MSA aids tolerance, not terrorists
The day Martin Luther King Jr. was shot and killed, Robert F. Kennedy said, “Let us dedicate ourselves to what the Greeks wrote so many years ago: to tame the savageness of man and make gentle the life of this world.”
The savageness of man doesn’t know a religion. It doesn’t know a philosophy. It is a reality that exists no matter what we believe in.
With this in mind, we would like to counter David Lazar’s false accusation that the Muslim Student Association is a supporter of terrorism (“Muslim groups’ message inconsistent with actions,” Jan. 23).
Lazar’s article resorts to ad hominem attacks in feeding the idea of the savageness of all Muslims.
MSA takes a principled stance against all forms of terrorism, whether committed by individuals or by state actors.
The greater issue here is about ideologues painting a portrait of everyday Muslim Americans as extremists and terrorist supporters ““ be they your neighbors, colleagues
or fellow students.
Islam Awareness Week aims to open an avenue for students to get to know Muslims on campus by portraying various aspects of Islamic and Muslim culture.
It is only through education and open dialogue that one can attain awareness of a group and its beliefs and break down the misconceptions displayed in Lazar’s article.
It is precisely because people hold views such as Lazar’s that the MSA must present the most basic elements of our religion and culture to students.
Alongside other student organizations on campus, the MSA actively works in pursuit of access to higher education and educational equity for all.
The MSA’s projects were all created with one idea in mind: to serve the community who needs it most, regardless of race, religion or sexuality.
The MSA hopes that students will take the opportunity to sit down with Muslims on campus in order for us to truly understand each other.
If we all did this, perhaps we would tame the savageness of xenophobia and make our world more gentle.
Muslim Student Association Officers
2006-2007
Columnist’s ideas not representative
I’m a sensible student. So when I read David Lazar’s recent column (“Muslim groups’ message inconsistent with actions,” Jan. 23), I took a step back to ask, “Who is this Lazar
guy anyway?”
One quick search on the Daily Bruin Web site gave me all the answers I needed.
Lazar has written columns on a myriad of issues: how two ethnic studies centers on campus support communism, how the UCLA Labor Center has a radical anti-Wal-Mart
agenda, how the U.S. “liberated” millions of Iraqis during the Iraq war, how John Bolton is a perfect guy for the United Nations, how protecting our environment should take a backseat to protecting our economy, how health insurance for all Americans hurts the country, how having a Taser used on him was Mostafa Tabatabainejad’s fault, and ““ my personal favorite ““ how recycling is bad.
So what’s worse: the fact that these ideas constitute the mainstream discourse in this university, or that a supposedly representative Daily Bruin is facilitating this?
I’m not sure.
Either way, I won’t stop recycling any time soon.
Kyla Searle
Second-year, individual studies
USAC is bringing safety back
The Daily Bruin’s Crime Watch section sheds light on the various campus safety issues that affect our UCLA community.
Early this year, campus safety was voted to be an action item that USAC would tackle. One thing we are working on with the University of California Police Department
and the Community Service Officer programs is to combat theft by promoting the S.T.O.P. system and other theft prevention resources.
This week, USAC will be sponsoring Campus Safety Awareness Week to educate students on different safety issues including hate crimes, campus theft, sexual violence and
identity theft.
Students will find out about on- and off-campus resources and will be able to attend workshops from Lambda Legal, American Civil Liberties Union, Student Legal Services, Center for Women and Men, and Communications Technology Services.
Today kicks off the Campus Safety Resource Fair in Bruin Plaza.
We urge UCLA students to attend and learn about the other events that will be taking place the rest of the week.
This is our campus and we have a right to feel safe here.
Gregory Cendana
Third-year, sociology
USAC internal vice president
Carlos Saucedo
Fourth-year, political science
USAC general representative