Special Letter from the Editor

An influx of responses to the July 8 editorial “UC must
respect human rights, divest,” indicates a significant number
of readers have confused the difference between news coverage and
editorials. There is also misunderstanding as to the nature of the
Daily Bruin’s relation to the university.

An editorial represents the position a newspaper takes on an
issue and is meant as just one perspective the public can use in
developing its own viewpoint on current events. The opinion of the
editorial board does not carry over to our news coverage; we report
our news as fairly as possible, independent of editorial
positions.

The Bruin is not a mouthpiece for the university or any entity
therein. A number of readers have threatened to withdraw donations
to the university, not permit their children to attend UCLA, and to
return their degrees to Murphy Hall in protest because of opinions
recently expressed by the editorial board. Readers should realize
the university and the Bruin are independent ““ the views
expressed in editorials belong to the editorial board, not the
university. As such, the editorial board’s views will not
change because readers threaten to pit the university against
it.

Last week’s editorial ““ which called for the
University of California’s divestment from businesses in
Israel ““ should not be misinterpreted as an endorsement of
violence against Israel. The editorial stated the board did not
support violence by either side in the conflict. It said the board
would support divestment if a Palestinian state serving as a host
to both UC investments and human rights violations existed.