Contain yourself
Rob Pates’ letter is very typical of anti-nukes since he obviously does not know the difference between the design of U.S. commercial nuclear power plants and Chernobyl [“What cost nukes,” Mailbag, March 22]. We cannot have a Chernobyl-like event in this country simply because our reactors are housed inside concrete containment buildings, whereas Chernobyl’s reactors sat inside a regular building. I suggest Mr. Pates take a tour of North Anna Power Station so he can see just how strong the reactor containment building is built.
I am for the building of new nuclear power plants for three reasons: 1) Variety of power sources; 2) Low-cost power; 3) Zero emissions for cleaner air. Furthermore, I wonder if Mr. Pates knows that the largest cause of air pollution is coal-fired power plants. We currently have about 20 percent of our nation’s electric power coming from nukes. That number should be higher. Also, if we don’t as a nation build new nuke plants we will have to use more coal and pollute the air even more. (I’m sure the drug companies would love it since people with breathing problems would get even sicker.) One way or another we need more base-load plants (large power plants). If we don’t build more nukes our electric bills will go through the roof in five to 10 years from now. I for one like having affordable electricity in my home.
Edward J. Patrick
Louisa
“A” for effort
Thank you for a wonderful article about the current problem in the Charlottesville City School system [“There’s still time to fix city schools,” March 29]. It was balanced, informative and brought up many of the important issues such as communication, parent involvement and teacher support. It is the first time someone really has tried to sort out how this mess came to be, and after reading it I feel more hopeful about the future of the school division.
Lotta Helleberg
Charlottesville
Showing some class
It was a pleasure to read such a thorough and fair assessment of the current Charlottesville city school situation. I attended several of the School Board meetings and watched most of the others on public access television. I admire the
C-VILLE editor’s fortitude in attending all the meetings, taking notes, asking questions and organizing it all in a manner that emphasizes the real issues we are facing. Thanks for that.
Millie Carson
Charlottesville
Balancing act
Cathy Harding: Just wanted to let you know that I appreciate the job you’re doing to cover the turmoil in the Charlottesville city schools. This week’s cover story includes many voices—pros, cons. Shades of gray, too. It’s not easy to report on such a heated topic with depth and in a fair way, and I think you’ve done that. In contrast, I hated unrolling my Daily Progress today to read the huge headline, “School Chair Blamed for Strife,” just another accusation in a verbal brawl that goes on and on. At any rate, thanks for providing some depth in your paper.
Rebecca Barns
Charlottesville
Settling the scores
I read your recent article regarding Pete Gillen [“How Gillen petered out,” March 22]. You asked one question: If Al Groh could change the football program’s fortunes, why couldn’t Gillen? I will answer that for you.
You seem to be unaware of the difference between ACC basketball and ACC football. ACC football teams are weaker in comparison to ACC basketball teams. The only strong teams in football are Miami, Virginia Tech and Florida State, all of whom Coach Groh has not beaten. In ACC football, teams play each other once, while an ACC basketball team plays most other teams twice.
It seems any football team can make a bowl game since there are so many bowls these days. UVA went to Boise this year to a no-name bowl and lost, and lost thousands of dollars doing it. The only bowl games that matter are the BCS Series, which Groh has yet to get into in his tenure.
Gillen’s basketball teams have had a lot of unfortunate events over the last six years starting with the injury of Majestic Mapp, which lasted more than two years, Devin Smith’s injuries, Roger Mason going to the NBA and Jason Clark’s academic problems. Change any one or two of these scenarios and Gillen would have matched or exceeded your perceived success of UVA football.
I hope this answers your question.
Bryce Moneymaker
Charlottesville
CORRECTIONS
AND CREDITS
In last week’s story about dumping in the Schenk’s Branch of the Meadow Creek [“State plays nice with polluters”], Running Bird Webb was incorrectly identified as “she.” Running Bird is a young man, and we apologize to him for the error.
In the March 22 cover story on Pete Gillen we neglected to credit a photo of UVA football coach Al Groh to D.J. Crotteau.