<strong>Inefficient lawn wateringon campus</strong>

I’m writing to call attention to a problem I see on campus that is particularly serious during the summertime.

Sprinklers are all over UTD and although watering our grass makes the campus more beautiful and helps minimize fire danger during the summertime, watering the grass (and sometimes the sidewalks and roadways!) during the hottest part of the day is an inefficient waste of water and money. Still, sprinklers near the Computer Science building and along University Drive are on many times at 3 p.m.!

It would be not only better for the area’s water supply, but also more practical to water the lawns between the hours of 7 p.m. and 9 a.m. while the air is relatively cool and damp so that less water is lost to evaporation.

Also, maybe as students run for their 1 p.m. summer classes, they won’t have to dodge errant sprinkler sprays along the way.

-Tim Hise

Senior, Interdisciplinary Studies

<strong>Homosexuals want marriage, not to be marginalized</strong>

While I am not even remotely surprised by Mr. Hamblin’s arguments to attack a minority of the population, I am surprised that he, being educated in a university that prides itself on diversity and equal opportunity, is marginalizing us. These same arguments were also used when laws were passed for women to vote, the right to divorce and to end slavery.

Mr. Hamblin seems to be very knowledgeable about the Bible, I am not. But, I recall it mentions that only “God” will judge every person for his/her wrong doings. Also, the New Testament speaks of the person without sin to throw the first stone – perhaps Mr. Hamblin is without. But, just because someone believes in something does not necessarily make it right. This is where the separation of church and state comes. Our fight is for the right to be married under the LAW of the United States, home of the free and land of the brave.

About contributions homosexuals have made to society? Socrates, Plato, Shakespeare, Alexander the Great, Leonardo da Vinci, Beethoven, Marie Antoinette, Michelangelo – all were gay, lesbian, or bisexual.

Homosexuality is neither an antisocial nor a self-destructive behavior. The American Psychiatric Association removed homosexuality from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) completely in 1986. Perhaps a course in human psychopathology would be of benefit to Mr. Hamblin.

HOMAGE, the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender student organization at UTD, would like to extend the warmest of invitation to Mr. Hamblin and anyone who is willing to broaden their horizons and truly value diversity, equal rights and overall freedom.

-Irving Cruz

Junior, Psychology/Neuroscience

<strong>Overflowing dumpsters in Waterview are a health hazard</strong>

I live in a Waterview apartment with my wife.

The attached photo shows the condition of the dumpster at Phase 4 Waterview apartments as of June 2, 2004. Most other dumpsters are the same way or even worse. They have been this way more or less since last week. I have called the Waterview office a few times. The regular removal of the garbage is scheduled for June 11. First, they said they would try to re-schedule it so the dumpster would get emptied today. When that didn’t happen I called them again this afternoon and a lady told me that the garbage removal had to be done on June 11 and “they cannot do anything about it.” She said the dumpsters are this way because many residents have moved out. In other words, they could have predicted this situation and arranged for it. I asked to talk to a manager, but she said no manager would be around before 1 p.m. tomorrow. She didn’t sound too caring or cooperative.

Imagine how the areas around dumpsters will look like by June 11 if they do not remove the garbage before that time. Imagine the terrible smell that is already there and will be much worse by then. Imagine the community health threatening consequences of this situation. Shouldn’t the people at the Waterview office and the property owner feel more responsible than this?

-Jafar Akhbari

Graduate, Electrical Engineering