Atkins Diet flaw could be widespread
Re: Low-Carb Fetish, Sept. 16.
Having followed a “sensible” diet and as a result having lost 82 lbs., I heartily concur with Sacha Bhinder’s view on the Atkins Diet. As Sacha Bhinder pointed out, The Atkins Diet fails to meet the test of scientific validity.
The writer touches on another matter which could be generalized with respect to other areas of public debate and that relates to celebrity instead of the cerebral being our guide.
There is a need for public debate on many issues, but the forum should invite qualified individuals to discuss the issues. I believe that informed debate is more productive than uninformed, empty debate.Carlo Lamberti
Hate and congrats for SAC
Was our money spent wisely? Absolutely not! The fact that SAC would have funded right-wing protestors does not justify this! If funds have been made available to students for purposes of protesting problems of global significance, then tell us so that we can all take advantage. There are plenty of other topics worth protesting that are far more important than U.S. politics. And who are the members of the External Commission who voted on this decision-are they elected, or chosen by SAC VP ExternalAffairs?
But there is a more serious problem concerning the message carried by protestors representing SAC. I don’t appreciate someone appearing to represent student opinion at the University of Toronto (the institution to which my name is tied to when I travel to the United States) wandering around with a sign saying “Dear George, fuck you and the horse you rode in on, signed SAC”. [Ed. note: This was an “editorial photograph” and was not meant to portray an actual SAC protest sign.] It not only portrays our institution as an immature aggressor against US political agenda, it does not reflect the opinions of everyone associated or affiliated with SAC or the University of Toronto student body. Yes, the US presidential elections do affect Canadians and specifically, students on our campus. Next time, form your own organization and protest.Don’t involve the University of Toronto. Or next time, at least ask us OUR opinion first.
J.Hanley
As a U of T alumnus, I want to congratulate SAC on helping out students who traveled to NYC not to see the latest Broadway musical or cool free show in Central Park, but to get harassed, beaten, intimidated, and possibly arrested by over-caffeinated meathead cops protecting America’s oil barons at the Republican National Convention. I think this follows a proud tradition of U of T students giving the Bush family fascists a well-deserved hard time.
When I was Varsity Opinions Editor in 1998, under the command of corporate schmoozemaster president Robert Prichard bestowed war criminal and Bush family honcho George Bush Sr. with an honourary doctorate. Students, faculty alumni, and basically everyone with even half a whit was up in arms. We didn’t manage to stop the ceremony, but the image of dozens of faculty walking out in the middle of the coronation, and then joining a raucus demonstration outside Hart House, is one that moved me greatly at the time.
I wasn’t gonna send a letter in, but then I read that the campus New Democrats are supporting Kerry! Am I reading this right? Allow me to put on another hat. As a former UofT NDP club member back in the day, I gotta wonder what the hell these folks are thinking. Kerry voted for the war. Kerry voted for the Patriot Act (and won’t scrap it if elected). Kerry’s environmental policy is about as green as a Texas lawn in July. Kerry takes pot jabs at Cuba, Venezuela, and any other Bush bad guys he can holler at. Kerry doesn’t oppose NAFTA, won’t pull troops out of Iraq, and doesn’t have anything significant to say about America’s racist and imperialist military-state market capitalism approach. Kerry is Bush Jr., except way more boring and marginally brighter. Tell me that’s a typo, please.
Anyway, here’s some unsolicited advice: U of T New Democrats should drop the ‘new’ moniker and support Kerry all they want. SAC should do a little campaign on its own to encourage American students to vote. And U of T students should feel good that their student council supports neither of the two corporate lackey parties south of the border.
David Fernandes
I’m glad that my cash went to protest Bush. Sending a message of opposition to his regime and of solidarity to Americans certainly seems to fall under the heading of “issues that matter to [me]… [such as] world peace and social justice.” Further, I can’t see anything wrong with the allocation procedure; a lot more of my money gets spent in far worse ways, and with even less accountability, every day of the week (i.e. taxes, tuition). If SAC spent money on sending people to protest Desmond Tutu or some other nice lefty, that would be a problem, but Bush? Are you kidding? Contrary to the opinions of our truculent, greedy right wing, Bush’s policies don’t make Iraqis, Americans, or Canadians safe. Just the opposite; the U.S. has murdered thousands of Iraqis and has further provoked the world to view the them (and their associates, like us) as lawless thugs. This perception really is dangerous to us. Cheers, SAC!
Jamie Smith
Money raised
On behalf of LGBTOUT (Lesbians Gays Bisexuals and Transgendered of U of T), I would like to thank the university community for helping us to raise nearly two thousand dollars for the AIDS Committee of Toronto in this year’s AIDS Walk for Life.
Whether you walked, made a pledge to one of our walkers, or donated some change at the SAC clubs fair or at our ‘Enjoy your Orientation’ kiss-in, you have helped to make a difference in the lives of people living with HIV/AIDS in our communities.
Paul Bowser
LGBTOUT AIDS Walk Team Captain 2004
