Friday, January 9, 2009

View From the Farm

By Jason Spellmire, Guest Columnist

Having grown up on a farm raising grain, beef cattle and chickens, I'm concerned by the uninformed vitriol that threatens real discourse on agricultural practices. Yes, these practices are often "bad," inhumane, gruesome, etc. But the oft-repeated claims that Mr. Buntz cites in his recent column ("Stop the Whoppers," Jan. 7) -- that "cows are castrated without anesthetic, pigs are loaded up on massive levels of growth hormone," and "the nerve-filled beaks of chickens are clipped off" -- are so overused that they no longer induce the visceral discomfort they're intended to incite. Their tiresome repetition kills interest in what are legitimate issues. More »

VERBUM ULTIMUM: Tough Choices

By THE DARTMOUTH EDITORIAL BOARD

The College's recent decision to postpone construction on Alpha Phi sorority's residence ("Construction of Alpha Phi house postponed," Jan. 7) came as a wake-up call to those members of the Dartmouth community who thought student life would remain relatively unchanged in the face of the ongoing economic crisis. More »