Letters Welcome: We encourage letters to the editor involving issues on articles or topics, the university, or those of general interest to our readership. Letters should be no longer than 400 words and may be edited for length and clarity. Unsigned letters will not be published.

Congratulations on the outstanding summer issue of the magazine. I especially liked the story on the Peace Corps, which integrated experiences of faculty and alumni from a long period. I also especially enjoyed the spotlight on the pros—I didn’t realize Ship sent so many athletes onto careers in sports. Everything (in the issue) was excellent. And the issue gave a good sense of what is going on at the campus.

Sarah Hughes
(Retired faculty)

This is in reference to the article, “Campus Deep Fryers Fuel Dream,” in the summer edition of the university magazine.

Due to the continual rising price of motor fuels, desire to help the environment, and desire to wean ourselves from foreign oil suppliers; there has been a lot of interest in developing organic alternatives to fossil fuels used in our vehicles. These efforts are laudable and should be encouraged. However, while most articles tout the lower cost per gallon of using substitutes, such as deep fryer oil, they fail to mention that a significant cost of current motor fuels is state and federal taxes used to maintain our roads. It isn’t fair, or probably legal, for non-taxed fuels to be uses in motor vehicles on public highways. If I remember correctly, during the fuel shortages in the 70s, some people were prosecuted for using home heating oil in their diesel vehicles because it was not taxed. While the farmer can use non-road taxed fuel in his farm machinery, he cannot legally use that same fuel in his automobile. It would seem that the same logic would apply to those using deep fryer oil or other substitute on-taxed fuels.

Regardless of what fuel we migrate to, whether it’s electricity, hydrogen fuel cells, bio-fuels, etc., there will need to be a means in place for continuing to fund our highway system.

Mike Spangler
Class of 1976