Mice Just Fine

I am rather confused by Carol Neel’s attempt to discredit the Biology “Energy Metabolism and Mouse Dissection" (Better plans for mice and men - 2/15/06)She treats the issue as though the mice are being unethically killed. More interestingly, her idea that it would be more appropriate to use deer in dissection because they need to be killed anyway in cases of overpopulation; does this imply that mice are somehow endangered, or that they will not be able to reproduce fast enough if they aren’t used as subjects in the lab? The mice are most likely going to be used in some other experiment at the University such that their life is probably not prolonged forever. With all this aside, the point of the lab was to study metabolism. The only reason dissection is an option is because the opportunity is there. There is a full page all over the Biology building explaining students’ rights not to participate in the lab, specifically the part dealing with the death of the mouse. So I have no idea where the idea of an unfair burden comes from.

Dance, Dance

I thought the petition formed by students at Hoyt Middle School to regain their “right” to dance the way they wanted to, to be most interesting (Let us be footloose, middle-schoolers say - 2/14/06). Being 21, I wasn’t around, but I believe there was a whole fuss about the way Elvis moved his hips, everyone seems to even make a joke over the way he was censored. I’m not saying let the kids go as far as having sex on the dance floor, but simply be mindful of their side of the issue.

Above the Law

I was appalled by Sgt. Ken Brown's comments on how he thinks that fellow law enforcement officers should have simply "let it pass" when he was stopped for a minor violation (Officer: Traffic stop lacked 'professional courtesy' - 2/15/06). A lot of people could make the same claim during their own traffic stops that Brown made: “It’s not like I was going 100 miles per hour.” You are not some privileged citizen, Sgt. Brown, such that you are above the law. If you violate the same laws I do then I expect you be punished in the same manner I would have been. Law enforcement, the governor, the President; no one person is above the law, and all should be punished accordingly. Welcome to the real world Sgt. Brown.

Rose to Hy-Vee

Kudos to Hy-Vee Inc. for its support of the proposed keg registration legislation, their support will help further a movement that needs to taken seriously (Hy-Vee voices support for keg registration - 2/17/06). I don’t understand those in opposition of the legislation and their logic that the ruling wouldn’t help anything and simply move teens focus to large quantity packs and hard liquor or that there are already laws in place that make it illegal to provide alcohol to minors, so what’s the point? The point is that the law is not intended to restrict alcohol sales, but rather a tool to help investigators in the case that a keg is used for illegal purposes. The parallels to the new law on pseudoephedrine are uncanny. If its necessary that we pass tougher penalties on possession of high quantity packs of beer or hard liquor then so be it, but Iowa needs treat the issue of underage drinking with a little more sensitivity. If we truly care about the youth in Iowa then we need to stop being hypocritical and stop treating underage drinking as a right of passage.

Teachers Pay

When reading the debate over whether Iowa should pay teachers more in the Des Moines Register, I was surprise to find that I agreed with more points made by the article in opposition (Andie Dominick) than the one in favor (Linda Fandel). I defiantly agree that the best teachers are the ones that love children and have the uncanny ability to connect on higher levels with them. These teachers who have these abilities need to be rewarded for their efforts. At most jobs, if you are doing well or excelling above your peers, you’re likely to get a raise. It’s hard to place some kind of reward system for teacher’s whose students perform highly, because studies have shown that, unfortunately, there are those out there that will more or less help the student “cheat”. But there needs to be some way to reward good teachers. The state of Iowa already has several awards for outstanding teachers, we should emphasize these awards, create more like them, and provide more funding to these awards. An environment conducive to learning can help teachers more than most could ever understand; new books, better technology tools, and supplies overall. Just because paying teachers more money overall isn’t the answer everyone wants, we can’t stop there. Iowa needs to continue its focus on education and make considerable efforts to improve, in what ever way we can.

Teens at the Wheel

I hope it’s not any surprise that the recent Iowa Poll in the Des Moines Register shows that the majority is in favor of the new restrictions on teen drivers in Iowa. However, simply because the majority is in favor of the concepts, does that mean they need to be enforced by law? Not necessarily. Most people, surveyed or not, are most likely going to be favorable on a earlier curfew for teens, but should the law enforcement be policing such a thing? That’s probably something left better under the control of parents. 77% said that they favored a ban on cell phones while driving. Even with my own heavy usage of my phone while driving, I would be in favor of banning cell phones while driving, but this should be something that should be applied to all drivers, not just teens. The one addition that seems to be most logical is to reduce the number of passengers. Yes, there are some legitimate cases in which carpools are needed, and maybe there should be a tag added that allows for additional passengers while driving to and from school.

Smoking Gun

I am very bias on the matter of cigarettes. I say ban them all, but I’m smart enough to realize this will most likely never happen. I am in favor of the proposed increase on taxes on cigarettes as well, as this is the easiest way to deter people from continuing to use or beginning to use cigarettes. The point that those who oppose this tax use is that is an unreliable source of income. “It does not make any sense to fund a budget increase by taxing an act or product that you are trying to discourage,” stated Christopher Rants, Speaker of the House. I understand the argument to the point that if we increase the tax it brings in “projected” money and that if it doesn’t come in then the tax payers will bear that burden. I can admit to not being the most knowledgeable on politics, and I don’t really care to. My question is why are we immediately placing all the “projected” revenue into the budget? If the tax works as it is supposed to and decreases smoking usage, then it is more than likely that the increased revenue will never reach the projected amount. How about this for a change: The politicians across Iowa think outside the box for once. Don’t put ANY of the increase revenue into the budget. If it is as unreliable as the critics say it is, then any funds that we do get can be a bonus.

A Battle That Needs to Be Fought Harder

In late January some students made their way to the Statehouse to lobby for a requirement that kegs of beer be sold with an ID number and records of who bought and sold the keg. I would like to extend my congratulations to these students for perusing an incredible noble cause that many of their peers may shoot them down for. While students here in Iowa City try to fight the issue of drinking age and admittance into bars, its nice to see that there are young adults fighting the battle of underage drinking. It baffles me that this country is so obsessed with alcohol, and its not that hard to see (Anheuser-Busch once again had the highest rated commercials during the Super Bowl). There are plenty of people out there that claim that underage drinking its terrible and we should not be allow our young adults to be harming themselves in such a manner. Yet for some reason our culture is one of immense hypocrisy: a student is caught drinking underage and society collectively gives them a slap on the wrist and young adults continue to drink. If this is a battle that we truly wish to fight then there has to be some bite that comes with societies bark. The registration of kegs is just the tip of the ice berg. It would not only help combat parents illegally providing minors with alcohol, it would also serve as a tool to clean up binge drinking parties on college campuses across that state by providing larger fines to those who serve to underage drinkers. I commend these students for their efforts, hopefully they are not in vein.

Captivating Carver

I can't deny that when looking at history Hilton Coliseum is the hardest place to play at given there impressive home streak in the late 90's and into the 2000's. However it would be absurd not to mention the fact that Hilton "Magic" is diminishing, rapidly. They have had 9 home losses in the past two years, six and counting for this year alone. To ignore the University of Iowa's newfound enthusiasm, posting an impressive 14-0 home court record, would be ridiculous. The Hawks will go for the longest Carver winning streak on Valentine’s Day against Michigan State. I shouldn’t say that Hilton Magic has diminished maybe its just changed venues.

Nations Leader? Maybe Not.

We in Iowa pride ourselves for having some of the greatest education standards in the nation. Yet I’m guessing that most Iowans don’t know that Iowa has no statewide educational standards. That edge that Iowans believed we had (and actually did have for some time) in education is now beginning to slip. We are getting lower and lower grades in assessment tests of statewide education, our students are longer out in front of the pack in placement test, and there’s government pressure to improve. One step in the right direction is to increase the minimum drop out age to 18. Skeptics say that this will costs us millions in tax dollars. Are we not willing to pay that? Are we that hypocritical that we want to have a state that is a leader in education, but we really don’t want to have to pay for it? Raising the minimum drop out age is just the tip of the iceberg. If we are a state that is truly devoted to being the nations best then we need to prove it. We need to work harder to get our high schoolers into college (and create jobs for them in state after they graduate). We have to provide support systems statewide that offers help to any student struggling to make it. The act is called No Child Left Behind, whether you agree with its policies or not, the name says it all. Let’s step it up Iowa and show that we truly are THE nation’s greatest state for education.

Unconstitutional?

Richard Wendricks must have been very confused when he stated that he thinks a ban on smoking in public places would be unconstitutional. I must have missed that day in history class. I know I get the Bill of Rights mixed up a lot, was “Every citizen has the right to smoke” the 9th Amendment? I think Richard should look at the Declaration of Independence. We are all created equal with unalienable rights: Life, liberty, and the Pursuit of happiness. That last one is my favorite; and any smoker who lights up around someone who does not wish to get lung cancer (or any other horrible disease linked to smoking) is impinging upon this right. Just as yelling FIRE in a crowed theater is not covered by the 1st Amendment, your “right” to smoke does not supersede my right to healthy environment. Hopefully someday smoking will be illegal (unlikely because of the amount of money it generates for the government), but until that day comes please stop impeding on my rights and keep you carcinogens to yourself.