Letters to the editor
Uninformed consent
Editor:
Donna Wong’s Daily Bruin article Nov. 14 ("Some question
experimentation
on disabled psychiatric patients") raised disturbing questions
about
ongoing anti-psychotic medication experiments conducted by
Neuropsychiatric
Institute faculty on Unit 45 at Camarillo State Hospital and
Developmental
Center.
This research, funded by a pharmaceutical firm (Janssen), was
conducted
on the most vulnerable, mentally ill patient population. Yet the
NPI
researcher’s informed consents were egregiously deficient and
did not meet
the basic requirements of state and federal regulations.
Following a lengthy investigation by the state of the tragic
death of a
former USC student, the L.A. County Department of Mental Health
has now
taken a strong and responsible action and barred any county
"conservatee"
from participation in any such research.
We applaud the county’s action and hope that the inadequate UCLA
human
experimentation policies will be promptly corrected.
But now, the scientific integrity of the research has been
called into
question. The California Department of Health Services issued a
report Nov.
7, indicating that the Unit 45 patient who died, the former USC
student,
was undergoing alterations in her medication regimen without
scientific
research protocol.
Since preparing patients for the research was one of the most
critical
phases of the research, the fact that this potentially dangerous
phase of
the research was never reviewed by a human subject protection
committee has
raised troubling doubts about the propriety of the entire
research
enterprise.
In the words of bioethicist Jay Katz, M.D., J.D., " … the
caring
dimension of medicine also requires taking most seriously the
idea that
research subjects possess human rights that are inviolate."Bob
Aller
Patient Rights Network
Cop collision
Editor:
How ironic. Whereas today my main concern as a bicycle rider on
campus
is avoiding pedestrians and bike thieves, on Jan. 1 my main fear
will be
avoiding the police/revenue collectors.
Not only must bicycle riders pay the price, in the form of bike
tickets,
for our university leaders’ ineptitude in managing money, but
now we have
to worry about the police stealing our bikes if they’re not
registered
("Bicycling Bruins brace for fines, restrictions," Nov. 16). I
appreciate
the university’s concern for my well-being, but if I wanted this
intrusion
upon my life, I would go back to high school or to the world of
Orwell’s
"1984".
Before the university begins punishing people for riding and
parking
their bikes on campus, they should first install more bike racks
and
adequate bike paths throughout campus.
Traffic Sgt. James Alexander cites that during the entire
1994-95 school
year when over 30,000 students attended classes daily, there
were a
whopping five bike-pedestrian collisions. All I can say is, if
there isn’t
a problem, please don’t try to fix it with unnecessary fines
and
policies.Brian Stannard
Second-year
English
Two-bit article
Editor:
I’m writing you in regard to the disturbing article I read in
the Daily
Bruin by Yoni Tamler on Wednesday Nov. 15, 1995. Not only was
his article
off base, but it was disturbingly sarcastic and disrespectful
toward two
athletes at the top of their field, Andre Agassi and Pete
Sampras. It is
blatantly apparent that Yoni Tamler is a two-bit journalist,
incapable of
writing a serious articulate article, and thus must resort to
trying to get
a few chuckles by demeaning others he does not even know.
Now I’d like to address Yoni Tamler’s description of Pete
Sampras’
"struggle to keep up with a paid extra wearing a UCLA tennis
shirt." Yoni’s
disrespectful comments reach beyond his references to Agassi and
Sampras. I
happen to be the "paid extra".
What Yoni fails to realize is that with this article he
magnifies his
ignorance as a so-called sports writer. Not only am I a current
UCLA
varsity tennis player, which should have been easily recognized
by the UCLA
tennis team shirt that I was wearing, but my ability to keep up
with
Sampras should have shown that I am more than a scrub "paid
extra".
Being the friend to Andre and Pete that I am, I was
thoroughly
disappointed with the disrespect he showed toward them, on a
personal
level. Both Andre and Pete showed nothing but appreciation
toward UCLA and
its students.
Unfortunately, I was saddened to read in my school paper the
berating of
them at such a personal level, i.e. sexual indiscretions toward
Brooke
Shields.
In conclusion, this disgraceful piece of "journalism" is an
embarrassment toward UCLA and the Daily Bruin. I am appalled by
Yoni
Tamler’s writing style and his neglect of basic facts. At this
point I am
demanding not only a retraction and an apology, but the
dismissal of Yoni
Tamler’s status as a sports journalist for the Daily
Bruin.Justin "paid extra" Gimelstob
Second-year
Undeclared
Stand up, sit down …
Editor:
I just got home from the UCLA men’s basketball game against New
City
Sports Foundation, and I am truly appalled by what I saw
tonight: not by
the performance of the players – they were fantastic – but by
the lethargic
"school spirit" that seemed to infect the Bruin student
section.
Apparently, this year’s ticket holders don’t realize that our
basketball
team is the defending national champion. Well, I do, and I’m not
going to
stand for half-hearted fans. (But that’s OK, I’ll fit in with
the rest of
the student section that was sitting the entire game!)
Here in Westwood, we play basketball with Bruin Pride – the same
pride
that led us to Seattle and beyond. Tonight, I saw this pride in
Jelani
McCoy, Brandon Loyd, Harold Sylvester and all the veteran
players, but not
on the side of Pauley Pavilion. The alumni section, whom we can
out-cheer
any day, was louder than we were! Pretty pathetic, guys.
OK, I’ll give the students the benefit of the doubt. The past
two games
were exhibition games. However, they are excellent opportunities
to
brush up on the cheers, learn new ones, and practice standing on
your feet
for two and a half hours straight.
Yes, Bruins, we do stand during the games. After all, the
student
section really is the sixth man on the court. The team devotes
all
their spirit and energy to winning for our school, let’s return
the favor
by putting the same spirit and energy into our cheering.
Here’s a short test to see if you belong in the student
section:
1.) Are you a student? If not, are you able to weasel your way
down to
the student section?
2.) Can you recite "Frisbee’s cheer" (hint: "Is this a
basketball? …
")?
3.) Without looking, can you recite each player’s jersey number
(brownie
points for knowing the new players’ numbers)?
4.) Which famous sports caster should never be allowed to set
foot in
Pauley again?
If you answered "yes" to questions 1-3 and "Dick Vitale" to
question 4,
you are qualified to sit in the student section. If not, I know
a few
people who are still looking to buy season tickets.
Lastly, I would like to apologize to the basketball players and
the
coaching staff. For the effort you put out, you guys deserve the
best
support that the students can give. You have renewed my faith in
the
security of our National Championship title. In return, I pledge
that under
the guidance of my fellow basketball die-hards and the Spirit
Squad, the
student section will be up to last year’s caliber in no
time.
To the newcomers who need help learning Bruin basketball
etiquette or
any of the cheers, you can find me in the front row. I’ll be the
blonde
who’s cheering as loud as she can.Kimberly Babb
Alumna
Class of ’95
Psychology