To the Editor:

In 2011 at least 33 children died in heatstroke-related deaths when they were left in unattended vehicles. Heatstroke in vehicles is the leading cause of all non-crash related death for children 14 and younger. It represents 61 percent of total non-crash fatalities in this age group. And it is completely preventable.

In April, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) launched its first-ever national campaign to get the message out about the harmful and potentially fatal effects of leaving children in hot vehicles.

The “Where’s baby? Look Before You Lock” message asks all parents, grandparents, and other caregivers to be mindful when leaving a vehicle.

To the Editor:

Even though this is a situation in the past, I would like to state my stance of what I did say.

That statement that I made was an example of (what could occur) when people jump into an argument without knowing the details. I stated that that is how people get shot. I was making an example … not trying to play out the example.

A group of men in the class started to come toward me as if protecting [the person I was arguing with] and this is when I made the statement.

To the Editor:

Each summer too many children lose their lives because parents and caretakers make the unwise decision to leave children alone in a car. Or, those people get so caught up in other things, the child is actually forgotten and left for hours inside of a hot vehicle.

A joint study by the National SAFE Kids Campaign and General Motors found that the inside temperature of a car parked in the hot sun can reach deadly heights within a short time. The study found the temperature inside a van reached 120 degrees within 30 minutes, although the outside air was just 70 degrees. Think about how you feel when you first get in your vehicle on a warm or hot day. The windows have been up and there’s a sort of smothering feeling, a feeling of not being able to breathe as well as you’d like. But once the AC kicks in, everything is fine.

To the Editor:

The issue of “personhood” raises a question of responsibility. The debate of birth control, abortion and procreation has been placed on the shoulders of one party, women.

Of course, in the horribly patriarchal society in which we live, this is to be expected. If we are going to call women who use birth control “sluts” or openly allow those who have abortions to be ridiculed, I feel that men, as they feel they have control over women and their bodies, should also bear responsibility in the following ways.

1. Any male wishing to receive a drug to treat erectile dysfunction shall be subject to a prostate exam, blood panel, full physical, a complete listing of all previous (or current) STDs and a database check to ensure that the male does not owe back child support and is not a sex offender. The final decision will rest with a panel of women who will decide if the male is intellectually sound enough to be allowed to pass his genes along. If a (U.S.) House (of Representatives) panel on women’s birth control and insurance coverage of it only includes males, then, in the interest of equality, women should have some say in men’s issues.

To the Editor:

If you have ever been late to a class on the third floor or considered the luxury of toting your books around in a wheeled bag, then you might have considered using the elevator behind the coffee shop.

You might reconsider once you became aware of said elevator’s track record of becoming “over limit” far under the posted limit and getting stuck, sometimes for minutes, sometimes longer.

If you have ever walked by the coffee shop and heard a shrill whining sound emanating from the elevator, yes, it is indeed stuck.

While this is a fairly regular occurrence, it is generally quickly fixed — temporarily — and the college has apparently done little to nothing to fix it permanently.

To the editor:

Although I have always respected OCCC’s dress code and the freedom it allows, a fellow student’s wardrobe of choice has left me reconsidering.

This week, I noticed a young man strolling around campus in a T-shirt that read “Yes, I am staring at your titties” in big, bold print.

To say I was appalled was an understatement.

That has absolutely no place in a learning environment. I don’t care if your T-shirts make political or religious statements, or even sport the occasional “f-bomb” or marijuana leaf here and there.

To the Editor:

The spring season is the time of year where chicks, ducklings, and other baby birds are given as gifts or put on display for children. The Oklahoma State Department of Health is warning Oklahomans of the risk of illness from handling baby birds. These popular springtime pets often carry Salmonella, a bacterium that causes a diarrheal illness.

The bacteria are carried in the baby bird’s intestines, which can contaminate the body of the animal and their environment. When live baby poultry carry Salmonella, they don’t appear to be sick, but they can still spread the germs to people.

People can be exposed to Salmonella by holding, cuddling, or kissing the birds or by touching things where the birds live, such as cages or feed and water bowls. Additionally, germs can be found on the hands, shoes, and clothing of those who handle the birds, or work or play in areas where birds live and roam. People become infected with Salmonella when they put their hands, or other things that have been in contact with droppings, in or around their mouth. Children are specifically at risk.

To the Editor:

In regards to the negative article written by Sarah Hussain about the Oklahoma Aquarium at Jenks: I have been to this aquarium in Jenks several times and have enjoyed it each and every time. I could see the new additions that were added when they received appropriate funds.

And yes, I have been to several aquarium on the West Coast which have been there for many years before Oklahoma was fortunate to start one here. It is very nice. My grandson and I drove over to visit it just last October, and enjoyed and appreciated it all over again.

Evidently, Sarah Hussain does not like children to not be able to share in the children’s discovery fun. This is no doubt the first and maybe only time kids get to see things like this live and not just in story books. Having the excitement of the children added to the fun for me of seeing sharks and large fish and turtles, etc.

To the Editor:

We have become the Race of Me. What makes it easier for me?

I support the personhood law because every life has value.

The opposition claims denying access to abortion will cause physical or psychological harm to the mother, they can seek help through medical care and therapy.

Incest and rape are violent and angry acts committed against women by misogynistic predators.

Abortion is a continuation of the violence on the innocent child and it is a further abuse on the woman.

When a mother’s life is in danger, the doctors should do everything possible to save both lives.

To the Editor:

(This letter is ) in reply to the letter “Are smoking laws enforced?”

When I was in high school, I was accused of smoking by another student who was caught by a teacher.

After I was told who the student was, I was able to leave the principal’s office and I confronted the student who accused me.

The student said he thought he had seen me and apologized for the accusation.

I told him it was not about whether I was smoking or not but what gave him the idea for telling on someone for something so trivial?