Week’s speakers aim for violence, not
peace I am deeply concerned about the choice of speakers
chosen to headline this week’s programming, “Israel and
Palestine: Obstacles to Peace.” Amir Abdel Malik is a radical
who supports the suicide bombings of the Isreal-Palestine conflict,
according to the Spartan Daily. He also supports the Hamas
government and has advocated an Islamic revolution, according to
the East Bay Express. Norman Finkelstein made his name accusing
Jews of manipulating the Holocaust for political and economic gains
and is quoted by Holocaust revisionists for support. According to
his own Web site, Finkelstein has also shown solidarity with
Hezbollah, a terrorist organization that continues to assault
Israel and threaten U.S. interests. Why have student groups chosen
such speakers for events that are supposedly meant to confront the
issue of peace? David Fischel Third-year, mathematics and
applied science
UC deserves a lawsuit for robbing students
Theft by any other name is still theft. University of California
administrators stole $334 million from Californians, paid it to
their colleagues, and raised student fees to cover the budget cuts.
I expect administrators will spin this by saying how complicated
the processes are and how it’s necessary to attract top
talent. Well, it’s not complicated: Administrators betrayed
the public’s trust. And the UC Board of Regents merely
slapped them on the wrist. The UC president has acknowledged his
responsibility. Does this mean he’s going to pay back the
money owed to students? Either criminal prosecution, a class-action
lawsuit, or both are justified to recover the funds. Lou
Moffett Parent of a UC Santa Barbara student