Letters to the Editor
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Intelligent Design: Terms
not defined properly
This letter is in response to Brad Taylor’s and Chris Hamm’s
letters to the editor, published Sept. 14 and Sept. 16, respectively.
It seems to me that the two authors do not see eye to eye—in more
ways than one.
Mr. Taylor, contending that Intelligent Design (ID) ought to be taught
alongside evolution, failed to use the term ‘evolution’ properly.
Evolution simply means change over time. When Mr. Taylor criticized the
idea of evolution, however, he clearly meant evolution on a large scale:
the theorized increase in complexity from atoms to complex organisms such
as human beings.
In criticizing Mr. Taylor’s criticism of this idea, he used examples
of change over time on a very small scale: simple organisms acquiring
drug resistance. This is a comparison of apples to oranges, so to speak—and
implicit in Mr. Hamm’s argument is the idea that if something happens
on a small scale, it must necessarily happen on a large scale as well.
One might as well say that because the price of potato chips in a given
convenience store fluctuates a few cents every now and then, it necessarily
follows that the Gross National Product regularly fluctuates a few billion
dollars.
Of course, Mr. Hamm was perfectly correct when he stated that the ability
to test and falsify something is what makes science. However, the atoms-to-organisms
idea Mr. Taylor described is not testable because of its time scale. It
is a story—an interpretation of the evidence, as is ID.
Natalie Powers
graduate student
Cut Remedial Classes
The Collegian ran a front-page article of note (by Robert Mulhair) on
Wednesday, Sept. 14—CSU Wants Remedial Classes Cut. In sum, CSU
trustees want to phase out “remedial classes” to make room
for (fully) qualified students. Currently, there are students admitted
to CSU campuses, including Fresno State, who are high school graduates
but, nevertheless, are not academically ready—especially in English
and math—for university-level work.
In the article, Laraine Goto, administrative assistant for undergraduate
studies, states, “A large number of Fresno State undergraduates
did not pass initial placement tests.” She went on to say, “No
student should have to be denied enrollment because they couldn’t
pass one placement test.” This is the muddle-headed thinking that
has led to the tragic rise in students failing to complete their CSU studies
(including a large number at Fresno State). It is past time for the CSU
to terminate remedial classes!
Students are either qualified for a CSU campus or they are not. If not,
they can attend a community college until they bring their academic performance
up to standard—that is, raise student performance, and do not lower
CSU standards.
Unfortunately, far too many students for far too long, have been set up
for failure at the CSU (and Fresno State) under the guise of inclusiveness,
outreach programs, diversity or multiculturalism. Now is the time to set
students up for success by having them “fully” qualified before
entering a CSU campus.
Jasmin Goetting
pre-nursing, freshman
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