Freshmen's letters lack all sense
Ryan S. Davis, letter to the editor
Maybe it's my liberal California upbringing or maybe it's because I have more common sense than most, but I've been seeing some ridiculous statements in the Observer's Viewpoint section recently. The first and most amazing to me is a letter in today's issue (Nov. 10). A freshman wrote that the cartoonist of "Depraved New World" showed bad taste with a cartoon featuring the recently deceased golfer, Payne Stewart. The cartoon showed Payne in heaven, being courted by a heavenly figure to be on his team for a golf scramble. There was nothing offensive in this cartoon, yet this freshman declares that it is "completely unnecessary to remember him in such a way." If remembering him as a good man and a great golfer is not the way to remember him, then I don't know what is. The cartoonist does not need to apologize for anything; his cartoon was a tasteful, humorous tribute to this man. After living through the student cartoonist "scandals" in past years, I do not want to see another one brought about by a freshman who has nothing better to do than complain and get overly sensitive about a harmless cartoon like this.
Another letter in today's issue was written by yet another freshman, this one showing why an argument from an associate dean at the law school regarding the shooting of Demetrius DuBose was full of fallacies and that it came from a "dream world." How nice of the kind freshman to show his superiority in this matter. Less than three months into college, and he is already destroying rational, well-made arguments from a law school dean with who knows how many years of experience in the legal field. Surely this prodigy must be accepted into law school next semester in order to further enlighten the world with his knowledge. Not to mention the fact that the freshman states his belief that 12 fatal shots are justified to stop a man who had NOT attacked the police officers. Apparently shooting his leg to not allow him to run away was not enough. Who needs a fair trial and a chance at self-redemption anyway? Certainly not Mr. DuBose, who the freshman compared to a hunted deer, which he says are shot many times "out of compassion." Anyone who believes the brutal slaughter of innocent animals for fun is compassionate is so obviously wrong that I don't even need to elaborate on this point.
Finally I have noticed a disturbing trend among recent columns in the Observer. This trend is not limited to any one group, as both Cappy Gagnon (whose columns I usually enjoy) and Sean Vinck (whose columns' "rationale" provides me with laughs at lunchtime) have participated in it. The trend? Defending Bob Davie. I have no particular fondness for Lou Holtz — he was here for my freshman year, we went 8-3, and didn't go to a bowl game. I wasn't impressed. Nevertheless, I know a bad coach when I see one, and Bob Davie is a BAD COACH. Our winning records under him are attributable to the talent of the players under him, not his coaching. The "aura" around Notre Dame (enhanced by actually GOOD coaches in the past) still lures quality players here. ND will always win some games based on this talent, but it's too bad the coach cannot utilize that talent to win the others. The bowl games we've gone to? All it really takes to go to a bowl is a winning record, which I've just explained. More examples? No problem. When he couldn't figure out how to run off 23 seconds against LSU last year, Jarious got hurt, we lost to USC, and didn't get to go to the Fiesta Bowl. He stuck with Sanson for way too long, when it was obvious he wasn't getting the job done in game situations. He has stated in an interview that he cuts down Jabari Holloway's (an amazing player and potential All-American) playing time because Jabari chooses to go to his physics lab instead of going to practice when the times conflict. This is despicable. Reducing one of your best player's opportunities as a punishment for choosing his college education over football practice is inexcusable. I want to apologize to Jabari for Bob's behavior, and ask him to please stick with the team for the team's sake. They need you. So far this year, Davie has managed the clock so poorly that we lost two games we should have won on the FINAL PLAY of the game, in the EXACT SAME way. Then against MSU, he had so little faith in his running game (Notre Dame's strength, by the way), that he opted to punt on 4th and less than one yard to go in the fourth quarter of a game in which we were behind. I don't believe the age discrimination lawsuit was his fault, but this doesn't mean he is a good person either. I personally watched him yell at a man who was watching practice until the man told him that he was Kurt Vollers' father and had come to watch his son play. Kurt was then a freshman, meaning Davie had recruited him less than a year ago, and he must have met Kurt's parents. Yet he had no memory of that and belatedly tried to joke around with Mr. Vollers once he realized whom he was yelling at. Yelling may be a manly quality, which Cappy Gagnon likes, but I'd prefer a nice man who happens to know the game of football well enough to coach it instead of Bob Davie. What do you think?
I hope I've expressed my points clearly. I just want to encourage people to think a little more carefully about situations before they decide to go on a self-important diatribe via the Viewpoint page. Cartoons (especially nice ones like this) shouldn't be a cause for argument, killing should be avoided whenever possible (which it was), and a coach should have two main responsibilities, neither of which Davie fills. The world would be a little simpler and a lot better off if people would just use a little more common sense.
Ryan S. Davis
Senior
Morissey Manor
November 10, 1999
All Viewpoint Stories for Friday, November 12, 1999
