Several recent letters have referred to Oregon State University as OS(U). I find this as objectionable as the new, incomplete logo. The only worthwhile purpose for referring to the university as OS(U) rather than OSU is to ridicule the innovation.

Perhaps the powers that be will get the message and complete the attractive start to a new logo by surrounding the OS with a somewhat widened U. That U could be seen as the upraised arms in the unique chant: O…S…U…

Mike Wolf

Corvallis

Rieck is a giving, thoughtful leader of Corvallis' board

A big "Thank you!" to all seven candidates who are running for the school board! We are so fortunate to have such spirit, interest and dedication!

I'm writing to encourage readers to re-elect Kari Rieck to board position seven. For the past 20 years, Kari has volunteered in schools at all levels: in classrooms and school-wide programs, as well as at the district and state levels to provide a quality education for all students.

Kari does not have "special interests;" she carefully considers what is best for all students. She attends numerous school events throughout the district (science fairs, class presentations, plays etc.) to keep abreast of what's happening. She treats people with respect and listens to all opinions.

As current chair of the school board, she brings a wealth of experience and an understanding of the complex issues facing the district. There are no simple answers, but her thorough analysis of situations leads to well-reasoned, although sometimes difficult, decisions.

Rather than go on and on, I will refer you to her Web site, http://kari4schoolboard.

homestead.com/index.html.

Kari Rieck is the kind of representative I want; someone who listens, thinks logically and represents the best interests of the entire district.

Kari is a full-time resident of Corvallis. She lives here 100 percent of the time and gives 110 percent!

Ann Turner

Corvallis

Ten Pas' ties are clearly to Portland, not Corvallis

In my April 23 letter to the editor, I stated that Bill Ten Pas living and working in Portland and being a candidate for the Corvallis School Board was akin to having a part-time commitment to our community. In his May 3 letter in reply, Bill Patton questioned the substance of my concern.

The following facts (public information) continue to make me question Bill Ten Pas's commitment to our community and our children:

• His Portland and Corvallis property tax Bills are mailed to his home in Portland.

• His Benton County voter's ballots are mailed to his home in Portland.

• The 2005 speeding ticket the Gazette-Times reported on was written with the address from his driver's license on it: Portland.

• His Portland and Corvallis phone bills are mailed to his home in Portland.

• He and his wife joined their Portland Neighborhood Association in June 2006 and the minutes reflect they had been Portland residents for four years.

• Bill Ten Pas stated that he "considers" Corvallis to be his primary residence. He also stated that, if elected, he would "try" to spend at least several days a week in Corvallis. There is a difference between considering yourself a resident of the community and actually being a resident.

It is clear to me that Bill Ten Pas is truly an outstanding citizen, but just as clear, not of our community. Consider facts when voting.

Scott Berglund

Corvallis

Re-elect Anne Schuster to the Corvallis School Board

Anne Schuster is a great person to return to her current position on the Corvallis School Board.

As you might have already read, she is highly educated and a tremendously experienced volunteer and organizer for the school district. She has put herself forward as no one I've ever met to better our schools for both students and staff.

I know from two years of volunteering with Anne that she will do all within her power to make well-informed and thoughtful decisions as a school board member. Please join me in voting to retain Anne Schuster on the Corvallis school board.

Jan Harmon

Corvallis

Lecturer's claims about Israel weren't credible

Gwyneth Gibby's one-sided May 5 article on a lecture by Jeff Halper, "Activist speaks out about life in Palestine in Corvallis talk," repeats without questioning his claim that he "can't break through to the Israeli people. That's why I'm here…."

The reason Halper "can't break through to the Israeli people" is that Israelis understand that his claims about the conflict are totally false. Israel, like the United States, is a democracy, and Halper is unknown and has never stood for election in Israel.

Halper receives funding provided by anti-Israel officials in the European Union, as was revealed by NGO Monitor - created to analyze the abuse of human rights claims by nongovernmental organizations.

Halper's claims erase the context of Palestinian terrorism and corruption, and ignore the illegal activities - including construction - rampant among Palestinian society. He offensively and falsely compares Israel's responses to terror and warfare, to the racism of apartheid South Africa, and to the annihilation of 6 million Jews by the Nazis. Halper's one-sided propaganda does nothing to build bridges between Arabs and Israelis.

Jason Pearlman

Public Affairs

NGO Monitor

Jerusalem

Position 2 school board race offers no clear choice

For a community that says we care about our kids and our schools, why do we have such unattractive choices in this election for school board?

We need to ask ourselves whether "caring about kids" is just a happy phrase. Perhaps more of our time and effort should be focused on the serious work of recruiting and supporting candidates with more credibility.

It surprises me that many notable Democrats - including local officials and members of the school board - have endorsed a candidate who has publicly expressed his lack of support for teachers and funding public education. According to John Turman's previous letters to the editor, the issues facing our schools could be solved by lowering teachers' salaries, eliminating all benefits and firing administrators.

So why are so many prominent local Democrats endorsing a clearly conservative candidate who is intent on weakening public education? And why is it that the candidates for position 2 could not be bothered to file a statement in the voter's pamphlet? Information about the candidates is important to voters trying to decide who to vote for. Alas, the two candidates running for position 2 apparently determined that information is best withheld.

Given the lack of information provided to us by both Mr.Turman and Marilyn Dilles, we are forced to rely on the public record to understand their positions. In each case, what we can discern from these letters is that neither candidate has a broad understanding of the complexity faced by our local school board.

Angelica Rehkugler

Corvallis

Physical education is not like old 'gym' classes anymore

Thanks for the editorial, "Bring gym classes back to our schools." The article referred to Senate bills recently passed by the Senate Education Committee.

Sen. Frank Morse was instrumental in the passage of these bills. SB 360 supports an inventory of what is currently being taught in the schools. SB 370 establishes a minimum number of minutes of physical education each week, 150 in elementary and 225 in middle schools.

SB 372 directs the Department of Education to establish an assessment tool to monitor that the physical education standards are being met. The major thrust of these bills is to provide knowledge and skills to children so that they can be active throughout their lives. The American Heart Association believes that schools, via quality physical education, must take the lead in fighting the obesity epidemic.

The editorial could have used more current language. "Gym classes" are a thing of the past in a quality physical education program and may elicit negative connotations. A trained physical educator follows the approved standards and benchmarks and works to motivate all children, not just those who are gifted with athletic skills. Physical education is not an old-fashioned idea; gym class is.

Unfortunately, our legislators may have participated in an old-fashioned gym class. They need to hear from parents, children, medical professionals and anyone concerned about the obesity rate in the nation, that a quality physical education program will help the fight against obesity. Please take time to urge our legislators to support quality physical education classes.

Ann Asbell

Oregon Association

for Physical Education

Corvallis

Let college students keep tuition interest earnings

I am writing to shed light on a serious issue concerning students in the Oregon University System. After years of disinvestment in higher education, it is time for the Legislature to do something about it:

It is time to allow the Oregon University System to keep the money earned on tuition interest. Just like money in the bank, tuition earns interest in the state treasury. However, unlike most investments, students don't benefit from the interest that our tuition dollars accrue. Students invest thousands of dollars in our college education. It is only logical that the earnings on our investment go toward ensuring that we have a quality education.

Personally, I will graduate with around $20,000 in debt; others will have more. It would be nice to lessen the burden as much as possible. This money could allow us to increase student services and course selections to help students get through college on time. It is so hard to get into some classes until later on in college. There shouldn't be so many seniors in Communications 111!

I urge you to contact your legislator and ask him or her to take advantage of this great opportunity to reinvest in university students by passing House Bill 2198.

Ryan Mann

Corvallis

Gains made by same-sex couples are still untested

The signing of two gay rights bills by Gov. Ted Kulongoski comes 31 years after the Corvallis Gazette-Times was flooded with angry letters for printing the Jan. 9, 1976, feature story "Gay women coming out of the closet in Corvallis, 'Now I want to marry this woman.'"

Unfortunately, these small gains are fragile. Federal law does not recognize Oregon's new domestic partnerships law, which reluctantly created second-class citizens contrary to the rights of equal protection under the Oregon Constitution.

Less than three years ago, voters added Article XV, section 5a to the Oregon Constitution, which still requires Oregon marriage laws to discriminate based on gender.

Christian Republican groups might sponsor another constitutional amendment to outlaw domestic partnerships.

During a recent Republican presidential candidate debate, Gov. Tommy Thompson mistakenly approved of businesses discriminating against gay people. To avoid such confusion, Oregon's new nondiscrimination law is still needed even though it is widely supported.

Every civil rights movement in the United States has experienced similar gains and setbacks . I expect to see more in the future.

Thomas Kraemer

Corvallis

Correction

Due to an editing error, the form of a past communication between Corvallis School Board candidate Bill Ten Pas and letter writer Jill Fisher was incorrectly stated in the title of her May 10 letter to the editor.

When Ten Pas was serving on the school board, Fisher wrote a letter to the board in

support of teachers.

In her May 10 letter, Fischer noted that Ten Pas called her on the telephone in reply to that past letter, and that he was "nasty, rude and disrespectful" during that telephone call.

The Gazette-Times regrets the error.