Letters to the editor

STILL GOT THE HANGOVER BLUES

The hangover article ("Curing the hangover blues," Nov. 23, 2005) made me nauseous.

Jen Ludington's article is nowhere near accurate and contains more empty space than meaningful tips or revelations about hangovers.

The article starts off with a list of feelings (perhaps unique to the writer) that each type of liquor brings the next day. Severely lacking in detail, it makes no mention of congeners -- compounds whose presence or absence makes your whiskey dark and your vodka clear, and dramatically affects the hangover experience.

The next section of symptoms is barely correct, and contains enough science and medical vocabulary in an attempt to sound informed. However, people who have actually researched the biochemical and physiological wonders of the hangover can easily point out the mistakes.

The article also lacks any sort of common sense advice or useful hangover remedies like water, vitamins, and food. Top it all off with the brilliant idea that puking 'rids the body of toxins' and you have one mess of an article.

Jen -- back to science class for you!

-- Jeff Hebert

Alumnus

FRESHMAN INTERESTS NOT IGNORED

At the end of your editorial on November 21 ("Dorms as dungeons -- degrading the freshman experience), it was mentioned that mandatory first year in the residence halls was an idea of the Undergraduate Experience Committee. This is not the case. The idea remains only that of several administrators who have shown interest in it. The report bears no interest in implementing a mandatory first year in the residence halls; you can find it in its latest form at http://students.washington/vkh/improve.

You are right on point about the barriers to implementation. The residence halls are not just for freshman. We also cannot forget how the recruitment efforts of the Greek community would be affected. However, I do not share your beliefs in dorm life as a distraction with statistics proving academic success is more likely in the halls. Further, while not the real world, the residence halls do provide an immersive learning environment on social interaction and living in a community. The halls place a home-schooled student from Spokane with an international student from Mexico City. Lessons learned in these instances prepare someone for the real world. In addition, academic partnerships like the Honors House create great academic experiences outside the classroom. While a potentially great component of many students experience at the UW, it's clear the residence halls are not for everyone.

On that note, I think its important to remember that this idea is not all or nothing as is suggested by the Seattle Times article. Each of the barriers you described and more cannot be ignored. It is an idea that some suggest and as I see it, part of a conversation and not a mandate.

-- Lee Dunbar

President, ASUW