Thursday, April 16, 1998

McMurry hazing

Regarding "McMurry social club placed on probation" (April 10): Our daughter brought charges against Theta Chi. Dean Jackson misrepresented the events of hazing.

Two serious charges Jackson chose to ignore. These include club members forcing a girl to walk from Elmwood Methodist Church to McMurry after 9 p.m. Second was when members told pledges they could only rent one hotel room for club activities, forcing 11 girls to be in a double occupancy room, breaking city laws and fire codes.

Hazing, according to McMurry University, is "any action taken or situation created, intentionally or unintentionally ... which threatens the safety of the student." Do these charges not endanger the safety of students?

When questioned why charges were dropped, Jackson stated, "It's my prerogative to drop these charges." Jackson would not give straight answers. When asked if he would, he said, "No, I will not."

It appeared to be a minor case only because Jackson ignored the charges. This was not a case of "students governing students." This was a case of Jackson protecting the university. Had Jackson not dropped charges, the incident would not have been minor.

It seems sad the university is more concerned with how it appears than with the safety of its students. If Jackson does not consider broken laws or students having to walk home hazing, then what else has been swept under the rug to protect the integrity of the university?

RICHARD AND DEBRA FROH

Abilene

Illogical excuses

Viewing the horrendous devastation and loss of life from the Alabama tornados should make one ever conscious of what can happen. The testimonies given in regard to how early siren warning was so instrumental in the saving of lives.

I fail to see the logic in the excuses against anything that's related to our safety by those we entrust. I grant there is never an ideal solution in situations such as this because of the complexities (weather) involved, yet if this saves a loved one would it not be worth it?

Maybe our city leaders need to reassess their priorities and not be so concerned about spending on a glamorous image but start emphasizing human lives.

RUSS LEHRER

Abilene

While we sleep

In response to your call for a public dialogue on tornado sirens, I would like to point out that most people spend one-third of a 24-hour period sleeping. As a result, they may not be watching television in order to be alerted to an approaching twister. The warning siren could give them needed time to save their life at night or during daylight hours.

DAVE BACH

Abilene

Trashing the lakes

When I went to Nelson Park, we went to the lakes nearby, and I told my dad, "Look at all this trash." There is trash because people have picnics and they don't think about the fish or the birds.

I picked up a big stick so I could get all the trash out of the water. My brother, who is 5, threw trash back in the water. My dad said don't put trash in the water because the fish will die.

We looked in the water and saw dead fish. All the people do is catch a fish and kill it. The fish had trash all over them.

My dad is different. Some dads throw trash into the water. My dad would never even throw a little gum wrapper on the ground. Neither would I.

I wish everyone in the world cared about he lakes, ocean and the air and not just themselves.

KRISTA MARDEROSIAN

Third grade

Alta Vista Elementary