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“What the hell is in my milk?” This question keeps resonating in my head after hearing that Babcock Dairy Hall is choosing not to guarantee that their milk is Bovine Growth Hormone free. The fact that I don’t have the right to choose whether I want BGHs in my milk and the fact that BGHs are not exactly helping to keep family dairy farms in the business is really quite frustrating. I

was shocked after hearing John Stauber speak Thursday on the history of rBGH/rBST and the apathy of the Babcock Dairy Hall. If we hypothetically live in a democratic society, why is it that consumers do not have the right to choose if they want their milk jacked up with hormones?

The dairy industry should be accredited with doing a fantastic public relations job in brainwashing the public that rBGH benefits them, while not mentioning anything about mastitis and its impact on cows. It is even more infuriating to hear the apathetic attitude from the Food and Drug Administration on testing the impacts of BGHs on humans.

BGHs may be causing devastating socio-economic effects. Milk production in cows injected with BGH increases by about ten percent, therefore causing prices to fall across the board, not to mention the fact that from a socio-economic standpoint, BGHs are a loser product. The fact that Babcock Dairy Hall will not even guarantee that their milk will be BGH free and supporting the use of BGHs is unacceptable. I urge all people in Madison to research what I’m talking about, and should you arrive at the same conclusion I did, call up Babcock Dairy Hall and tell them how appalling their actions are.

Bryan Reagan, UW student

I guess enough time has passed since Sept. 11 that it’s once again acceptable to hurl rhetoric hither and yon about the future of Peace Park. Matt Scherling knew the article he was going to write before he interviewed me — “business interests against students” inevitably makes good press.

If he had cared to, he might have written that I said I was hopeful Downtown Madison Incorporated’s new committee would build dialogue and trust among the various stakeholders in our search for a plan that will encourage park use by ever more diverse populations. (Having said that, I was hopeful about forthcoming dialogue and trust, I couldn’t possibly have said that I hope DMI’s spring report will lead to a carousel in Peace Park.)

Before DMI’s committee begins to meet, Todd Jarrell would do well to understand that a crucial step in the formation of an effective, interesting district (one that’s larger than a single neighborhood) is the interweaving of relationships with people who enlarge public life beyond the neighborhood. If a district builds on potential assets and strengths instead of acting at cross-purposes to them, it cannot help but achieve lively, well-used streets and public spaces.

Jane Jacobs, a noted city planner, expresses what I see as the DMI committee’s task more eloquently than I could ever hope to:

“Conventionally, neighborhood parks or park-like open spaces are considered boons conferred on the deprived populations of cities. Let us turn this thought around, and consider city parks deprived places that need the boon of life and appreciation conferred on them.”

Trudy Barash, Canterbury Booksellers, Madison, Wis.

John Stauber discussed the dangers of genetically engineered foods with a concerned crowd Thursday night at Memorial Union. Stauber is a local activist and co-author of “Toxic Sludge is Good for You and Trust Us, We’re Experts.”

During his talk, he focused on Bovine Growth Hormones and their effects on cows as well as humans. BGHs are hormones that are injected into cows so that they produce more milk and can significantly increase the likelihood of mastitis, an infection in the udders of cows. The part that hits close to home is that as of Nov. 1, the university no longer distinguishes between BGH milk and BGH-free milk.

As a student who drinks a lot of milk, I find this appalling. I thought the university, being a respectable institution, would uphold the consumer’s right to know and decide what they drink. The reasons I am the most upset are the lack of testing done on BGHs for humans, as well as the fact that the university thought that no one really knew what they were drinking and tried to get away with it, as they probably will. I doubt I will ever drink Babcock Dairy Hall milk again.

Emily Miota, UW sophomore