Letters
Putting things into perspective
Editor:
B. Roderick Spilman's March 2 letter to the editor, "Silent no more?" regarding "perverted homosexuals ... defacing this campus" is prefaced "this is not an anti-gay letter," but it clearly reveals a homophobic agenda.
Why does graffiti expressing same-sex sexuality bother him when he never mentions the rampant racist, sexist and homophobic graffiti in bathroom stalls? It is sad that the expression of sexuality disgusts him, while cruel and ignorant language does not.
Furthermore, one butt-pinching incident is nothing compared to the blatant sexism and harassment many women must encounter during their lifetimes. I must say, it's humorous and ironic that a homophobic alumnus who still hangs out at the video arcade got goosed. I would never encourage sexual harassment or the invasion of another's personal space, but I wish Spilman would put things into perspective before he attacks same-sex graffiti as a major problem on this campus.
Jeremy Lin
Junior
Theater
Still tracing familial ties to Africa
Editor:
I just wanted to thank Kendra Fox-Davis for her articulate, insightful response ("Naming oneself: essential to cultural survival," March 1) to Matthew Baker's Feb. 24 counterpoint, "Political correctness factionalizes society." She put into words my anger as I was reading his article.
I am the descendant (on my paternal grandmother's side) of a man renamed Charles Hillary who was brought over on a slave ship from Portuguese West Africa. His wife died during the journey. Contrary to Baker's assertion, many Americans of African descent can trace definable familial ties to the African continent.
Alva Moore Stevenson
UCLA Oral History Program
Gender equity? Maybe not ...
Editor:
This is in response to the Feb. 24 news article, "Lack of female faculty prompts inquiries." The university's problem isn't that it lacks female faculty, but that it lacks professors who are able to teach material in a comprehensive way. The only "underrepresentation" at this university is that of top-quality professors.
Please do not assume I am against female faculty members, but I'm tired of hearing the terms "gender inequality" and "sexual imbalance" when referring to faculty. I don't care whether my professor is male, female, black, white or whatever; but I do care if he/she can teach. What the university should do is get rid of underqualified faculty and bring in a skilled faculty to serve the needs of the student population.
Just because a professor has a Ph.D. doesn't mean that he/she can educate students. How many times must a student sit through a lecture and not understand the material, not because of the student's comprehensive abilities, but because the professor sucks?
If the majority of good professors are male, then so be it. If the majority of bad professors are male, then it's time to change.
George Lopez
First-year student
Mechanical Engineering
Renewing ties of yesterday
Editor:
I had the distinct pleasure of meeting Daily Bruin editor-in-chief Matea Gold at the first Daily Bruin Alumni Reunion meeting Feb. 25, and want to convey my thanks for her expert "indoctrination tour" of the Daily Bruin offices for us "old timers." It brought back many fond memories of my Daily Bruin tenure of the mid-'30s, when typewriters were "in" and computers virtually unknown. But the spirit and camaraderie are the same, and I felt that I once again belonged.
The journalistic spirit still courses through my veins (I have done some freelance writing over the years) ... I guess I'll never lose it.
Please extend my appreciation to members of the Daily Bruin alumni who threw that great party Saturday at the Alumni Center. I renewed more than a few (very) old acquaintances ... it was warm and wonderful and nostalgic. I hope there will be more.
Renewing the ties of yesterday helps strengthen the resolve of today and makes us feel we are still a part of the action. If you see fit to print this letter, please send me that Daily Bruin I like to feel I am still "on assignment" for the Daily Bruin ... after 60 years.
P.S. Keep up the good work!
Irv Gottschalk
The Daily Bruin,
Assistant Sports Editor, 1936
UCLA, Class of '37