Obama mix-up harmful to elections
I am writing to express my grave concern regarding “Candidate at a Glance: Barack Obama” (News, Jan. 30).
As you know, the Daily Bruin is the primary daily news source for most students on campus and is a powerful tool for informing UCLA’s voters about the upcoming primary elections.
Unfortunately, the Daily Bruin’s misrepresentation of Obama’s views on a woman’s right to choose ““ a mere six days before the election ““ runs the risk of unfairly damaging his strong support base on our campus. In reality, Obama has an untarnished record in defending women and reproductive rights.
The senator has been quoted on the Web site for the National Association for the Repeal of Abortion Laws (NARAL), saying “I have consistently advocated for reproductive choice and will make preserving women’s rights under Roe v. Wade a priority as President. I oppose any constitutional amendment to overturn the Supreme Court’s ruling in this case.”
NARAL has given Obama’s past voting record 100 percent approval.
The continued protection of Roe v. Wade is a huge factor in the decision-making process of many voters, especially women and those who believe in the protection of choice, as Obama does.
I hope that the Daily Bruin will print my letter to ensure that all UCLA readers are able to make an informed decision based on accurate and detailed information regarding the different candidates’ positions.
Jessica Bixby
First-year
Westwood has limited bar selection
I was disgusted with the article “Local hangouts raise the bar” (News, Jan. 30). Claiming that students have a “plethora” of bars to choose from is a ridiculous assertion.
Yes, we have a couple nice places to hang out (Brew. Co., O’Hara’s, Sepi’s, etc.), but for a large university in California, this is simply a crime.
In terms of places that serve alcohol, sushi restaurants and Chili’s can be included in our “plethora” of bars. But on any given night, we have a very limited selection of bars to choose from past midnight, one of which (O’Hara’s) usually has a wait time of at least half an hour.
This only furthers the stereotype that our adorable little college town shuts down when the night begins. Being legal to drink loses its flavor after you walk from Sepi’s to O’Hara’s to Brew Co. on your first Tuesday night.
Westwood has the potential to be a vivacious college town, but its sheer lack of nighttime entertainment keeps kids in apartments when they should be expanding their social horizons in town.
It’s no wonder we have a reputation for being more seclusive and anti-social than many of our fellow California schools. Most students aren’t willing or able to tackle Sunset Boulevard, while Santa Monica requires a designated driver or a hefty taxi fare.
Frankly, it’s a shame that a town like Westwood ““ on the outskirts of the world’s entertainment capital, with 365 nights of decent and walkable weather ““ still can’t develop a social atmosphere that even college towns in the Dakotas have.
Matt Schneider
Fourth-year, business-economics