Letters to the editor
Issue date: 10/8/08 Section: Opinion
Support staff member for city mayor
I am delighted that UA students are politically active this year, and I appreciate the Traveler's coverage of those who have become candidates for City Council, mayor and Congress.
Vice Mayor and Alderman Lioneld Jordan, a 26-year member of the university staff, has an outstanding voting record and history of public service.
Lioneld is a zone supervisor with Facilities Management, and he has been an outstanding advocate for our students and staff.
When 32 staff workers were threatened with losing their jobs, Lioneld stepped up to lead the fight and involved local legislators to reverse the decision. When the Associated Student Government proposed establishing an early voting site on campus, Lioneld contacted the election commission and threw his support behind that effort.
In hundreds of ways, he has been there advocating for the best interests of our university community, including successfully lobbying the state legislature on behalf of UA employees.
Lioneld has been a guest speaker in my classes and a guest on "Book Notes," a program on Community Access Television.
As a member of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, he has been active in organizing the monthly food drive for Seven Hills Homeless Shelter, the Christmas toy drive for children and the Curb the Clutter program that collects trash along Razorback Road.
Lioneld has been recognized with the Outstanding Community Service Award from the UA Staff Senate; nominated for the Peace Hero Award by OMNI; twice recognized as the outstanding local government leader by Sierra Club; received the Torchbearer Award for Exemplary Community Service from Alpha Phi Alpha; and he is one of only 75 employees to have received the UA Diversity Certificate.
I am proud to call Lioneld my friend, and I hope you will join me in supporting him for mayor.
Stephen Smith
Professor
Communication
Stop pushing Christian beliefs
In the past year, I have been approached by strangers at least 10 times who have pushed some product, ideology or cause célèbre.
It's a university, and I expect it. It's all about grassroots movements; however, not counting the free pizza or submarine sandwich coupons, I'd like to outline my past 10 encounters on campus.
Two have been entreaties to register to vote.
One has been a request to sign a petition regarding easing of marijuana legislation.
Four have been members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints wanting to talk to me about the Book of Mormon.
One has been a religious individual wanting to discuss my thoughts on abortion and "baby-killing."
One has been someone wanting to know if I had been "saved."
And tonight, two guys approached me while trying to eat dinner in the Union wanting to show me something about the Bible. This was accentuated by Moses near the fountain, who has been here an awful lot this year - I thought his embarrassing and ridiculous rants were limited?
Bottom line: Can we please lay off the bizarre proselytizing? I don't see Jewish, Muslim, Buddhist, Hindu, Baha'i, Zoroastrian, Greek Orthodox and other groups pestering passersby with discussions on the Bible or abortion.
I know this is the Bible Belt, but come on. Between Moses and this nonsense, I'm beginning to wonder if I'm at a public, nonsectarian university or a playground for Christian evangelists.
Set up a table and let people voluntarily come to you if you want to talk about religion.
I'm polite enough in putting an end to these annoying encounters, but I'm about to start wearing an "I'm Atheist, Go Away" T-shirt or just stay in my office. I have no interest in discussing religion with you.
Raymond Keveren
Graduate student
Geosciences
I am delighted that UA students are politically active this year, and I appreciate the Traveler's coverage of those who have become candidates for City Council, mayor and Congress.
Vice Mayor and Alderman Lioneld Jordan, a 26-year member of the university staff, has an outstanding voting record and history of public service.
Lioneld is a zone supervisor with Facilities Management, and he has been an outstanding advocate for our students and staff.
When 32 staff workers were threatened with losing their jobs, Lioneld stepped up to lead the fight and involved local legislators to reverse the decision. When the Associated Student Government proposed establishing an early voting site on campus, Lioneld contacted the election commission and threw his support behind that effort.
In hundreds of ways, he has been there advocating for the best interests of our university community, including successfully lobbying the state legislature on behalf of UA employees.
Lioneld has been a guest speaker in my classes and a guest on "Book Notes," a program on Community Access Television.
As a member of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, he has been active in organizing the monthly food drive for Seven Hills Homeless Shelter, the Christmas toy drive for children and the Curb the Clutter program that collects trash along Razorback Road.
Lioneld has been recognized with the Outstanding Community Service Award from the UA Staff Senate; nominated for the Peace Hero Award by OMNI; twice recognized as the outstanding local government leader by Sierra Club; received the Torchbearer Award for Exemplary Community Service from Alpha Phi Alpha; and he is one of only 75 employees to have received the UA Diversity Certificate.
I am proud to call Lioneld my friend, and I hope you will join me in supporting him for mayor.
Stephen Smith
Professor
Communication
Stop pushing Christian beliefs
In the past year, I have been approached by strangers at least 10 times who have pushed some product, ideology or cause célèbre.
It's a university, and I expect it. It's all about grassroots movements; however, not counting the free pizza or submarine sandwich coupons, I'd like to outline my past 10 encounters on campus.
Two have been entreaties to register to vote.
One has been a request to sign a petition regarding easing of marijuana legislation.
Four have been members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints wanting to talk to me about the Book of Mormon.
One has been a religious individual wanting to discuss my thoughts on abortion and "baby-killing."
One has been someone wanting to know if I had been "saved."
And tonight, two guys approached me while trying to eat dinner in the Union wanting to show me something about the Bible. This was accentuated by Moses near the fountain, who has been here an awful lot this year - I thought his embarrassing and ridiculous rants were limited?
Bottom line: Can we please lay off the bizarre proselytizing? I don't see Jewish, Muslim, Buddhist, Hindu, Baha'i, Zoroastrian, Greek Orthodox and other groups pestering passersby with discussions on the Bible or abortion.
I know this is the Bible Belt, but come on. Between Moses and this nonsense, I'm beginning to wonder if I'm at a public, nonsectarian university or a playground for Christian evangelists.
Set up a table and let people voluntarily come to you if you want to talk about religion.
I'm polite enough in putting an end to these annoying encounters, but I'm about to start wearing an "I'm Atheist, Go Away" T-shirt or just stay in my office. I have no interest in discussing religion with you.
Raymond Keveren
Graduate student
Geosciences
Viewing Comments 1 - 10 of 13
Adam
posted 10/07/08 @ 9:03 PM CST
Yes, it can be awfully annoying when people stop you on your way to class, but it always makes me a bit proud when I'm approached by someone proselytizing a religious or political view, especially the crazy ones. (Continued…)
Grow some skin
posted 10/08/08 @ 2:04 AM CST
Raymond,
Stop complaining, and don't use the term evangelical to describe mormons or Moses. Please, wear the shirt or grow some skin.
I know your outward complaints are just a louder cry for help anyways. (Continued…)
Raymond
posted 10/08/08 @ 11:36 AM CST
Wow, I'm not even going to address the ad hominem attacks in the latter post. It pretty much devalues everything that is said, especially when that poster knows absolutely nothing about me or my personal life. (Continued…)
Grow some skin II
posted 10/08/08 @ 3:38 PM CST
"It pretty much devalues everything that is said, especially when that poster knows absolutely nothing about me or my personal life. Stick to what you know if you want to be taken seriously. (Continued…)
Raymond
posted 10/08/08 @ 6:22 PM CST
If you don't care about my personal life, then don't make dumb presumptuous comments about my "cry for help" and other moronic statements. It had nothing to do with the article. (Continued…)
Rebecca
posted 10/08/08 @ 11:30 PM CST
/cheer Raymond
Adam, I agree, it is great to have those freedoms
Raymond, well...enough said :D
Harrasser and pesterers of the public ("Christian" and otherwise), don't call me, I'll call you. (Continued…)
Grow some skin III
posted 10/09/08 @ 12:13 PM CST
Please point out what you think is sanctimonious on my part. I think you just like using that word.
Your point is trite, it amounts to, "I want people to leave me alone because I'm irritable because I have sand in my vagina. (Continued…)
Mark McCollum
posted 10/09/08 @ 11:10 PM CST
Hey guys, let's stop name-calling each other and get to the point quickly. For one thing, Raymond, I'm sad you are turned away from God and His truth, and my desire is God's will, that no man (including you) should perish but that all will come to repentance. (Continued…)
Pnix
Samantha
posted 10/12/08 @ 8:46 PM CST
Actually youre the one sounding iritable with sand in your vagina.
Raymond posted a valid point of view and you started insulting him without cause or reason. (Continued…)
Raymond
posted 10/13/08 @ 1:13 AM CST
Seriously. Don't feed the troll. It's not worth even replying to.
As to Mark -- I understand what you're saying. I also know that probably setting up a table may not seem like enough, especially if you have that one person out there who is really looking for direction in their life and wouldn't ask for it otherwise unless a person came up to them, as a friendly face, to talk and perhaps help them find direction. (Continued…)
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