I wish to protest the News’ headline “For some Yalies, split allegiances” (Nov. 17). There are and can be no split allegiances among Yalies. A person split between Yale and Harvard is with Harvard. At Yale students are taught to know where they stand.

Steven Smith
Nov. 17
<i>The writer is the Alfred Cowles Professor of Political Science and the Master of Branford College.</I>

Yedidya Schwartz’s column (“Sabotaging the secular state,” Nov. 16) about the Jewish boy denied admission to the Jews’ Free School in London aroused my interest for several reasons.

Re: “Standing up for religion” (Nov. 13). When I read Joe Carlsmith’s column about the recent shooting carried out by Major Nidal Malik Hasan at Fort Hood, I thought it was great. And then I read the comments on the News’ Web site.

Re: (“Step it up, Dwight Hall,” Nov. 13): First and foremost, we are thrilled to see service and activism as lively topics in campus discourse. We have long held the view that immersion into New Haven augments a Yale education and that doing public service and social justice work is an outstanding way to accomplish this goal.

Re: “Book on Heidegger causes a stir,” Nov. 11: I sometimes wish that the controversial topics and ideas taken up in the volumes printed by the Yale Press appeared as often in the Blue Book as they do on the pages of the News.

Re: (“Governor Rell won’t seek reelection,” Nov. 9): The author notes that “the tax rate [in Connecticut] is relatively high compared to other states.” Although one hears this sort of assertion often in Connecticut, it does not stand up to close examination.

I am glad that an article about fur was included in the News (“Fur in the Elm City,” Nov. 10). However, I feel that this article did not capture all of the ethical concerns of wearing fur.

I applaud the News for printing Julie Kunrath’s column (“Making our campus tobacco-free,” Oct. 28), which suggested that Yale should ban tobacco on campus.

It is good to read about the proposed eight competency areas planned for premedical students (“Premed requirements could be revised,” Nov. 6).

Reducing construction waste, and, in this case, discarded parts from temporary exhibitions is both a goal and reality of the aftermath of each show at the School of Architecture Gallery.

Last week’s shallow review of the new Rosenkranz Hall disappointed and frustrated me (“New building does not fit in,” Oct. 23). The building sits comfortably in a graceless site along Prospect Street.

My colleagues on the Yale Advisory Committee on Investor Responsibility and I read with great interest the article by guest columnists Anna Robinson-Sweet, Luke Studebaker and Mac Herring regarding the conversations last year between the ACIR and the Undergraduate Organizing Committee regarding the labor practices at HEI Hospitality LLC (“Irresponsible investing,” Oct. 26).

Did Yale College Dean Mary Miller seriously think that her column Friday (“An open letter regarding disciplinary procedures,” Oct. 23) would help stem criticism of her and the University surrounding recent disciplinary measures (or lack thereof)? Could she really have thought that this was the fairest, most effective way to address us students? And did the News think it was helping its readers by publishing the piece?

I was interested and challenged by Isabel Marin’s column raising concerns about gender-neutral housing (“A question of comfort,” Oct. 20).

With funding pulled, Cinema at the Whitney has collapsed. As a former staff member and audience member of CATW, I was unhappy with its demise.

The News is to be congratulated for its editorial regarding the high stone wall of the Grove Street Cemetery along Prospect Street (“Tear down this wall,” Oct. 14).

Re: “Still no action on e-mail” and “Masters, deans pan bladderball” (Oct. 14).

Yesterday, Serrena Iyer addressed a letter to Sweden in the News (“What did Obama do?” Oct. 13).

My daughter, who recently graduated from Yale College, never saw a thrilling bladderball spectacular during her years.

Re: “In city schools, looks can be deceiving” (Oct. 6): As Assistant Superintendent Garth Harries pointed out during the discussion panel hosted by the Yale Democrats last Wednesday, “Education Reform in New Haven: The Next Phase,” the excellent physical condition of New Haven’s public schools testifies to the community’s investment in the education it provides to its young people.