Rumsfeld cartoon offensive, degrading
I am incredibly offended by Alex Hoffman’s editorial
cartoon (Viewpoint, May 13), which attempts to compare the human
rights abuses against Iraqi prisoners to the political pressure
affecting Donald Rumsfeld. I understand political cartoonists often
exaggerate to get their points across, but to suggest that
Rumsfeld’s treatment is in any way similar to the degrading
and humiliating treatment of the Iraqi prisoners is to further
dishonor their humanity ““ an act similar to haphazardly using
the terms Nazi and Holocaust.
Randy Bautista Fourth-year, computer science and
engineering
USAC elections are popularity contests
Being a freshman, it seems like the Undergraduate Students
Association Council elections are like high school politics, with a
little more effort, time and money going into campaigning. It still
seems like it’s a popularity contest, primarily because of
the way the elections are done through MyUCLA and the amount of
fliers people are bombarded with.
What bothers me most is online voting. Though it is convenient,
I feel like it may lead to careless voting on the part of
individuals who arbitrarily choose a candidate. Having done my
research, I feel like I made wise decisions on who will be best for
the jobs. But this may not be the case for all people who vote
online.
With this is mind, people are more likely to vote for the more
“popular” candidates, whose names they’ve seen or
heard more, without actually knowing their views or plans.
Elections should be done by polling, where individuals who really
care about the issues go out and vote at a location on campus. This
will allow people who actually care about USAC to vote for
candidates who will best represent their visions.
Mona Amin First-year, psychobiology
McDonald’s should replace Taco Bell
I agree with the editorial “Taco Bell’s disrespect
for students unacceptable” (Viewpoint, May 13). Although the
tacos I get almost every other day don’t contain tomatoes, I
feel strongly for the tomato pickers who are working under unfair
labor practices. It’s time to bring a new, cheap fast food
chain to UCLA. I suggest McDonald’s. In fact, the dollar menu
suits students perfectly.
Alex Chao Second-year, materials
engineering
Submission exhibits liberal brainwashing
Professor Robert Watson’s submission “Shattered
Shapiro: Author of flimsy exposé in league with Blair,
Glass” (Viewpoint, May 12) is a perfect example of what
Shapiro is referring to when he claims liberal professors impose
their ideology and politics on students at UCLA.
Regardless of whether the professor has a point, students with
opposing views should feel threatened because they witness a
professor criticize current students for making their own views
heard. Is it fair that because of his submission many students more
right-wing than Watson may choose to avoid his classes so as not to
be a victim of his “true colors”?
Michael Moskovitz First-year, undeclared