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Serving The University of Alabama since 1894.

The Crimson White

Serving The University of Alabama since 1894.

The Crimson White

Serving The University of Alabama since 1894.

The Crimson White

All content by Letter to the Editor

We are UA

Letter to the Editor September 22, 2011

I guess in the end, most things worth saying are worth saying even if no one ever hears them. At least that’s the thought that led me to write this. To the UA administration – yes, you. The ones we...

MJW is a learning experience from all fronts

Letter to the Editor July 6, 2011

When the Wordpress website for the 28th Annual Multicultural Journalism Workshop was completed on June 26, it was a moment to celebrate. The intensive journalistic efforts of the last ten days had finally...

Commuter west parking woes

Letter to the Editor July 6, 2011

I will be a senior this fall, meaning this is my fourth year on campus. For the past three years, I have been able to register for my parking permit basically as soon as I registered for my classes, and...

Sweet Home Alabama, 5500 miles away

Letter to the Editor May 3, 2011

By Chelsea Pickett   I decided to take the spring semester of 2011 to study abroad in Spain. I was traveling all over the place during our spring break - I had just come from Morocco, through Rome and...

T-town’s tradition built on comebacks

Letter to the Editor May 3, 2011

by Dana Andrzejewski   It was 3:30 p.m. on Wednesday, April 27 and my boyfriend, Daniel, and I were eating a late lunch watching the tornado rip through Cullman, Ala. “If I saw that headed my way...

“We really didn’t know how bad it was.”

Letter to the Editor May 3, 2011

by Lindsey Sykes We really didn't know how bad it was. We had been sitting in the hallways of Ridgecrest for an hour. I was in the tiny room by the elevators. My mom called, and told me it was getting...

Saved by a mattress

Letter to the Editor May 1, 2011

by Meridith Shook I was in the bathroom of my house in the Forest Lake neighborhood when the tornado came through on Wednesday. Early that morning, I had woken up to rain beating down on my bedroom window...

Our darkest moment provides brightest hour

Letter to the Editor April 30, 2011

by Bo Black “Don’t go… I’ve got a gut feeling.” These were the text messages I sent to my girlfriend Jessica at 2:51 p.m. on Wednesday, April 27. We both decided not to go to class thinking...

The eeriest experience of my life

Letter to the Editor April 30, 2011

by Abby Connally I don’t know if words can accurately describe everything I’ve thought, felt, and seen over the past two days. On April 27, 2011, my college town was ripped apart by a tornado. My...

“Goodness! Good thing you are not in Tuscaloosa!”

Letter to the Editor April 30, 2011

by Austin Bettis That was the first text I received from a friend while I was at work Wednesday evening. I was not really sure what she was referring to. And then a little later, this came from another...

Fear, Panic, and Survival

Letter to the Editor April 30, 2011

by Jessica Trull Wednesday, April 27, 2011 was a day that began like all other Wednesdays this spring semester. I prepared for my regular, daily routine. I left my apartment in University Village at 11:30...

Seeing the funnel strike

Letter to the Editor April 30, 2011

by Bret Jourden The tornado warning went off in Ridgecrest South and my girlfriend and I went downstairs to the main floor with the rest of the residents. We looked for a clear area to sit down and plug...

Make UA more bike friendly

Letter to the Editor April 21, 2011

There are many options for getting around on campus, and they all have their challenges — parking, long wait times for buses, trying to get from ten Hoor to Galalee in ten minutes. But bikes offer the...

Gallettes, and other college essentials

Letter to the Editor April 21, 2011

I’ve often said that I would rock college if it weren’t for class. But despite my best efforts, the fact remains that I have learned a great deal from four years at the University. For example, I...

Alabama: The power of college football

Letter to the Editor April 19, 2011

Saturday, during the various celebrations and activities going on for the annual A-Day spring scrimmage, I had the privilege to be a first-hand witness to the unveiling of the statue for our beloved football...

CW no place for bigotry

Letter to the Editor April 14, 2011

I was utterly shocked and disgusted on Wednesday to find the level of complete bigotry published in The Crimson White. The article by Joe Geary was prejudiced, closed-minded and offensive. I am appalled...

Both sides of morality debate missing the point

Letter to the Editor April 14, 2011

Let me start by saying that Joe Geary's letter published in Wednesday's edition of The Crimson White was one of the most poorly reasoned arguments I have ever read, if any degree of reasoning was employed...

Don’t make generalizations

Letter to the Editor April 12, 2011

I just read the article written by John Davis about TOMS Day Without Shoes. While I agree with some of the points made in this article, I feel that the journalist should do a little more research before...

AAA shouldn’t be on front page

Letter to the Editor April 12, 2011

Upon picking up a copy of last Thursday’s Crimson White I couldn’t help but notice the large picture of an Alabama Atheists and Agnostics member chalking the sidewalks of our campus. I wanted to know...

We want you, John Davis

Letter to the Editor April 12, 2011

As a president and founder of UA TOMS, I am thankful to hear of Mr. John Davis and his opinions towards our One Day Without Shoes event that took place on April 5. First off, I would like to say thank...

Are you serious?

Letter to the Editor April 10, 2011

In regards to John Davis’ column on UA participation in One Day Without Shoes, I’m a little confused. What exactly was his argument? He is a supposed TOMS supporter, yet he ranted about the company’s...

PAWS volunteers exemplify service

Letter to the Editor April 5, 2011

On behalf of T-Town PAWS, I would like to thank the many student volunteers that logged over 300 hours of service helping PAWS move to its new location. Student volunteers, Bama PAWS members, Sigma Pi...

Chapin’s letter misinforms CW audience

Letter to the Editor April 5, 2011

In Thursday’s edition of the CW, I opened to the Opinions section and found a letter to the editor that included several errors, ranging from contradictions to utter falsehoods. The statement that President...

Crimson White lags in diversity

Letter to the Editor March 31, 2011

The following piece is satirical in nature and not meant to be taken seriously. In case you couldn't figure that out. By Vincent Oliver Prescott Cleveland IV After criticizing other student organizations...

Obama violates the Constitution

Letter to the Editor March 30, 2011

President Barack Obama violated the Constitution by attacking Libya without authorization from Congress. The constitution states in Article 1, Section 8 that Congress has the power to declare war. This,...

Capstone Maids a ridiculous idea

Letter to the Editor March 27, 2011

When I first read Gray West’s letter to the editor Friday whining about how his institution of higher education doesn’t offer a maid service, I desperately hoped it was a joke. But just in case it’s...

Use HCA to engage Honors students

Letter to the Editor March 27, 2011

My name is Sarah Ann Hughes and I’m running for president of the Honors College Assembly. My vision for HCA is built on three pillars — create, connect, collaborate. Using HCA's resources and energy, I...

Make HCA an advocate for students

Letter to the Editor March 27, 2011

The Honors College Assembly has had a great first year on campus! The program has provided an event or program for students to participate in almost every week and has made great strides towards representing...

Politicians shouldn’t prey on fear

Letter to the Editor March 9, 2011

Since the end of the Cold War, the perceived external “threat” has shifted from red to green; from communism to Islam. Especially following Sept. 11, 2001, Muslim terrorists emerged as the single largest...

Simplified analogies make for poor moral discussion

Letter to the Editor March 3, 2011

Michael Annes’ letter on March 3 puts forth the proposition that a person should not be forced to do something he considers immoral just because a democratic majority says that he should. Perhaps unintentionally,...

Old money vs. new money, are we really going there?

Letter to the Editor March 1, 2011

Are we as a student body just looking for fights to pick now? As if racial tensions and greek versus independent rivalries weren't enough for students to handle, Tray Smith is now, rather distastefully,...

Don’t limit Sunday sales

Letter to the Editor February 27, 2011

Tuscaloosa businesses and students alike have reason to celebrate after Tuesday’s vote to allow the sale of alcohol on Sundays. Businesses are looking forward to the increased profit accompanying the...

Diversity concerns more than race

Letter to the Editor February 27, 2011

It seems thoughts on diversity never exactly go to where they should. Too many times the diversity thought just becomes a race thought or a black-white thought, but diversity is so much more than whether...

Rhetoric could hinder positive change for UA

Letter to the Editor February 25, 2011

In the past month, greek students on campus have been widely stereotyped and insulted.  I’m not attempting to turn the victimhood around, but the amount of hate and sarcasm toward the greek community...

What caused the “Great Recession”?

Letter to the Editor February 24, 2011

There are several different explanations for the current recession. Some say the market is inherently unstable, some blame deregulation, and others blame the Federal Reserve. How are we supposed to know...

Tide for Toomer’s infuriating

Letter to the Editor February 24, 2011

First of all, I agree that what Mr. Updyke did is morally reprehensible. As an Alabama alumnus, I do not condone his actions in the least. It was a horrible thing, but it has happened. This man has no...

Lack of Honors College diversity overstated

Letter to the Editor February 22, 2011

On the front of Monday’s issue, we see a downright bewildering choice of headline. The headline goes to an article on minority representation in the Honors College, whose conclusion is an overreaction...

Jewish students support African Americans

Letter to the Editor February 22, 2011

In 1962, a Jewish Crimson White editor named Mel Meyer published an editorial advocating desegregation. In result, crosses were burned on the lawn of Zeta Beta Tau — the fraternity to which he belonged. As...

Get real about change

Letter to the Editor February 21, 2011

Thursday’s headline, “Greeks look to increase inclusivity,” filled me with some hope. But it only took reading the first sentence to understand what this article was really about — just more posturing...

More vegetarian options needed

Letter to the Editor February 16, 2011

In response to your article "Vegetarianism Offers Health, 'Less Than Impressive' On-Campus Options" (Feb. 9, 2011), I would like to compliment Allie Hulcher for speaking out about the lack of vegetarian...

Mubarak the devil we knew

Letter to the Editor February 16, 2011

An old adage says, “The devil you know is better than the devil you don’t.” With the current situation in Egypt, the devil that we have known is Hosni Mubarak. Most people feel a need for the United...

Sustained Dialogue wants you!

Letter to the Editor February 16, 2011

Last weekend, UA Sustained Dialogue held an open workshop on “Leadership Across Culture,” which was hosted by Sustained Dialogue Campus Network representatives Amy Lazarus and Rhonda Fitzgerald, who...

America’s global superiority?

Letter to the Editor February 16, 2011

An opinions column published on Friday, titled “America still the greatest,” is comprised of both bad history and bad ideas. It is my intention to correct the most egregious historical statement and...

Friedman needs a history lesson

Letter to the Editor February 13, 2011

Once again Ben Friedman has proved he is incapable of seeing the bigger picture. His article titled “America still the greatest”, despite being poorly written and never proving any point, is filled...

How to truly show love on Valentine’s Day

Letter to the Editor February 13, 2011

Ah yes, it's that time of year again—Valentine's Day.  The day where people love to show their significant others how much they love them with cards, teddy bears and romantic candlelit dinners. At the...

Racial controversy causes unnecessary campus division

Letter to the Editor February 11, 2011

Everyone on campus appears to be in a hurry to be identified as a champion of equality lately. So despite it not being exactly a popular idea, it should be noted that many of the editorials promoting equality,...

Students are responsible for uniting campus

Letter to the Editor February 11, 2011

Although I do understand the busy schedules that fill the lives of the students, faculty, and employees of the UA campus, I feel that it is important that this be written. Of my nearly three years spent...

Tensions must not divide

Letter to the Editor February 9, 2011

For days, our collective attention has unfortunately turned to an act of racial tension at the University of Alabama. On a campus that has, for too long, faced repeated incidents of racism and exclusion,...

Thanks to Foster supporters

Letter to the Editor February 9, 2011

As Foster Auditorium moves into regular use as the home of UA women’s basketball and volleyball, the Black Faculty and Staff Association (BFSA) takes a serendipitous pause during Black History Month...

University must defend progress

Letter to the Editor February 8, 2011

Fifty-five years ago, Autherine Lucy became the first African-American to enroll at The University of Alabama. Lucy’s attendance at he University was met with much opposition from the community, and...

More summer programs offered

Letter to the Editor February 7, 2011

Thank you for featuring Capstone International's summer programs in Thursday's CW. Studying abroad can be among the most important, enriching, and educational experiences for our students over their academic...

Register for Sunday Sales vote

Letter to the Editor February 7, 2011

We have yet another opportunity to be civically engaged. Throughout the fall semester, our campus has been active in the political life of our university and state. UA hosted a 2010 Gubernatorial Debate...

Facts: who needs them?

Letter to the Editor February 7, 2011

After reading “Senior Sports Reporter” Tony Tsoukalas’ article on recruiting Thursday, I couldn’t help but notice the inaccuracies of the article. Where shall I start? How about the misspelled...

CW objective about Ron Robinson

Letter to the Editor February 2, 2011

In a Jan. 31 letter to the editor, a student wrote that he was "disgusted" by what he perceived to be a lack of objectivity in an article that had appeared in the CW on Jan. 21. This accusation is completely...

Revisiting the Capstone Creed

Letter to the Editor February 2, 2011

In response to last week’s editorial by Tray Smith concerning the lack of an Honor Code for the University, I would like to introduce our campus to a few things. I want to thank Mr. Smith for bringing...

Show sympathy for inmates

Letter to the Editor February 2, 2011

I picked up the CW Monday morning in anticipation of the Tutwiler Women’s Prison review only to be profoundly disappointed. Not only was Stephen Dethrage’s article insensitive and demeaning, it included...

Honor societies striving for diversity

Letter to the Editor February 1, 2011

There is less than one week remaining until applications for honor societies are due (Feb. 6). There are many benefits to membership in honor societies, including service, networking and scholarship opportunities....

CW should aspire to objectivity

Letter to the Editor January 30, 2011

I was disgusted Jan. 21 when I opened the Crimson White to find a quarter page of base political rhetoric under the heading "News." Does a lecture given by Ron Robinson, president of the Young America's...

Students can create more honorable campus

Letter to the Editor January 30, 2011

On Monday, Tray Smith wrote a column calling for an honor code at UA. As the vice-president of the Academic Honor Council, I wanted to respond and explain what my organization does and wants to do. Ten...

Just buy alcohol another day

Letter to the Editor January 27, 2011

The CW opinions section deserves higher quality articles than "Tuscaloosa: unite for Sunday alcohol sales." It is quite ironic that this article landed directly below Mr. Poole's article, which points...

Only you can help honor societies

Letter to the Editor January 26, 2011

With the deadline to apply for honor societies approaching quickly (Feb. 6 @ honorsocieties.ua.edu), I’ve been asked by many of my younger friends about my thoughts on which ones are the best and if...

Reed’s view on autotuning old-fashioned

Letter to the Editor January 19, 2011

Mr. Jon Reed, your recent article on the use of autotuning in pop music made you sort of sound like a cranky old fogey (which I am fairly positive you are not), like one of those guys who was probably...

Vaughn ignores “Elephants in the room”

Letter to the Editor January 14, 2011

Oh Crimson White, I go away for a month and absolutely nothing changes. There still seems to be a noticeable dearth of actual opinion on the opinions page. I’m referring, of course, to Wesley Vaughn’s...

Has the amphitheater already gone country?

Letter to the Editor January 11, 2011

In case you didn't know, there's a brand new, $14.9 million amphitheater located minutes from the University, nestled right next to downtown Tuscaloosa, and it's opening this spring. With any common sense,...

Thompson dehumanizes the unborn

Letter to the Editor November 16, 2010

In a recent column, Paul Thompson argued that an unborn child is not a person and implied that the unborn child is not a human life deserving protection. Saying the state should not have a say in abortion...

Thank you for helping when no one else would

Letter to the Editor November 16, 2010

Saturday night my husband and I attended the football game, as we do every week. This past Saturday on the way back to our vehicle after the game, I had an accident. As we were walking, I tripped on...

Discussing gay marriage fine; don’t use the Bible to prove it

Letter to the Editor November 16, 2010

A letter to the editor was written last week by Caitlin Cartwright discussing legalizing gay marriage in Alabama. I agree with her that gay marriage is a topic that should be discussed and be openly decided...

Way to show your class, UA

Letter to the Editor November 15, 2010

For a university that prides itself for its amount of class and respect, UA students should be ashamed of themselves for booing the MDB for not playing “Rammer Jammer” after the Tide’s victory on...

Time to get serious about energy

Letter to the Editor November 15, 2010

Over the weekend, President Obama gathered with leaders from the 20 largest world economies in Seoul, South Korea. The group discussed a range of economic issues, including international trade and currency....

We must help our veterans

Letter to the Editor November 10, 2010

For many of us, Veterans Day is just another one of those federal holidays for which we hope to get off school or work. It is not necessarily a happy holiday either. Remembering the lives of those who...

A course on evolution should be required for every UA student

Letter to the Editor November 8, 2010

The article ‘Evolution alternative should be taught’ by Ben Friedman the Oct. 25, 2010 Crimson White shows why college students should be required to take a general course in evolution. Friedman attempts,...

Texting a major distraction

Letter to the Editor November 8, 2010

I sit in class Monday through Thursday and always see at least one student texting during a lecture. While the instructor is talking, I can hear click, click, click, click, click and click. I have even...

Alabama should allow gay marriage

Letter to the Editor November 8, 2010

In light of the recent removal of three Iowa Supreme Court justices for declaring the restriction of marriage to a man and a woman unconstitutional, I think it is time we broach a subject matter that certainly...

Religious beliefs necessary for modern atheism

Letter to the Editor November 3, 2010

Ah, how refreshing it is to hear someone admit, even if only implicitly, that modern ethics came from religious morality. Of course, I am referring to Sam Arnold’s recent response to Michael Patrick’s...

Your Views: Web Comments

Letter to the Editor November 3, 2010

“I was at the University during that summer and admired her very much. I knew that what she was doing took tremendous courage; however, to be a white student on campus at that time also took courage....

Reconsidering religion’s role

Letter to the Editor November 3, 2010

This letter will likely be my only contribution to the opinion page creation-evolution debate. I am writing not to persuade the reader to one side or the other, but simply to rebut some of the more outlandish...

Is fall break a trick or a treat?

Letter to the Editor October 24, 2010

The University scheduled its fall break for Oct. 29-31, which happens to fall on Halloween weekend. Students will also receive a day off on Nov. 18 for the Alabama v. Georgia State football game. In years...

Energy creates new opportunities for students

Letter to the Editor October 24, 2010

Last Monday evening, entrepreneur and alternative energy proponent T. Boone Pickens visited Tuscaloosa to promote his alternative energy movement. The “Pickens Plan” is a coordinated, comprehensive...

So you think you can study better at the library

Letter to the Editor October 21, 2010

“If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other.” These wise words were spoken by one of the greatest philanthropists of our time, Mother Teresa. But don’t worry;...

Reenactments aren’t about racism

Letter to the Editor October 19, 2010

Well, it seems as though Paul Thompson drank the Kool-Aid. Thompson’s article, “Witches, Nazis, and Tea Party Lunatics,” is nothing more than the raving lunacy of an ignorant lemming who can’t...

Mallet is able to rise above

Letter to the Editor October 19, 2010

Sometime in the wee hours of the morning on Thursday, a group of people decided to steal a large chunk of the unfinished Homecoming float sitting in front of the Mallet Assembly. This theft shook our hopes...

It’s still too hard to find seats in Bryant Denny Stadium

Letter to the Editor October 17, 2010

I am completely displeased with the availability of seats in Bryant-Denny Stadium. I paid for a student ticket package over the summer in order to gain access to all of the home Alabama football games....

Smokers should follow the thirty-foot rule

Letter to the Editor October 17, 2010

There is no better time to be a student at the University than the fall. The sounds of Bryant-Denny on gameday, the sight of the plants on the Quad changing color, and the cool breeze signaling the coming...

Ending America’s dependence on OPEC Oil

Letter to the Editor October 17, 2010

Alabama is a major player in the oil and gas business. The state earns nearly $3 billion per year from direct oil and gas production and its share of lease bonuses, royalties, trust-fund investment income...

Let’s keep it classy, Capstone

Letter to the Editor October 12, 2010

On Saturday night, my friends and I arrived at Allen Bales Theatre and stood at the back of the line for admission to Guerilla Theatre. The show wasn’t starting for another hour, and the doors were not...

‘Heteronormative’ culture a faulty goal

Letter to the Editor October 7, 2010

Michael Patrick’s article in the Thursday CW left my jaw hanging. I thought I would go through life without hearing gay teen suicide blamed on public figures being too gay. I was mistaken. The “heteronormative”...

Students must show proper etiquette at football games

Letter to the Editor October 5, 2010

The Alabama vs. Florida game was the most stressful game I have been to in nearly four football seasons. This was not because of the score or the teams, but because of some people in the student section...

Governing requires morals

Letter to the Editor October 3, 2010

Because Paul Thompson is a poli-sci major, I can’t let his column “No deacon for governor” rest without a response. Mr. Thompson protests that, “…when people who run for office are so connected...

Sororities should apply for seating

Letter to the Editor October 3, 2010

This football season, I have felt the wrath of being a single girl in the greek community. By single, I am implying that I am not just some frat daddy’s slampiece (thank you, TFM), but I am, in fact,...

Thanks for the hospitality

Letter to the Editor September 23, 2010

Permit me to share my thoughts and thanks for the wonderful treatment I, as well as all other Penn State fans, received during our trip to Tuscaloosa. The welcome we were given was truly outstanding and...

It’s time we gave the lottery a chance

Letter to the Editor September 21, 2010

A column written by Tray Smith in the Sept. 17 edition of The Crimson White bashed a gubernatorial candidate and his plan to help fund a scholarship program this state desperately needs. That candidate...

The Crimson White should have integrity

Letter to the Editor September 19, 2010

Note: Thoughts expressed in the columns and letters of the opinions section are solely those of the author and do not reflect the opinion of the CW editorial staff. Opinion or not there is a standard...

Folk’s column a black mark on CW

Letter to the Editor September 19, 2010

Note: Thoughts expressed in the columns and letters of the opinions section are solely those of the author and do not reflect the opinion of the CW editorial staff. Friday's column by Dave Folk, "More...

MDB works harder than most organizations

Letter to the Editor September 19, 2010

Note: Thoughts expressed in the columns and letters of the opinions section are solely those of the author and do not reflect the opinion of the CW editorial staff. There is a very fine line between freely...

Refreshing to find friends engaged in an article

Letter to the Editor September 19, 2010

Note: Thoughts expressed in the columns and letters of the opinions section are solely those of the author and do not reflect the opinion of the CW editorial staff. Facebook and Twitter erupted over an...

Era is no excuse for injustice

Letter to the Editor September 16, 2010

We are so quick to forget the evils of racism, particularly those evils that are committed against colored Americans (i.e. Native Americans, African Americans, Asian Americans and Hispanic Americans)....

Clearing up the Park51

Letter to the Editor September 16, 2010

There seems to be much confusion regarding the Park51 complex in Manhattan, and as Tray Smith’s column shows, this confusion can lead to disastrous and frightening consequences. Firstly, Imam Rauf and...

Thompson’s move to the center welcome

Letter to the Editor September 16, 2010

I would like to congratulate the CW’s former opinions editor Paul Thompson on his move toward the middle of the political spectrum from his former location at the far right, as he describes in his column...

In college and still having fire drills

Letter to the Editor September 14, 2010

Last year, I was sitting in my high school English class, watching the rain pour down outside, trying to concentrate, but only able to think about my UA acceptance letter, which was due to arrive any day. ...

Cultural relativity is no excuse

Letter to the Editor September 14, 2010

The fact that there is a moral dilemma about the buildings names (on campus) does not make the article unfair. Observing something factual is the basis of objectivity. And since when does the status of...