In response to “Aram Ghoogasian: USAC members should not participate in external lobbying groups” in Opinion on April 9.
It’s hard to defend ignorance, but Aram Ghoogasian has done a great job by suggesting that student leaders who travel to Israel are unduly influenced to the detriment of UCLA affairs.
These students are very fortunate to travel to Israel to see firsthand what is going on there and are free to ask questions and to question the Israeli government. They come back more informed. Why being more informed is detrimental to university politics is a question that will dog Ghoogasian for years.
I think Ghoogasian’s motive for this disingenuous position relates to the ongoing debate about Israel that is ever-present thanks to pro-Palestinian students and faculty. If the pro-Palestinian faction can be prepared by pro-Palestinian organizations, why should student leaders be denied the same opportunity to be offered information by pro-Israel groups?
Larry Shapiro
Rancho Mirage