Recent complaining on campus about Iowa State accepting money from Caterpillar has prompted me to write this letter. I’d like to make three points on this topic.

First of all, Caterpillar is an outstanding corporation that makes excellent equipment bought by companies all over the world from China to Brazil. Why should it not sell equipment to Israeli companies? Some of you may not be familiar with it, but it’s called capitalism, and it seems to have worked much better than any Communist utopia so far.

Second, why did this girl who was run over not get out of the way of a slow-moving bulldozer? I’m reminded of Austin Powers when the guard is run over by a steamroller moving at about five miles an hour. I mean, give me a break. The girl had plenty of time to get out of the way, so I believe it is her fault she committed suicide, not Caterpillar’s, Israel’s or the man driving the bulldozer’s.

Third, Iowa State is in the middle of a budget crisis. Why should we not accept money from an outstanding corporation like Caterpillar? Oh no, their machinery was used to kill someone! Heaven forbid!

Using this logic, I think we should boycott Boeing for building the aircraft than ran into the World Trade Center. Then we should boycott Ryder for renting a truck to Timothy McVeigh, who later packed it with explosives and detonated it in front of a certain federal building in Oklahoma City. After that, why don’t we just go ahead and boycott water — it kills thousands, if not millions, of people each year through drowning and miscellaneous other causes.

My point is, give it a rest. Caterpillar is a fine company and there is no problem with them donating money to Iowa State.

Chad Hayward

Senior

Chemistry