Views vary about the changes afoot on college campuses

0 Comments | Insight on the News, April 1, 2002

I work at a university of about 3,000 students in Nashville. I must say that it is good to see the left losing its grip on the minds of students ["Correctness Crack-Up," March 18].

On Sept. 11, we had an open-air prayer rally in the center of campus at Belmont University, and at least 200 students showed up. I was there, along with the university's president and many staff. Notice that I said staff -- only a couple members of the faculty showed up, although classes were not canceled to allow more to attend the rally.

There have been no protests against the war on terrorism here at Belmont, nor do there appear to be any on the horizon. There have been, however, small rallies supporting the war, and there are many students flying U.S. flags from dorm windows.

Jim Early
via the Internet

I am glad to hear about the change on college campuses. I am 56 years old, but I intend to give a copy of your article to my nephew, who is 16. He is representative of the changes this article described.

Before Sept. 11, he was misdirected. Now he has become a political machine. He avidly is reading all the political books he can get his hands on, and he is gaining momentum.

I want him to read your article so he will be prepared to do battle with the liberals when he starts college in a couple of years. One must not just accept things as they are found.

Harry R. Jones
Marietta, Ga.

I just read the article about college campuses and I enjoyed it. There is just one problem with your analysis: Leftists -- particularly leftist intellectuals and students -- are, among other things, insufferably self-centered and narcissistic.

The students in question are displaying "sunshine patriotism" only to the degree that the current conflict does not directly affect them. Let a draft be announced and you will hear screams of protest from coast to coast.

Stephen Young
Kittery, Maine