In response to the controversy of the “squinty” term, I do not believe the Iowa State Daily was under any wrong doing and should not be accused of such. Born and raised, and living in Iowa for 22 years (less than an hour away from the ISU community), I have been using the term “squinney” to describe the more commonly known creature “chipmunk” for years. It is a common term used throughout the state, from border to border.

Although the original user comment was misspelled as “squintey”, there was no context that can remotely be used to direct the term towards any human race. Even as some argue that someone had just “saw a squintey, they have started the invasion”, it is in no way directed towards a specific race. If someone was expressing racism, I believe they would have claimed the “invasion” would have started on the first day of the semester, not on a warm (nearly spring) day when chipmunks and creatures alike begin returning from a winter hibernation.

And yes, the chipmunks are indeed fearless. Have you not almost stepped on them as they rocket across the sidewalks? I find it absurd and ridiculous to accuse a newspaper, and fellow students, of racism under no justifiable evidence. And as a brief response to the article posted by numerous students and staff on the issue, you are only calling out in a desperate attempt to bring unjustified racism to light, instead of letting it filter out of social media and dwell in the past. If you want fair treatment, you cannot blow up such an innocent topic to this extreme. You should be disappointed in yourselves for accusing your fellow Iowa State community of being racist.

I am not so asinine to claim that racism does not exist in our modern world, however in this situation, a simple slang term to describe a cute, 6″ long furry creature, was blatantly used as an excuse to accuse other races of wrong doing. I suggest learning the facts behind local slurs, and common traditions before you open your mouth and express false accusations against one of the greatest college communities in the nation.