Letter to the editor
By Daily Bruin Staff
Jan. 11, 2005 9:00 p.m.
Conformity a bad reason for diversity
In a Jan. 11 editorial (“Diversity requirement deserves
solid conclusion”), the editorial board states that
“most students would have likely taken an approved class
regardless” if diversity requirement passed or not. They
claimed the requirement’s only worth “was largely
symbolic.”
But then the editorial goes on to state that “making
diversity part of the curriculum will give structure and meaning to
… students.”
I’m sorry, but you cannot have it both ways.
The underlying issue, according to the editorial, is to fit in
with the rest of the UC system. But when did the editorial board
become such supporters of conformity? Maybe the activists at UCLA
should take a little pride ““ UCLA doesn’t need labels
to prove that it’s doing a good job educating students. UCLA
does not need some mumbo-jumbo “symbolic” requirement
when it is admitted that most students are already fulfilling this
worthless diversity requirement.
If the liberals on campus want to support those who camped out,
give them a handshake for saving the state some electricity during
those days they spent in tents. But don’t make a mockery of
UCLA by claiming we must do something simply because everyone else
is.
Thomas Hartmann UCLA alumnus
