Winifred Weter still living
I've enjoyed the many well-written articles published in this year's Falcon. Well done, and I look forward to Spring Quarter's pieces, as well. However, one of the important pieces of journalism is checking facts.

About Dr. Owen Ewald: the March 9 piece "Keeping the classics alive" reads, "...he is filling the shoes of late SPU professors C. May Marston and Winifred Weter ..." Actually, Emerita Professor Winifred Weter just recently turned 96 years old. She is not yet "late." Always, always check facts (at least once). Never assume, and no fact is too small to check. Gosh, in this case, it would have been living-giving.

Hope McPherson
1992 Alumna/Staff

Masturbation not glorifying to God
The recent article, titled "Masturbation: release or sin?", completely missed the point about our own sexuality. How is doing something so selfish pleasing to God? When a person desires to masturbate, it is precursed by lustful thoughts or a need that is to be filled outside of God. Sure, maybe the act of solely touching yourself isn't "sinful," but the reasons behind it definitely are. I'm pretty sure it is impossible to masturbate while thinking about our Heavenly Father. Yes, God gave us our wonderful sexuality, meant for growth, but masturbation is very often fueled by pornography and sexual addiction and is a vicious habit that can destroy someone. Our generation loves gray areas, but real men and women of God will ask themselves if what they are doing is pleasing to God. Everything we do must bring praise, honor and glory to God. If masturbation doesn't, don't do it.1

Ben Coleman
Junior

The rich are called to help the poor
I was very frustrated to read Sharon Birchfield's article about Acting on AIDS week, because I too have encountered the same attitudes towards AIDS. I assume that these attitudes (i.e. "they deserve it") are only based on ignorance, so I'm grateful to Sharon for giving some examples. I will give a few more that will hopefully dissuade Christians at this school from passing such judgment on AIDS victims.

In South Africa, adult prevalence rates are highest among married women ages 15-49, most of who went into marriage healthy and practiced fidelity. In many cultures of Africa, manhood and masculinity are defined and proven by sexual activity; it is not uncommon for a man to have several children by different women before he ever gets married. Babies in the womb have a 25% chance of being infected by HIV before birth. Antiretroviral drugs can reduce the chances to 2%, but are painfully scarce in the areas that need them most, mostly because of government restrictions. These examples are only a few of the many common injustices that fuel this pandemic.

How can we, as Christians who are saved by grace alone (not by purity or upbringing), deny people in need on the basis of ignorance about what is really going on? Millions of innocent people are suffering and dying because of this horrible disease, very often because of the actions of someone else (i.e. orphans).

Jesus commands us to help those in need without discriminating. He never says we need to know the reasons why they are in need. So, when we assume that AIDS victims deserve what they get and refuse to help, we spit in Our Savior's face, because all of us deserve hell, but he saved us anyway without discriminating.

As part of the richest 10% of the world, we have a huge opportunity to do something to help our brothers and sisters in Africa. Let's not waste it!

Judy Naegeli
Senior

Thefacebook.com is the greatest thing ever
Dear Matt Bollinger,

You have finally lost it. At the beginning of the year you wrote great Christian-themed articles about universalism and about how all women are evil. But you have gone too far this time. HOW DARE YOU criticize thefacebook.com! The facebook is the greatest thing that has ever happened to me. Every day I sit in class and fantasize about returning to my computer and seeing who has recently added me as a friend. Is there anything wrong with that? Is it wrong that I spend hours every day with my 2nd grade yearbook next to me searching for people I haven't seen in ten years? Matt, why do you hate something so very pure?

I would like to inform you that as punishment I am forming the "Matt Bollinger is a Tool" facebook club. How it will smite you when we are several hundred members strong!

May God have mercy on your soul.

In Christ,

Greg Ehrlich
Junior

Technology is a tool for worship
When taken seriously, worship services such as group can be an outstanding service of worship to our Lord. I don't know their motives and hearts, but I can assume that the group staff works hard to create an environment that encourages attendance and participation. God has blessed us with wonderful gifts of technology, and I believe that group does an excellent job of giving it all back to Him. While the idea of keeping things simple during worship services may encourage focus and meditation for the worshipper, I believe that the idea of using production techniques such as lights and sound effects is in place to attract people who aren't as devout Christians, are new to the faith, and who need to become excited about worship.

Chris Balt
Freshman

Dr. Roseman kept the classics alive
The Department of Foreign Languages & Literatures is delighted to see the recognition given in the March 9 edition of The Falcon to Dr. Owen Ewald's appointment as the C. May Marston professor of Classics. We would add, however, that the first holder of this endowed professorship, Dr. Christina Roseman, also merits recognition. Dr. Roseman was instrumental in "keeping the Classics alive" at SPU from 1973 until 2001 when she retired. Dr. Roseman, also a person with an outstanding breadth and depth of knowledge, encouraged Dr. Ewald to apply for the Classics position, recognizing his potential as a teacher and scholar.

Sincerely,

Dr. Kathryn Bartholomew, Chair
Department of Foreign Languages & Literatures