The Red and Black

Issue date: 1/10/08 Section: Opinions

R&B not responsible for HOPE chaos

I find myself a little more than disturbed by the comments of Thomas Burke, an associate vice president for student affairs. The Red & Black could have handled the Susan Little's retirement story more carefully. However, it acknowledged in that same article that her retirement was announced last summer and quoted someone saying that what happened had nothing to do with her retirement.

What The Red & Black was trying to establish is why Little is a person of interest to write an article about her retirement. While I am sure she had many years of good service here, so have many others who have not been written about.

However, what particularly disturbs me about Burke's comments is he has the audacity to blame The Red & Black for a problem caused by a department he supervised. An e-mail was sent to 6,000 students regarding registration for the HOPE scholarship with short notice and right before a holiday break.

This put these students and The Red & Black at a disadvantage, as state and university offices were closed before The Red & Black's initial publishing deadline.

It could have waited, but the article would have been too late to warn students who might have missed the e-mail.

Why is it so hard to acknowledge that it was a communication problem and create a new policy to warn students within a minimum number of business days?

I would like to think any university administrator would possess the maturity to do this rather than blame students who were trying to warn others at the last minute.

CLAY KIMBRO
Grad. student, Lilburn
Journalism & Mass Communication

Story undermines Little's efforts

I was disappointed to read Tuesday's story, "OSFA director 'happy' with retirement." Your article includes five paragraphs that recapitulate the HOPE renewal story from last fall.

Organizing the article in this manner clearly, if subtly, implies Little's decision to retire was in some way related to student unrest about HOPE renewals. As your own piece indicates, however, Little's decision was made "in the summer of 2007" (several months prior to discussions about HOPE renewal).

I suggest you consider printing a clarification in an upcoming issue. Surely Little's long years of service to the University are memorable for more than this episode.

BARRETT TAYLOR
Grad. student,
Austin, Texas
Education

Withdrawal policy a worthy proposal

Upon reading the article in Wednesday's paper about withdrawing from courses, I was taken aback by the idea of limiting the number of Ws in a student's college career. After much thought, however, I feel positive about a possible compromise.

I applaud Katy Bowers, Connor McCarthy and the rest of SGA for keeping the student body's best interest at heart and remaining positive on the strides that can be made.

I cannot help but agree that withdrawing often is used as an easy way out - I am as guilty as the rest. Limiting the number of class withdrawals should not be viewed as another "punishment," but a wake-up call that education is a privilege.

I hope the University's final decision will allow more than four withdrawals per academic career, as I know that emergencies do occur.

However, I hope all students will support the idea of emphasizing accountability and responsibility when it comes to academic advising and registration. Be smart in choosing your classes each semester, don't be afraid to talk to your advisor, and for goodness sake - use the Bulletin.

LAUREN BARRS
Junior, Savannah
Marketing

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