Writer ‘courageous’ to be honest about aunt’s weight

Dear the editor for The Red & Black,

I just wanted to comment on Caitlin Byrnes’s [Thursday] article, “Quit staring, start caring about the obese.” I consider her a very courageous and strong person for being so honest about her Aunt’s weight. I know weight causes issues for many people, especially women, of being self conscience and having low self esteem.

A lot of people judge others who are obese and “fat” which can be hurtful. But, I enjoyed the fact that she admitted she also will sometimes stare at overweight people. Caitlin was able to express herself honestly. Most people stare and judge; I’m guilty of is as well but that does not mean it is a right thing to do.

My aunt was very heavy but she recently had surgery to help her lose the weight and cannot be any happier today. My only concern is for her to remain healthy and have a healthy diet. I do not want her to be afraid to eat normally again and have fear of everything that enters her mouth. It is disappointing to find out most people would choose to be blind than obese. I do not know what my aunt would have chosen when she was heavy but I know that she’s strong, confident, and an inspiration today.

Melissa Rubin
Sophomore, Atlanta
Education

End of a relationship doesn’t end a friendship

In response to Calli Arnold’s Friday opinion article:

After reading Arnold’s “Can you even remain ‘friends’ with an ex?,” we were puzzled. Her assertions were that remaining friends with an ex were at best unproductive, and at worst impossible.

However, we are an example that this is not always the case. After a six month relationship, without even knowing each other’s names beforehand, we still maintain a strong friendship almost half a decade later. Neither of us have ever felt the “icicles” mentioned by Arnold, nor have we felt the urge to compare ourselves to later significant others. We aren’t weirdos that live in some Californian commune, it’s just that we don’t think having dated disqualifies us from being friends. In fact, it often seems that the only tension comes from the perceptions of those “later significant others”. We can give Arnold the benefit of the doubt and say that she was not trying to argue some universal law, but still it is important to represent that happy stories do exist.

Rebekah Garton and Aaron Martin
Grad. students
Speech communication

UGA should ‘suspend’ the withdrawal date

As a classroom teacher and low-level administrator, I have been very aware of the damage inflicted this semester on UGA’s academic community by the flu, H1N1, and other illnesses. Widespread illness takes its toll on students’ performance, classroom conversation, teachers’ power to help students individually, and everyone’s ability to deal humanely, but also fairly, with all parties – the hale and healthy as well as the sick.

I would just like to suggest one practical adjustment that the UGA administration could make to help students and teachers deal with these trying times. For at least Fall 2009, the university should suspend the mid-point limit (Oct. 22) for dropping a class with a “WP” and suspend the rule that students may only accrue four WP grades over their academic career. This simple accommodation would help us all significantly.

Christy Desmet
Faculty, English

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