BYU-Idaho Scroll

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR | UPDATED FEBRUARY 7

We welcome your original comments on editorials, columns, other topics in Scroll or any subjects important to you. Letters to the editor should contain the author’s hometown and year in school (or position, if applicable). Letters of 250 words or fewer have the best chance of being published. Letters are edited for length, accuracy and clarity. Scroll reserves the right to not publish any letter and will not publish anonymous letters. Send your comments by e-mail to scrolleditor@byui.edu or mail them to the Scroll office, in Spori 114.

Evil in art teaches lessons

Dear Editor,

I’m sorry we have to listen to some Neanderthal voice his ignorance about art every semester. Especially in this case, where a person reads a description of two plays and judges them. Let me write out a description for the Bible, “Murder, rape, genocide, mutilation” and the Book of Mormon, “Adultery, cannibalism, burning people alive.” Based on that I don’t think he should read them. Unless the purpose of showing evil in art and the scriptures is to contrast good.

Brigham Young said, “The stage can be a companion to the pulpit in portraying evil.” Nathan Cross, a freshman, believes he can judge great art. I don’t have the audacity to believe that. But Nathan doesn’t even have to see them to judge them! He claims modern art is junk without worthy content. By the way, Billy Madison is not art.

If he thinks I’m calling evil good, know that Nathan calling good evil is equally wrong. Thank you for proclaiming your own righteousness to the campus. BYU-I can be a place of higher learning or a Pharisee finishing school. Good luck.

James Best
a senior from
Portage, Mich.

Plight of men not important

Dear Editor,

I and my fellow cave dwellers can no longer remain silent. Brad Jackman’s articles have forced us to come out of the dark recesses of The Cave (our apartment) and state this one simple phrase … get over it, Brad!

‘No Respect for Men’? ‘Dear John letters’? We have heard and read many things before (screeching bats, cave paintings) but this most certainly tops it all.

So what if men are stereotyped? Everyone is stereotyped. Do you think that here in the Cave we eat raw meat? (Recently, we mastered the magic heat box, a.k.a stove)You can’t take offense over everything, it is absolutely absurd. So you want respect for men? How about starting with yourself, before jumping in front of the world.

Then there’s the Dear John letters. Brad, so what some if some girl wrote you off on your mission, and you wish to gain retribution. (Darth Vader theme music plays.) We don’t need to know, so why don’t you write to ‘Dear Abby’ instead of the whole campus. Or better yet, keep your problems hidden in your Cinderblock Palace (your apartment), where no prying eyes can mock you (people other than your roommates).

All in all, we certainly hope that your life goes better. Just don’t bother us with it; we have clubs.

Jenni Kramer
a freshman from
Castle Rock, Colo.

Conservation often ignored

Dear Editor,

I was not surprised to read the quote last week from Brent Pritchett about using enough power to run a neighborhood for a month to satisfy himself and the Guitars Unplugged goers. It fit properly with the unfortunate lack of conservation practices at BYU-I.

I am not a full-on tree hugger, but I feel strongly about conserving our resources. Certain things like our resources are well worth their weight in gold, not a concert that wastes valuable electricity. Which brings me to my next point, why does this school have such a poor recycling program?

What gives BYU-I the right to be a poor steward of this land? One has to go on a cross-country mission to find a bin to recycle a pop can. This school is anything but eco-friendly. We need more bins for recycling on campus. I think it is safe to say over half of you reading this paper will not even recycle it when you are done. I will give you a hint; it is that tiny blue box next to the Scroll rack that is full of K-mart ads.

Austin Hawks
a senior from
Centralia, Wash.

Boys are not doing their part

Dear Editor,

I recall in May 2005 Elder Oaks’ talk about dating. Since I’ve been here at BYU-Idaho I have noticed that Elder Oak’s words have been ignored. In his talk he encouraged young men to ask young women out on dates. He advised young women to shut their cupboards and not feed the young men until they asked them out on dates.

I have noticed that young women have been doing most of the asking on campus. It’s frustrating to be a girl at home alone on a Friday or Saturday night with nothing to do. I read the comic in the comics section this past week about boys doing all the asking and the paying, and it was written by a guy. I guess the girls’ view on this matter hasn’t been explored.

Heidi Bartholomew
a freshman from
Springville, Utah

Arcade room a study haven

Dear Editor,

I’m elated about the premiere study facility at BYU-Idaho. There is plenty of space, lots of computers, a great atmosphere, and no one bothers you. The air hockey table has seen better days and Surf Planet still isn’t working, but I wouldn’t change a thing about the arcade room in the Manwaring Center.
Where else can you have this much personal space without worry of being annoyed by somebody else? I’ve heard that the MC will be renovating in a couple of years and might get rid of the arcade games. I claim dibs on Marvel Super Heroes vs. Street Fighter. Even though the game is nine years old, its the best way to start the day — fighting Captain America vs. Zangief.

I’m just afraid I’m going to lose my private study area once they renovate. Then it’s back to the cell-phone infested library where I can’t even play fantasy baseball.

Christian Goodman
a senior from
Lee’s Summit, Mo.