Letters
Multicultural bridge-building
Editor:
In reference to the article in the Dec. 2 Daily Bruin entitled, "Enough about race already!," we as members of the Multicultural Society would like to clarify our position.
We agree with the writer's ideal of attempting to judge all people as individuals. However, we presently believe there are certain steps that must be taken to better achieve this goal. It is our belief that prejudice still exists today in society. As prejudice has been theorized by many as being a product of ignorance, it becomes extremely important to rid our society of ignorance. It therefore becomes necessary to use vehicles of education and personal interaction to combat ignorance, and with it help to break down harmful prejudices. We believe that it is after one has worked to alleviate prejudice, negative stereotypes and tension that people can fully judge an individual person by "the content of their character," as Dr. King once dreamed.
Unfortunately, in our society there is not a great deal of opportunity for this type of understanding and interaction of people from diverse backgrounds.
We believe that the Multicultural Society provides a necessary forum for this type of understanding and interaction. Through organizing different speakers, field trips, discussions and cultural events we hope to illuminate people's cultural differences and similarities to a diverse audience. In addition, we hope the Multicultural Society helps to initiate positive personal interaction across racial and ethnic lines.
In America, minority cultures tend to get lost within mainstream society. Maintaining culture and tradition is important for a number of reasons. If culture is lost it loses with it diversity in art, music, food, history, customs and dance. If these aspects of culture are lost it would create a more monotonous and less interesting society to live in.
In addition, culture and ethnicity help to shape an individual's identity. As one of our first speakers stated, an individual is composed of a variety of different characteristics, which include ethnicity, gender, class, sexuality, culture, etc. In order to truly understand an individual, it is important to explore and appreciate these characteristics.
The American culture should not be made up of one core culture, but rather, of coexisting diverse cultures with bridges connecting them. It is the goal of the Multicultural Society to not only help create a more comfortable atmosphere for coexistence, but also to help be part of building these bridges.
Andi Meck
David Silver
Members, UCLA Multicultural Society
Advertising blasphemy
Editor:
I am writing in response to the blasphemous Campus Events advertisement in the Dec. 5 Daily Bruin which displayed a picture of Jesus Christ on one side and the bands Fitz of Depression and Karp on the other.
I am one of many Christian students at this school who was brought up with a strong religious background and a strong personal reverence for the man who, in the ad, was depicted as, "some holy guy." My complaint, however, is not simply that as a Catholic I was personally offended, for I've come to accept the persecution that goes along with having strong convictions. No, my problem with this ad is that an obvious religious symbol was blatantly disrespected and, worst of all, it was done with my registration fees.
Such acts of disrespect, whether against Christians or Muslims or Jews or any group, are not appropriate in a student newspaper, especially from a student-funded organization like Campus Events on such a religiously diverse campus as UCLA.
If ads like these are allowed to be printed, it can only lead to further separation among students and will give the university an ugly label of being bigoted and insensitive toward students' religious beliefs. As a member of this university community, I don't wish to have that negative label associated with me.
A mistake as obviously offensive as this one should not be allowed to slip by without some sort of an apology. The name of that "holy guy" is Jesus Christ. Believe what you choose, but I refuse to sit quietly while my Father is publicly blasphemed.
Mike Warren
Second year
History
Clarification
Editor:
The article that appeared in the Daily Bruin on Nov. 22 regarding the UCLA Neuropsychiatric Hospital is inaccurate and misleading.
First and foremost, the Neuropsychiatric Hospital has not been placed on probationary status by the Joint Commission on the Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO).
A "special one-day survey" was conducted by the commission in June 1994. At that time, a surveyor reviewed a small sampling of patient charts focusing on a single patient complaint and reported on his preliminary findings in September 1994. The Neuropsychiatric Hospital reviewed the accreditation commission's preliminary report and identified a number of significant inaccuracies. We subsequently requested a review by the commission. In addition, we have filed a statement of mitigation for the accreditation committee in response to the June 29 findings.
At this time, the Accreditation Committee is reviewing UCLA's response. As such, UCLA Neuropsychiatric Hospital has not been placed on probationary status as your article indicated. It should be further noted that, as an organization, the Neuropsychiatric Hospital is extraordinarily committed to meeting and exceeding the standards set forth by the accreditation commission. The 1992 survey results reveal that commitment.
In June 1994 the Neuropsychiatric Hospital held a two-day consultative review in preparation for the 1995 survey and is well on the way to full implementation of new 1995 accreditation standards. The Neuropsychiatric Hospital looks forward to a collaborative interaction with the Joint Commission on the Accreditation of Health Care Organizations.
Don Rockwell, M.D.
Director, UCLA Neuropsychiatric Hospital