Helping create a seamless
education system in the state
Thanks to Cityview and Nick Fetty
for a great article (“To College
and Beyond,” June 25). The article
sheds light on an exciting new
program administered by the Iowa
College Student Aid Commission
on behalf of Governor Culver —
GEAR UP Iowa.
Funded by a $16.8 million Federal
grant, GEAR UP (Gaining Early
Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate
Programs) is charged with significantly
increasing the number of low-income
students who are prepared to enter
and succeed in postsecondary education.
The program encourages young people
to have high expectations, study
hard and pursue success in college.
GEAR UP Iowa will work closely
with our partners to create a
seamless K - 16 educational systems
in the state. Development of a
shared agenda and action plan
to improve college readiness in
local communities; increased collaboration,
joint programming and local policy
initiatives among partnership
members; and collaboration among
community-based partners to provide
a wealth of supplemental services
to students and families outside
of “school time” are the stepping
stones toward realization of the
premise that with the right approach,
all students in Iowa can attend
and succeed in college.
John E. Gilman
GEAR UP Iowa Program Planner
(For more information on the GEAR
UP Iowa program, call 725-3406.)
Big talk for a tiny man
For North Korean dictator Kim
Jong Il, regarding his threat
to bomb Hawaii on July 4, a response
in kind — Who’s afraid of the
big bad wolf, nyah nyah nyah nyah
nyah.
Jennifer Nosbisch
Des Moines
No more tributes for
the ‘King of Pop’
Michael Jackson, the “King of
Pop,” is dead. The media has been
an endless player piano roll extolling
his memory — he sang, he danced
and he grabbed his genitals. His
act was an endless jejune road
show with screaming fans swaying
like lemmings as he waved a sequined
glove. Oh, but he was a genius
on, and especially off, stage.
Who other than a brilliant “King
of Pop” could admit to inviting
young boys into his bed for “sleepovers”
after a hit of “Jesus Juice?”
What average person would bribe
parents to keep quiet about pimping
their kids to a middle aged man?
What other millionaire pop star
could speak publicly in a
phony, high-pitched voice calculated
to maintain his bogus man/child
chiaroscuro? The king has been
dispatched — no more tributes.
And please, no one light an eternal
flame. We need to conserve energy.
Gary Wilson
Des Moines
Thanks for making a little
girl cry
I recently returned from the North
Side Branch Library. Until just
that minute when I walked up to
the automatic doors did I have
any idea that the branch would
not open until 1 p.m. For me that
is no big deal. However at the
same time that I arrived another
fellow and what appeared to be
his granddaughter approached.
When the little girl learned the
library was not open it broke
her heart.
I am sure the change in opening
times is due in part to summer
vacation schedules for library
employees. I am also equally certain
that the change in library opening
times is due to budgetary constraints.
Of course the library and all
other city departments would have
adequate funds if we in the neighborhoods
were not forced into subsidizing
all the tax credited, tax forgiven
and tax increment funded development
projects in downtown for the well
heeled and well connected.
I understand this. But a little
girl does not. Thank you, Public
Library of Des Moines, the city
council, Polk County, the State
of Iowa and the United States
government for our skewed, regressive
tax system that is ruining an
economy and making a little girl
cry.
Bob Jewett
Des Moines
Correction: In last week’s Belly
Up column (“Sinners & Saints
Rock Bar,” July 25) we mistakenly
reported one of the owners name
as Brian Naddy. The correct spelling
is Brian Maddy.
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