Friday, January 16

University correct to ‘fess up to its error


But union shouldn't use apology to force unreasonable demands on administration

EDITORIAL BOARD Editor in
Chief
 Timothy Kudo

Managing Editor
 Michael Falcone

Viewpoint Editor
 Cuauhtemoc Ortega

Staff Representatives
 Amanda Fletcher
 Kelly Rayburn
 Marcelle Richards
 Vytas Mazeika
 Corey McEleney
 Linh Tat

Editorial Board Assistants
 Maegan Carberry
 Edward Chiao

  Unsigned editorials represent a majority opinion of
the Daily Bruin Editorial Board. All other columns, letters and
artwork represent the opinions of their authors.   All
submitted material must bear the author’s name, address, telephone
number, registration number, or affiliation with UCLA. Names will
not be withheld except in extreme cases.   The Bruin
complies with the Communication Board’s policy prohibiting the
publication of articles that perpetuate derogatory cultural or
ethnic stereotypes.   When multiple authors submit
material, some names may be kept on file rather than published with
the material. The Bruin reserves the right to edit submitted
material and to determine its placement in the paper. All
submissions become the property of The Bruin. The Communications
Board has a media grievance procedure for resolving complaints
against any of its publications. For a copy of the complete
procedure, contact the Publications office at 118 Kerckhoff Hall.
Daily Bruin 118 Kerckhoff Hall 308 Westwood Plaza Los Angeles, CA
90024 (310) 825-9898

It’s rare, but UCLA acknowledged and apologized for one of
its mistakes.

After suspending Jonnie Hargis, a library assistant at the
Charles E. Young Research Library, for sending an e-mail message
criticizing what he called U.S.-supported apartheid policies in
Israel, the university has offered to restore him to full status,
pay his lost wages, and remove the disciplinary action from his
record.

But this doesn’t seem to be enough for the union that
represents Hargis. The Coalition of University Employees wants to
use the noose they have around the university’s neck to force
library staff into undergoing anti-discrimination training.

The university should not accept this excessive demand and CUE
should abandon its proposal. Library administrators were wrong in
suspending Hargis, but the university has reversed its action.
While it’s unfortunate that Hargis has to face unfriendly
behavior at work, it isn’t something the university can or
should control.

Hargis needs to realize fellow employees will resent his
controversial opinions, especially when he expresses them in public
forums, like radio shows. Hargis’ freedom of speech has to be
respected ““ but he also needs to respect others’
freedom to disagree and stop victimizing himself.

If the university is mature enough to admit and repair its
mistakes, Hargis should be mature enough to accept that apology and
get back to work.


Comments are supposed to create a forum for thoughtful, respectful community discussion. Please be nice. View our full comments policy here.