Letters to the editor

YPolitical e-mail was judgment error

In their Monday opinion piece "Carlson dean indirectly supported campus Iraq vote," graduate students Matt Audette and Jon Bottema state correctly that the University's e-mail system should not be used for political messages. My forwarding of the message in question was an error in judgment for which I have apologized. It was certainly not my intention to express a political opinion of my own through this action.

It should be known that shortly after the message in question went out, Dean Larry Benveniste distributed a statement to all faculty, staff and students noting that the Carlson School of Management does not take positions on political issues. In addition, the Carlson School follows the University's policy on e-mail and is currently re-examining access to its "all-school" mail list.

The distress caused by this incident is unfortunate, and I wish to set the record straight about e-mail policies at the Carlson School.

Michael Barnes

assistant dean and director

full-time MBA program

Carlson School of Management

I would just like to thank Joseph Biever for his Feb. 28 letter "Support our troops by respecting them." This is the first time in a long time that I have heard a student openly support our troops. I personally have gone through the heartache of having a loved one being deployed overseas; I faced this less than a year ago, and I am facing this same situation again today.

Our brave men and women might not all agree with the situation overseas, but they bravely accept their duties and fight for our country, not only for their families but for all Americans. They were not asked to do this; they volunteered because they are, as Biever said, "believing they are serving their country and its ideals," and that does deserve our respect.

Disagree with the conflict if that's how you feel, but let us show some respect for our brave men and women who are fighting for us all, no matter our stance on the conflict. Let's not act as some Americans did after the Vietnam War. Our troops then were doing the same thing that our troops are doing today; they are serving our country, and we should respect them for this.

One of the hardest things is to stand in a room with other servicemen and women and their families, be told to say your last goodbyes and then watch as that person walks away and you wonder when the next time you will see each other again will be. All you want is for them to come back safe and soon. The one thing you know is that they are making the ultimate sacrifice of serving our country for all Americans.

Jennifer Stachowiak

junior

kinesiology