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Dear Editor,

This is an inquiry, not a reply to an issue. The Denver Post mentions that two DU alumni are on President Bush’s staff, and that three are US Senators. Other than Condoleeza Rice whom I graduated with in 1974, who are these other individuals.

Rick Starkclass of ’74

In answer to your query, the three senators are Paul D. Laxalt (served 1973-1986), William D. Ford (served 1965-1994), Pete V. Domenici (served 1973-2004), all of whom are still living. Currently serving on Bush’s cabinet are National Security Advisor Condoleeza Rice and Secretary of the Interior Gale Norton.

-Eds.

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Dear Editor,

I am hoping you will help me get the word out to your campus about BOYCOTTING TRAVEL to Alaska. The USA, Japan, Canada, and Europe are ALL hosting HOWL-Ins at shopping malls, airports, travel agencies, state capital buildings and other venues. Currently, hunters track wolves in the snow and use shotguns from helicopters and small planes to kill wolves already acclimated to the presence of planes. In other portions of Alaska, ‘land & shoot’ operations are under way in which wolves are chased by aircraft into open areas. The hunters will then make a quick ski landing nearby, jump out of the planes and open fire on the exhausted wolves with semi-automatic weapons. In March 2004, new areas comprising about 20,000 square miles were opened to wolf ‘control’ with bears added to the list of targeted predators!

Wolves are being killed for trophy hunting with quite a hefty payment to Alaska’s Board of Game granting permits to anyone wishing to kill them. This is due to a major change in the law by the Governor who is allowing the sale of these permits. These barbarous acts are accomplished under the guise of restoring moose populations. Moreover, these hunters are also killing baby moose which can further be argued that this is certainly not a subsistence issue. Alaska voters have twice voted this ‘program’ down, yet the Governor and his cronies have decided to ignore their votes.

Cheryl Watson, owner of Crystalline Energy Healing Center – and A Light Within Celebrant Services will be co-hosting a HOWL-IN on Saturday April 24th beginning at NOON until closing. You can find 3625 West Bowles Ave #12 in Littleton, one block east of Platte Canyon Road at Middlefield. The shop is west of the Albertson’s store. We will host a silent auction of items including dream catchers and an Alaskan wolf portrait with proceeds going to Friends of Animals (www.friendsofanimals.org) for the campaign to stop the Governor of Alaska from allowing the aerial hunting of wolves, bear, and baby moose. Stop by to sign a pledge to boycott travel to Alaska! Cheryl Watson, owner of Crystalline Energy Healing Center and A Light Within Celebrant Service, is planning on asking her drumming groups if they would like to join in a continuing Earth Day rhythm from around the world to aid in our efforts to end the insanity in Alaska. We will have music, cookies and beverages along with information about what is happening and why people from around the world are outraged by Governor Murkowski’s unilateral effort to kill wildlife in Alaska. Anyone who believes that our Earth Mother takes care of the balance through her four-legged sentient animals is encouraged to attend.

OakmoonA Light Within Celebrant Services

We’ll pass the word on. -Eds.

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Dear Editor,

Some of us were frozen-out of the Frozen Four in Boston, 100 miles from our residence in Maine, by an Alumni department that apparently cares only for the mega-givers. I hope this isn’t true. We are proud of DU, but we also are supporters of the University of Maine ice hockey program. Both are exemplary, and each deserved to win. It also was a shock to learn of Keith Magnuson’s death by listening to the television reporters describing the special commemorative patch worn on each of the Pioneer jerseys. Good luck from a former Clarion headline writer and photographer, and staff member of KVDU in the mid-50s.

James Ron PalmquistCape Elizabeth, MaineBA Journalism 1960

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Dear Editor,

I read with interest Mr. Brennan’s letter published in the Letters section of the Clarion. However, there are some factual errors that I would like to clarify for him. First, early registration is an accommodation offered to students with disabilities who meet the criteria for this accommodation. Students with disabilities encompass students with learning disabilities (LD), ADHD, mobility impairment, student with visual and auditory disabilities, etc. Accommodations allow the University to meet the intention and its obligation to students with disabilities as defined by Section 504, The Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and The Americans with Disabilities Act, 1990. The program that is responsible for the provision of accommodations at the University of Denver is the Disability Services Program (DSP). The Learning Effectiveness Program (LEP) charges only for the academic counseling offered to students. By definition this is a service, not an accommodation. Federal law is clear: Students shall not be held liable for the cost of any accommodation afforded by an institution of learning.

His concern about having a limited class selection is a concern that other students before you have attributed to the early registration process. Unfortunately, they too did not have all the facts when they wrote their letters. You also contend that many students enroll in the LEP who never attend tutoring sessions but do so just to get early registration. You are correct that some students enrolled in the LEP actually choose not to utilize this resource; however, students who choose this are a very small minority. Students who are enrolled in the LEP receive their accommodations through the DSP at no cost. These students would still receive these accommodations regardless of LEP enrollment status, including early registration. Also, as Mr. Brennan knows, the LEP is a fee-for-service program but there are scholarships awarded to students with financial need every academic year.

I understand his frustration with not getting in the classes he wanted to enroll in. However, I do take issue with his making generalized statements not based in fact and then turning his anger and focus on students with disabilities.

Ted F. MayDirector University Disability Services

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