Letters to the Editor

Guns a must because laws are meaningless

I’ve never read an opinion as close-minded as Jason Fagone’s concerning Thon and its rapid growth. Having participated in Thon for the last three years (yes, I’m in a fraternity), I’ve dealt with an individual family that my fraternity sponsors. Dealing with the family on a personal basis gives you a slight glimpse into the lives of the families, and I emphasize glimpse, because unless you are dealing with cancer yourself, there is no way that you can fully understand. Anyway, the point that I’m trying to make is that you start to get an idea why Thon is such an "extreme," as you so eloquently put it.It’s an extreme because you get a glimpse into the horror that cancer makes of the lives that it attacks. This is why the fraternities get so involved, it starts to get personal and then it starts to hit home.

As for Fagone’s column, he seems to fail to explain why the growth of Thon is not a good thing, unless you’d like to call getting involved in the raising of money for a good cause "extreme." You agreed with Jim Rodgers’ quote that "if we raise $1 million instead of $2 million, Thon will still be a success." It then goes on to say that they’d have to raise the other money somewhere else. Why should they have to raise the money elsewhere?If we can raise the money here by just applying ourselves a little bit more, then we should do it. Any other way would be a lazy way. The bottom line is that the more money that we raise (no matter how it’s come by), the more families we can help. If you can’t feel good about that, then I don’t know what you can feel good about.

Brian Longo
junior-chemical engineering

According to Jason Fagone’s opinion featured in the Collegian yesterday, it seems that the major points he is trying to make is that every year Thon attempts to be "bigger and better," that Thon is unnecessarily harsh and that MBNA donating money for cards sales is wrong. First, when has striving to become greater and more improved ever been an inherently negative thing? This great nation was built on the very premise of constant improvement. We live in a very competitive society, which only serves to make us stronger. Second, Fagone states Thon is "unnecessarily harsh." I’d be interested in seeing Fagone run a poll after Thon asking how many of the dancers agree with him. I’m betting very few will, but by all means prove me wrong.

Third, you say that "MBNA sucks," because it is donating money for every card sold. Your reasoning is that this will lead to students having a life of credit card debt. What is your solution? Do you think MBNA should just be told "no, we can’t take your money because students may accrue a life of debt"?Do you want to be the one to tell some little boys or girls that we don’t have enough money for them because we couldn’t take the chance that some students don’t know how to handle their credit? The bottom line is all that matters is children. Barring legality, any money raised that can save or help a suffering child is worth having and should be sought fiercely.As for the harshness of Thon, the vast majority of the dancers have wanted and waited to be involved for a long time and often dance again. I think most people will agree with me when I say that one or two days of extreme tiredness doesn’t even come close to the pain and suffering of cancer. In the end, whether we raise $1 million, $2 million or even $3 million, all that matters is how many children we’ve helped save and how many more we can in the future.

Seth Pollock
social chair, Phi Beta Lambda