Letters

‘LISTSERV’ is trademark of L-Soft international

To the Editor:

I would like to address an error I observed in the letter to the editor that appeared in the September 2001 issue of The Voice. The letter was published under the headline, “Retired members of UUP develop new Web site, listserv.”

LISTSERV is the name of a specific mailing list management software product and is a trademark of L-Soft international Inc.; capitalization or other special designation should be used to demonstrate this fact in print. (See L-Soft’s comments on the subject at (http://www.lsoft.com/manuals/1.8d/user/user.html#1.1)

I manage the use of L-Soft’s product here at SUNY Albany, and I think any company deserves to be represented fairly in this respect. The generic term “mailing list” or something similar should have been substituted if the LISTSERV product is not actually being used in this case. (I assume that by “listserv” the letter is referring to an e-mail distribution list of some sort — the authors never specify.)

While I recognize the mistake didn’t necessarily originate with The Voice staff, I feel the letter should have been corrected before publication.

Thanks for taking this matter into consideration.

Kathy Montgomery
SUNY Albany

Buffalo has term limits

To the Editor:

The SUNY Buffalo chapter has had in place two consecutive, two-year term limits for chapter officers, four years total. A two-thirds vote of the full chapter membership would be required for change.

We are a large chapter, easing successful implementation. I and many others left our presidency under this requirement, and it is healthy for the chapter and for the individuals.

Term limits for officers are important for the health of the statewide union — a union with more than 21,000 members from which to draw.

Paul Zarembka
SUNY Buffalo