Letters

Wednesday, December 2, 1998

Letters

Relief aid needed for hurricane victims

The devastation that has been wrought upon Central America by
Hurricane Mitch has left untold suffering and economic devastation.
It is incumbent upon students and concerned UCLA community members
to do all we can to address the needs and suffering of the victims
of Hurricane Mitch.

To tell you a little of the humanity lost and the destruction
that has occurred (from the deadliest Atlantic storm in 200 years),
here are some statistics. As of Nov. 26, the storm had killed over
11,000 people.

In Honduras alone there are over 1 million homeless, 70 percent
of the country’s bridges have been destroyed, 60 percent of its
water system has been destroyed and 70 percent of its agriculture
has been destroyed.

In Nicaragua, there are over 2,000 dead, 750,000 homeless, and
over 1,800 missing.

Also, tens of thousands of people throughout the region have
fallen victim to malaria, respiratory and other infections.

People are already dying of hunger and malnutrition. The number
of dead continue to increase.

In order to address this need MEChA and the Community Programs
Office are coordinating a canned food and medical supplies
drive.

We have drop-off points around campus at the following places:
MEChA Office at 407 Kerkchoff Hall, Community Programs Office at
102 Men’s Gym, Cesar Chavez Center at 7449 Bunche Hall, 58 Haines
Hall, 5310 Rolfe Hall and Campbell Hall.

Please note, if you turn in cans at Student Union Operations on
the A level of Ackerman, you will receive a coupon for a free game
at X-Cape Arcade. Please donate generously!

Li’i Furumoto

Community and labor relations coordinator, MEChA de UCLA

Third-year

Asian American studies and Chicana/o studies

Dismantling of affirmative action commendable

The article "UCLA still lacks requirements for diversity
studies" by Joy McMasters (News, Nov. 15), along with many articles
printed within the Viewpoint section, attempt again to make the
case for "diversity" as being "knowledge." Statements such as these
provide absolutely no empirical data to support the position. Just
saying so does not make it true. It’s as if the writers feel that
opinions are formed by race or ethnicity.

That is racist thinking.

Atop the brief summary of the Ford "survey" appears the words
"Diversity is Knowledge" – then the results of this opinion poll
are given. This poll is not empirical data as to the educational
value of diversity. The issue of "diversity" is really a poorly
cloaked buzz word for preferences and special treatment a la
"affirmative action" for anyone other than European Americans.

Why hasn’t the Daily Bruin published the results of the Roper
Survey which shows that two-thirds of all college faculty do not
support preferences or special treatment for any group based upon
race, gender or ethnicity?

The points delineated in The Bruin are hollow and without merit.
Yes, there should be equal opportunity; no, there should not be
preferences.

A "diversity" requirement sounds like indoctrination and, no
doubt, will concentrate on blaming "whites" as usual.

In case you missed it, California and Washington have passed
resolutions against preferences; other states have their own
versions for the next election. The Daily Bruin exemplifies the
worst of what is commonly called "yellow journalism." No doubt,
this will not appear in your "letters" section.

Jonnie Hargis

Library staff

Maps and Government Information Library

Comments, feedback, problems?

© 1998 ASUCLA Communications Board[Home]