Letters

Barari commentary hurtful

As a soon-to-be graduate of the Information Studies program, I
was saddened and disappointed that you chose to print Sony
Barari’s submission “Library science degree: file that
under “˜stupid'” in the March 8 edition of the
Daily Bruin. Reading this kind of uninformed, scathing, sweeping
and hurtful commentary about a group of hard-working, dedicated and
professional people printed in the UCLA paper is irresponsible
journalism and just plain wrong.

Barari is entitled to his opinions about our profession,
however uninformed and untrue, and I as a future information
professional will defend his freedom of speech. But for it to
be sanctioned by your paper without redress is unfair.

Printed apologies in your paper are in order, both from you
and from him. This would serve as one way for us
to defend ourselves from the misinformed and ugly things
he has written and you have printed about people you both
clearly know very little about.

Sadly, this article follows on the heels of other
misrepresentations of our department in your paper. Recently,
articles in the Bruin surrounding the controversy of having first
lady Laura Bush, MLS 1973, University of Texas at Austin, as
a speaker for our school’s commencement (Education and
Information Studies) contained zero representation from any
member of the Information Studies department.

Make amends and let our opinions be heard in
your paper for once.

Alissa Flynn Morel Library and Information
Studies

Information professionals are committed to
excellence

I am a student of the Information Studies Department which was
the subject of Sony Barari’s (poor) parody in the Daily Bruin
(“Library science degree: file that under
“˜stupid,'” March 8).

However, I feel that the most egregious error in this matter is
the Daily Bruin’s decision to publish the piece. Publishing
such a piece speaks to shoddy journalistic values, poor editorial
judgement or laziness.

I cannot fathom the justification for printing it as written, as
it can easily be mistaken as sincere.

It does nothing to further discussion, discourse or
enlightenment of the information professions or public
misconceptions of those professions.

And, at the simplest level, it just isn’t funny.

It would be nice if we could count on you, the editors, to
actually live up to your title, and use some critical thinking and
expertise in editorial writing to make the Daily Bruin a paper
worth reading.

I am proud to be a part of the Information Studies Department
and a profession committed to expertise in information. It is a
profession courageous enough to be committed to sharing our
expertise with all those users, effectively a professional life
spent trying to make our jobs obsolete! No room for shrinking
violets here.

Shauna Redmond Library and Information
Studies

Don’t stereotype librarians

I wonder why Sony Barari looks for academic programs to slander
when he clearly could be better using his time to improve his
grades?

I am a 29-year-old male graduate of UCLA’s Library and
Information Science program, not a “socially inept housewife
who needs a little extra income to help out around the
homestead.”

Before you begin to perpetuate stereotypes about librarians and
fill up Daily Bruin space with your drivel, might I suggest doing
some research to support your viewpoint?

It just might make more of an impact on the reader if you can
support what you’re saying with facts.

If you need help with your research, please ask a librarian.
We’ll be happy to help ““ even you.

Steve Sloan UCLA alumnus