Debbie Lee (Senior, Elementary Education), the issue you raise in your letter in The Northern Star on Oct. 17 is a very small issue, but I feel the need to respond to your letter.

The members of the faculty of this university know the student populations can read. Our experience has taught us that. The question is “Do they read?” Our experience has presented the question.

When a member of our faculty reads from a printed syllabus

hat is already in the hands of the class it is not because we feel the student is incapable of reading.

Rather, this is done because we wish to insure attention has been brought to the syllabus, and that this attention is focused on that syllabus while we are present so that any questions raised in the minds of the students can be addressed by us at that time.

This is an act of generous responsibility rather than simply an attempt to “keep the class the whole class period.”

And while you think on these matters, Debbie Lee, let me suggest you increase your familiarity with the proper syntax and organization of the language.

Ben Mahmoud

Presidential Research Professor

School of Art