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Letters to the Editor
Rennecke's proposal workable
This letter is in response to the article "Squirrel Population Out of Hand." Much can be said about the surplus of squirrels on the SCSU campus, and Andy Rennecke has suggested a fine proposal to eliminate these horrifying beasts. Are you thinking this is ridiculous and rather comical? I'm sure it is for those of you fortunate enough to have avoided being attacked by a squirrel in your lifetime. But for Andy, myself and the rest of us forever scarred by a traumatizing squirrel encounter, this is a very real issue. My brutal attack occurred in the spring of 1999 at a park similar to the settings of our campus, and since then my interaction with squirrels has never been the same. I disclose this information to you in the attempts of making Andy's article all the more credible and realistic. Something must be done, because squirrels really aren't the harmlessly adorable animals you would all like to think they are. It is only a matter of time before they strike again, and it is our responsibility to take action and do something now! It is our right as college students and as human beings to walk across campus free from potential squirrel-inflicted wounds to our physical and psychological selves. I'm not sure exercising the sling shot approach is the right course of action, but hey, self-defense is self-defense. Maybe the University Program Board should set up a brainstorming committee focused on student protection against ferocious animals on campus. Together, we can conquer this terrorizing cult of furry enemies and make the campus of SCSU a safe place again. The power is in our hands. We must act!
Kelsey Smith
Class of 2002
Palmersheim responds
I would liked to respond to the letters of complaint directed towards my reporting that were published in the March 20 issue of the Chronicle. I believe the main bone of contention was the sentence, "A small unorganized counter-protest of about 10 people proved itself to be merely an annoyance, yelling insults and singing an off-key rendition of "I'm Proud to Be an American."
First off, the group WAS small, numbering less than ten people in any given spot they were in. They were moving and following students in the walk-out from building to building. Second, the reason I say that the counter-protesters proved themselves to be an annoyance is that students in the march were complaining about them and how annoying they were. Third, the reason that the students were complaining was that the way that these people (the counter-protesters) were acting was just rude. They yelled insults at passers-by, and seemed as if they were trying to bait people into getting into an argument.
I respect the idea of debate, but in a forum and with dignity, not insults yelled from 20 feet away. Fourth, I have no problem with the song "I am Proud to Be an American." What I have a problem with was the way that the man sang it. It was loud and off-key, and the words were shown no respect at all. It sounded as if this man was participating in a sing-along at a bar or something. The point is: it wasn't respectfully done. The only source of contention on this day came from the counter-protesters. They were the only source of harassment that the marchers relieved. I am all for the idea of protesting and counter-protesting. But I believe that it should be done with dignity--something that seemed to be lacking from the tactics of the counter-protesters.
It was not my intention for this article to come off as favoring either side. What happened is that the student side seemed to be far more cooperative in terms of talking and giving quotes that could be printed in the paper. Whenever I tried to interview the other side, I was either given the cold shoulder completely or given rambling statements of intent that had nothing to do with the proceedings. What was I supposed to do with that? When you boil it down to the bare facts, one side seemed more willing to cooperate than the other. And that's probably how it showed in the story too. I do not consider myself a liberal. I would like to think that I am a moderate on a lot of things. I was reminded in the letters written about my reporting that "we as Americans are allowed to express our opinions." That can also be said about the opinions page, where if one doesn't like something, they can write and have their voice be heard. We should all be thankful to be living in a country with a free press.
Joe Palmersheim
Staff Writer
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