ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Monday, December 9, 1996 TAG: 9612090081
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A-6 EDITION: METRO
TYPE: LETTERS
IN RESPONSE to your Nov. 22 news article, ``Intro to Peanut Soup,'' and your Nov. 23 editorial, ``Why a chef school in Roanoke'':
Bravo! A professional culinary school in the Roanoke Valley is just the ticket.
If we are to expand our economy and develop the tourism potential of Southwest Virginia, this is certainly a step in the right direction. The marriage of Virginia Tech and Hotel Roanoke in this venture will allow the school to be ranked with the best culinary schools in the country.
Since there are no other schools within eight hours of Roanoke, this will provide education to those in the area with an interest in culinary arts. I see it as a winning situation for all involved - the Roanoke Valley, Tech and, most importantly, Southwest Virginia's economy.
MICHAEL H. MORGAN
SALEM
Nebraska coach portrayed unfairly
AS A NEBRASKA Cornhusker since birth, I cannot let Ken Phipps' Nov. 4 commentary (``Will Tech travel the same road as Nebraska?'') go unanswered. He has probably never been to Nebraska, has never met Tom Osborne, and has no basis for his remarks outside what he has read in the media. As one who attended University of Nebraska-Lincoln games from the mid-1960s to late 1970s, was an undergraduate there and worked in the vice chancellor's office for six years, let me set the record straight.
Coach Osborne is one of the most academically minded, caring, respectful and respected coaches in college football. He is a second father to most of his players and, indeed, the only father figure in some of their lives. He knows the players, their families and cares about what's going on with them. Osborne supports and encourages his players to always do their best. He has high academic expectations for them, and does everything possible to help them meet those expectations. Because of that, Nebraska has more academic All-Americans on the team than almost all other schools.
If one of his young men gets in trouble in the community, Osborne supports the young man all the way if he believes he's innocent, and takes proper action, taking him off the team, if he's guilty. Osborne is highly disciplined and deeply religious. His principles are instilled and are mirrored in most, if not all, of his players.
As in any family, a member occasionally does something wrong. And as in most families, the one who makes the mistake is supported through any consequences by the family. That's how it is with Osborne and his players. Cornhuskers couldn't ask for a better role model for young men, and remain fiercely loyal to the man who has done so much for so many on and off the football field.
Phipps needs to be more selective in the men he chooses to disparage in the future.
CINDY KOZIOL
CHRISTIANSBURG
Mars mission needs worldwide planning
THIRTY YEARS ago when the United States and Russia were obsessed with getting the first human into the mysterious space beyond Earth, it was us against them. But things have changed. There has been recent talk of a manned mission to Mars in the not-so-distant-future. Now everyone involved has realized that there will have to be changes from how things were done in the past. This will be a friendlier space race, and the key to success is cooperation.
There isn't a single country that has enough funds to carry out the mission by itself. But, most of all, it's necessary for more countries to be involved to take on the planning responsibilities for such a complicated mission. The ideas and opinions of scientists from around the world should be included. Technology and instruments from a variety of countries are being used in various missions already.
Since the information gathered from the mission would be beneficial to all of the world, shouldn't all of the world take part? With all of our ideas, experience, technology and finances put together, I think we are headed for a huge accomplishment. And if the scientific aspect of the mission fails, we would have at least succeeded in bringing more countries together in striving for a common goal.
JULIA A. BRIGHT
ROANOKE
Boomers deserve writer's pouncing
I READ Erik Ranberg's Dec. 2 letter to the editor, ``How about a swift kick for all the whiny baby boomers?''
It took a lot of guts for him to write it. He will take a lot of heat for it, but he is right. Hurrah to Ranberg!
DAVID D. SULLIVAN
ROANOKE
Salem stadium cost topped $10 million
ON YOUR Nov. 7 sports page, Jack Bogaczyk (``Avalanche is losing key player'') and Ralph Berrier Jr. (``Lazzaro opts for free agency'') refer to Salem's Memorial Baseball Stadium as a ``$10 million palace'' and a ``$10 million ballpark.''
I recently obtained the stadium's real construction and maintenance costs through use of the Virginia Freedom of Information Act. Through Oct. 31, construction costs totaled $11,176,422 and maintenance costs totaled $102,116. Construction costs are 124 percent more than the $5 million promised in the July 19, 1994, referendum. This cost overrun will increase even more when the planned baseball-office building is constructed entirely at taxpayer's expense.
If this newspaper continues to refer to the cost of Salem's Memorial Baseball Stadium, it has an obligation to use accurate cost figures.
AARON SMITH
SALEM
LENGTH: Long : 107 linesby CNB