Media, Bruin needs to present all sides
UCLA has a long history of being much too liberal. This has
caused the university and its organizations to try to please
everyone. Get over it! In the real world, you will not always get
your way.
I read both the advertisement by the Independent Women’s
Forum published by the Daily Bruin on April 18 and the article
about the turmoil it is causing on campus(“Women’s
groups demand apology from Bruin for ad,” Daily Bruin, News,
May 17).
According to Christie Scott, executive co-chair of the
Clothesline Project, the ad is “violent in nature and is
presented in … a hostile way.” I actually had to re-read
the advertisement to make sure we were reading the same thing.
Nowhere in the ad did I notice anything that could be construed as
“hostile” or “violent.” Instead, I simply
found views that oppose those of Scott.
I am very impressed that Editor in Chief Christine Byrd has
refused to retract the ad or issue an apology. I am sorry to hear,
however, that she would not have run the ad if it was
“inciting as much controversy as was the Horowitz ad.”
Byrd is saying that the views of the most vocal group will be the
views expressed in her publication.
If there had been an uproar prior to printing the ad, Byrd
implies that she would not have run the ad. This is exactly what
happened at the Daily Bruin with the Horowitz piece.
The calls to retract or refuse ads like this one or the
reparations ad by David Horowitz are blatant attempts to censor
views that differ from the views of the most vocal minorities. I
think it is bad enough that most media venues will not release a
story with the same content as the IWF’s ad or
Horowitz’s ad without being paid.
What happened to the impartiality of the media and giving equal
time to both sides? (Or, even better, why not go back to just
reporting the facts ““ you know, the five “Ws”
““ and omitting all emotionally charged words.)
My advice to students who want an apology or retraction when
someone says something they do not like is to stay in school as
long as possible ““ you are not ready for the real world.
Dave Jones Class of 1995
Women must seek liberation in other ways
I find it ironic that UCLA, as one of the best universities in
the United States that admits the best and the brightest female
students who have the potential to be community leaders, encourages
the same students to be selfish by seeking sexual liberation within
them.
By allowing Chez Shadman’s column to be published (“Ladies,
it’s high time you became friends with your clitoris,”
Daily Bruin, Viewpoint, May 18), the university is
collaborating with the author’s opinion that sexual
liberation may be achieved through masturbation. This is indeed
pathetic and pitiful.
Given all other things we are trying to do to elevate women,
amidst enormous media propaganda that does violence to them and
treats them as no more than sex objects, this advice is certainly
not at all useful. We don’t need any more of this media
downgrading.
Can’t women just raise their banners and declare to the
world, “yes, we have the power to be sexually liberated by
expressing our femininity in our ability for generous self-giving
to others!” Women have the unique set of qualities that make
them sensitive to others’ needs, that make them great
mothers, community leaders, teachers and doctors.
Each woman should be able to give a valuable contribution to the
society by giving her time to others. Let her take the lead and not
be deceived by those who say that pleasure is to be found within
oneself.
Let each woman take the challenge of finding her own sexual
liberation by being a radical in fleeing from the insinuations of
the “me” generation that is so pervasive in our
culture.
Caroline R. Torio Office of Instructional Development
UCLA
Diversity not essential part of education
How dare the Daily Bruin Editorial Board write as if they can
represent the entire population of the state of California and the
student population of the UC system (“There’s
still work to be done now that SP-1, 2 are gone,” Daily
Bruin, Viewpoint, May 22). I for one do not support affirmative
action but that’s not why I’m writing.
I’m writing in response to the belief that the United
States should be run in an undemocratic/unrepublic manner where the
minority of the people change the will of the majority.
Proposition 209 was passed by California voters. That’s
it. Anything else is just loser talk. It doesn’t matter what
you believe and how hard anyone protesting whined about how unfair
it is. You don’t vote; you don’t count. If you make the
argument that you couldn’t vote at the time, tough cookies;
you could’ve had your parents vote for you. It’s not as
if they were going to vote anyway, so a push from their
politically-minded kid might get them to the polling places.
Just because you don’t like it doesn’t mean law
makers should repeal it. If you want it repealed, send it back to
the voters to see what they want. That’s how our country
works. If lawmakers just decided to repeal Proposition 209, that
just undermines the concept that they are supposed to represent the
will of the people.
Lastly, I want to address the concept that higher education
should be a melting pot of culture and diversity. That’s
simply not true. Everyone came here to learn, not to be submerged
in diversity. That’s also what the taxpayers expect school
funds to be used for ““ on education, not diversity.
So, how does it work out that the state should allocate $30
million to diversity programs instead of an Institute of Science
and Innovation? When did outreach and retention become “vital
student services?” If some people want both, that’s
fine too but don’t let education take a back seat to
diversity.
I came here for the education, along with a lot of other people.
If someone came here just for the diversity and does not like the
way things are being done, you’re either in the wrong place
or you can do something about it.
However, by doing something, I don’t mean whine until you
get what you want ““ that’s what small children do. I
mean, be intelligent about it; sit down with your
“opposition” and talk it out like adults because, only
then, does the other side listen.
Ritchie Buenviaje First-year Electrical
Engineering