Newspapers / The Guilfordian (Greensboro, N.C.) / Oct. 24, 2003, edition 1 / Page 10
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OCT 24, WWW.GUILFORDIAN.COM "A Hero in your Midst" Until this evening's news [broadcast], I had never heard of Guilford College. However, upon hearing about your very admirable student, Nathaniel Heatwole on the evening news, I [am] much impressed with this young man who had the courage to stand up for his convictions, and to try to do something about a very bad situation. He [was] speaking for all of us when he pointed out the deplorable "security" situation that we (the people) are being told is well in hand. We never believed the sto ries coming out of Washington, but only a few people dared to tell the truth, and they were soon silenced. From reading about your col lege, [I believe] Nathaniel is carrying out your college's ideals and values. We will see what Washington does with [his] action[s]. Nathaniel should be given a medal and receive bushels of thanks from a grateful Guilford student investigated... Megan Miller A Fox 8 cameraman follows Heatwole story at Guilford letters to the editor nation. Our founding fathers would be proud of him. Sincerely, Margaret Cook New Jersey "Airplane Admirer" I am writing to you in admi ration of the actions of one of Guilford's students, Nathaniel Heatwole. As a career flight attendant (40 years, now retired) I often observed glaring weaknesses in security and tried to have them corrected, usually with out success. After [Sept. 11] some of my (and others') sug gestions were implemented, but it nearly always takes something dramatic to get the [Federal Aviation Administration], or even the security officials at my former airline, to budge. I expect Heatwole knew this. Perhaps he tried "going through channels" first and was rebuffed, as I and others were, repeatedly. Perhaps he learned it from a friend who is Continued from page 3 "Unless people are literally strapped down in planes, air port security will never be fully effec tive," said sophomore James Thorne. "Nathaniel is simply showing a small facet of that." Nick Popio, 'Ol, said that while Heatwole had good intentions, "He also could [have] potentially [aided] a terrorist . . . suppose someone else had found his packages. I FORUM an airline employee. That his actions were aimed at pointing out a major weak ness in airline security there can be no doubt. That this kind of action was probably necessary to solve the prob lem I would attest in any court. It may be relevant that one of the things that used to bother me was the fact that airliners were parked overnight at remote gates and left unguarded. They were completely open to miscre ants. I was told when I protested that it was too expensive to secure them. If this is still airline practice the young man may have used this means of entry. However he did it, I warmly applaud him. Since preventing another [Sept. 11] might prevent another war or an exacerba tion of the one we already have, I hope the [college] will have no difficulty seeing Heatwole's actions as exem plifying the finest tradition of consider his actions ignorant and potentially dangerous to innocent people." Elizabeth Laird, a senior, said, "I hope he can graduate, and doesn't get jail time. He didn't do anything dangerous - he was tying to make a point." "The U.S. Government shouldn't put a law in place and then only selectively enforce it. Nat was pointing that out," said senior Peter Tripp, Heatwole's former roommate. "Airport security used to be a big problem, and it needed to be fixed, but expecting air tight security is too much," said senior Sally Stevens. the Friends. Jeannie Brubaker Tallahassee, Florida "Puppy Love Times Four" We all have heard the hor ror stories of pet dumping - lit erally the "dumping out" of unwanted pets in the middle of nowhere to fend for them selves. Apparently, in the pro gressive year of 2003, it still happens with incredible fre quency. This past weekend while driving through nowhere in rural Rockingham County I stumbled upon four aban doned puppies. I could not conceive a person leaving these small creatures without food, water, or warmth. I drove to nearby homes in search of owners ("nearby" being two miles in either direction) to no avail. [The animals] were abandoned. Financially, I realize spaying and neutering pets is expen sive, especially in today's economy, but shelters are always available. I have "We are spending energy on the wrong thing by worrying about play-doh and box cut ters." "Nat managed to show that 'heightened security' in air ports is not, and will never be, enough, " said Chaffin. "Tightened security is just a band-aid slapped on a spurt ing arterial wound: something far less superficial and much more basic, such as a change in foreign policy ... is neces sary to staunch it." "We will never have 100% security," said Popio, "so we (as individuals and as a coun try) need to act in ways that do not create new terrorists." PAGE 10 GREENSBORO,NC known veterinarians in the past who supported free/reduced programs to help change the pet popula tion status. They felt they were giving to the community as a whole by offering their services. All my pets are spayed or neutered, with the exception of these new four beautiful creatures tearing up our household. We can't keep them all, so suitable homes will have to be found. Make sure your animal friends are taken care of. Spay or neuter your pet. Talk to your veterinarian about a program like the one I described. The reckless "throwing away" of little lives should be a distant memory of a previous atrocity that humans committed, not one that is fresh and easily found just by a beautiful fall drive in the country. Jickie Parkinson Center for Continuing Education senior TMKT Comic by Brandon Sasnett
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