Anti-Semitism not new on UCLA campus
In our time at UCLA, Holocaust revisionists, raving xenophobic
fanatics and other propagators of anti-Semitic hate have been
invited to speak on campus.
We have watched students say “the Jews are the
criminals” at a Meyerhoff Park rally for immigrant rights, an
issue for which the Jewish community consistently shows strong
support.
We have witnessed Jewish student leaders caricatured as Nazis on
Bruin Walk and seen swastikas and words of hate scrawled across the
doors of our apartments, our dorm rooms and UCLA’s Jewish
co-op.
While we support Professor Emeritus Leila Beckwith’s
stance against anti-Semitic hate on campus (“Don’t
ignore hate crimes,” Nov. 15), sensationalizing these
incidents risks aggravating the problem.
In confronting the gross misconceptions that cause
anti-Semitism, our community stands committed to open dialogue and
honest engagement.
Andy Green
Chairman, ASUCLA board of directors
Joseph Miskabi
President, Hillel at UCLA
Jenn Lorch
President, Jewish Student Union
Dalia Eliav
President, Persian-American Jewish Organization
Noah Saeedy
Co-chairman, Mishpacha
Editorial lacked strong resolution
As a UCLA alumna, I felt that the editorial published Friday
(“UCPD’s use of force disturbing, unacceptable,”
Nov. 17) did not make a strong enough statement about the use of
force by police on campus.
In merely calling the action “unacceptable” and
“disturbing,” the editorial tone is conciliatory and
muted.
In a case like this, I would have hoped that the editorial would
call for two things.
First, it would insist on immediate action against the police
officers. They clearly abused their authority in this
situation.
Second, it should have called for the banning of Taser use on
college students.
I hope I am not the only one calling for these measures and that
others will take a stronger stance.
Looja Tuladhar
Class of 2005
USAC president must focus on larger issues
Last week, members of a diverse coalition of student groups
worked hard to educate their peers and engage them in the UC Board
of Regents meeting.
However, instead of applauding these efforts, Undergraduate
Students Association Council President Marwa Kaisey chose to
criticize the group for their outreach methods (“Chalk
graffiti ugly, disrespectful,” Nov. 17).
We recognize that chalking is a nuisance, but with only about
100 black freshmen at UCLA and the Taser incident in Powell
Library, President Kaisey should focus on resolving these
crises.
Instead of simply addressing petty concerns such as chalk
messages, she should be an advocate for the student body.
The job of the USAC president is to prioritize students, not
complain about them.
Jeannie Biniek
Class of 2006
External vice president,
USAC 2005-2006
Jenny Wood
Class of 2006
President, USAC 2005-2006