ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, March 24, 1996 TAG: 9603260001
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: F-2 EDITION: METRO
TYPE: LETTERS
IN RESPONSE to Megan Schnabel's March 6 business article, ``Better Business Bureau has caveats for consumers,'' in particular, the part on pyramid schemes:
I agree with her assessment of such scams. They are, and should be, illegal because they take advantage of many innocent, sincere, hard-working people by enticing them with lies, misrepresentations and empty promises. Many who have been ``burned'' or victimized by such scams lose monetary investments, time, energy and credibility with their family, friends and co-workers for allowing themselves to be taken in, and for trying, often with success, to get others involved. They come away from the experience disillusioned and disappointed because they put a measure of trust, faith and hope in their endeavor, only to have this crushed by someone else's greed. As long as people allow themselves to be misled, scammers will take their money.
Unfortunately, these criminals make business more difficult for legitimate multilevel marketing companies. Available are plenty of very good, legitimate opportunities. Multilevel marketing is an excellent and viable form of business, and offers individuals an opportunity to supplement their incomes. For some, it offers financial independence. These companies produce more millionaires in the United States than any other type of business, so it's a big mistake to assume that all are scams.
Anyone interested in a multilevel-marketing opportunity can investigate the company by calling the Better Business Bureau for a report, and also can go to the library to research the company in business-reference volumes and articles in national publications. Good companies encourage such investigation because they're proud of their business practices, track record and accomplishments. The best companies also provide training and encouragement to increase one's potential for success.
KATHY AMRHEIN
ROANOKE
University showed its hypocrisy
I RECEIVED a letter recently from the lobbyist representing my alma mater, Eastern Mennonite University, telling me how devastating it would be if the state's Tuition Assistance Grant program were extended to state residents who attend National Business College. The letter went on to include a number of malicious statements. Quite frankly, I was appalled EMU would take such a position and, worse yet, be involved in such scare tactics.
The lobbyist tried to make the case for excluding NBC students because they chose to attend an institution that's a tax-paying corporate citizen of Virginia, an accredited institution with a long history of providing quality education. How could my alma mater - which has always encouraged tolerance, diversity and brotherhood - want to deny these Virginians the same assistance available to EMU students?
As I recall, EMU always believed in Christian values, fairness and individuality. I can't help being struck by the hypocrisy here.
LARRY STEELE
ROANOKE
The NBA's poor put-upon millionaire
MAHMOUD Abdul-Rauf, the NBA player who earns more than $2 million a year, has the guarantee of freedom of speech, the guarantee of religious freedom and the guarantee to pursue happiness.
So why does he feel ``The Star Spangled Banner'' is a symbol of tyranny and oppression? Perhaps he should trade places with someone in Libya, Cuba, China, Iran, Iraq, Bosnia, Haiti, etc.
SIDNEY L. McCLANAHAN
ROANOKE
The advantages of two high schools
QUOTING from your Feb. 16 editorial (``Cave Springs' need isn't about class''): ``The new high school is not the ideal solution. More consideration should have been given to opening two, smaller high schools instead.''
Since I'm a former county School Board member for the Hollins District, I've followed carefully the discussions and negotiations leading to the upcoming referendum on the school bonds. I don't recall much enthusiasm for two high schools in Southwest County. From the beginning, residents of the Cave Spring district were adamantly in favor of a single high school for 1,900 students.
To monitor the activities, movement and discipline of 1,900 students in one building or several interconnected buildings would certainly require extra layers of administration. At 25 students per classroom, 76 rooms are required. Just the number of classrooms alone should suggest some second thoughts. Has it been determined that no matter what the number of classrooms or students in a single school, the number isn't a factor in the quality of education received?
A proposed new high school with capacity for 1,000 students and the continuing presence of a refurbished Cave Spring High School would provide certain benefits to Southwest County's young people. The number of students accepted to participate in varsity sports would be doubled - likewise, those qualified for year-book and publication staff, and those chosen for cheerleaders' squads and flag girls. Play production, choir and bands would be available to increasing numbers, as would be honor societies. Twice the number of Southwest County school graduates would be able to have these achievements on their college resumes.
While the presence of one large high school would be the source of overwhelming pride, two high schools for smaller numbers would provide challenge and competition - good training for our young people.
THOMAS C. FISHER JR.
ROANOKE
Faculty salaries had fallen behind
I WISH to correct an error in Jamie Hendry's Feb. 15 commentary, ``Give larger grants to fewer students.'' Hendry wrote, `` ... the operating budgets of Virginia's four-year public colleges increased by a whopping 98 percent between 1985 and 1994, while enrollments grew only 14 percent.''
The operating budgets of Virginia's four-year public colleges increased in actual dollars by 79 percent between 1985 and 1994. When adjusted for inflation, the actual increase amounted to 30 percent. During this period, college and university staffing increased by 10 percent to accommodate the 14 percent increase in enrollment that Hendry cited.
In addition, throughout the 1980s, Virginia's governors and the General Assembly pursued the goal of paying faculty slightly above-average salaries so that our public colleges and universities could compete successfully in attracting and retaining the best professors. By 1989, they had achieved that goal.
As faculty and staff salaries account for nearly three-fourths of any institution's budget, this strategic initiative to maintain excellence caused much of the increase in operating budgets. Unfortunately, the lack of significant increases during the recessionary '90s returned Virginia's faculty salaries back to the bottom third of their peer groups by 1995.
Today, Virginia ranks 43rd nationally in state funding per student. Through their efforts at this year's legislative session, the governor and General Assembly sought to improve that ranking.
MICHAEL McDOWEL
Public Information Coordinator
Commonwealth of Virginia
Council of Higher Education
RICHMOND
Laws should also protect the men
YOU HEAR about deadbeat dads. What about deadbeat moms? When a couple divorces, what's wrong with our (equal-rights) system that makes dads pay moms spousal support because the moms don't want to work, even though they're able to work?
Dads should help with underage children. But when children aren't involved, deadbeat moms should leave men alone and practice their equal rights. Men deserve some sort of life, even if some women think not. We need legislators to help get laws passed to help protect men as well as women.
EARL R. LUCADO
SALEM
LENGTH: Long : 143 linesby CNB