Jones exhibited inappropriate behavior I am
writing to voice my concern regarding the actions taken by a Daily
Bruin staff member last Thursday night. Andrew Jones, the former
Daily Bruin viewpoint columnist and visible supporter of the SURE
slate, antagonized and deeply offended students who had gathered to
hear results for the USAC elections. Witnessed by a crowd of
approximately 100 students, which included Daily Bruin reporters
and photographers, and also the UCPD, Jones and a friend tried to
provoke supporters of Student Empowerment! by uprooting a SURE
signboard from its Bruin Walk location and placing it directly in
front of the Student Empowerment! group on Kerckhoff steps.
Although they were unsuccessful, Jones and his friend intended to
elicit a reactionary response from the Student Empowerment!
supporters. What was most disturbing about Jones’ act of open
hostility was what he shouted at Student Empowerment! supporters
when he was propping up the SURE sign. Jones heckled and yelled at
the group, “hate me because I hate you!” It was only
after a UCPD officer asked Jones repeatedly to remove the SURE sign
that he finally decided to comply. I support the Daily Bruin in its
efforts to fairly portray all sides and perspectives of campus
debates. However, I am truly disturbed that a person who physically
and verbally antagonizes other students was allowed a regular space
in the Bruin. From his offensive actions, it is clear that Jones
was not dedicated to engaging students in healthy debates and
discussions on the issues that our campus community faces. Rather,
Jones demonstrated his true intentions were to abuse his position
as a Viewpoint columnist to push a particular campus slate agenda.
Jones’ behavior certainly calls into question his own
integrity along with the integrity of the SURE slate that Jones
avidly supports. It seems contradictory that the candidates on the
SURE slate, who project an image of inclusion and willingness to
work with all students, align themselves with an individual who is
openly hostile to students with different political ideologies. I
can only hope that Jones was not a reflection of the Daily Bruin or
any of the SURE candidates that are entering office next year.
David Chung Fourth-year Political science
UCPD statistics misleading I am incredulous at
some of the UCPD comments quoted in the article by Helen
Seliverstov. I don’t think that the 46 percent rise in
vehicle thefts can be explained by the “increasing number of
cars” as Nancy Greenstein is reported saying. That might be
true if the number of cars had increased by 46 percent, but that
doesn’t seem to be the case, so the ratio of vehicles stolen
to total vehicles is what has really increased. An entirely more
accurate comment would have been to explain that, for most of these
crimes, we are dealing with small numbers. Significant percentage
variations, then, can be meaningless ““ the number of arsons
can increase infinitely by moving from 0 to 1. Also, I would
disagree with Matt Ellis, assistant manager of Community Service
Officers, that keeping cars clean deters break-ins. It seems to me
that a thief will be attracted to a squeaky clean new-looking
vehicle much more than to a decrepit-looking one.
Philippe P. Brieu Staff Physics and
astronomy
Empowerment! does not stoop to insults It has
been disappointing to read the one-sided coverage of student
elections by the Daily Bruin, but the overly biased coverage of
last Thursday’s election results marks a new low point for
the Bruin. Effectively reporting news objectively implies covering
both sides of a news story. The Bruin spent considerable time
dramatizing the presence of Student Empowerment! and reactions
during election results, but failed to mention anything about the
demeanor and actions of SURE supporters, particularly those of
Andrew Jones, a Daily Bruin viewpoint columnist and prominent
supporter of the SURE slate. As Student Empowerment! supporters
performed cultural dances and collectively chanted unity slogans
along Kerckhoff’s steps, Jones took it upon himself to
attempt to anger the crowd with petty heckling. When his verbal
chiding went unnoticed, Jones ““ along with a fellow SURE
supporter ““ removed one of the large SURE signboards from
Bruin Walk and marched it to the top of Kerckhoff’s steps
blocking the path up to Kerckhoff, purposely taunting Student
Empowerment! supporters. Police officers then proceeded to urge
Jones to move the sign, but Jones refused. As Student
Empowerment! members peacefully celebrated their unity, Jones
continued to yell at them. Is this SURE’s definition of being
inclusive to all students? These “unifying” actions
continued as election results were announced. The Bruin spent
several paragraphs writing about the call and response chants of
Student Empowerment! supporters headed by Bryant Tan as he shouted
“Student!” and the crowd responding with
“Empowerment!” But why is it that Jones and other SURE
supporters response of “Excrement!” to each of
Bryant’s chants were not mentioned? A crowd of over 100
supporters felt it was important, but apparently the Bruin’s
reporters failed to notice. If SURE really claims to be working for
all students, then their actions must exemplify this
claim. Hateful and disrespectful shouts and taunts serve only
to burn bridges, and Jones’ attempts to purposely incite and
anger a crowd clearly illustrates SURE’s attitude toward
students of color. Student Empowerment! supporters should commend
themselves for not participating in such a debasing manner and for
leaving the mud slinging to those who need to stoop to that level.
The Bruin has a responsibility to report news fairly and
objectively. Hopefully they will take this responsibility more
seriously in the future.
Bilal Khan Third-year Computer science