Auto industry deserves a little more credit
To the Editor:
I read with amusement the headline of Charles Donefer's editorial, "A new security threat: auto makers." [Mar. 14, 2002] I am a Hopkins alumnus who has been working in the automotive industry for almost four years and have worked in aerospace, defense and power generation for another 15 years. I specifically came to Ford Motor Company (and now Visteon, its spin-off component supplier) to initiate a heavily funded program on advanced lightweight automotive technologies. This was due to a recognition by Ford Motor Company and Visteon that much more work needs to be done in reducing vehicle mass (including SUVs) while increasing fuel efficiency and advancing powertrains (e.g., fuel cell technology) irrelevant to vehicle size.
A significant flaw in Donefer's editorial is who controls oil consumption and vehicle purchases. The automotive industry, as evidenced above, is spending millions of its own dollars to implement more fuel efficient vehicles that use advanced materials and powertrains that will hopefully include fuel cells. Research in these areas has increased at the domestic automotive companies without any increases in CAFE regulations in the last few years. Today, Ford Motor Company offers fuel efficient vehicles and alternate fuel vehicles for purchase and has a significant investment in fuel cell development. It is a matter of consumer choice that dictates which of these vehicles are on the road, and frankly I see very few of these vehicles being purchased by American consumers.
Companies such as Ford want to provide value to the consumer, and today the consumer does not equate value with fuel efficiency in almost all cases. If more consumers start demanding and purchasing fuel efficient vehicles that are available today and can be provided tomorrow, then companies such as Ford can and will immediately respond with such products.
Sincerely,
Nicholas J. Gianaris, Ph.D., P.E.
Moral honesty should be fully promoted
To the Editor:
I prefer to think that the majority of undergraduates do not cheat ... that the majority of drivers do not intentionally run stop signs or red traffic signals ... that very few citizens cheat on their income tax. I do believe, though, that those who are guilty are most likely to be chronic offenders who have established a pattern of cheating. As the anonymous writer in the News-Letter ["Cheaters never prosper," Mar. 14, 2002] appeared to describe, the more often that one practices dishonesty, the easier it becomes to perpetrate. And this is what makes it difficult to cure. Unlike curing an addiction, academic dishonesty must be stopped cold turkey. Unfortunately this usually results from being caught and punished.
It is apparent that most students have had a more-than-adequate exposure to moral and ethical teaching prior to reaching this campus. What is not so apparent is the effectiveness of the learning process. Their arrival on campus is not an inappropriate time to begin to emphasize the importance of moral integrity and the consequences of its breach. A student must realize that the necessity for his or her ethical behavior is paramount. We of the University cannot make the assumption that this is always understood. While education may be our primary tool to convey the notion of acceptable behavior, enforcement of the University's rules is imperative for it serves to underscore our seriousness about this matter.
Faculty and students must vigorously encourage academic integrity by refusing to ignore misbehavior when it is observed. It must be identified and dealt with. For honest students, it is the means by which unfair consequences of another person's dishonesty is avoided. For faculty members, it is the way to prevent knavery from making a sham of one's teaching efforts.
Sincerely,
Ronald H. Fishbein, M.D.
Assistant Dean, Preprofessional Programs
Ethical, moral questions food for thought
To the Editor:
When I read the anonymous guest editorial, "Cheaters Never Prosper," [Mar. 14, 2002] I quickly checked the masthead to be sure it wasn't April Fools Day. I believe these exaggerated confessions are a work of fiction meant to provoke debate, just as the entire page focused on cheating was intended to do. So while I doubt its veracity, this editorial serves a serious, worthwhile and healthy role for our campus.
Dean Daniel Weiss and I now co-chair an ethics committee charged with a wide-ranging mission to explore the state of ethics at Homewood and to suggest ideas for change, including a possible honor code. This committee - made up of undergraduates, graduate students, faculty and administrators - welcomes all your (non-fiction) stories and suggestions. We can use your help, too, as there is much work to be done. Please send me an e-mail to jbader@jhu.edu. We hope to issue a report next year.
In the meantime, take a moment to consider the serious questions raised by recent editorials. What constitutes "cheating"? What are the moral or spiritual costs? Do we have to be held accountable to others? What role does conscience play? What effect does cheating have on the community? Are there circumstances that justify or at least explain cheating? What price will we pay for success? How meaningful is that success if ill-gained?
Note that I have not raised questions about who cheats and how often. I personally have a greater interest in moral education than I do in creating a system marked by laws and punishment. We will never stop cheating through external force, only through the refinement of our internal sense of justice, equity and morality.
Sincerely,
John Bader
Assistant Dean, Office of Academic Advising
Diversity of music allows individual joy
To the Editor:
This is a reply to Matthew Sekerke's article from March 14, 2002 "The jam-band epidemic claims another victim with A?berjam."
The diversity of ideas and opinions can be expressed in words and music. You have certainly represented one idea and I am going to offer another.
Miles Davis is likely to be a real jazz musician in your book. I am sorry to inform you that he recorded some of the very music you loathe. Even great musicians do not always perform brilliantly.
Every moment of every jazz musicians performances may not meet your expectations. This does not mean the musicians are anything less than a musician. You seem to be searching for the art - a spark of genius or a significant emotional experience from the musician. But in the end, music is typically more fundamental and musicians are simply bringing the joy of music.
It may be a body of work that is important, it may be a song that is important, it may be one simple note predicated by a moment of silence - the choice is up to the individual listener to decide what is joy.
Do us all a favor, if you want people, musicians or patrons alike, to experiment with something different, then please don't disparage them for enjoying something different. After all, genius is something different.
Sincerely,
Jonathan Zimmerman
Voting for Rob shows your pride in JHU
To the Editor:
As Homecoming draws near, many a student may ask, "How can this school be a better place?" The answer is clear: We need every member of the community to explode with pride for our finest of universities. Voting Rob Davies for Homecoming King on April 2 is a vote for pride in Johns Hopkins.
While our community is a paradigm of diversity - both of background and of goals - Rob is the perfect embodiment and representation of the common threads that tie us all together as a family. Rob's immaculate academic record exemplifies our emphasis on knowledge and discovery; his participation and leadership in athletic, cultural and scholarly activities demonstrates our commitment to develop as humans in all ways; and his rugged charm and warm personality make him a friend to everybody and a beneficiary to all who surround him, just as our school aspires to be.
We, and all members of the Joint Committee to Appoint Rob Davies (J-CARD), have long recognized the merits, honor, and regality of our future king. Based on our deep respect for Rob and on the student body's obvious need for a strong and selfless leader in this pivotal period, we have labored enduringly to educate each and every member of the community on the importance of supporting Rob. Those who wish to further their commitment to Rob by joining the campaign may call J-CARD at 410-366-7341. The most important act, however, is to vote for Rob on Tuesday, April 2.
It is time for a new era.
It is time for a new beginning.
It is time for King Rob.
Long live the King!
Sincerely,
Steven Grunthal and Jonathan Snow
Please note All comments are eligible for publication in The News-Letter.