Letters to the editor

Fees, war should not be combined

I was not particularly impressed with Wednesday’s protest
against possible war with Iraq. Beyond various misspellings
(Iraquis), advertisements for Jamba Juice and disturbing those of
us still in class, there seemed to be an overall sentiment of
misdirection rather than dissatisfaction. While I fully endorse
public protest as a means of voicing frustration or attempting to
sway public opinion, poor organization, poorly spelled signs and
advertisements that have probably been ripped off give the
impression that those protesting are uninformed, anarchic
opportunists rather than informed individuals making a social
critique.

I also feel that linking the two issues of possible war and
student fee increases to be rather senseless, and even insensitive.
There’s a huge difference between paying another dollar per
month for parking and thousands of potential deaths in a
destructive war. If protesters want to be taken seriously, then
perhaps they should protest their issues more seriously, rather
than appearing to use the time as a mere excuse to miss class.

Joel Moore Fifth-year, political science

Protesters are contradictory

As I sat in class Wednesday, I heard shouts and commotion coming
from outside, and I knew it was 11:15 a.m. I stayed seated.

And as I sat reading Charles Proctor’s piece on the
walkout “Students take a step toward peace” (News,
March 6), I wondered about the contradictions some of the
protesters were spewing forth.

David Chang, director of the Asian Pacific Coalition, said
“We’re demanding our education be prioritized over
war.”

Out of curiosity, how does walking out of a class during ninth
week show Chang’s and the other protesters’ priority of
education over war?

Anastasia Sotiropulos Fourth-year, Italian and art
history

Destruction is not effective protest

While I can certainly understand people’s passion about
the war issue, I cannot make peace with a generation which views
destruction of property as a constitutional right of free
speech.

I believe I can safely assume that those who oppose the
possibility of war by protesting are attempting to make a
humanitarian statement. If that is true, their avenue of protest is
anything but.

This past weekend I accompanied a dozen UCLA students who took
three hours out of their Sunday afternoon to remove graffiti from
the streets of the North Village. Included among the dozens of
stickers and illegal handbills were spray-painted anti-war slogans
on many of our street signs.

The city spends in excess of $15,000,000 each year to remove
graffiti.

What a waste. Just think of what that money could be financing:
after school programs, meals for hungry children, medical aid,
homeless shelters, you name it. Funding of such programs is truly
humanitarian.

But instead, it goes to combating the effects of vandalism.

These protesters/vandals should find a more constructive and
mature way to voice their opinions and be part of the solution,
instead of compounding the problems.

Shelley Taylor President, Founder North Village
Improvement Committee