Thanks to young DFLers

Dear Editor:

I am a Macalester graduate and was given the opportunity by the DFL-coordinated campaign to help Macalester students organize on Tuesday, November 5th. I want to send a heart-felt thank you to the nearly 100 Macalester students who took time out of their busy college lives to help the DFL "Get out the vote." By chalking around campus, knocking on doors, providing visibility and tabling. Macalester students once again used their energy and enthusiasm to try and make every person's voice heard. I'm proud to report that in Macalester's district nearly 85 percent of eligible voters did vote—a phenomenal number

I would also like to give special thanks to Danny Schwartzman and Marta Rheomoni for being wonderful contacts at Macalester and for their help in organizing this massive effort.

On the back of the program handed out at the memorial read one of Paul Wellstone's most famous quotes, "Politics is about the improvement of people's lives." That is truly what he stood for. He worked tirelessly for the people of Minnesota, for people without a voice, for the "little people." Thank you so much for honoring his memory by helping to get out the vote on Tuesday. Though the voting outcome did not go the way we had hoped (to put it mildly), I am sure Paul would be very happy about the record-breaking turnout. It is up to us now not to hang our heads, look the other way and forget, but to carry on his fights. That is what Paul, Sheila, Marcia, Tom, Mary and Will would want. Perhaps that is Paul's greatest legacy—the inspiration in his supporters' hearts. Please continue to honor his bravery, his idealism and his memory by always looking out for the little guy.

Andrea Sternberg '00

So who did it?

Dear Editor:

I, Poppy Coleman, work in the Admissions Office, live within a mile of campus, and, on occasion, fraternize with current Macalester students. I do not, however, write for The Mac Weekly and did not write the gossip column which appeared on Nov. 15. May the rumors cease

Poppy Coleman '02

Democrats are no fun, too

Dear Editor:

If you are bemoaning the fact that the Democrats will lose their majority in the Senate this January, please take a look at the recent vote on the creation of the Homeland Security Department. Ninety to nine in favor of a bill that, in addition to significantly curtailing what we can expect in the way of human rights, includes such diverse provisions as limiting some pharmaceutical lawsuits and establishing a Center for Terrorist Studies at Texas A&M, courtesy Republican Whip Tom DeLay. Even Minnesota's own Democratic baby, Mark Dayton, voted for it. It's important to remember that this is the pre-election Congress. The moral: the Democrats are not some mystical saviors. They are backing Bush's proposals in vain attempt to recapture the center.

Tim Lewandowski '03

Bumper cars, big bills

Dear Editor:

Over the past five months, I have spent a fortune repairing damage incurred by people attempting to park their cars near the dorms. What appears to have been a side-swipe resulted in a $200 bill to replace a ripped off drivers side mirror, a $175 to patch a gash in my bumper, and a pending $300 bill to patch other deep scratches in the body of my car, which will rust if gone unattended. This is not counting the anonymous vehicle that hit my car hard enough to knock the trunk out of alignment and cause it to leak when it rains. The black scuff marks and smaller scratches left last Friday night don't bother me as much—they're merely cosmetic.

What I find most galling is that this violation is evidently perpetrated by other students. Obviously, an urban environment merits extra wear and tear on a car, but hit and runs are unlawful and sacrifice our honorable reputation as upstanding, responsible students. It is our obligation to maintain a common sense of security and safety at Macalester, and through blatant ignorance and negligent recklessness we are failing in this mission.

I write to encourage Macalester students to take some social responsibility and act in the best interest of the community. We will benefit by fostering an atmosphere of honesty, integrity, and accountability—this is not bumper cars.

Cammie Downing '03