Separation in Witte will not solve problem
I am disturbed by the story regarding a multicultural community being set up in Witte Residence Hall (""Witte will house multicultural community,"" Oct. 30). I realize I am merely a conservative, middle-class, white male student here at UW-Madison and might not be as enlightened as most of my peers on campus, but I do not understand how grouping a large portion of the ""students of color"" together in a dorm will solve any diversity problems that may exist here on campus.
I find Mr. Moran's comment about providing these students with ""a friendlier environment"" rather insulting. It is narrow-minded thinking such as this that perpetuates race problems in our society. Diversity on campus is a very noble goal. It is contradictory that Mr. Moran wants a diverse campus community yet wishes that ""[students of color] are hopefully going to live in an environment that is more like what they are used to and live with a group of students who are interested in similar things."" How is grouping students of similar backgrounds going to make our campus a better, more diverse community? It's not! Separating students of color from white students will continue to divide us.
Especially in a time like now, it is imperative we bond together as Americans and discard beliefs and actions keeping us at odds. Creating special living quarters for students of color will serve only to alienate them further, as well as alienate white students. How can we expect to make students of color feel more a part of this campus if we quarantine them? I would like to believe that people of influence on this campus have the vision to bring us all together. However, looking back on my time spent at this institution, I feel that those in charge do not have the interests of every student in mind. They continue to make policy that impedes us from advancing the ideology of Abraham Lincoln and Martin Luther King Jr. I will be glad to leave these few square miles surrounded by reality and never look back.
Homecoming coverage ignored achievements
I was disappointed by the coverage your newspaper chose to run about Homecoming 2001 (""Homecoming 2001 raises $10,000, draws criticism,"" Oct. 29). The Daily Cardinal's attempt to invent a controversy slighted the work of the dedicated students on this year's Homecoming committee, and obscured their achievements in increasing participation among students, alumni and the people of Madison.
Your article correctly pointed out that Homecoming activities raise a great deal of money for the Dean of Students Crisis Fund. This year's committee was successful at doing that, but it also sponsored community service activities, including a blood drive, a campus clean-up and a host of other projects. However, Homecoming isn't about dollars'it's about building a sense of shared community within our large, diverse university.
Co-chairs Jim Strode and Andrew Burch'and really all 60 members of the Homecoming committee'deserve high praise for making this year's events more inclusive than ever before. These students focused their efforts on creating new activities and promoting Homecoming among students who were not affiliated with campus groups. As a result, attendance at Homecoming events was higher than ever:
- Despite freezing temperatures, State Street was packed for the Homecoming parade.
- The first-ever Homecoming Charity Ball drew nearly 750 students, half of whom were not members of any campus organization.
- This year's charity run drew nearly 500 participants.
- The Homecoming concert in the Rathskeller drew over 500 listeners.
In a time when suspicion, anger and division are so common, the Homecoming committee put together a series of activities that invited all parts of the campus community to come together. We're proud of the work these students put into Homecoming 2001 and of their success.
'Potty talk' has potential for so much more
I'm writing in response to Mike Jones (""There's no excuse for the potty talk,"" Oct. 31). And while I must agree with Mike, my thinking follows drastically different lines than his does. Here we are, attending UW-Madison, a nationally renowned campus known for its liberal thinking and quality education. I personally believe that if college doesn't change you in some manner, it's a waste of time and money. Therefore, when I use the can, I don't want to hear about someone's sexual exploits either, or any ""Jack 'n' Diane"" love phrases. And calling someone ""gey""?! Come on you guys, that is so sub-sixth grade. If you really feel the need to lay down the ink on those bathroom stalls, challenge me. Try to rearrange my worldview. Hit me right in the gut with something that will cause me to sit right back down on that pot when I'm done and say ""Damn, they sure as hell know what they're talking about!"" I'm sick of this infantile blather on the walls. Let's all grow up and start proving just how wonderful UW-Madison is in all things'graffiti included.
Fraternities overlook point of opposition
It appears that Mr. Holmgren and Mr. Dillig of Sigma Chi fraternity have missed the boat entirely on why there is such a strong sentiment on campus against fraternities (""Fraternities foster positive communities,"" Oct. 30). Nobody is arguing that fraternity members end up obtaining some of the most elite positions of power in this country. What most people will argue is that the manner in which they obtain this power, as well as how they use this power, is morally objectionable.
I have a few questions for Mr. Holmgren and Mr. Dillig that I think this entire campus would like to be addressed:
1. How many people in your fraternity are minorities?
2. How many people in your fraternity are openly gay?
3. What is the average income of your parents? What positions of power do your parents hold?
4. Why are sorority women not in similar positions of power?
5. What is your fraternity doing to help address the underlying causes of racism, sexism, homophobia, alcoholism and other drug use, or poverty?
6. What actual discrimination have you received? Have you been denied housing or employment? Have you been physically attacked on the basis of your appearance?
Taliban's atrocities worse than effects of attacks
I ask Ms. Turner: What obligation do we have to the Afghan people? (""Military cannot reach humanitarian goals,"" Oct. 24) None. In fact, the Evil Mr. Bush is doing them and the world a favor by attempting to rid Afghanistan of the Taliban. You blame the United States for starving the innocent, when in fact it is the Taliban that hoard all their resources to feed their war machine. I find it hard to believe, with your grandiose ""social programs"" that you would even indirectly support the social atrocities of the Taliban. The Taliban treat the women as second-class citizens and terrorize those who do not comply with their ""vision."" Have you forgotten the attack on America? It was not just an attack, but an affront to our culture, our way of life, and you would sit there and shame the United States for its actions? Do you honestly believe that the military would waste cruise missiles on villages to kill civilians? Or did you forget to think that perhaps the Taliban are lying or even forcing their own civilians to their deaths, just like the ""noble"" Hussein has done? And when did you become a military strategist? How do you know that the United States could not defend itself against its enemies? Your words are an insult to all those in the Uniformed Service. Your words do dishonor to all those who laid down their lives so that you can live the happy little life you do. People like you need to wake up one day and realize that peaceful solutions do not always work. In World War II, the Allies did everything to appease Hitler. Despite the ""peaceful"" attempt, Hitler attacked the British and French anyway. And with all the violence that has taken place, Germany and Japan are among our strongest allies.
