Retired laboratory science professor will be missed
I am writing this letter in regard to the retirement of Cathy Downs, advisor and professor for the Clinical Laboratory Science program. Cathy started working with the Clinical laboratory science program in 1973 when the program was still housed at Banner Good Samaritan Medical Center. Since that time she has taught the Clinical Chemistry, Urinalysis, and the Introductory courses within the program as well as advising all current and prospective students for the program. For years, countless students have come to her for information about the program to only realize that not only is the program exciting and challenging, but Cathy is someone who enjoys her job and does it well.
I imagine that it is not easy to balance both teaching classes and advising students, but her door was always open and she was always willing to help. As a returning student, starting over was a little intimidating but her encouragement and help made the adjustment much more enjoyable and much less stressful. I always knew what classes I needed to take and what goals I needed to achieve for the program and for graduation. When I had a problem with my schedule or needed information about ASU, Cathy was always there. When I was able to take classes with Cathy I was pleased to find an instructor who seemed intent helping her students learn by answering questions, offering advice, and extra help in class and in lab.
It is hard to imagine the program without her, and while her replacement will be an excellent teacher and advocate for the program, Cathy will be sorely missed by all the students.
Ann Arnold
Undergraduate Student
Obama not the only candidate with bandwagon supporters
In response to the June 23 editorial, which argued that Obama's supporters don't truly understand his politics but are just following the crowd: so what? You make it seem like politics as pop-culture is a new phenomenon. Do you really believe that the supporters of George W. Bush in 2000 truly understood the democracy domino theory that compelled his administration to start the war in Iraq? Or that supporters of Bill Clinton understood the politics of his 'third way'?
For that matter, would supporters of John McCain, whose foreign policy experience includes encouraging President Bush to go to war in Iraq, be demonstrating a greater knowledge of foreign policy than supporters of Obama? Would you believe that supporters of Hillary Clinton, whose main foreign policy experience seems to be that she is married to former President Clinton, have deeper, more justifiable reasons for their political support?
Your suggestion that citizens take a more thoughtful approach to politics is well and good. However, it's doubtful that they'll find much in terms of meaningful political content coming from any major presidential candidate, especially at this point in the campaign. By singling out followers of Obama, all you are doing is unthinkingly repeating the mainstream media's characterization of Obama as inexperienced hype-candidate and his followers as image-conscious hipsters. Perhaps all of this is true, but it certainly doesn't seem that you did much in-depth research into the issue before running this editorial.
Matt Kruger
Graduate Student
