Dear Editor:
|It seems odd to me that rules are changed in order to make conditions worse for the students, but that is just what has happened at Maine West.

I refer to the change in the library procedure where this year the student is allowed only one period a day to go to the library. This does not sound bad, but it really is since the student has no say about the period picked for him.

I, for one, don't like the period I was assigned, since my option is to go to the library or go home; yet after talking to three librarians about changing the period, I have given up hope that it can be changed.

If you don't think that the way to get on the wrong side of a teacher is to ask for a pass to the library every day, for three weeks, in order to work on a term paper, then try asking a teacher some time. In reality what my choice is now is either sit in study halls and accomplish nothing or get dirty looks from teachers whom you constantly have to ask for a pass.

I can understand the reason why the library has changed their rules, but it is necessary for the library to see that more and more classes are giving homework where this facility is needed. I really feel that a better situation that is fairer to the students could be worked out if a real effort were made.

Larry Henkle '71


Dear Editor:
It seems to me that many students at Maine West don't know the difference between a privilege and a right. A right is something you demand; a privilege is something you earn.

Many students have been talking as to what rights they should have. They talk of an open campus, non‑compulsory class attendance, a complete pass/fail system, and non-standardized textbooks, just to name a few. It appears that just because they feel this way, the school board should adopt their demands. I would call their demands privileges, privileges that are earned, not demanded.

I don't feel that the majority of Maine West students have proven themselves capable of handling such privileges. Anyone who has waded through the garbage in the cafeteria during lunchtime knows what I'm talking about. The same is true of PAR. Cuts from PAR rise every week; more garbage is thrown on the floor; and the monitors get bigger headaches from the trouble they have to settle.

It would be nice to have a pass/fail system or an open campus, but this is not the time for such a course of action. Let's wait until the majority of the students are ready to earn the privilege and not demand the right.

David Congalton '71


Dear Editor:
I would like to comment on the letter you received regarding the straight, long hairs, and greasers. These students said that they didn't like what straights stood for. Well, what do we straight, so‑called "rah-rah," kids stand for? We're the clean cut students who attend sports events, who show respect for the faculty, and most of all we're the majority of the kids who give Maine West a good name.

Is this what they don't like about us? I'm not saying that I hate long hairs or greasers, but how can they put down a bunch of kids who have pep in their school, who join clubs to keep after school activities going, and most of all make Maine West what it is.

Diana Vaia '71


Dear Editor:
We, the members of the cross country team, would like to thank those of the student body who took time out to write each member of the team a personal letter of congratulations for our success this year.

This boosts our team spirit a great deal and gives us an even greater sense of working together, all for one and one for all, as we should be. Our team spirit is what has helped us get where we are.

It is students such as those who wrote letters to us who encourage us so, and we hope that this team spirit will stay with our team and push Maine West even further up the ladder next year.

Thank you so very much again,
The Maine West cross country team