COMMENT: I'm a graduate student here who was in the Methodist Center next to Maple Hall just trying to worship in there, and there are guys that drive by with booming stereos. I mean it was just constant, all the time. It seems to be all over campus. I mean, is there anything that can be done? It would help us study or worship or have a moment of silence because there just isn't any of that on this campus. That doesn't seem like higher education; it seems elementary to me.

RESPONSE: The city of Denton passed an ordinance several years ago that allows police officers to cite drivers of automobiles making excessive noise. Unfortunately, the ordinance is only in effect from 10 p.m. until 7 a.m. During other times, officers must rely on the state law, which is very weak.

In the event someone is playing the radio too loud near one of the buildings on campus, contact the university police department. The responding officer can ask the person to leave if the noise is excessive and disturbing the peace. If the person continues making the excessive noise, he or she can be cited under the state law for disturbing the peace.

COMMENT: I'm calling to ask how many political science majors have registered to vote and intend to vote. How many political science majors know that there are more parties than just the Democratic or Republican? How many know that there are parties like the Libertarian and the Green Party that they could be voting for? That to me is a really important question. If I were a chairperson of the political science classes at UNT and these people didn't register to vote, they're out of there, man. They're losers. I mean, they mean nothing. They have no intentions of being serious about political matters. If they don't register to vote or don't take part and don't know about all candidates on the ballot, then they have no business as political science students. That just really gets me uptight. That's the comment I wanted to make. I bet you that 75 to 80 percent of those people in those classes are not registered to vote and don't care — they're just doing it to please Mommy and Daddy.

RESPONSE: The political science department does not make it a habit to formally ask people whether or not they have registered to vote. While we encourage this, even to the extent of distributing registration cards in class, we respect the privacy of our students.

As for the second question, we also do not ask whether students know about the Libertarians or Greens. These subjects come up in many of our classes, but we do not test for this information on a systematic basis, much less differentiate between our majors and those in other departments.

Harold Clarke,
Chair of the political science department

If you have a comment, complaint or compliment about the university, call Answer Line at 565-4100. Leave your name, address, phone number and remarks on the recording. Please be specific.

Your message will be directed to the appropriate officials, and a response may be published in InHouse@UNT. Questions may be edited for clarity and brevity. Unsubstantiated personal accusations will not be published.

Other featured articles in this issue

• Fire damages Speech/Drama Building
• Athletic director resigns
• Students approve referendum to build new recreation center
• Weather closing information
• Presentation gives insights into NSF
• Web site created for parents
• Awards presented at sack lunch
• Fast food is becoming the family cook despite shortcomings
• TAMS students advance in science competition