Letter to the Editor

In Response to “Smart”

As a member of the University’s Emergency Operations Team, I appreciated the editorial focus on campus safety and wanted to respond about decision-making during the weather event of March 31.

We have multiple methods of communicating to students, faculty, and staff during an emergency situation, and SMART text messaging is one of those methods.  In the event of threatening weather, we monitor many sources to determine if, when and how to communicate. Last week’s weather event was powerful and unusual, lasting over an extended period of time and affecting a large part of the State.

I made the final determination that global e-mail messages, with an accompanying website message, was the better way to communicate that high winds, heavy rains, large hail, and tornadic activity were possible over a relatively long time period rather than text messaging.

A bit of history: When we first employed text messaging, we worked with SG and mutually agreed we would only use SMART if immediate action was needed on the part of those receiving the message. The student leaders at that time impressed upon us the need to use SMART only in those instances. I would be delighted to review these protocols with the new student leadership. The safety of this campus community is important to all of us, and

I urge everyone to sign up for SMART at www.ut.edu/safety.
-Linda Devine.

The Benefits of a Vegan Diet

Dear Editor,
In response to your article “How to Guide for Vegetarian Diet” (31 Mar. 2011), I would like to compliment Carolyn Hatch for speaking out about the benefits of a vegan diet. Thankfully, with so many delicious and cruelty-free dishes, such as veggie burgers and vegan pizza, available at most grocery stores and with chain restaurants like Denny’s and Ruby Tuesday adding delicious vegetarian and vegan dishes to their menus, it’s never been easier to boycott cruelty to animals.

Even the United Nations is urging people to go vegan, as doing so is the single most effective way that you can improve your health, help the environment, and stand up for animal rights each and every day. For more information, visit peta2.com, where you can order a free vegetarian/vegan starter kit.
-Amelia Jensen, College Campaigns Assistant, peta2.com.