I was quoted in Oct 8 Ohio University Post article, entitled “OU Athletic Director Defends Use of University Funds,” stating that the recent economic impact study regarding athletics should not be used as a reason to pump more money into the athletics department. I stand by my statements, but want to further qualify my comments and lend introspection to the issues. With respect to everyone, I come at this from a unique perspective given that my research interest is intercollegiate athletics, and I am considered an expert on many college sports issues. Somewhat ironically, I am a former 10-plus-year athletic administrator at two Division I institutions, a former assistant wrestling coach here, and I even worked in the athletic department as interim associate athletic director for compliance two years ago.

By Ed Safranek

State and local public officials continue to assert that the public treasury is nearly empty. Recent news accounts suggest otherwise. Consider the following.

Undercover Ohio Investigative Unit agents broke up a student club’s home-brew festival because the students did not have the correct permit, according to a recent item in The Athens NEWS. There were OU officials and police on hand, there was no evidence of rowdiness, rude behavior, underage drinking, sexual or physical violence or that money was exchanging hands illegally. They had a permit, but apparently the wrong permit, and for that these officers broke up the event, dumped over 60 gallons of home-brew and confiscated the kegs containing the beer. They also poured ingredients of a batch being prepared onto the ground. The last action is akin to taking your grandmother's recently baked apple pie and tossing it into the trash.

I just finished typing “thank you” more times than I have ever typed in one sitting. It almost brought me to tears to think of all of the support we’ve gotten in the last month to go to the National Equality March in Washington, D.C.

I am a poor college student. I’m still getting used to this classification after about five years of working at a newspaper in northwest Ohio. I left that (stable) job to come back to college and pursue a bachelor’s degree in journalism. My ideal job would be to work in a communications department for a social justice organization. I want to fight for human rights.

By Rod Nippert

Obama is consistent, promising in the presidential primary and now as president that the United States is going to shift some considerable military resources from Iraq to Afghanistan. The president’s principal justification is that we must destroy al-Qaeda in Pakistan as well as in Afghanistan, two areas where al-Qaeda is located according to official determinations. By destroying al-Qaeda, we will have revenge for 9/11 and prevent al-Qaeda from fomenting other terrorist attacks in the U.S. or anywhere else in the world.

By Thomas Oellerich

This is in response to Bob Sheak’s thoughtful and provocative commentary on man-made global warming (The NEWS, Sept. 10). I agree with him with respect to global warming. I strongly disagree with him as to its being man-made.

By Muriel Grim

Responding to climate change and the energy challenges it presents has generated major national discussions during the last six months – but the challenges are not just a national issue. Communities around the world, instead of waiting for national action, have responded with their own initiatives to deal with energy-related problems. The Athens area is no exception.

By Bob Sheak

Contrary to those who think the research findings on global warming are a hoax, reflect a conspiracy, are wildly speculative, or are only a concern for future generations. I have long been persuaded otherwise. The best and overwhelming scientific evidence indicates a more than 100-year upward trend in the earth’s average temperature, rising over the years in some places more than in others, but already negatively affecting the planet overall.

By Debbie Williams

First of all let me say that the former Tea Party, a group of Athens County citizens formed several years ago to defeat what turned out to be an unnecessary sales tax that was going to be imposed by the County Commissioners, has absolutely nothing to do with the present Tea Party movement.  We were issue oriented. These people are nebulous.  They are Bible thumpers, interpreting the Constitution the way they see it, i.e. get government out of our lives, get God back into government (see the First Amendment of your beloved Constitution, yo). They are disgruntled American citizens.

Re: Jeffrey Harmison's recent post to the Reader's Forum:

I agree with Jeffrey Harmison. I think alcohol is way out of control, not just in Athens County, but most everywhere. He's also right about the finger-pointing and blaming, and nothing gets done. Here's why:

Athens, Ohio has some peculiarities in its nature. For instance, the university has what might be termed a “blue-state” faculty, that is, liberal and progressive, while it has a very “red-state” top administration and Board of Trustees, both of which might be even termed reactionary. This community also has a “blue-state” citizenry, and a local government with “red-state” aspects – most notably its police department.