I would just like to say that I was appalled and angered by the depiction of NASA and space scientists in Carmen Cerra’s cartoon in the Oct. 4th issue of the Daily. Mr. Cerra, how dare you undermine a national treasure like the National Aeronautics and Space Administration in the eyes of our nation’s college students? Sure, NASA makes mistakes. What government agency doesn’t?

That doesn’t mean that you need to jump on every small blunder like a rabid dingo on a baby.

I also would like to take issue with your depiction of space scientists and engineers as fat, balding middle-aged men with no fashion sense. Rolled up sleeves and toy satellite models went out with the ’70s, Mr. Cerra. Your cartoon has created a boundless rift between the engineers, scientists and their alumni at Iowa State and the rest of the campus as a whole.

I would appreciate it if you would do some research before letting the urine of your “Poison Ink” seep out of your swim trunks and into our pool. In short, I would like to say, “Keep up the good work, Carmen.” Your blunt style and sharp wit have kept me reading the Daily after I have left ISU months and miles away. What good is freedom of speech if it’s not exercised regularly? As long as that pen of yours is furiously drawing away I know that I can always find someone who will tell it like he sees it. Don’t apologize to anyone for the way you see the world, Carmen, and as a great man once said, “Don’t let the bastards get you down!”

Eric Anderson

Alumnus

Eagan, Minn.