To clarify statements

Editor,

I would like to bring to your attention problems with the story "OU grad students content with time spent in classroom," Nov. 7.

1) I never said graduate students could "request" a quarter off from teaching. I told the writer that in the chemistry and physics departments, some students are awarded one-quarter stipends through the Condensed Matter and Surface Science program. However, these are awards and not simply given because a graduate student wants to "request" some time away from teaching. In addition, the writer made it sound like I was speaking about all graduate students. I was only referring to a subset of graduate students in the chemistry and physics departments.

2) In the final sentence in Meghan's story, again I was talking only about the graduate students in the chemistry department. This quote developed from my experience as an OU undergraduate (early- to mid-1980s) when chemistry teaching assistants used to teach recitations. Currently, they don't teach recitations.

I would like this letter printed in your paper to clarify the statements that were attributed to me. I emphasized to the writer that I could only comment about TA workloads and the general condition of graduate students in the chemistry department. There is no way I could ever comment about the condition of graduate students in other departments. These statements, which were taken out of context, need to be corrected. Thank you for your attention to this matter.

Steven Petrovic, chemistry graduate student
sp719785@oak.cats.ohiou.edu

To support Dole and Ohio

Editor,

I'm writing in response to the editorial "To Miami, with hate," Nov. 7. I'm very upset that The Post compares voting for Bob Dole and supporting Dan Quayle to being a Miami student. I'm a proud Bobcat, and I voted for Bob Dole and wouldn't mind seeing Dan Quayle elected president in 2000. I'm also a devout Republican. In spite of all of this, I still hate Miami as much as you bleeding-heart liberals at The Post. Go OHIO!

Michael J. Stapel
ms273595@oak.cats.ohiou.edu

To thank levy supporters

Editor,

The Athens-Hocking-Vinton 317 Board of Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health Services wishes to thank all voters who supported our levy.

We know local levies mean keeping local control and decision-making. Local levy funds allow us to tailor programs to meet the specific needs of our communities. We also know in economic good times we frequently forget the need out there -it is hidden, but you remembered.

To our clients and their families we pledge to persevere in our efforts so the service you need will continue to be available. On their behalf and on our own, we thank you.

Lee Rubin, 317 Board executive director
7990 Dairy Lane

To explain flag meaning

Editor,

In response to the letter "Misguided stereotypes," Nov. 7, the writer says no one recalls that the colonial flags were created by a country that held slaves. One major difference between flying this flag during the Revolutionary War and flying the Confederate flag during the Civil War is that the Revolutionary War was fought for freedom of the citizens of America, whereas the Civil War was based on the South wanting to keep slavery. There is a difference between fighting against injustice and fighting for racism and inequality. You don't see vehicles driving around with colonial flags in their windows, yelling epithets at passersby, nor will you see one flying at a Ku Klux Klan rally. You will, however, find a Confederate flag in both of these situations. To say the Confederate flag doesn't stand for racism is like saying the KKK is a religion.

Tarra Scott
ts434297@oak.cats.ohiou.edu