In response to “U-PASS bad deal for most UW students,” by Mike Noon, Oct. 6, 2009

Editor,

On the issue of the increase in the U-PASS fee for students, while it has gone up, it is still far less expensive than driving to campus and parking for faculty, staff and students who would all have to compete for parking spaces around campus. I have worked for more than 20 years and have seen traffic increase in the 37 years I have lived in the Puget-Sound region. Granted, the UW is making poor decisions in some cases, but with tax revenue down, Metro has had to increase bus fares, which will hurt people who rely on their service. However, the economy will recover and the tax base will begin to recover.

Patrick Switzer

former Health Sciences Academic Services and Facilities employee

In response to “Battle Royale,” Sept. 30, 2009, Oct. 7, 2009

I’ve noticed an unfortunate trend in The Daily’s sports section. Time and again the contributors have mocked Seattle’s soccer team, Sounders FC. Their arrogance and lack of professionalism are astounding. Snide comments making fun of Sounders fans and their scarves have progressed to outright condemnation of the team and its fans. One question in the Sept. 30 issue asked, “How much do you hate the Sounders?” How professional. How can you call yourself sports journalists when you continually trash one of the most successful franchises in Seattle? Real sportscasters realize there are sports outside of baseball, basketball and football. Seattle is home to the greatest soccer fans in the country, routinely filling 30,000 seats at home games. They are third in the Western Conference, a great feat for an expansion team. And yet even with all their accomplishments and fan support, Daily columnists “hate that other people can love the Sounders.” I’m wondering if Christian, Allen and Maks have ever attended a Sounders game. I’m assuming not, although a professional would attempt to experience a sport before denouncing it. They have never seen the uproar that hits Pioneer Square before a match, where half of downtown is wearing green and blue, chanting team songs and showing their support. Get off your couches, put down Madden NFL 10, attend a Sounders match, and be real sportscasters. Your integrity is on the line.

I know I am, I’m sure I am, I’m Sounders ‘til I die.

Kyle Flotlin

Senior, chemical engineering

In response to “Our helicopter president,” by Russ Wung, Oct. 7, 2009

Russ,

I take issue with your criticism of President Obama for attempting to bring the 2016 Olympic Games to Chicago. I will concede that it was a political miscalculation by the White House to send the president to Copenhagen without knowing what the International Olympic Committee (IOC) would decide. While this has been a slight embarrassment for the administration, it will soon be forgotten.

Five minutes of research finds that two foreign politicians, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair and current Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin successfully lobbied the IOC in order to have their respective countries host the 2012 and 2014 Olympics. Clearly it is commonplace for political leaders to woo the IOC with the intention of improving their countries’ chances of receiving the financially lucrative and prestige-garnering Games.

Also, you state that Obama “has no right to interfere with who runs and who doesn’t” in the New York gubernatorial elections. Wrong again. He does have the right to gently shove the unpopular incumbent governor David Paterson off the ticket. Obama is not only the president, he’s also the symbolic leader of the Democratic Party. As such, he is obligated to help Democrats win elections so that the agenda of his party can progress. High-ranking politicians from both parties are often involved in the campaigns of their fellow party members. This type of politicization of the presidency may not be ideal, but it’s certainly mild when compared with recent administrations.

Colin J. Bartz-Overman

Senior, political science

Somebody stole the sun

While this statement might at first seem humorous, there is actually nothing funny about it. At approximately 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 7, while visitors were arriving and volunteers setting up, someone stole the model sun that was tied to a tree at the Jacobsen Observatory on campus. The model sun, a 5-foot, yellow, rubber inflatable ball, will cost us close to $200 to replace, if we can find the funds. That sun was part of our scale-model solar system at the observatory. More importantly, it was part of our outreach and education efforts to bring astronomy to the sight-impaired, totally blind, and deaf-blind individuals. It has traveled down to the Washington State School for the Blind, where for two days, a small group of middle-schoolers were able to “see” the solar system. It impressed the deaf-blind adult group who visited a few months ago to realize (by their “seeing”) how small the planets really are in comparison, and how much space there is between the planets. We are now left with these choices: replace the model sun or purchase the NASA Braille books we need for our curriculum, pay for on-campus parking for the 10 volunteers who accompany the five deaf-blind adult group on their next visits, or pay for another trip to the School for the Blind. In these times of budget cuts, how could you possibly think that your actions had no consequences? Please return our sun. It does not belong to you.

Ana M. Larson,

Senior lecturer, astronomy

Director, Jacobsen Observatory

NOTE: The Daily will hold open-to-the-public editorial board meetings every other Thursday at 5 p.m., starting Oct. 15, 2009 in Communications 126, next door to the Daily newsroom.

Editorial board meetings are where Daily staff members discuss staff editorial topics, election endorsements and other vital issues.

We’re also giving you a say in the issues we cover in our staff editorials.

If you have a topic or issue you’d like us to write about, send it to opinion@dailyuw.com by Wednesday evening at 4 p.m. Organizations and individuals should be on hand Thursday to explain their ideas at the meeting, where we will narrow down potential topics to three.

See you there.