Dear Editor:

I am writing to you about my concern for the loss of the Northfield Dunkin Donuts. I feel this will affect the community greatly. There are so many Norwich students alone that frequently visit that location among many townspeople. I feel like the town of Northfield somewhat drove that Dunkin Donuts out of town. They weren’t happy with it coming into town in the first place, and now this! It is by far the best coffee and doughnuts in town at the cheapest cost, as well. What is the big deal about having National food chains in a town like Northfield? Every other town has them. What about the thousands of people that come to Norwich sporting events and want to grab a hot coffee before they go over to the game? There is nowhere else in town that offers that. There are places in town where you can get a coffee, but more than likely the place closes at 4pm just like every other store in Northfield, and it probably isn't open Sundays, and maybe not Tuesdays. I just don’t understand how a food chain such as Dunkin Donuts could possibly be a bad thing for this town. I’ve never heard of any other Dunkins going out of business, which leads me to believe that the townspeople drove them out of business for whatever reason. This is a terrible loss and will affect the town greatly.

Brian Mullally

Dear Editor:

I am a junior currently trying to fill out all the necessary forms to study abroad for the next fall semester. I have been thinking about studying for a semester in a foreign country since my freshman year here at Norwich, and I am finally pursuing it, but it seems like such a hassle. I need to obtain eight signatures of approval, and I need to fill out petitions to make sure that my credits will transfer. Also, I need to make sure that I will be able to graduate on time. I have been a good student and have passed all my classes here, so I don’t see why I would not be able to graduate as scheduled, but I have my doubts, because I have heard horror stories from other students who have studied abroad. Don’t get me wrong; I have also heard some great stories from some of the more recent students who have gone abroad, and nothing I have heard will keep me from wanting to go abroad, but arranging to go takes up a ton of time and effort. It seems that almost everyone I talk to is willing to help me fulfill my goal of studying abroad, but a majority of the people that I need advice from don’t know what to do, if they are supposed to sign things, etc. This is not meant to be a gripe; I am just wondering when it will be easier to study abroad than it is now?

Justin Fitzgerald

Dear Editor:

Let’s talk about the gym for a moment. People complain all the time about the hours and the equipment, among other things. I have a new complaint about a particular hour that is missing from the gym. I think that there should be an hour during the day reserved for women.

Other schools have such reserved time periods, especially schools with similar male-female ratios. Should such an hour exist, I believe that more women on campus would take advantage of the gym.

Shauna Rustici

I have just finished interviewing four outstanding rising seniors for the position of Regimental Commander, Cadets Jackson, Knoebel, White, and Wortman. It is hard for me to believe we are at this point in the academic year where I am interviewing potential Regimental Commanders. That is usually a firm sign of spring coming, but the truth of the matter is that finals will be here before any of us know it. The Commandant’s Office, through the faculty and staff boards that are held, review the entire senior cadet class and scrub that list and usually nominate three or four candidates to the President. I have the privilege and responsibility to make the final selection. Each of them has done a wonderful job at Norwich during their careers and, as always, it is a difficult selection, but the reality is that only one can be chosen. The University community will learn of that selection at the Promotion Parade scheduled for April 6, 2004.

During my interviews I asked a number of questions looking towards next year in particular. Some of the insights that I have gleaned from them were the following, and I think you will see them played out next year.

1. Continued refocusing and rededication with extra time and effort spent in academics and deconflicting the daily calendars to provide for more study time.
2. Dealing with Norwich values and particularly addressing head-on the issue of loyalty to one's peers and friends vs. loyalty to our institutional honor and our guiding values.
3. Drug and alcohol issues, particularly underage drinking and upperclassmen providing underage students with alcohol.
4. Exploring additional ways through the use of the Commandant's Coordinating Council, the Student Senate, and the Chain of Command on how to improve the coordination and communication between the Corps of Cadets and all of our civilian students.
5. Continue to improve the relationship between the entire student body and our Norwich athletes.
6. Reduce Rook training requirements, increase upperclass training requirements, and add significantly more social events, so classes and groups can bond.
7. In general, do fewer things, but do them better.

I would like to commend our present Regimental Commander, Will Oles, all of his staff and other commanders for a great job this year. They have been one of the finest leadership teams I have seen in my 13 years at Norwich, and each year I have seen the Corps improve, become more professional, and more successful academically and co-curricularly. I know our present juniors will continue that fine tradition.

My general guidance for the leadership of both our Corps of Cadets and our civilian students would be to do fewer things, but to do and execute better.

Excellence in academics must be your primary goal, with everything else subservient to that. Start preparing now for your finals, and let us all finish up this academic year better and stronger than ever before.