Ignore Soulforce

The Soulforce Riders are not coming to BYU to change policy. They are coming to steal headlines and to irritate us. When we let them offend us to the point where we react to them, they have accomplished their mission. I suggest we all treat the Soulforce Riders as one would a schoolyard bully: respectfully ignore them. Don't give them the attention they seek.

Stephen Brown

Provo

Questionable Integrity

In "BYU alumni Sampson resigns in controversy" (March 18) on Kyle Sampson's abrupt exit from the Justice Department professor Earl Fry is quoted as saying Sampson is "a good man with a lot of integrity ... a good soldier who has fallen on his sword in order to protect his boss, the attorney general."

I may be missing something here, but it seems to me Sampson is covering for an attorney general who fires U.S. attorneys based on their investigations of his political allies (after he told Congress under oath he would do no such thing), who uses his clout with President Bush to get Bush to deny security clearance to those tasked with investigating his alleged crimes in the illegal wiretap cases, and above all who destroys the sacred Constitution of the United States in the name of fighting terrorism. Covering up for such a man may make Sampson a good soldier, but it most certainly does not make him a man with a lot of integrity.

I hope Fry isn't teaching any ethics classes.

Nate White

Lewisville, Texas

Define Integrity

In the article on the resignation of Kyle Sampson (March 18), political science professor Earl Fry is quoted as a sort of character witness. Professor Fry calls the man who apparently managed the politically motivated firing of several U.S. attorneys and spearheaded the preparation for the ensuing cover-up "a good man with a lot of integrity."

Fry's definition of integrity mystifies me. Sampson advocated deceiving members of Congress about Department of Justice actions and motivations. He recommended claiming potential deceptive stalling actions were all done in "good faith."

I don't know Sampson, but the e-mails he has authored make him look to me less like a man of integrity and more like a devious and deceptive political operative with no discernible principles whatsoever.

It is my hope that BYU, which I attended for one year, will take a look at this product of its education and start to emphasize virtues like honesty and guilelessness over ambition and loyalty-at-any-cost.

Kim McCall

Menlo Park, Calif.

In response to "Dump Pennies and Nickels" (March 19), let me just say: I will gladly take all the nickels and pennies out of your life. Feel free to send them my way.

Second: the round-off rule states that if you have zero to four, round down, five to nine, round up.

Thank you.

Tom Roderick

Joshua, Texas

Honor Code at Work

To preface my remarks, I must say although I don't see anything wrong with having facial hair, enjoying a well-trimmed goatee, or growing a beard, I realize that I am attending a private institution, and that I sign the Honor Code each year. Therefore, I have no problem shaving before class, before taking a test, or for playing intramural sports.

That being said, last Saturday I had to take a test for my business class. After shaving my face so I could enter the Testing Center, I began my trek to campus. After climbing the stairs on the south side of campus, I entered the Testing Center and waited in line to give my ID card to one of the testing center employees. I waited for a few moments, and then looked up to see who it would be judging my fate.

It was only then I realized that a young woman with a blue blouse which was revealing Victoria's Secret to every student going into the Testing Center would be my judge. I handed her my card and was visibly inspected before she passed her judgment and allowed me to take my test. I thought how ironic it is to have such an enormous emphasis placed on facial hair of men, while one of the university's own employees would be allowed to wear clothing which barely covered her chest in such a prominent location on campus.

Jared Jones

Mesa, Ariz.

Confusing Party Theme

I received an official BYU e-mail Tuesday night. It invited me to a "President's Senior Celebration," where it seems college seniors go to celebrate being old. Apparently, "The theme for this year's Senior Celebration is 'Hat's Off!' Does that mean we are celebrating the "Off" belonging to the Hat, or is it short for "Hat Is Off" meaning we can't come wearing a hat? May I suggest a better theme: "Let's Highlight Deficiencies in Our English Education."

David Hutchison

Auckland, New Zealand

Look Where You're Driving

There is much rhetoric and banter about Provo's claim to fame as the "Melting Pot of the World's Worst Drivers." Failure to yield, no use of turn signal and, heaven forbid, application of make-up while driving are just a few of the offenses that Provo motorists are guilty of. This may be a laughing matter to some, but, as a motorcyclist, I find nothing humorous at all about it.

I came within half a foot of oblivion last Thursday while returning home from class because a careless young brother decided to turn left in front of me without even glancing where he was headed or what lay ahead. Had I not been driving a sport bike with excellent brakes, I would have undoubtedly sustained serious injury - even despite wearing a helmet. It was, indeed, a lucky day for both of us. To all of my beloved fellow students: please look where you are going. Motorcycles are everywhere - especially here in Provo.

James Potts

Atlanta

Abolish Clock Changes

Let's quit changing the clock and keep Daylight Savings Time year-round. "The American Economic Review" 90, no. 4 notes the billion-dollar impact of sleep disruption: "Clock shifts disrupt sleep patterns, and correlate with decreased economic efficiency. In 2000, the daylight-saving effect implied an estimated one-day loss of $31 billion on U.S. stock exchanges" (1005-11). It is "time" to change. I invite all you drowsy citizens to voice your opinion to Congressman Chris Cannon.

Devan Jensen

Orem

Copyright Brigham Young University 20 Mar 2007