some appreciation? Oh my bad, you did say, “philanthropy is great,” though the other part of that quote was, “be original.”

This is where I have the biggest qualm: while some value is placed on philanthropy, more value is obviously placed on originality, which sincerely pisses me off.  Just because the KKC was first, and unique, means nothing — I am sure the creators of the KKC would be in full support of the Chick-fil-A Challenge.

I can’t honestly believe an editor read the article before it was published. Such arrogance and ignorance towards the subject really makes me ashamed to say I attend N.C. State. As a student publication, it is worth noting that you represent the University and its students, whether you like it or not.

Despite the fact that UNC-Chapel Hill is beginning a rather unoriginal tradition, the purpose behind the Chick-fil-A Challenge is more important than the challenge itself; the same is true for the KKC. Why don’t you ask the N.C. Children’s Hospital how they feel about your column?

Alan Kaid

junior, mechanical engineering