Letters to the Editor

Bruin Democrats lacks consistency

When the Bruin Democrats debated the Bruin Republicans on Nov. 27 (“Campus parties square off,” News, Nov. 28), several members of the Bruin Democrats were offended when Bruin Republicans speaker Manuel Velarde impersonated a MEChA member and started to make outlandish remarks that insulted the Latino community and immigrants’ rights groups.

However, it is hypocritical for any board member of Bruin Democrats to attack Velarde.

Just a few months ago, Bruins United, the slate endorsed by Bruin Democrats in the 2007 student elections, appointed Mike Rafail (a.k.a. Mike Soliman) to the UCLA Communications Board.

Why didn’t Bruin Democrats condemn Bruins United for these actions or censure the USAC president, who actually is the one responsible for appointing Rafail to his current position?

I guess it wasn’t politically convenient to attack racism then.

Pooya Hajibagheri

Second-year,molecular, cell and developmental biology, political science

Bruin Republicans needs to apologize

In the recent article “Campus Parties Square Off” (News, Nov. 28), the Daily Bruin described the recent Bruin Democrat versus Bruin Republican debate.

But the article failed to highlight just what a mess the Bruin Republicans made of that debate.

By the final topic, the Federal DREAM Act, the Bruin Republicans speaker went on a long tirade intended to satirize the topic.

Their behavior amounted to nothing short of disrespectful, low-browed racism.

The DREAM Act is a serious issue affecting thousands of students, and for the Bruin Republicans to treat the issue as an offensive joke is not only insulting to the debaters who spent hours preparing, but to all of UCLA.

UCLA should be a place for enlightened political dialogue, not immature and abusive speech.

The Bruin Republicans owe the Daily Bruin, the Bruin Democrats, and all UCLA students an apology for their disrespectful behavior and treatment of this serious debate.

Brandon Harrison

Director of media relations, Bruin Democrats

Third-year, history

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