Lack of diversity of thought at Oberlin

To the Editors:

(This letter is regarding last Friday's editorial: Protestors, pickles and photo ops)

Oberlin surely has come full circle from its glory days of social involvement and relevance. Any lamentations of the supposed self-righteousness bound up in what passes for student activism lately coming from the Review, or for that matter any publication put out by college students at all, doesn't even qualify as blaming the messengers; it's more akin to the messengers blaming themselves! Whenever folks our age attempt to confront or criticize the world on its own terms, we are at a clear disadvantage. Regardless of the nature of the particular issue we're criticizing, we can only predicate our judgments and attitudes about it on information that, for the most part, could barely pass for conjecture. I'm referring to two things here: media we hardly know how to decipher, add the fact that the dominant sources of our ideas and thought in the first instance are the fashionable opinions of a student body lacking the diversity, both of the political and social varieties, requisite to the establishment of an intellectual climate which would add to - not detract from - what could generously be called "understanding." We can barely hope to grasp society's problems, much less correct them. And even if by some slight chance a student among us were blessed with insight and understanding beyond his years, and might be able to contribute in a meaningful way to the resolution of any outstanding societal ill, it probably wouldn't matter anyway. People don't listen to powerless college kids until they grow up, get some money and experience on their side, and then pipe up about what ails them. Besides, if that hazy entity called the "establishment" even exists, I doubt it would be possible to modify it without in some way taking part in it first. We are utterly lacking in the credibility department, and must understand that right ideas and clear vision are hardly the currency our culture traffics in anyhow. For the time being, have a little sympathy for the students who care enough to bother with any kind of activism over any issue. That they are powerless and impotent seems to almost be beside the point. If for no other reason, admire them for their attentiveness and ability to resist the indomitable contemporary trend towards apathy and intentional ignorance. Now, the real question is: who, of all of us, has the patience and persistence to carry his/her ideas through life long enough for them to matter?

-David Shemoff, College first-year

Lifeguards clarify safety issue at Philips Gym

To the Editors:

In response to last week's article discussing lifeguarding policies at Carr Pool, we would like to clarify a few points.

First and foremost, the allegation that a "lifeguard on duty" was unable to aid in the rescue of James Gilchrist (the man who expired in the sauna) is wholly inaccurate. When Gilchrist was found, it was during swim team practice hours- a time when the pool would have been closed to the public and therefore would not be staffed by lifeguards. While the first responder to the scene was a lifeguard, she is not employed by the Rec. Center.

Secondly, the point was made about a female lifeguard who had been hired and scheduled to work without having completed an inservice training session. An inservice is a two hour training session where lifeguards perform mock rescues (in the pool) across many types of rescue situations to brush up on and fine tune their skills, as well as familiarize new employees with the innerworkings of the facility. The Rec Center does not currently provide inservices for the lifeguards, which, under Red Cross guidelines, should be provided at least once a year. Also, the point was made that senior lifeguards were not "following expectations [of training new lifeguards]", however we are not WSI (Water Safety Instructor) certified- certification necessary for such training. In addition, we were not informed of these expectations.

When we were contacted about this article, it was primarily to discuss the need for an Emergency Action Plan. While the article seemed to delve into our concerns, we feel misrepresented by our "quotes." Our goal from the interview was to see an Emergency Action Plan instituted immediately, as well as bring to light some of our other safety concerns. Since the initial article, an Emergency Action Plan has been devised, however none of the lifeguards have been officially notified of its existence. In addition, we have not reviewed the plan to familiarize ourselves with it and ensure that it is procedurally safe.

-Gretchen Hanger and Nicki Atkinson, College juniors and lifeguards

Don't rig the refuge: protest drilling

To the Editors:

Ten years ago the Exxon Valdez oil spill made history as the worst environmental disaster in U.S. history. More than 11 million gallons of crude oil from Prudhoe Bay spewed into one of the most bountiful marine ecosystems in the world. The spill killed birds, marine mammals, and fish, and devastated the ecosystem in the oil's path.

The spill covering 10,000 square miles, an area the size of Connecticut. Delaware, Rhode Island, and 25 Washington, D.C.'s combined! It eventually reached nearly 600 miles away from the wreck contaminating 1,500 miles of shoreline.

Well, guess what - they're back. The same industry that brought us dead birds and otters covered in oil wants to open up the pristine Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. The Refuge is home to large populations of caribou, muskoxen, all three species of bear - brown, black, and polar - wolves, sheep, snow geese, and thousands of other migratory birds inhabit the Refuge. Most states, and a number of nations in South America, throughout the Pacific Rim and beyond are visited each year by birds from the Arctic coastal plain.

Since the Exxon Valdez oil spill things have gotten worse in Alaska. In 1995 alone, approximately 500 spills occurred along Alaska's North Slope - that's a spill every 18 hours. Oil facilities may emit as much as 100,000 metric tons of methane each year, a potential greenhouse gas that contributes to global warming. Oil and gas drilling at Prudhoe Bay, Alaska, has permanently altered approximately 800 square miles of formerly pristine wilderness. Prudhoe Bay is now one of the world's largest industrial complexes, with more than 1,500 miles of roads and pipelines and thousands of acres of industrial facilities.

Oil companies already have access to 95% of Alaska's coastal plain. I urge citizens to write the four companies that want to drill (Exxon, BP, ARCO and Chevron) and members of Congress and give them a simple message - Don't Rig the Refuge. Leave the coastal plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge alone!

-Ellen Montgomery, College sophomore, Ohio PIRG