Free Speech Friday

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I was extraordinarily disappointed with the Nov. 30 staff editorial, "Poor diet and exercise habits should not be excused." The staff came to the conclusion that "fat" can mean only one thing [HTML_REMOVED] poor behavior [HTML_REMOVED] and used this as the basis for an opinion on "fat studies."

Perhaps the staff would be interested in reading any of the thousands of studies and essays involving fat and the infinite meanings it holds. Medical science, sociology, anthropology, psychology, women's studies, foodways studies and many more have found incredible value in the discourse of fat.

Perhaps the staff would also like to think outside of the westernized world's opinion of fat to consider the vast meanings it holds in other cultures. And perhaps the staff might like to consider the sociological paradox of the western hate and fear of fat to the human body's desperate need for it.

Will these issues be "better dealt with in the doctor's office, gym and grocery store"?

[HTML_REMOVED]Kate Sawatzki

Senior, microbiology and English[HTML_REMOVED]

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As a long-timeresident of the University-Roosevelt area, Iam but one of many neighbors who arealarmedatthe escalatingoff-campuscriminal conductof UW students.

From frequentpost-midnightawakenings by wild,drunken studentsto having to clean up their litter and repair their vandalism each morning, the situation has becomeintolerable to and extremely expensive for many U-District neighbors, property owners and taxpayers.

Assaults,indecent exposure (including public urination and defecation),theft of and destruction of property(likestealingand/or kicking down street signs, pulling up shrubbery, spraying graffiti, etching windows, etc.) and similaracts by students are now commonplace inneighborhoods adjacent to the UW.

The increasing number of alcoholic beverage containers being discarded by students[HTML_REMOVED]most notably by those parking in the area [HTML_REMOVED]raises serious concerns about underage drinking, binging and drunken driving.

To top it off, there has been a string oflife-threatening arsons that may or may nothave been committed by UW students, but arenonetheless terrifying and attest to the decline of what had historically been a relatively safe neighborhood.

It should also be noted thatroving packs of fraternity and sorority members have been particularly troublesome. While they seem to think that their delinquent behavior is to somehow be admired, they only impressothers of their own ilk.

Greek-lettered names aside, theyshould be treated the same as other criminalgangsby law enforcement.

The bottom line is that the situation has reached the boiling point and we are going to take back ownership of our neighborhood.

Unless the UW administrationtakes serious and immediate steps to hold its students accountable for theiroff-campus conduct, you can expect to be reading about the legal and legislative action that we neighbors will take.

[HTML_REMOVED]Chaplain Gary Friedman

Seattle, WA[HTML_REMOVED]

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I am writing in response to the Brandon Dennis column of Dec. 4, "The world of fluffy things doesn't exist." It is clear to me that Mr. Dennis is not a person of color. It is also obvious that he has not been hounded by recruiters, and that he does not know what it's like when a recruiter asks "How are you gonna pay for college?" if the recruiter even believes that college is an attainable goal.

In my view it is an infringement on the part of the military to have an ROTC or even recruitment efforts in school. Why would a student want to fight a war for a master puppeteer? Soldiers do not instigate wars [HTML_REMOVED] or do they?

If you think about it, the U.S. economy grows after wars, examples being WWI and WWII as well as the Cold War. At the end of 2001 the economy was heading into a recession and no war was in sight.

I'm not making any accusations, but really, recruiters and ROTC should not be allowed in schools. Why are U.S. citizens always so paranoid and scared? A more practical way to prevent wars is to have everyone equipped with nuclear weapons (MAD, mutual assured destruction) or to have no weapons at all (peace).

Just my opinion.

[HTML_REMOVED]Renato Mendoza

Internatonal studies[HTML_REMOVED]