Letters to the Editor
This article is from the archive of The New York Sun before the launch of its new website in 2022. The Sun has neither altered nor updated such articles but will seek to correct any errors, mis-categorizations or other problems introduced during transfer.
‘Teen Postings Raise Eyebrows’
The Hewitt School is very appreciative of the efforts of The New York Sun to bring to the attention of its readers the dangers of MySpace.com and similar sites which are of such broad appeal to young teenagers [“Teenagers’ Postings on MySpace.com Raise Eyebrows of Parents, Schools,” Deborah Kolben, Page 1, February 17, 2006].
As the only New York City independent girls’ school in which every student in grades 8-12 has her own laptop, we have worked hard to educate our community through in-school programs presented by the National Center of Missing and Exploited Children, NYPD Computer Crimes Unit, and United States Secret Service Electronic Crimes Task Force.
Our intranet offers resources for parents in the area of cyber safety, and we have held many assemblies and seminars on this topic for our students. We require all parents and students to sign an acceptable-use policy, which, among other things, warns of the dangers of the Internet.
In grades 2-8, we offer a Safety and Privacy Curriculums teaching girls at Hewitt how to be safe in cyberspace. In addition, we screen adult and mature sites through the use of filters. Finally, we have sent numerous letters to our community of parents on this topic.
LINDA MACMURRAY GIBBS
Head of School
The Hewitt School
www.hewittschool.org
Manhattan
‘Sex Toy Workshop at SUNY’
Re: “SUNY To Feature Sex Toy Workshop at Feminist Event” [Bradley Hope, New York, February 24, 2006]
This event is funded by the Student Association, which in other words is the student government, just like the 64 student governments of the State University of New York.
This money comes strictly from a student activity fee that the students approve every two years, not taxpayer revenue.
In consistency with a goal of the university to broaden student horizons on all areas of life, we are bringing something new and exciting to the forefront.
This program will be focusing on safe sex as well as providing communication skills for healthy relationships. By using some thing fun and new, such as sex toys, we are addressing the larger issue of safe sex.
This event is a perfect example of academic freedom. A university is the place to hear many views on a broad spectrum of controversial issues. Having programs such as this one fosters the discussion, learning, and sharing of different ideas.
This is a topic that students feel a need to discuss on their campuses, and they have a right to do so using their own student activity fees.
Student leaders, who were elected by their fellow students of SUNY Oswego, decided how to allocate their budget, which included the decision to grant $7,000 to the Women’s Center for the entire roster of the Herstory Month events.
BRIAN FESSLER
President, State University of New York
Student Assembly Member, SUNY Board of Trustees
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