Letters to the Editor
Issue date: 4/30/09 Section: Opinions
My second example took place on September 11, 2001, when my Recent U.S. History class met. We devoted much of that session to the terrorist attack. During the discussion I asked, based on what we knew, and my best judgment that al Qaeda was responsible for the loss of life, what should be done. Of the 20 or so students, all but one said we should attack Afghanistan. One student, a pacifist, spoke out against what he termed war mongering. For a time, some of his classmates lost their cool. Calm returned quickly after I reminded them about the value of free and unfettered exchange of ideas, a hallmark of academic inquiry. The dynamic created by the raw feelings caused by the death of so many Americans as a result of an unprecedented attack created so much tension and raw nerves that I am relieved no one was armed that day.
One of my colleagues in history has expressed concern about the chance that a student will someday come into class intending to rectify some grievance with a gun. We have seen that such events occur whether there is carry legislation. That does not mean passage of such a bill will not contribute to the danger of such an event. Legislation legalizing concealment of firearms on a college campus most likely will increase the prevalence of handguns at institutions like Truman State University. Additionally, such legislation will serve as tacit approval for student and faculty to walk into classes or other events armed. Given the stress inherent in an academic setting, and the psychological fragility of some people, anything that encourages the presence of firearms on campus is likely to impair the exchange of ideas that is central to the quest for learning and exploring ways to hone analytical thinking.
Thomas Zoumaras
Professor of History
Ashcroft degree applauds aid of University
I am puzzled by what appears to be a slanted negative reaction at the University's decision to award an honorary degree to former Missouri governor and U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft. Rather than focus on his role in the history of the University, which appears to be the intent of these honorary degrees given that the late Mel Carnahan (Ashcroft's successor) and former University president Charles McClain also are slated to receive them, the intellectual community is focused on making Ashcroft's presence a protest of his role in the controversial detainment and rendition of alleged terrorists.
One of my colleagues in history has expressed concern about the chance that a student will someday come into class intending to rectify some grievance with a gun. We have seen that such events occur whether there is carry legislation. That does not mean passage of such a bill will not contribute to the danger of such an event. Legislation legalizing concealment of firearms on a college campus most likely will increase the prevalence of handguns at institutions like Truman State University. Additionally, such legislation will serve as tacit approval for student and faculty to walk into classes or other events armed. Given the stress inherent in an academic setting, and the psychological fragility of some people, anything that encourages the presence of firearms on campus is likely to impair the exchange of ideas that is central to the quest for learning and exploring ways to hone analytical thinking.
Thomas Zoumaras
Professor of History
Ashcroft degree applauds aid of University
I am puzzled by what appears to be a slanted negative reaction at the University's decision to award an honorary degree to former Missouri governor and U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft. Rather than focus on his role in the history of the University, which appears to be the intent of these honorary degrees given that the late Mel Carnahan (Ashcroft's successor) and former University president Charles McClain also are slated to receive them, the intellectual community is focused on making Ashcroft's presence a protest of his role in the controversial detainment and rendition of alleged terrorists.
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