Letters

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