Group letter to the editor

[jeh25]

As per our group discussion on IRC last week, I'm in the process of drafting a group letter to the editor regarding recent events. I hope to have it to Anne for editing sometime early tomorrow afternoon.  Once she runs through it, I'll begin collecting names to be included at the bottom.  Hopefully, I can send it off to the Sun by Sunday night.

-john

[melissa\'01]

do you want us to start posting names now if we would like to put ours on it?

[Ben Doyle 03]

I'm in. . .

[jeh25]

No. I will not accept names to be signed at the bottom until you actually have chance to read it first. I'm flattered that you trust me to speak for you, but I can't in good conscience include your name without letting you first read the letter.

[melissa\'01]

well. we can wait. but honestly - whatever you have to say against what has been happening will be fine by me. i will gladly join in. something has to be done and i applaud your effort.

[Adam \'01]

Here is the letter that I am sending to Mr. Noel, Dr. Rawlings, and the editors (respectively) of the Cornell Daily Sun, Ithaca Journal, and New York Times.  It's too long for a letter to the editor (especially by Sun standards) and in the wrong voice but I at least want the editors to know what is going on.
Pardon any typos/spelling errors, I haven't edited it yet, just wanted to post a draft.

_______________________________________________________
Dear Mr. Noel,

By now you are no doubt aware of the growing displeasure among a large group of donating Cornell alumni surrounding recent decisions made by the department that you lead.  At the start of the recent hockey season, I was looking forward to hearing the broadcasts of Big Red hockey via the Cornell radio feed.  Adam Wodon has proven himself to be a fine young sports broadcaster and it would have been exciting to hear his take on what should be a memorable season on the Hill.  Unfortunately, your department made the decision to start charging the Cornell community to listen to Mr. Wodon's broadcasts.  

I ask, what sort of market research did you do before making this decision to charge for access to the games?  Surely you sampled the demand side implications of your actions, correct?  While I'd like to believe that Cornell Athletics made a reasonsed and scientific business decision, somehow that seems unlikely given the enormous amount of public embarrassment that has now been caused for your department.  

Today also comes word from Ithaca that your department has made the command decision to disallow Age Manocchia's HockeyCam at Cornell home games.  I am frankly stunned by the flippant judgement excercised by your department in pulling the plug on Mr. Manocchia's volunteer effort.  HockeyCam was a groundbreaking program that could only serve to expand Cornell hockey's base of fans, media, and talented recruits.  Whatever personal vendetta your department has toward Mr. Manocchia must be set aside for the good of the entire community.

Not only will I not pay your webcast fees, but I also write to inform you that my donations to Cornell University and Cornell Athletics have been suspended effective immediately.  Do not underestimate the great number of alumni who are in the process of doing the exact same thing.  Dr. Rawlings has recieved a carbon copy of this letter; along with the editors of The Cornell Daily Sun, The Ithaca Journal, and The New York Times, respectively.  It may very well be too late to save my donation, but for the sake of Cornell University and its hundreds of brilliant student athletes, eliminate the webcast fee and allow HockeyCam at Lynah Rink.

Regards,

Adam J. Simons '01

[Lisa McGill]

Hey Adam, are you sending your letter to those outlets via email or snail mail?  If you're doing email, would you be willing to post the addys?  The rant I sent to Mr. Noel is over in the "No More HockeyCam" thread, and I would love to pass it along to the folks you mention.  Thanks!

[Al DeFlorio]

Seems to me the audience of Cornell Magazine is more relevant than the Journal or Times, but that's just one man's opinion.  The downside is it's two months until the next issue.

[marty]

I agree with you Al, the Cornell magazine is an appropriate recipient.

[Adam \'01]

Sure thing Lisa.  I'm thinking e-mail, and I might also fax copies.  But e-mail for sure.

jan16@cornell.edu (Andy Noel...I guess Andy is not his first name?)

aa234@cornell.edu  (Amanda Angel, the Sports Editor of the Cornell Sun.  I'm sure you must read this board Amanda, so very sorry for posting your e-mail addy to everyone, but you're a good journalist; surely you can handle it).

editor@cornelldailysun.com

editorial@nytimes.com

The Ithaca Journal makes you submit anything to their editorial board through this link:
http://www.theithacajournal.com/news/letters.html

[Adam \'01]

No prob.  :-)

http://cornell-magazine.cornell.edu/writetous.html

Submit letters through this link.

[DeltaOne81]

Great letter, and I'm on board as well, sans alumni status, but I will be one day, soon even.

Only comment, maybe put something about the infrastrature already being in place for Age to do the broadcasts for free, and him being willing to do so. It would also be a good tie in to the snubbing of his hockey cam - a man who does so much for Cornell hockey who isn't consulted, asked, or even told when they up-end his efforts.

Just one undergrad's opinion...

-Fred Trinkoff, '03

[Tom Hamill \'85]

OK, without a doubt, Andy Noel's decision is a bad one.  I support the letter myself.

But I wonder if I'm the only one who thinks that a "Screw Cornell Athletics" logo on this web page is a bit over the top.  I think if Age (as well as many of the rest of us) look hard in the mirror, we'll recognize that when presented with a choice of trying to deal with a problem constructively or resort to taunting and insults, we've resorted to the latter.  

Age, CU Athletics is wrong about plenty of things.  But ferchrissake, once in a while show a little humility yourself.

Tom

[Jim Hyla]

As per my other post, I'm in, with sigature and/or money as needed.

[Robb]

I agree completely, Tom.  If there's one thing I've learned over the years, it's that when dealing with this type of situation, you should never, never, never, never give up the moral high ground by stooping to insults and ad hominem attacks.  Doing so simultaneously makes your argument appear weak (is that really the best you can come up with?) and strengthens the opponents' resolve - terrible combination.

Age, please try to be less defensive, and less focused about what people may have done to you personally.  We want HockeyCam back; we don't care about being right or righteous.

Thanks,

Robb