CU’s new center for the classics
Re: “CU prof is nurturing the classics,” Oct. 27 David Harsanyi column.
We in the Department of Classics at the University of Colorado at Boulder were excited to see The Post’s article on faculty member Christian Kopff’s new Center for Western Civilization (“Veni, vidi, study,” Oct. 20). Like Kopff, who teaches in the honors program, we are firm believers in the tremendous value of a traditional classical education and are convinced that Homer, Virgil, Aristotle, Cicero and Augustine (to name but a few) represent crucial figures in our past whose thoughts and actions continue to affect who we are as modern Americans. We were thus appalled to see conservative columnist David Harsanyi hijack the story to flog CU, which he dubs “the left-wing campus,” for having ignored these fundamentals in the past.
Harsanyi calls Kopff’s new center a “department” and can thus lament its “measly $5,000 yearly budget,” as if it represented some punishment from a lefty administration. In fact, the new center is, as its name implies, a “center” – i.e., an administrative base for faculty with shared interests from across departments that funds extra stuff: colloquia, speakers, research projects. To be sure, the new center’s budget is small, but it is comparable to that of other fledgling centers here and reflects more about the state’s funding of CU than CU’s funding of Western civilization. More importantly, Harsanyi explores the question, “Is CU prepared to start a classics program?” and implies that such traditional subjects are being neglected. The truth is that CU has had a classics department since its inception in 1876 and currently employs 10 distinguished faculty who teach classes in subjects like the foundations of Western democracy, the origins of Christian religion, and Greek and Latin, the languages of the Bible and the early church.
By retailing ignorance as fact, people like Harsanyi have been participating in a CU-bashing fashion that has undermined this great university for too long. With four Nobel laureates and scores of other award winners, a hard-working faculty committed to teaching and research at nationally recognized levels, and one of the lowest in- state tuition rates in the country, CU stands proud as the jewel in the crown of Colorado’s fine colleges and universities.
Noel Lenski, Chair, Department of Classics, University of Colorado at Boulder
What happened in Rwanda is happening in Sudan
Re: “Peace through empowerment,” Nov. 15 news story (part of the three-part “Africa lifelines” series).
I read the article by Bruce Finley and am very glad he brought attention to the crisis in Rwanda. We have recently been talking about the 1994 genocide in school, and watched “Hotel Rwanda,” which is a movie about it. We also saw Paul Rusesabagina talk at the convention center last week. It is awful what went on in Rwanda, and it is impossible for me to relate to their pain. Monique Kubwumukiza, a girl in Finley’s story, is my age. She is devastated and stained with the memory of 1994.
What bothers me most, though, is how almost the exact same thing is happening in Dafur, Sudan, right now and no one is doing anything. America and other countries could help Africa with all these arguments they’ve been having if they stepped up. So hopefully, these genocides will stop.
Caroline Roberts, 11, Denver
Front-page story about hookah bars
Re: “Hookah: New generation finds age-old pipe-smoking a fitting habit,” Nov. 16 news story.
I am shocked at your decision to run the article on hookah bars. This story glorifies and encourages tobacco smoking, a leading cause of death both here in the U.S. and around the world. The only mention of hookah smoking’s potential risks involved a comparison to the levels of nicotine and tar in cigarettes, which implies that hookah smoking is relatively safe, when the truth is that there is no evidence that is the case. There has been little research on the effects of hookah smoking, but it appears that it contributes to heart disease, pulmonary disease and possibly even genetic damage.
Your article encourages young people to adopt a dangerous, addictive habit. I seriously question the ethics of your decision to print such a story. At the very least, you should have presented a fuller picture of the risks of tobacco smoking.
Laura Pyle, Denver
Misplaced priorities
Re: “Congress’ misplaced priorities,” Nov. 15 editorial.
Your editorial warns against investigation into the leak regarding possible secret prisons for terror suspects. You state that such discussions “could damage national security or the nation’s image.” You also state that Rep. Nancy Pelosi was “reasonable” to fire back with pushing for an inquiry into “possible manipulation of prewar intelligence.”
Do you not understand that our enemies benefit from Pelosi’s discussions of manipulating intelligence? Do we want our courageous soldiers in Iraq to hear the home talk on why we shouldn’t be there?
Investigation into illegal leaks or into intelligence failures should continue but not be hyped and politicized.
Like it or not, we are at war with a powerful enemy. World opinion is vital to our success. Debate should continue but be tempered and sometimes adjourned to back rooms. What are our true priorities? Are we interested in our national image and the safety of our troops in Iraq? Or do our politics cause us to relish in embarrassing our government during a time of war at the expense of our national security?
Talk about misplaced priorities.
John O’Donoghue, Bailey
DPS plan for parents
Re: “District crafts plan to get parents in school,” Nov. 14 news story.
I applaud Denver Public Schools’ inclusion of a “parental component” in its new strategic plan that is being developed. In addition to effective teachers and a rigorous, well-rounded curriculum, the active support of a parent or mentor adult is essential to a student reaching his full potential. I read with great distress, however, the comments of Kim Ursetta, the president of the Denver Classroom Teachers Association. Ursetta states that urging teachers to do more is OK as long as it is not mandatory and falls within an established workday.
Time and time again, the first reaction of the teachers union to a new proposal is an objection to any item that might require something new of the teachers. This mentality must be eliminated in order for students to realize the full success they deserve. I challenge Ursetta to lead her union in a direction that asks first whether a proposal would positively affect student achievement, and to determine her position on that proposal based on the answer to that question.
Melanie Backes, Denver
TO REACH US
Phone: 303-820-1331
Fax: 303-820-1502
E-mail: openforum@denverpost.com
Mail: The Open Forum, The Denver Post, 1560 Broadway, Denver, 80202
Letters guidelines: The Post welcomes letters up to 200 words on topics of general interest. Letters must include full name, home address and day and evening phone numbers. Letters may be edited for length, grammar and accuracy.
