Dear Editor:
While reading over the recent issue of the Westerner, April 24, I came to the realization that the newspaper has taken on a more realistic attitude towards representing student opinion and feeling.

At the beginning of this year I was part of the group advocating an underground paper, and the general consensus was that the Westerner was nothing more than a sports page and social events calendar. But the Westerner has responded to student wishes; and the result is a paper that a student can express his views in, whether they be pro or con, and have no fear of the administration hunting him down.

This "freedom of the press" is, like the revision of the dress code, a great step forward, and that is why I've taken some time to let the staff of the Westerner know that at least one student appreciates their efforts.

Tom Pederson

Dear Editor:
Right now only juniors and seniors can leave after eighth period if they have no subject course next period; but freshmen and sophomores, who have a study ninth, have to stay. Sure, one would think that this would be the best time to get homework done; but at the end of the day the majority of the students are either exhausted or anxious to go home.

Why do just upper classmen get to leave while we suffer through the period? I've heard that it's because juniors and seniors have been at Maine West longer, but what does that have to do with it? Everybody has privileges now that Maine West is changing, so it sounds like a pretty bad excuse to me.

(Name Withheld by Request)