Confusing Letter to the Editor about ISU in today's Register

[Judoka]

I am very confused here. Can someone tell me what this guy is trying to say?

Subquestion: What drugs was he on when he wrote this?

Second subquestion: What drugs were the Register's editors on when they picked this letter for publication?

Iowa State University is 'antiquated;' a new structure needed | The Des Moines Register | DesMoinesRegister.com

The governor and legislators should consider making substantive changes to Iowa State University in the wake of President Gregory Geoffroy's announced retirement ("Next ISU Leader Must Be Many Things," May 1). Like a business, it needs to be restructured.

Yes, Iowa State is an economic engine and a place of cutting-edge research, but it is also an antiquated institution with a legal structure established in the 19th century. As a result, justice is poorly served and students' civil rights go unrecognized.

Today, Iowa State University is a giant business where the students -- supposedly the most precious commodity -- are reduced to the legal equivalent of gypsies. The result is that the most compliant among the student body are reduced to window dressing for an institution that suffers from bizarre acting out behaviors such as vandalism, rape and riots.

Something can be done, though, if the governor and legislators rewrite the laws. Among other things, students could be given a legitimate vote and a truly independent court system on campus. The city of Ames and Story County could build a community court in Campustown and establish service-based policing in the university impacted area.
-- Jon Shelness, Des Moines

I've read through this letter several times, and it makes less sense each time. Why would there need to be an independant court system for students? That's what the Story County courts are for.

I could see arguing that the City treats the students like wallets that they would prefer never left the campus grounds, but this guy is all over the place.

 

[alarson]

I remember this guy writing plenty of letters to the daily. None of them were much better.

 

[Wesley]

So now is the time for him to strike when the President retires. Antiquated institution? Looks like he is pushing rope up hill.

 

[terryk]

I remember this guy writing plenty of letters to the daily. None of them were much better.

I wonder if this guy has a red hat and a pocket full of candy

 

[BigBake]

So the Ames police and existing legal system in Ames don't apply to students.

If a rape occurs you deal w Ames police. The school should not be legally involved.

Agreed...this guy ain't playing w a full deck but apparently does have a stack of stationary and abundance of free time.

 

[CyDude16]

Thats a good laugh to start the day.

 

[Cyclonesrule91]

Man, I don't want anything to do with whatever that cat is smoking.

 

[chuckd4735]

Yeah, Jon Shelness is a giant turd. He ran for Mayor in Ames back in 2005, and he got spanked. The guy used to proctor test for ISU when I was in college, and used to just go around the room and stare people down; he was just thirsty to catch someone cheating.

 

[clintr]

I'm surprised the DSM paper published it. Don't they have a choice in the matter of what makes it?

 

[nfrine]

I'm surprised the DSM paper published it. Don't they have a choice in the matter of what makes it?

Slow news day I'll bet...

or maybe it made sense to the Register Editorial staff.

 

[stateofmind]

Crazy letter, and as others have stated, he does this a lot. Google his name. Scary to think what this dept is like at ISU:

Jon Shelness
Iowa State University Graduate Student
Interdisciplinary Graduate Studies Program

 

[CycloneErik]

Crazy letter, and as others have stated, he does this a lot. Google his name. Scary to think what this dept is like at ISU:

Jon Shelness
Iowa State University Graduate Student
Interdisciplinary Graduate Studies Program

The good news is that it's not a department. it's the M.A. for people that don't want a regular M.A. program. On one hand, you put your own combination of disciplines together for that M.A. On the other hand, it has to be difficult for anybody to recognize what you've actually done, so it has to be a dead-end scholastically. As far as job searching with that, you can draw your own conclusions.

 

[Boxerdaddy]

Mr. Shelness, what you've just said is one of the most insanely idiotic things I have ever heard. At no point in your rambling, incoherent response were you even close to anything that could be considered a rational thought. Everyone in this room is now dumber for having listened to it. I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul.

 

[nfrine]

Crazy letter, and as others have stated, he does this a lot. Google his name. Scary to think what this dept is like at ISU:

Jon Shelness
Iowa State University Graduate Student
Interdisciplinary Graduate Studies Program

http://www.regents.iowa.gov/news/emailcommunications/2008/2008VeisheaRiotPrevention.pdf

http://www.dailyiowan.com/2010/03/30/Opinions/16392.html

 

[IcSyU]

http://www.regents.iowa.gov/news/emailcommunications/2008/2008VeisheaRiotPrevention.pdf

Guest: Alcohol policies are in shambles, need re-thinking - The Daily Iowan

The first piece there was absolutely brutal with grammatical errors and outright stupidity. Then again, the person writing it is undoubtedly a moron so I can't say I'm shocked.

 

[CycloneErik]

http://www.regents.iowa.gov/news/emailcommunications/2008/2008VeisheaRiotPrevention.pdf

Guest: Alcohol policies are in shambles, need re-thinking - The Daily Iowan

I would think that Pres. Geoffrey and the administrators at ISU would take kindly to his characterization of them as medieval oppressors of the student-serfs.

He may have learned how to read, but he surely hasn't learned how to influence.



And his idea that ISU can unilaterally call in the National Guard to oppress the students......that's sweet.

 

[CycloneErik]

Basically, he's devoted or obsessed to peer culture and it's effects at ISU, specifically surrounding VEISHEA. That should garner a good response and good career prospects.

Yes, I went to his website.

shelness

 

[nfrine]

On Sunday, October 24th, St. Mark’s hosted a presentation on Buddhism, given by Jon Shelness of the Zen Center of Des Moines. Jon, a former Christian, shared his search for a spiritual practice that made sense of the world for him, and Buddhism turned out to fit hisneeds. Using an effective example, Jon likened Zen
Meditation to fishing. “You cast your line out, but you can’t zone out,†He said. “I’ve talked to fishermen about the same thing. They’ve said to me, ‘I’ve caught nothing all day and it was the best day of fishing I’ve ever had.’†Jon acknowledged how foreign this approach of being satisfied with catching nothing can seem to Western ears, but he likes a spirituality that stops short of giving answers or providing rules or promising a hereafter, but stresses only the importance of the here and now.

http://www.stmarksfd.org/November%202010%20Newsletter.pdfhttp://www.stmarksfd.org/November 2010 Newsletter.pdf
page 3

 

[CyDude16]

I take it this guy was that kid on your little league team that was playing with wildflowers way out in right field.

 

[Frak]

http://www.regents.iowa.gov/news/emailcommunications/2008/2008VeisheaRiotPrevention.pdf

Guest: Alcohol policies are in shambles, need re-thinking - The Daily Iowan

Funny, ISU students are out of control, but iowa students should have access to alcohol at bars. This guy is a freaking loon.

I don't understand what he means by gypsies. Are ISU undergrads transient? Well, most only stay 1-4 years, so yes. But they do have all the rights that everyone else has. Sure, the city is set up around getting students' money...that's what happens. You have a population of people in one place with a disposable income and goods and services pop up to try to capture some of that income. I don't think that there's an evil master plan or that students are being taken advantage of...it's just free society and business.