Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor,

I don't know when the last time you were in the N.U. weight room, but if you've been in there at all this year, I'm sure you'll feel the same way as the rest of the student athletes at Norwich do; IT'S BRUTAL! You also here the word pathetic used quite frequently when working out in the weight room.

I mean at first glance you may think, "this isn't that bad, it looks pretty nice in here."

But then you go to grab some dumbbells to work on some beach muscles and if you're not Arnold Schwarzenegger and can't lift the dumbbells that are reserved for guys that are in the "Strongest Man Competitions," all you get is a couple of dumbbells that aren't even the same weight. Did we get the weights at a buy two get one free outlet? Buy two 30-pound weights and get a 25-pound weight for free?

And if by chance you actually find two that are the same weight, you're risking getting into a brawl with the 25 other guys wanting to use them. And its one thing to have antique weights but this is ridiculous.

Most dumbbells are in critical condition and are in need of a defibrillator to shock them back to life. There should be a sign on your way out of the weight room to remind you to bring your screwdriver and wrench next time you visit the weight room because most free weights are tittering and tottering, ready at any point to come soaring down.

Most times when the weights are over head, they are either laughing at you or taunting you because they're ready to crater and all you can do it hope and pray that if they do come soaring down, they're going to hit the floor, and not your forehead. Most of the machines that are in the weight room serve their purpose but again are in need of a makeover.

Now there is nothing wrong with an old gym. I mean, remember the time in Rocky III when Rocky returns to Apollo Creeds gym with a few light bulbs and water pipes hanging from the roof. Do you remember what happens to Clubber Lang later on in the movie? He gets a serious beat down courtesy of the Italian Stallion.

And maybe that's what Norwich wants its athletes to get, "The eye of the tiger." But what's wrong with putting some money into revitalizing some of the weights and equipment. If Norwich University prides itself at being very competitive in all sports, whether it's football or women's basketball, then Norwich needs to treat their athletes as if they were professionals and provide professional weight equipment.

Oh, and one more thing; unless you want to feel like you are working out in a steam room over at Plumley, buy a fan from Wal-Mart for $9.99 and bring it with you because whoever is in the control room keeps jacking up the heat. Hey, throw a log off the fire will ya?

Sarcastically accurate,
Marshall Lee

Dear Editor,

I would like to address the issue that the freshmen this year have it so easy. I am a sophomore in the corps and even though my year was not as tough as the juniors or the seniors, at least I can say that my class was the last of the old hard corps.

I find it funny when I heard that cadre are being fired for being too "intimidating" to their freshmen and that they can't trust them...or that cadre are supposed to speak to their freshmen at parade rest, even though they hold higher rank.

Here's the kicker, when cadre are told to pick up their freshmen's personal items because it would take them to long to get it themselves.

My class may not have endured as much as upperclassmen, but at least we have learned the things that make Norwich University a military college. I still can't grasp the fact that freshmen don't have to spit shine their boots, or brasso their brass, or iron in their shirt creases.

These three things alone add up to two hours a day to do. My rook buddies and I reminisce about the things we did last year.

We used to play useless uniform games just to waste time or how we had to march tours under arms in our hallway while remembering the honor committees.

That's just to name a couple. If the policies of this eyear had been in effect through out, there's no doubt that the entire corps cadre would have been fired the very first day of rook week.

I would just like to say to those who are cadre, "I feel for you, and keep up the good work."

Edina Na-Songkhla

Editor's Note: The following letter was submitted to The Norwich Guidon as a Letter to the Editor by President Schneider and Prof. Fred Mokhtari. "GJ" is General Sir Garry Johnson, a retired general in the British Army. He was a guest lecturer of the Military Graduate Program's Spring Residency in April 2001.

Dear Fred,

Thank you. was in Kyrghizstan when the terrible news broke about the attacks in New York and Washington, and just got back today.

I want to thank you personally to know how appalled we are here at what has happened, and how much we feel for all those involved - including the 500 or so UK casualties, and how terrible it is that a few extremists can shame a great religion. There is, of course, nothing new in that, but we have to be careful not to have a blanket response.

We are with you in this. We stand together.

Best wishes,
GJ

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