Victoria's Secret's ethical values should have been examined

In regard to the Oct.7th article about the Victoria’s Secret pop-up shop at a fraternity, I would like to address the use of our public space to advertise for a company with shady ethical values.

The Victoria’s Secret booth is hosting a clothing drive for donations to the Women’s Outreach center, but how much work is this company actually doing to help?

The OU students are probably doing more work to donate these clothes than the company itself.

I wonder if any of the profits from this sale are going to be given back to the community. The article told of no such thing.

It is unacceptable to let this company use our student space to advertise for their store because it does not value human resources.

Is Victoria’s Secret “giving back to the community” of the textile factory workers?

The Limited company, which operates Victoria’s Secret, contracts its textile production to a factory in Jordan.

Workers face physical abuse from managers and are not given proper documentation by the factory to allow them to leave the industrial park.

Workers are paid less than the required minimum wage and are not compensated for overtime hours.

I am not degrading the philanthropic actions of a fraternity that is organizing a clothing drive. I plan to support their efforts by donating clothes.

I just think we should look at more of the values of a company before we let it use our public space to advertise for its business by saying it is charity.

Sarah Whitten, Anthropology Junior

Gaylord College provides students many advisement options

I was pleased to read that UOSA has taken up the banner of academic advising in a proactive way.

There are a number of models employed for academic advising at OU. The Gaylord College of Journalism and Mass Communication uses a “professional adviser” model to advise its students.

Encased in this model is the idea that faculty will be involved and available to discuss in-depth career-path questions, trends within the profession and opportunities within graduate school.

Gaylord College students have expressed strong interest in having choices in their advising. One choice they do not have is whether to receive academic advising. It is required.

Each semester, advising staff look ateach student’s file and progress to degree completion. Previously, this information was shared with the student in a one-on-one session in the adviser’s office, but students expressed a desire to have more flexibility regarding their academic advising.

The use of electronic communication is a tool or an option — not a substitution for one-on-one individual advising.

Matt Deeg, stated in the October 7, edition of The Daily that “Academic advising is probably one of the most important things, because it’s going to determine your career path.” Gaylord College could not agree more. Thank you, UOSA, for taking on this critical component of our University’s life.

John M. HockettAssistant Dean for Student Affairs and Administration, Gaylord College of Journalism and Mass Communication

Students must prepare for advisement sessions

There are many things to praise about the UOSA proposal concerning student advising.

Faculty should be involved with student advising. It can be a rewarding experience for the student and faculty member alike.

The problem is that advising tools like Degree Navigator or the complete set of degree checksheets (available online), are not used by students consistently.

As a faculty adviser, I do not want to waste time walking a junior or senior through the enroll.ou.edu Web site. That is time that should be devoted to career mentoring.

Students have a responsibility to be ready for advising appointments and to have schedules ready for advisers to clear. They also need to get from from advisers what they need: career advice.

Students who do not take ownership of their own degrees make the faculty-student advising process far less than it should be.

Darren Purcell, Assistant professor, Undergraduate adviser, Dept. of Geography

Tolerance does not mean giving up your own beliefs

In response to Jelani Sims’ recent column on tolerance, I believe tolerance is when I agree to disagree with someone. I’m giving nothing up. I’m not compromising my views. I’m just saying I’ve got my way, and you’ve got yours.

I only give up something if I care that the other person joins my belief; I never have.If someone disagrees, so what? I only care if I choose to. I have enough on my plate trying to figure out my classes, life and free food.

Good luck on finding a group of 100 people who think the exact way you do.

As for “evangelical” atheists: Absolutism is absolutism.

Mars Chapman, University College freshman