Toledo must ride wave out of UCLA
I am a UCLA alumnus from Jan. 1963 and I live in Washington
State University Cougar country. I proudly display Bruin license
plate frames and have a vanity plate, “UCLALUM,” on my
sports car. Losing to WSU was bruising, but the 27-0 loss on
Saturday to the Spoiled Children was totally embarrassing.
It’s hard to believe that just a short month ago we were
in the position for a national championship. Today we’re just
another 6-4 team that arguably doesn’t even deserve to be
considered for a postseason bowl. National embarrassment should be
avoided, and the way the players have been performing certainly
doesn’t resemble what a “team” signifies; the
fault lies with the head coach, Mr. Bob Toledo.
The guys have certainly lost the discipline and desire so
readily apparent in successful programs. Undoubtedly we have the
talent, but it takes a real leader to assemble that talent, point
it in the right direction, give the necessary respect to the
players, and encourage them to do their best.
That has been patently absent the past four games. I feel sorry
for those who have played their hearts out, especially the seniors.
What a way to go out, especially after such a promising beginning.
If this season were an aberration, that would be one thing. But
remember 1998?
It’s time to get a new leader ““ someone the kids
will respect and someone who has the best interests of our players
foremost in their plans. I’m tired of being embarrassed.
Larry Lengyel Alumnus Class of 1963
Epstein needs to get a clue
Adam Epstein’s latest column (“Admissions
times call for drastic measures,” Daily Bruin, Nov. 15)
proves the damage that not having affirmative action has wrought on
the University of California, and justifies the importance of
having a comprehensive review.
The fact that someone at UCLA could be so oblivious to the most
fundamental aspects of sociology and history is a mystery to
me.
Adam: we’re not all created equal as your fourth-grade
teacher probably indoctrinated in you. People who face difficulties
in life that are beyond their power are affected academically. If
they could otherwise perform at advanced academic levels when
removing those socioeconomic barriers, then why not admit them into
the university?
Simply put, if the kids who need a comprehensive review were in
your shoes they could perform at your level or even exceed your own
performance. Why deny the university this academic gold? It’s
the job of the university to seek out the most talented, and that
talent is often obscured by social barriers.
What if there were a gifted chemist in a poor high school and
she had to work 40 hours a week to feed her family? Wouldn’t
that take a toll on her GPA and SAT scores? Would you deny entrance
to a gifted student just because she didn’t have the money to
have the luxury to study all day like you probably did to get into
this university? Your simplistic approach to the need for
admissions reform is as ridiculous as your writing.
You build up this scenario asking students who are at the
university to leave in order to admit “less qualified
students.” That’s not what admissions reform does
““ read the paper and maybe you’ll get a clue ““
and maybe you’ll stop unnecessarily victimizing yourself.
Sophia Smith Second-year Undeclared
Daily Bruin misses important event
As a first year student here at UCLA, I, like many other
first-years, have come to admire the Daily Bruin for its world news
reports, editorials and coverage of campus events. But when I read
the Daily Bruin on Tuesday, Nov. 12, I was very disappointed
because there wasn’t even a word in it about the American
Israel Public Affairs Committee conference that took place at UCLA
on Sunday, Nov. 11. The conference attracted more than 150 students
from more than 10 Arizona and California universities, including
UCLA.
AIPAC is considered to be the second most powerful political
action committee in the United States. AIPAC provides students with
accurate information about the current events in the Middle East
and developments on Capitol Hill, and additionally, participates in
numerous study sessions dealing with issues like the Middle East
peace process and the fight against international terrorism.
U.S.Rep. Diane Watson (D-Calif.) addressed students by speaking
about the current war on terrorism and the relationship between the
United States and Israel.
That same day the Daily Bruin ran the article, “Experts on
terrorism meet in small on-campus forum” (Daily Bruin, News,
Nov. 13). The article described how only 20 students showed up to
hear a panel of terrorism experts at the Northwest Campus
Auditorium, which holds more than 300 people.
I have no problem with the Daily Bruin covering this event, but
it really saddens me when an event of such much greater magnitude
as the AIPAC conference received no coverage at all.
I sincerely hope that this was the first and last time the Daily
Bruin disappointed me.
Koby Rehman First-year Undeclared