LETTER: Check your facts

Editor,

First of all, if you are going to write a story to be printed for public eyes you should get the story straight. Isn’t that a key concept in being a journalist? Get all sides of the story and then print it.

My husband has been going to the new facility ever since it opened and he said that yesterday was the first day it was busy, but he still did not have to “wait” for a piece of equipment.

Before that, he said it hasn’t been as crowded as you seem to portray in your article. I’m sure there are some times of the day that are more hectic than others, but certainly not all the time, every day.

Second, I would like to know a little something about all of the people in your article: Shelly Swasey, Stephanie Sutherland, Melissa Gregory, Cobi Larsen and Melissa Thomas. Are any of these people married? The only objective opinion in the whole article was that of Matt Ekins, and I would probably think it was because he is married, or he has friends who are.

In reality, you didn’t have any other opinion in there except how difficult and restricting it would be to allow spouses to use these so- called “student” facilities. Did you do any research at all to see just how much money is put into this school from that of married students compared to single students?

(Not to mention that the money we make to support our spouses pays for school which pays for that equipment.)

To imply in your article that the equipment is sole property of the students is so incredibly stupid I can hardly stand it.

Third, I have heard that Kermit Hall has said he would have allowed spouses to use the facilities, but he left it up to ASUSU. Well, it looks like when I was going to school before I had my baby, I obviously voted for the wrong people.

Finally, I would like to know the real reasoning behind not wanting spouses to use the new Fitness Center. To me it sounds like all those who made this a requirement are single. It’s bordering on discrimination and I’m sure if I wanted to really get into it I could find something that states it is.

Every other school I’ve visited or attended has let students, spouses, and yes even city residents, use their fitness facilities. Is it because these poor people who can’t find true love would be too embarrassed if they were lifting weights and saw someone they found attractive, went and talked to them, and got rejected because that person was married?

Because from what I hear from my husband, and about five other guys who use that facility at different times of the day, that the impression you gave of it being overcrowded is just not true. Why doesn’t someone print the truth?

Jennifer Petersen