News Library
Everybody's Column
Published on June 3, 2006
© The Buffalo News Inc.
>Past UB administrators deserve some credit too
It is laudable that The News pays attention to what happens at the University at Buffalo, and such positive attention is essential for good community-university relations. However, a May 28 editorial unjustifiably downplayed the contribution of previous administrations. It stated that since President Steven Sample's departure, UB has lacked two things: appropriate ambition and a community buy-in to its potential greatness. But fairness requires that due credit be given to earlier accomplishments. To cite just a few examples, the editorial completely ignored the fact that the Center for Excellence in Bioinformatics and Life Sciences was the brainchild of the previous administration, and that the Center for Computational Research required hard work and successful fund-raising by its administrators and the faculty. The quoted increase in grant funds from $96.6 million to $250 million from 2001 to 2005 did not occur just because a new administration was installed in 2004. The same is true for the quoted claim of 4,035 jobs retained or generated. A university can only flourish if the facts are kept straight. That is, after all, a condition for excellence. Philip CoppensDistinguished Professor of Chemistry, UB
Williamsville ----- >$106 fund-raising fee is terribly shortsighted The county's new $106 charge for food inspection to sell 70 to 90 hot dogs for a small church trying to raise money for a computer or help a local food pantry does not make sense. Did anyone think of the trickle-down effect this will have? If our church raises $200 for a local food pantry and we have to give Erie County $106, we have raised only $94. That $94 is not going to be enough to serve the people who need it. So guess where the people who don't get served go? Right downtown to the Erie County Department of Social Services. There they will surely receive more than $106 worth of services. Now how much money has the county saved? By the way, how is Erie County going to enforce this? Hire more inspectors? Pay them overtime for working weekends? There must be 30 to 50 small groups selling food on any given Sunday. Get out of the pockets of the small and not-so-small nonprofit organizations. We are picking up the pieces from the legislators' last round of budget cuts. Nancy J. Beenau
Buffalo ----- >Require Buffalo students to earn laptop computers As a retired Buffalo teacher, I was pleased to read in the May 29 News that Assistant School Superintendent Diane Collier and others are planning so carefully to meet the needs of alternative education students in grades seven through 12. Instead of automatically providing a laptop computer and home wiring, I believe the students should earn the computer by treating teachers, aides and classmates with respect, by arriving at school and class on time, by following school rules and by completing assignments. When the student has earned enough points, the computer should be presented at an awards assembly. Rosanne S. Batt
Tonawanda ----- >New plan for border pass is money-making scheme Isn't it amazing that Rep. Tom Reynolds and the rest of our government brain trust can't figure out how to keep illegal immigrants out of the country but can come up with ways to pick the pockets of honest Americans and Canadians who openly drive up to our border crossings? Does Reynolds honestly think that a $100 passport or a $24 pass will keep terrorists out of this country? I'm sure a terrorist will have any documentation he needs, or will just cross in through Arizona with the rest of the illegals. This is just another money-making scheme by the government, charging Americans to re-enter their own country. Hundreds of Americans and Canadians cross our borders daily to work, shop and play. Studies have shown that this border pass idea is going to have an adverse effect on the economy on both sides of the border. It is also affecting our relationship with our biggest trading partner and friend, Canada. Is an almost 200-year tradition of unrestricted travel between our countries to be thrown away to fill the government coffers? Thomas Pawelczak
Alden ----- >The press has lost the public's trust What Buffalo News Editor Margaret Sullivan doesn't discuss in her May 28 column is the growing number of instances where the press has been dishonest, lost its integrity and lost the trust of the public. The media have changed a lot since the First Amendment was written. The explosion of news options -- from network news and quasi-news programs, to 24-7 cable news channels, to the Internet -- has created a tremendous news vacuum. The vacuum has been filled not with thoughtful reporting of facts, but by those who want to make the news; i.e., the talking heads shouting at each other, or the various forms of contrived news. We all know why -- ratings to sell advertising and careers. Who can forget the great NBC exploding gas tanks fiasco? How about Geraldo Rivera broadcasting actual military plans before the attack among the many examples of his lack of integrity? Or the reporting of the rapes and murders in the Superdome during Katrina? Or the New York Times Pulitzer winner/loser a few years back? If reporters want First Amendment protection and rights, then they have to earn them with consistent honesty and integrity. When I read a newspaper story or watch televised news, I want to know where, when and from whom the reporter got the information so I can judge whether to believe it. Craig Thrasher
East Aurora ----- >Perhaps bank executives could share the wealth I read in the May 21 News about the salaries of Western New York CEOs. Three top executives from one bank get a total of $26 million in salaries, but that bank continues to pay the great sum of six-tenths of 1 percent interest to its customers with savings accounts. This is a definite injustice for the working class. James C. Hall
Tonawanda ----- >Americans should form socialist political party America's dominant political philosophies -- conservatism and liberalism -- are inadequate. In fact, neither the Republicans nor the Democrats are about to solve our country's problems. An alternative is needed. Conservatives believe in limited government and reduced taxes in order to promote freedom. Liberals believe in a greater role for the federal government and somewhat more equitable taxes in order to promote greater social equality and justice. They are also willing to use the state to create an equal opportunity society. Both groups are not, however, opposed to American capitalism, militarism, imperialism and our global empire. The socialist left needs to participate in our country's political debates and be represented by a viable party. Democratic socialists value equality and freedom. They believe in a greater role for the state power in order to create a just and humane society. They view capitalism as leading the world toward barbarism and are opposed to our imperialism, militarism and global empire. Americans need to hear this alternative viewpoint and start thinking about whether they should adopt it. Otherwise, we will never experience true social progress and peace. David Slive
Buffalo
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