Letters to the Editor

4/9/09 7:00pm

Bikes-for-cars article erroneous

To the Editor:I was glad to read your editorial supporting Rice University's green initiative that offers graduate students at the Rice Village Apartments a free bike if they don't bring a car to campus ("Bikes-for-cars program almost perfect," March 27). Although you expressed concerns about a couple of points, they were based on inaccurate information, so I'd like to set the record straight.

Rice did not pay the retail price for the bikes. Bicycle World and Fitness and Giant Corporation were generous enough to support Rice's green initiative by offering a substantially discounted rate. Although the agreement specifies that we keep the purchase price confidential, I can assure you that it was significantly less than the $700-plus figure cited in the editorial.

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To qualify for the bike offer, graduate students must sign a minimum of a one-year housing agreement at the Rice Village Apartments and agree not to bring a car to Rice. Residents must return the bike or pay the retail cost of the bike if they bring a car to Rice at anytime during their education here.

Abeer Mustafa

Graduate Housing Manager

Online Comment of the Week

To the Editor:

I could not disagree more with Catherine Bratic on the opinion that newspapers are the "most important resources" for students ("Newspapers indispensable to education," March 20).

First, I am surprised that students receive free subscriptions from the Chronicle. When I went to college, I paid for my own. If it is important to you, purchase it yourself. Students need to learn how to take care of themselves instead of receiving their resources free.

Second, The New York Times and the Chronicle are the most liberal newspapers in the country. They are also biased. They write articles slanted toward convincing the public of their view instead of simply providing the news.

Third, their opinion pages are nearly always in support of liberal causes, many of them immoral. For example, the evolution vs. design debate is never reported truthfully. The Chronicle uses their columnists and opinion pages to blast away on this subject, never really telling the truth about the debate. They use a strategy of always accusing the proponents for design of being dumb, religious fundamentalists who simply do not understand science. This idea could not be farther from the truth. Remember, a true evolutionist can only believe evolution's implications suggest for humans that there is no purpose, no afterlife, no foundation for ethics, no meaning and no free choice. If you believe these implications, your humanistic solution for stability in society is "might makes right." You also cannot tell me what is right or wrong. I will simply ask you "based upon what?" The bottom line is no one can truly live this way.

In summary, the university does not need newspapers for an important student resource. You guys need to try and understand what "you" are all about instead of opinion writers telling you what you are all about. The Times and Chronicle will certainly be happy to advise you.

Bill Freeman

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