Letters to the Editor

Protesting isn't whining

Poor little Brendon Rapp (letter to the editor, April 27). It’s too bad that he didn’t learn how to do a little research before opening and closing that noise-hole he calls a mouth. Here is the information that he didn’t include:

He advised these organizations to follow in the footsteps of DEFCON and invite law enforcement to the meetings. Well, I have news for Brendon. Law enforcement was always invited and encouraged to join in.

I would much rather have a police officer at our events than no police officer to help keep order. But I am also not doing anything wrong. There is no reason to spy on us. Campus Peace has proclaimed on a weekly basis that law enforcement is welcomed to our meetings… just not undercover law enforcement.

We are also tired of the misappropriation of our tuition. Did he take the time to research that? Anti-terrorism should never be connected with higher learning. There is no way in which they ever coexisted.

What would he have rather us done? DEFCON overturned the federal agents by finding a way to expose them. Gee, what the hell do you think we’ve been doing?

Trying to get students to call, write, fax, etc. Welty’s office in efforts to expose him. None of us are crying.

We are progressing. This is something you learn to do with an educated mind. He should stop embarrassing himself. I suggest he go home and leave the space in the papers for the big boys and girls.

—Allan Spencer
Graduate Student

Debates at women's issues event

At the USU production on women’s issues with Veronica and Rachael from Road Rules and Real World, tempers flared, tensions ran high and clapping and shouting echoed from the auditorium.

In all the shouting, I think the points were lost. One point was, if the talk is about women in the media and the false images of women, why put sexual, glitzy pictures on the fliers?

Answer: The USU wanted to attract people, so it put those pictures on the fliers and failed to realize the blatant contradiction of its statements. Score one for USU advertising.

The second point: All the audience wanted to talk about was the shows and not the issues presented. A lot of the questions, especially toward the end, were essentially gossip questions. The final point was on whether girls with eating disorders or poor self-image would relate with the two speakers — not average-sized girls who have a little self image problem, but seriously overweight or undernourished girls who do horrible things to their bodies.

The answer, really, is no, for the same reason that a black woman would not relate to white man talking about racism against blacks in America. Even if the knowledge presented is true and the message is sound, it’s the perception of people that makes a difference.

If people perceive someone as not knowing what they have gone through, they refuse to listen. People are stubborn. Still, even if someone never had a disorder, it does not invalidate the message.

—Brandon Hamilton
Junior, biology

Property damage

Today, I returned from class and found another "wash me" on my vehicle. This has been a constant occurrence for the last few years at Fresno State.

My vehicle has been assaulted with scribblings, dents andscratchings. Does it have something to do with a van or four-wheel drive truck parked in a handicapped zone? Do I not look "handicapped" enough?

Is this the way Fresno State students make a statement? Or is handicapped parking "in the line of fire?” I don't have this problem anywhere else I go.

If you feel the need to make a statement, just write a note and put it under the windshield wiper or talk to me. Whathas happened to Fresno State students’ respect of other's property?

—JoAnn Skadden
Student