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Letters to the Editor
Some suicides for bad reasons
I was surprised at all three letters (Sandra Johnson April 3, 2003, Jeremy Johnson and Kristof Berg April 7, 2003). Recently, my 16-year old daughter attempted suicide because she had cheated on her boyfriend by kissing another boy. This may seem very trivial, but to her at that moment it was very important. She felt terrible and overdosed on pills. In counseling, she has realized that she doesn't want to die and it was a trivial reason. She is not clinically depressed and does not have a mental disorder. She is a 16-year- old who has never figured out how to cope with life's mistakes or let downs.
Sandra Johnson was correct that some people, especially in high school and college, commit suicide or attempt to because of what seem to be "stupid reasons." Jeremy Johnson and Kristof Berg are also correct about the depression and mental illness. Because of my daughter's suicide attempt, I have become well informed about the suicide rates and statistics in the country. Suicide is the #3 death in this nation for 15-19-year-olds with accidents (unintentional harm) as #1 and homicide as #2 (CDC 1999).
Suicide is not always about lifelong mental illness or depression. Many of these teenagers are killing themselves for reasons that would seem trivial or stupid to many people. I recommend that all three writers look at the numerous Web sites dedicated to these people who didn't feel at that moment they could live anymore. There are "A" students, class presidents, loners, cheerleaders, popular and not popular, people with terminal illnesses, mental illnesses and depression. No one is protected from suicide; it is how each person deals with situations and let downs, and whether the people who have depression and mental illness get help. Suicide rates will not go down until society realizes there are more reasons than depression and mental illness that people, or more specifically teenagers, take their own lives.
Lisa Specht
Sophomore, Finance
Candidates covered unequally
In order to familiarize oneself with this year's candidates for president and vice-president of student government, as University Chronicle senior staff writer Geoff Higgins stated in his April 5 article, this would entail reading an adequate amount of background information on all candidates. But this was not the case, as running mates Cory Lawrence and Rachel Hughes were given unequal coverage in the article which turned out to be a campaign ad for Chris Lindahl and Taylor Olson. An abundance of background information, qualifications and quotations were supplied for Lindahl and Olson, but sufficiently lacked for Lawrence and Hughes who saw little notation.
Since Higgins neglected to supply the equal and undoubtfully deserved praise to Lawrence and Hughes (he didn't even interview Hughes), I took it upon myself to do the research and let the student body know why they are the best candidates for president and vice-president of student government. Lawrence was a senator for student government last year and is involved on both the finance committee and the student service committee. He is the coordinator of MSUSA State Cultural Diversity and is the multicultural student services student leader of the year. For the second consecutive year, Lawrence is one of only three post-secondary students on the Minnesota Indian Education Board of Directors. Hughes' resume is equally impressive, as she is a University Ambassador and a four-year member of Delta Zeta International sorority in which she presided as president for one year. Her involvement on student government includes senator at-large as well as participating on the student services committee, public relations committee and the tech fee committee. Hughes received the Excellence and Leadership Award and was just recently honored with an education scholarship.
I am unaware if the underrepresentation of Lawrence and Hughes was an oversight or ignorance on Higgins' part. Either way, the running- mates' excellent qualifications are now voiced, and I hope the student body realizes that Lawrence and Hughes are the most experienced and better qualified for the president and vice-president positions of student government.
Lacy Bienkowski
First-year student, Pre-business and Spanish
Writer missed a candidate
This editorial is referring to the article, "Candidates vie for exec positions." I would just like to comment that the information in the article was biased and not thorough due to the fact that one of the candidates was never interviewed.
Rachel Hughes has accomplished a list of achievements here at St. Cloud State. In fact, she just received the Excellence and Leadership Award for her leadership. There was not one achievement or organization listed. There is no recognition of her hard work she has put into the many committees for student government. Cory Lawrence has also held many positions on student government including a chair position on MSUSA. Where is this in the article?
If the Chronicle wants to inform all the student of the facts, they need to interview those involved. They also need to present all sides. To the students of St. Cloud State, make an educated decision when deciding to vote, but don't believe everything you read. Go to the debates and talk to the candidates to get the real story.
Sabrina Schwartzbauer
Senior, Criminal Justice
SOA article propaganda
I read the "news" article entitled "Presenter sheds light on training schools" with ever- increasing dismay.
Instead of reading a news article on the controversial school, I read a piece of agitory propaganda for SOA Watch.
The contradiction between paragraphs three and six are simply inexcusable journalistic oversight. This is furthered by taking the presenter, who belongs to an organization dedicated to the closure of this school, at face value. No effort appears to have been made to check or verify the veracity of her statements.
An opportunity to write real news has been squandered. This merely muddles an issue which is worthy of legitimate debate.
Eric Williams
Alumnus, 2002
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