UCLA must reach out to injured USC fan
The joy I felt after UCLA’s victory over USC was
diminished in the wake of reports of a USC fan who was allegedly
beaten by hooligans in Bruin garb, suffering a deep cut to his
eyeball in the attack.
I sincerely hope that UCLA, the football team and the Alumni
Association reach out to him and his wife, who was there with
him.
He may not be able to get full use of his eye back, but those of
us who represent the real UCLA must attempt to make amends of some
kind.
The UCLA community needs to understand ““ in no uncertain
terms ““ that such behavior is intolerable.
If it takes more security, stronger rules about alcohol or
anything else, so be it.
If nothing is done to address this issue in a powerful way, I
may be forced to do the unthinkable: elect not to renew my season
tickets.
I am angry and embarrassed, and I am far from alone.
Roy L. Shults
UCLA Class of 1970
Former president,
UCLA Alumni Association
Preachers have a right to visit campus
I’m writing in response to Thursday’s Send Your
Thoughts question, “How should UCLA handle outside people
coming in and inciting confrontation?”
The individuals who entered campus only wished to express their
very traditional Judeo-Christian views.
The violent reaction they suffered was less a reflection on them
than on the lack of tolerance to opposing viewpoints on the part of
many campus members.
The news article (“Preachers attacked twice in Bruin
Plaza,” News, Dec. 7) revealed a picture of bullies
physically attacking and trying to harm people for daring to
express an opinion they disliked ““ exactly what the
brownshirts did in Nazi Germany and Stalinist thugs did in
Communist Russia.
This is a very bad reflection on UCLA.
UCLA is a state-run, taxpayer-supported institution. Those
paying the bills hold a variety of opinions, and they have the
right to know these opinions can be expressed on campus without
having to fear for their safety.
People such as Michael Okerblom, who physically attacked these
individuals, have apparently forgotten that people still have the
right to free speech.
Incidentally, if UCLA takes steps to keep such people out, I can
think of at least two special-interest legal groups that could take
UCLA to court.
Alice L. Ramirez
Staff,
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
Setting up a draft not a simple solution
In response to Katie Strickland’s column, “If it
takes a draft to make us care, so be it” (Nov. 30), American
troops may be members of the U.S. military because they feel that
service to their country is their duty.
I once heard a discharged U.S. soldier say one does not have to
be battling in the trenches in order to be in danger in the middle
of a war. A draft bringing civilians into Iraq to be nurses and
electricians instead of soldiers may not to keep them away from the
violence.
Furthermore, Iraq is not the most important nor the only world
issue.
You may be shopping while soldiers in Iraq are fighting, but at
the same time, some (not many) Americans may be in their own
hometowns feeding the hungry, sheltering the homeless, giving back
what Hurricane Katrina took away, figuring out what can be done for
Darfur, or simply teaching little kids how to read.
These philanthropists and other people may be against war in
general, and should not be forced to put their lives on the line
for something they do not believe in.
It isn’t about what cause is more important than finals.
It’s about preparing to be a better world leader who can
actively cure a worthy issue.
Stormie Evans
Third-year, Spanish