We welcome letters, but please include your full name, address, and daytime telephone number. We edit all letters for libel, length, and clarity. Send letters to Letters, Illinois Times, P.O. Box 5256, Springfield, IL 62705; fax 217-753-3958; e-mail editor@illinoistimes.com.
NEW LIFE FOR THE COLLOQUIUM
Your paper’s feature article that outlined the history of the public-affairs debate at UIS was ambivalent about the future of the public-affairs mission at the university [R.L. Nave, “Growing pains,” Oct. 5]. I should like, however, to propose for consideration a somewhat undervalued component of the public-affairs effort, implemented in the halcyon days of Sangamon State, which might make the mission’s future existence more probable. The innovation that the founders introduced to promote public affairs was the concept of the public-affairs colloquium. After flourishing for a number of years, this distinctive curricular offering diminished in importance, coincidental with the growth and expansion of the university. In so doing it also lost its unique place in the advancement of the public-affairs mandate.
Thirty-six years ago, Mark Heyman offered a PAC course that had to do with the danger resulting from researchers’ using Hollerith cards to store information about an individual. He was calling our attention to the encroachment on privacy in our lives, at that time believed to be pure fantasy. While the course is long gone and mainly remembered for its fanciful title, the relevance of the issue has increased and nowadays is viewed as a serious problem in maintaining the security of private information. Who would have thought then that the electronic age would raise this issue to a status of great concern? Those students who took the course then may have been among the few citizens of Springfield aware of its implications. The provision of a course that addresses the issues of our times, those which impinge on the life of citizens, is too important for any one department to develop unaided and without extra support. If public-affairs are to remain critical to the University’s raison d’être, the PAC is a crucial academic arrangement that can, when properly organized, staffed, and funded, prove valuable for translating the concept of public affairs into a reality.
Let us not forget that Sangamon State University had a mission to innovate. Some of the other innovative ideas of that distant era, which the founders introduced, have now become commonplace: Applied study is one that comes to mind; library personnel as faculty members is another. The public-affairs course was also ahead of its time, yet it has floundered in its evolution. To make its revival happen will require the appropriation of money, sensitivity to the unresolved issues of the present and future a global citizenry faces, and determined leadership. Public affairs could be around a long time as our pride and joy, as well as our most distinguishing feature, if the creative attitude that characterized the early years of the university’s existence refreshes the approach to public-affairs courses in our time.
Robert Crowley
Springfield
WRONG ABOUT MEAT AT MEIJER
I just finished reading the article “Unkindest cut” [Amy Spies Karhliker, Oct. 12] and want to address the article’s inaccuracies, specifically the statement about Meijer that we don’t have meat cutters or butchers behind our counters. We have had three cutters and a meat manager who have been with us for over six years.
The article also states that we unpackage our unpackaged meat and put it on display. Let me set the record straight. First of all, we carry only pork, chicken, and hamburger in prepacks. [But] we have meat cutters [and offer] fresh certified Angus beef, choice grade, and all-natural choice and all-natural certified Angus.
It is apparent that your reporter didn’t do any research on Meijer for her article.
Craig Knapp
Director, Store 176
Meijer Inc.
STRAIGHT FROM BIG TOBACCO’S PLAYBOOK
The Illinois Licensed Beverage Association reported to Illinois Times that bars and restaurants recently experienced a 50 percent drop in business as a result of the smoking ban [Tom Irwin, “Will the ban kill the bar star?” and R.L. Nave, “Clearing the air,” Oct. 5]. This is a play right out of Big Tobacco’s book. The information they reported was no more than anecdotal. Analyzing sales-tax data, while controlling for other contributing factors, is the only way to actually determine the true economic effect of the smoke-free law. Additionally, the time frame between when the ordinance went into effect and now isn’t enough for any accurate data.
If you were to look at the news clippings that follow smoke-free ordinances in other cities, counties, and states, you would find these same claims almost verbatim. But you never find the kind of business closings that the ILBA is claiming will happen here.
All of this is a moot point, though. Smoking is an addictive, contagious, and dangerous behavior. Even if the ILBA were right about how many bar and restaurant patrons are smokers, it only shows how great the need for this ordinance is.
Ramsey Barghouti
Springfield
CLEARLY TONY DOESN’T KNOW LARRY
I must first admit that there is one good thing I can say about Larry Hupp: He is devoted to his family. I feel I must admit this because it explains the letter to the editor published on Sept. 28. With that out of the way I can say, without an ounce of doubt, that Larry is clearly the driving force behind the fraud that has occurred at Goodwill for at least 20 years. Yes, I said, “at least 20 years,” as there are people out there who can attest to it. How do you explain that? Twenty years of “inept employees”? I don’t think so.
There is one thing that Tony Hupp was right about: People don’t know the whole story. If they did, then they would know that the havoc that was wreaked on [Larry Hupp’s] life does not even come close to providing Larry with what he truly deserves. The public should know that I and others involved in the investigation feel good about the outcome, as it forced both Larry Hupp and Debra Neece out of Goodwill.
In addition, they admitted guilt. Let me type that again, with emphasis: They admitted guilt. The No. 1 focus and drive behind the investigation was always to do what was right for the individuals with developmental disabilities. So while the conclusion of the investigation did not result in a punishment that would truly fit the crime, it did result in better lives and futures for the individuals and employees of Goodwill Industries.
Molly Chapman
Springfield
REPEAL THIS TRAVESTY
Tom Leppert asked if Bruce Strom and his nonsmoking friends are making good on their promise to show up in the bars when the air was cleared [“Letters,” Oct. 12]. The answer isn’t just no, it is apparently “Hell no, we won’t go.”
Shortly after the ban took place, my favorite bartender, Chris, asked, “Where are all the nonsmokers they promised? They said it might increase business — where are they?” At the time I was one of three people at the bar, and they were giving $150 away that night in their weekly drawing! Before the ban, a $150 pot had the place so full you couldn’t sit down.
One doesn’t go to a bar to drink — you can do that at one-fourth the price at home, and not have to tip to boot. You go to a bar to socialize.
If you’ll pardon unabashed truth, the nonsmoking zealots are damned liars. Period. I suspect their real agenda is an anti-drinking agenda and [that they] really are cheering the fact that bars will go out of business and bartenders aren’t going to make their bills.
Steve McGrew
Springfield
EXTEND THE UTILITY RATE FREEZE
The current legislative rate freeze determining the rates the energy industry can charge Illinois consumers expires at the end of this year. However, Illinois needs a three-year renewal of the rate freeze.
Deregulation of the energy corporations does not make sense at this time, when there is still near-monopolistic or duopolistic control of the industry by a few firms yielding record profits!
Clearly, the current rate freeze hasn’t been bad to these companies so let’s not fall for their bald-faced lie that regulation is bad for business. On the contrary, regulation prevents economic exploitation of the consumers. Imagine what deregulation would do for corporate profits!
Speaker of the House Michael Madigan is calling for a special session immediately because of the bipartisan support for the rate freeze. Indeed, several Republicans are on board with support. The governor needs to call a special legislative session now to renew the energy-rate freeze. He must not wait until he deems it politically expedient.
Michael Ziri
Springfield
This article appears in Oct 12-18, 2006.
