Don't be ignorant

There are a great many cyclists on and around BYU campus, and among these are a great many who do not know the basic guidelines of cycling safety. This causes tension between cyclists and motorists. So, for the benefit and understanding of both parties, here are a few hints for cycling safety:

1. According to Utah State Law, cyclists have the same rights and privileges as cars. They should, therefore, view themselves and be viewed as cars. They are not pedestrians; they should not ride on sidewalks.

2. Ride on the right hand side of the lane, preferably on the shoulder if there is one (unless the cyclist is changing lanes to turn left on a multiple-lane road).

3. Always use hand signals to indicate turns. Right arm to the square = right turn; left arm extended with thumb down = left turn.

4. Wear a helmet. Perhaps you think your appearance ridiculous when wearing one, but you'll look really ridiculous being a vegetable the rest of your life after being nailed by some motorist who wasn't paying attention. It may mess up your hair, but I'd rather have a little messed-up hair than a really messed-up brain. Even if you're simply going to campus, wear it; I had a terrible crash a few months ago not two blocks from my apartment.

I hope this is informative to both cyclists and motorists so as to relieve some of the miscommunication and tension between the two.

LOGAN BRADFORD

Cincinnati, Ohio

Stay with the party

As I walk through the halls of BYU I notice that many of the students who were once so big on their man Mitt Romney have now converted to the other side as supporters of Sen. Barack Obama. While talking to these people, I have come to conclude that they are so upset that Sen. John McCain took out their candidate, they would rather vote for a Democrat than the man who ended Romney's chances of winning the nomination.

How ironic, since Romney and Obama have such different stances on the war, health care, and many other matters, that people would switch and go to another party, and going against all the ideals they once held, instead of voting for a Republican.

What I am trying tell people is stay with your party. Don't move over just because your candidate got beaten by another Republican. Though I appreciate all the support for the Democratic candidate, I wonder what the real reason is.

SCOTT C. ELEY

Denver, Colo.

Need spring break

In last week's The Daily Universe, there was an article about what BYUSA is doing to soften the hurt of not being given a spring break. Every day of the week they are doing activities such as making smoothies and playing volleyball. Thank you BYUSA for the great gesture. That was nice. But instead of coming up with a weak solution, why do you do what we elected you to do and represent the voice of the student body? Take a poll and you'll realize that almost every student you encounter here on campus would like a spring break. Many argue that BYUSA does not have the authority to make that change, but they're not working hard enough. Just because administration says no once, doesn't mean it should die there. I know this same subject has been addressed scores of times, but let me add a different perspective.

What is the reason for spring break? Many schools use it as an excuse to party and get into trouble. Naturally, I would assume the administration had enough trust in us to let us out for a few days and use our agency as we please. There are many great experiences that can come from spring break. My brother goes to Utah State. For the past two years he has traveled to Mexico with a group of other students. They are involved in a program where they build half a dozen homes for homeless families in one week. A friend who attends UVSC uses the time to go visit family in California that she wouldn't be able to see otherwise until July. Returned missionary friends of mine use the time to have a reunion in St. George.

What is the reasoning for no spring break? We get out a week earlier, but many students would rather get out the same time as the rest of the country anyway. It's time for BYUSA and administration to listen to the voice of the students. That's what they're paid and elected to do.

DENNIS BLACKBURN

Price

Swap not justified

If you're going to censor "Dilbert," then at least have the foresight to use a strip that's more than a couple months old - one that most of us won't remember. Censorship works best when the people don't know that it's happening.

An even better idea: stop trying to protect us from innocuous stuff that only a small minority of students will take issue with. I'm all in favor of censoring the strip on account of the quality of its jokes, which haven't been funny for years, but today's strip wasn't anything near offensive enough to justify the swap - apparently switched with another strip you still had lying around.

DUSTIN STEINACKER

Elk Ridge

Military might

I believe in peace. I know that war can be a terrible thing, with death and destruction on both sides. I also know though that it is necessary. Military might, while appearing "crude" to many, is the only means of dealing with some people.

Those who say words and sanctions can do all must never have dealt with a bully growing up. I have. I know that no matter what types of pleas and reasoning you use, sometimes force is the only thing that people respect. Saddam was one of those types of people. We know that he had WMDs in research, and also in practice (see 1980 chemical attacks on Iran and 1988 attacks on Kurdish villagers).

While we didn't find any conclusive evidence of remaining WMDs in 2003, our previous U.N. investigators had. Also, did you know that there haven't been U.N. inspectors in Iraq since 1998, and before then they were detained, misled and lied to?

I practice a little bit of slight of hand, and can say that four years is a long enough time to hide most things pretty well. In 2003, Iraq still had the knowledge and technical abilities to rebuild the WMD programs, a fact corroborated by senior Iraqi officials.

BRENT BEARDSLEY

Belvidere, Ill.

Dilbert censorship

I'm a huge Dilbert Fan. I'm a member of the Dogbert's New Ruling Class and I subscribe to the Dilbert blog. I also get the Dilbert Comic e-mailed to me everyday, and I can't help but notice a discrepancy between what Scott Adams is releasing and what The Daily Universe is publishing.

The recent comics have been about a new employee named Jesus (pronounced HAY-soos) and involve some comical references to Jesus Christ. However, I don't see it as blasphemous and definitely don't think it's worth censorship. To me this is a prime example of hypersensitivity.

I'm sure, if you were to print them, there would be a vocal minority crying about the Lord's university printing such sacrilege, but it's in good taste and definitely not worth the tarnishing of The Daily Universe as a biased, pro-censorship media outlet. The media have an obligation to provide information to the populace in as close to an unbiased way as possible.

I'm not asking you to print pornography or anti-Mormon literature, I'm just asking for the same information that any other reputable newspaper of similar size and scope would provide. So, in the future, please have a little more faith in your readership and a little less big-brother mentality.

MICHAEL CAREY

Tyler, Texas

Copyright Brigham Young University 11 Mar 2008