Semesters and bars have merits
In response to Shannon Hawkins’ letter “Semesters
give too much slack” (Viewpoint Nov. 21), having experienced
both semesters and quarters myself, I think semesters are better by
far. As an undergraduate at Georgetown University, the so called
“slack” time during semesters gave me and other
students a chance to explore Washington, D.C. and visit places such
as the Smithsonian museums. Quarters go by way too fast, restrict
the social life at UCLA, and don’t let students fully
appreciate what Los Angeles has to offer. They can enjoy
“efficient” lifestyles when they leave college and
start working.
Also, Madison’s is the best bar in Westwood and it would
be ridiculous if the city shut it down. All it needs is a better ID
checking process. Westwood Village could be more fun in general
with better development plans geared to the huge student population
next door, but some self-righteous people always want to stop
college kids from having fun.
Aidas Banaitis Graduate student, applied
mathematics
Premarital sex has consequences
I do agree with Shiva Bhaskar’s assertion that sex should
be discussed openly (“Sexual suppression sustains social
ills” Viewpoint Nov. 21), including teaching every important
fact there is to know about sex, even contraception. I also agree
that priests should be able to marry and have families so they can
have the experience of relationships and a healthy sex life.
Contrary to Bhaskar’s opinion, a healthy sex life
doesn’t include premarital sex, and premarital sex with
contraception education is not going to lower pregnancies or STD
rates. It doesn’t take a brain surgeon to figure out
contraception. Buy a pack of condoms or prescription of birth
control pills and follow the instructions.
One will also notice that those boxes have warnings posted
stating that these products are not fool proof. This is in addition
to the fact that the physiological purpose of sex is to procreate.
If you have sex, be ready for the possibility of a child.
Joe Groff Second-year, history
Team should be embarrassed
To the Bruin Football Team:
And I thought last year was bad. Saturday’s game was the
most disgusting, embarrassing experience I’ve had as a Bruin.
At least you guys got to hang out in the locker room after the
game, and didn’t have to listen to hordes of drunk, ugly
Trojan fans gloat in our stadium. The scary thing is that the game
was not nearly as close as the final score implied!
Everyone on the team owes us fans, who put our hearts into
supporting you, an apology. What a waste of our time and
energy.
Frankly, I’m tempted to root for Washington State in two
weeks ““ at least that way we won’t have to watch Trojan
red on the Rose Bowl field in January.
Bryan Peebler Alumnus, 1993
Time to send Toledo packing
My question: Why is Toledo still head coach? I don’t care
how many years he has left on the contract that we just re-upped
before Dalis left; it will be worth it to fire him and put anyone
in his place. He now has an unquestionably dismal record against
USC, and cannot win any meaningful game when he needs to.
My comment: Toledo should be fired. Our football team gets worse
under him, and is not prepared to play against any top opponent in
any big game. Miami? Wisconsin? USC? How many more times
does our university need to be humiliated before we learn our
lesson? The only person in Los Angeles who doesn’t want
him gone is Pete Carroll, because he knows as long as Toledo is
coach, USC will be able to beat us year after year.
Bill Lord Masters in education, 2002
Editorial hits the nail on the head
Hooray for the Daily Bruin Viewpoint! Your unsigned editorial,
“Homelessness in Westwood Exaggerated” (Nov. 22) was
brave and eloquent vis-a-vis the Westwood business owners’
contemptible views on the Westwood homeless. It is clear now that
those owners not only work against the interests of the student
population, but are also callous and socially irresponsible. They
scapegoat away their financial shortcomings on lack of parking and
homelessness, instead of on their lack of a real customer draw and
variation of businesses.
If Westwood businesses cannot attract customers with a
population of 40,000 students and professionals less than a mile
away, their problems far surpass the handful of Westwood
Village’s “resident” homeless people. I, for one,
have never avoided the Village or its businesses due to the
presence of homeless people. It’s now clear to me that there
are better reasons to avoid the Village.
Jason Fasi, Third-year, Spanish
President should be a visionary
The next president of the UC system should be a visionary leader
who demonstrates an unambiguous commitment to promote multicultural
access, to advance intellectual diversity, and to uphold the
law.
The California State Constitution mandates that there be no
preferences for or discrimination against any applicant for
university admission based on race, gender or ethnicity. The
successful candidate for the UC presidency should agree to uphold
that requirement without equivocation.
Charles Geshekter Professor of history California State
University, Chico