Letters to the editor

Pro-Palestinian group harmful, not peaceful

In her column “Ideals of democracy must be saved”
(March 14), Noor Hashem declares that the International Solidarity
Movement, a radical group claiming to aid the Palestinian cause, is
“controversial for (its) practice of physically blocking the
destruction of the Palestinian homes, wells and olive
groves.”

Is this the real reason this so-called “activist”
group is controversial? Or is it because in March 2003, Shadi
Sukiya ““ a senior leader of the terrorist group Islamic
Jihad, which has been known to carry out brutal homicide bombings,
slaying scores of innocent Israelis ““ was found in the ISM
West Bank building?

Let’s not forget that the two Britons of Pakistani
descent, Asif Muhammad Hanif and Omar Khan Sharif ““ who
detonated themselves (although one of the bombs didn’t work)
in April 2003 in front of the popular cafe Mike’s Place on
the Tel Aviv Promenade and killed three civilians ““ had met
with the ISM at their office in Gaza preceding the bombings.

The ISM activists themselves may be “unarmed” while
protesting, but Hashem is wrong when she states that the ISM
contains “civilian peace activists who use Gandhian methods
of peace.”

I was not aware that supporting terrorists is a Gandhian method
of peace.

Furthermore, when someone or something is labeled
“controversial,” it’s usually not for the good
they do for this world, such as promoting peace. On the contrary,
the ISM is labeled controversial for actively promoting chaos.
R.I.P., truth.

Sheila Tova Solymani First-year, molecular, cell and
developmental biology

Graduation date information readily
available

I read Daniel Miller’s news analysis, “URSA
“˜late fee’ baffles seniors,” (News, March 14)
with some concern, but applaud the author for focusing attention on
an important subject to students: late fee charges.

Miller states that he didn’t bother to click the degree
term button on URSA because he assumed “someone would tell me
when I needed to do it.” I would like to understand how he
was expecting to be notified.

He also asks how a late fee can be charged if someone has never
been apprised of a deadline. The degree progress report posts a
message alerting students to declare before 160 units under the
degree expected term!

Information on candidacy deadlines and fees is available on the
Registrar’s Office Web site at www.registrar.ucla.edu. You
can find it under frequently asked questions.

We have links for both current and prospective students (see
FAQs) and links to the schedule of classes and general catalog (see
academic policies).

The commencement Web site also has a link, and I have seen
deadline information published in College Academic
Counseling’s Survival Tips.

The information is out there, but students must be proactive and
take time to inquire. What better place for inquiry than the
university, and what better habit to carry into the world after
graduation?

Toni Klein Student Affairs officer, Registrar’s
Office