The Red and Black

Issue date: 4/22/08 Section: Opinions

Justice's job eclipses outdated allegations

As opposed to the usual under-qualified choice, the University chose a sitting justice on the Supreme Court to speak at this year's graduation.

I pray the University and this paper do not obsess on 17-year-old allegations of sexual harassment (as the Senate did), and instead, they focus on the grand accomplishments of this man from rural Georgia.

Although no one ever would mistake me for a conservative (and I am opposed to the justice's personal views), I am proud the University has chosen Justice Thomas to speak at my graduation.

ANDREW THURMOND
Senior, Covington
Political Science

'Liberal garbage' taints the University

For fear that I will not be published, I almost didn't write this letter. The Red & Black and the department of women's studies should be ashamed. How dare you demean such a respected figure as Justice Clarence Thomas?

Justice Thomas has been on the Supreme Court for more than 16 years, serving our country just as honorably as the other justices. The allegations against him were simply that - allegations that never were proven or never would hold up in any court.

The situation was his word against an allegedly abused woman's word. The case relates slightly to the Duke lacrosse case, and we all know who was lying there just to get noticed.

Attention liberals at The R&B and the Chris Cuomos of the women's studies department - get a life. Be honored that Justice Thomas is coming to speak to us, stop staining the University's good name, and stop spilling your liberal garbage everywhere. No one wants to hear it.

ERIC HAUFF
Junior, Athens
Accounting

'Unfounded' beliefs lack proper research

Let me be one of the first to say how excited I was to see one of our most revered U.S. Supreme Court Justices, Clarence Thomas, will be the keynote speaker for our graduation.

Unfortunately for Justice Thomas, he will not receive the same deserved appreciation and gratitude from individuals such as Chris Cuomo.

If you were half as intelligent as you think you are, Cuomo, you would understand the difference between an allegation and a conviction.

Perhaps you should stay home during graduation and do a little research on the case itself before making such outlandish and unfounded assumptions. It would serve you well to think before you speak out against someone just because you disagree with them politically.

To Justice Thomas, welcome, thank you, and I promise many of us graduating are not as unintelligent as Cuomo.

JASON HEWELL
Senior, Watkinsville
Business Management

Adams should oust speaker

This election has been about "who is in touch with the people," but I can tell you who is out of touch - Michael Adams. I am upset the University would make such a poor choice of graduation speakers.

As a graduating senior with a major in political science, this probably will be the last letter I ever write to the paper. Despite my major, I cannot get behind allowing even a Supreme Court Justice to speak with his type of background.

We have dismissed or accepted resignations of professors accused of sexual harassment all year. To think the student body would be happy to have a man whose career has been riddled with sexual harassment charges speak at graduation is ridiculous.

What message does this send to the graduating seniors? Michael Adams is out of touch with this student body.

JAMES DUSTIN BAKER
Senior, Young Harris
Political Science

Enjoy Earth Day on campus

As an alumnus of the University, I hope all of you current students truly experience Earth Day this year. Go to all of the great Earth Day events and learn all you can from them.

The most important thing about Earth Day though may be to learn to truly appreciate nature.

Stroll through North Campus studying the many species of native trees. Some of the biggest ones likely go back 200 or 300 years.

Also enjoy the forest preserve out at the intramural fields where some poplar trees reach over 100 feet tall.

Just north of town Sandy Creek Nature Center is also awaiting your visit. There is a ton of natural wonder to be held just within walking distance around campus. Earth Day is about deeper appreciation for all of it.

WILLIAM LANCE
Alumnus

Department needs perspective

Chris Chiego has identified a real issue by pointing out the gulf between the broad survey courses offered at the lower levels of the history department and the highly specific subjects offered at upper division.

Although a narrow focus can be enriching, an entire aspect of historical perspective appears to be ignored by the department's course offerings.

Case in point: The class entitled "Egypt, Mother of Civilization" recently was dropped from the fall semester.

Can we study history without understanding the contribution of this monumental civilization?

Where are the opportunities to gain a "big picture" of the sweep of human history, the lessons learned, the mistakes repeated, the interplay of issues and societal response?

No one should receive a history degree without such basic perspectives. An education that consists of isolated "deep dives" is incomplete.

STEVE HUGGINS
Junior, Madison
History

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