COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIPS FOR ABSTAINERS

Re: "College aid for vice-free students," Dec. 8 news story.

I heartily applaud Gov. Bill Owens' latest foray into educational
achievement and motivation. His suggestion that scholarships should be
offered to "vice-free" students is excellent. The list of vices
offered, however, is quite incomplete.

Students should also be denied educational scholarships (and
therefore, opportunities) if they have ever engaged in premarital sex,
if they do not attend church, if they have ever gotten a speeding
ticket, and especially if they think that they would one day support
the idea of gay marriage. After all, it's not possible to legislate
morality only partially. Such a proposal needs to be specific
regarding all of the "vices" students might be tempted by, and it
needs to make sure that young people lacking the morals of Gov. Owens
are denied chances for educational scholarships.

Furthermore, I am reassured to realize that no one in Owens' office
smokes, drinks or uses drugs. It is wonderful to know that such
upstanding, pure, unbiased people are serving the citizens of
Colorado. These are the stellar officials who are making the decisions
that are improving Colorado's educational landscape. Just like Owens'
scholarship proposal, Cole Middle School is another excellent example
of this decision-making.

Punitive, judgmental actions are always motivating to young people.
Just ask one of them.

Mary Vandeventer, Beaumont, Texas