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Letters to the editor

Uninformed consent

Editor:

Donna Wong's Daily Bruin article Nov. 14 ("Some question experimentation

on disabled psychiatric patients") raised disturbing questions about

ongoing anti-psychotic medication experiments conducted by Neuropsychiatric

Institute faculty on Unit 45 at Camarillo State Hospital and Developmental

Center.

This research, funded by a pharmaceutical firm (Janssen), was conducted

on the most vulnerable, mentally ill patient population. Yet the NPI

researcher's informed consents were egregiously deficient and did not meet

the basic requirements of state and federal regulations.

Following a lengthy investigation by the state of the tragic death of a

former USC student, the L.A. County Department of Mental Health has now

taken a strong and responsible action and barred any county "conservatee"

from participation in any such research.

We applaud the county's action and hope that the inadequate UCLA human

experimentation policies will be promptly corrected.

But now, the scientific integrity of the research has been called into

question. The California Department of Health Services issued a report Nov.

7, indicating that the Unit 45 patient who died, the former USC student,

was undergoing alterations in her medication regimen without scientific

research protocol.

Since preparing patients for the research was one of the most critical

phases of the research, the fact that this potentially dangerous phase of

the research was never reviewed by a human subject protection committee has

raised troubling doubts about the propriety of the entire research

enterprise.

In the words of bioethicist Jay Katz, M.D., J.D., " ... the caring

dimension of medicine also requires taking most seriously the idea that

research subjects possess human rights that are inviolate."Bob Aller

Patient Rights Network

Cop collision

Editor:

How ironic. Whereas today my main concern as a bicycle rider on campus

is avoiding pedestrians and bike thieves, on Jan. 1 my main fear will be

avoiding the police/revenue collectors.

Not only must bicycle riders pay the price, in the form of bike tickets,

for our university leaders' ineptitude in managing money, but now we have

to worry about the police stealing our bikes if they're not registered

("Bicycling Bruins brace for fines, restrictions," Nov. 16). I appreciate

the university's concern for my well-being, but if I wanted this intrusion

upon my life, I would go back to high school or to the world of Orwell's

"1984".

Before the university begins punishing people for riding and parking

their bikes on campus, they should first install more bike racks and

adequate bike paths throughout campus.

Traffic Sgt. James Alexander cites that during the entire 1994-95 school

year when over 30,000 students attended classes daily, there were a

whopping five bike-pedestrian collisions. All I can say is, if there isn't

a problem, please don't try to fix it with unnecessary fines and

policies.Brian Stannard

Second-year

English

Two-bit article

Editor:

I'm writing you in regard to the disturbing article I read in the Daily

Bruin by Yoni Tamler on Wednesday Nov. 15, 1995. Not only was his article

off base, but it was disturbingly sarcastic and disrespectful toward two

athletes at the top of their field, Andre Agassi and Pete Sampras. It is

blatantly apparent that Yoni Tamler is a two-bit journalist, incapable of

writing a serious articulate article, and thus must resort to trying to get

a few chuckles by demeaning others he does not even know.

Now I'd like to address Yoni Tamler's description of Pete Sampras'

"struggle to keep up with a paid extra wearing a UCLA tennis shirt." Yoni's

disrespectful comments reach beyond his references to Agassi and Sampras. I

happen to be the "paid extra".

What Yoni fails to realize is that with this article he magnifies his

ignorance as a so-called sports writer. Not only am I a current UCLA

varsity tennis player, which should have been easily recognized by the UCLA

tennis team shirt that I was wearing, but my ability to keep up with

Sampras should have shown that I am more than a scrub "paid extra".

Being the friend to Andre and Pete that I am, I was thoroughly

disappointed with the disrespect he showed toward them, on a personal

level. Both Andre and Pete showed nothing but appreciation toward UCLA and

its students.

Unfortunately, I was saddened to read in my school paper the berating of

them at such a personal level, i.e. sexual indiscretions toward Brooke

Shields.

In conclusion, this disgraceful piece of "journalism" is an

embarrassment toward UCLA and the Daily Bruin. I am appalled by Yoni

Tamler's writing style and his neglect of basic facts. At this point I am

demanding not only a retraction and an apology, but the dismissal of Yoni

Tamler's status as a sports journalist for the Daily Bruin.Justin "paid extra" Gimelstob

Second-year

Undeclared

Stand up, sit down ...

Editor:

I just got home from the UCLA men's basketball game against New City

Sports Foundation, and I am truly appalled by what I saw tonight: not by

the performance of the players - they were fantastic - but by the lethargic

"school spirit" that seemed to infect the Bruin student section.

Apparently, this year's ticket holders don't realize that our basketball

team is the defending national champion. Well, I do, and I'm not going to

stand for half-hearted fans. (But that's OK, I'll fit in with the rest of

the student section that was sitting the entire game!)

Here in Westwood, we play basketball with Bruin Pride - the same pride

that led us to Seattle and beyond. Tonight, I saw this pride in Jelani

McCoy, Brandon Loyd, Harold Sylvester and all the veteran players, but not

on the side of Pauley Pavilion. The alumni section, whom we can out-cheer

any day, was louder than we were! Pretty pathetic, guys.

OK, I'll give the students the benefit of the doubt. The past two games

were exhibition games. However, they are excellent opportunities to

brush up on the cheers, learn new ones, and practice standing on your feet

for two and a half hours straight.

Yes, Bruins, we do stand during the games. After all, the student

section really is the sixth man on the court. The team devotes all

their spirit and energy to winning for our school, let's return the favor

by putting the same spirit and energy into our cheering.

Here's a short test to see if you belong in the student section:

1.) Are you a student? If not, are you able to weasel your way down to

the student section?

2.) Can you recite "Frisbee's cheer" (hint: "Is this a basketball? ...

")?

3.) Without looking, can you recite each player's jersey number (brownie

points for knowing the new players' numbers)?

4.) Which famous sports caster should never be allowed to set foot in

Pauley again?

If you answered "yes" to questions 1-3 and "Dick Vitale" to question 4,

you are qualified to sit in the student section. If not, I know a few

people who are still looking to buy season tickets.

Lastly, I would like to apologize to the basketball players and the

coaching staff. For the effort you put out, you guys deserve the best

support that the students can give. You have renewed my faith in the

security of our National Championship title. In return, I pledge that under

the guidance of my fellow basketball die-hards and the Spirit Squad, the

student section will be up to last year's caliber in no time.

To the newcomers who need help learning Bruin basketball etiquette or

any of the cheers, you can find me in the front row. I'll be the blonde

who's cheering as loud as she can.Kimberly Babb

Alumna

Class of '95

Psychology