Dear Editor,

Last Friday, Senator Jeff Smith had some interesting comments about the Kent State Folk Festival. I'd like to take this opportunity to respond to what he had to say.

First, Mr. Smith said the Folk Festival does not appeal to students and that artists who would appeal to students were not booked. This is simply not true. What Senator Smith does not understand is that booking an artist such as Jewel would cost All Campus Programming Board $75,000 alone just to bring her to campus -- this figure is more than the cost of the entire festival this year. With the current funding procedures, it's just not possible.

Secondly, there were acts booked this year for one purpose -- to bring in students. Friday, Tim Reynolds, from the Dave Mathews Band, was brought to Kent to create student awareness and participation. Saturday, Donna the Buffalo, was booked for the same reason.

If Senator Smith would have attended and supported the Kent State Folk Festival, he would have seen that both nights had a very strong student turnout.

The Kent State Folk Festival is the longest running original event on campus and it's the second longest running folk festival in the nation. For these reasons alone, it needs to be funded.

On a lighter note, I'd like to congratulate ACPB and their adviser, Tom Simpson, for a job well done. This year's event demonstrated that the Folk Festival can be enjoyed by the entire community of Northeast Ohio -- including KSU students.

Chris Boros

Radio-TV, Senior Production

* TOWN/GOWN MEETING

I was disappointed to read about a Stater reporter being told it was inappropriate for her to attend a recent informal dinner gathering of the Town/Gown Council (Stater, 9/9/98). This troubles me as a member of the original Town/Gown Relationship Committee, as a journalist, as a Kent State University graduate and active alumna, and most importantly, as a resident and taxpayer in the city of Kent and state of Ohio.

If the purpose of the council continues to be "to strengthen the relationship between Kent State University and the community of Kent," it's unclear to me how closing its doors to the public will enhance its mission, particularly when the current council is trying to renew interest in a cause that has temporarily fallen by the wayside.

When I was asked to serve on the original Town/Gown committee in 1995 (at the invitation of a university representative) it was because of my role as a reporter whose job it was to relay information to the public. It's ironic and unfortunate that, at least on the surface, this most recent incident gives the impression that the press is not welcome for the very same reason.

To debate whether or not it is legal for the Town/Gown Council to meet behind closed doors is not the issue, but rather should the council do so in light of its purpose and goals. It's my hope that future meetings are held in the same spirit of openness and improved communication under which the council was created.

Ann Marie Halal

B.A., News, 1993

* PARKING ISSUES

Dear Editor,

It was very disappointing to see a parking issue make the Stater headlines and yet I nor any of my colleagues in Commuter and Off-Campus Student Organization (COSO) were ever interviewed. So I would like to address the issues that were brought up in the article.

Tom Clapper suggested that students living close to campus be restricted to buying only a parking pass for after 4 p.m. This might sound like a good idea bit it simply will not work. I live in College Park, and therefore would be restricted from buying a day parking pass. All I would have to do is give them my home address and I would have a day parking permit. So that option is obviously not going to last long. Also, if this idea was used, would it be fair to allow students who live in the residence halls to park on campus? After all they are in much closer walking distance to classes than most students who live off-campus.

The question of building a parking deck is an expensive one. COSO plans to do a survey this year to find out if commuters would be willing to pay extra for better parking.

Finally, I would like to invite any and all commuter students who see parking as a serious problem to join us in Room 122A of the Student Center, or call 672-3105.

Lewis G. Piper.

Executive director of COSO