Mr. Balough seems to have a problem with people choosing lifestyles other than his. He bashes not only the Cuffs club but also the LGBTAA. I am appalled someone can be so close-minded. While you do not have to agree with everything everyone else does, you do need to respect their right to choose and accept the fact that everyone is different. I applaud the organizations for homosexuals and minority groups because those people are harassed, among other injustices they suffer, and they need the community a group like that offers. But groups like that also offer information to the public, promote safety for people in those “alternative lifestyles,” offer counseling and do many good things. In regard to his comments about BDSM and the Cuffs club Balough has absolutely no clue what BDSM and Cuffs are. Contrary to popular belief, BDSM is not like what you see in movies like “Ransom” or “8MM.” As for bestiality, that is NOT part of BDSM or the Cuffs organization. It may be a fetish, but that’s not what Cuffs is about. Did you know, Mr. Balough, that people who like these things are not mentally ill, at least not according to the BDSM-IV. BDSM is not abuse. Did you know that most people involved in BDSM never actually engage in sexual intercourse? There are strict guidelines that people who are into BDSM follow to make it safe. As for the Cuffs organization they are not a group of pervs who sit around and tie each other up. They are just introducing you to something that is out there. They provide information and forums for discussion, dispel myths, alert people of health and safety risks and generally teach you interesting things you probably never knew about a rarely discussed aspect of our culture. As a psych major, I found the lecture entertaining and informative and am intrigued as to why people do these things. Mr. Balough, it is a big world out there, and if you ever leave Iowa you will be amazed to discover that people are different, as a whole Iowa is a conservative state, but that is definitely NOT true for the rest of the country. There are many diverse groups out there and maybe they seem strange or go against your personal belief system. But the bottom line is while you cannot change a person, education and tolerance are the key to dealing with issues not familiar to you. I recommend you go to a meeting to see what Cuffs and BDSM really are and not spout off what you saw on late night TV or read in the National Enquirer. And hey, if all else fails, don’t knock it till you’ve tried it. Alyssa Rudloff

Sophomore

Psychology