Dear Editor,
Perhaps Mr. Haun in the September 1 edition of The Eagle is unfamiliar with his many cohorts on the political Right using the Race Card. When ultra-conservatives who only happen to be a member of a racial or ethnic minority, such as Alberto Gonzales, Miguel Estrada, Condoleezza Rice, et al., get nominated to high positions in government, and are attacked by the Left for their political records and positions, the Right goes into a full counter-offensive by calling leftists "racist." In fact, the promotion of these conservatives as models to minorities is one of the emptiest forms of racial pandering.
The so-called Race Card is a detestable tactic, and should be condemned when it is used by people all across the spectrum, from Al Sharpton to Rush Limbaugh. It is pure intellectual dishonesty to only accuse the Left of doing so.
I should address the snide comment about inner-city schools as well. Many of us on the Left, including one of last year's liberal columnists on The Eagle, have dedicated our time and effort towards assisting inner-city (minority) children through programs like DC Leadership. Meanwhile, all Mr. Haun could mention is a sorely underfunded program that is flawed in concept despite bipartisan approval.
Barnaby Yeh School of Public Affairs
Dear Editor,
Wow, if the Eagle was trying to alienate its few minority students, its columnists certainly did a fine job in this most recent edition.ÿ From the statement from sports writer Jesse Epstien that the team name 'Redskins' is "honorable and respectable" (I presume that the Washington Coons, Spics, Crackers would be equally acceptable) to Will Haun's implication that a black caucus in a political party is racist (only Democrats have black caucuses? I think members of Black Republican councils and caucuses would disagree),
I would not be surprised if incomming black and Native American freshmen didn't wonder what they've gotten themselves into (to say nothing of other students, staff, and faculty).ÿ This flies in the face of the university's efforts to diversify the student body, and perhaps illustrates why their efforts have not been more successful.ÿ Reading this made me feel shame for university.
Lindsey McDaniel Alumna, Class of 2005
Dear Editor,
The recent library rankings (putting AU 12th worst in the country) are a shame, but it should be remembered that it is a ranking by students, who are often notorious to complain about anything and everything, and who often throw around the phrase "the money we pay" like famous people throw around the phrase "don't you know who I am".ÿ It's self-serving, just like the suggestion to make Bender a better library by removing books in order to provide students with more personal space.
AU's Library has had the same problems since I was an undergraduate--lack of space, deficient collections in certain areas, and often inconvenient consortium procedures.ÿ Moving some things online to improve space (like journals and periodicals) makes complete sense.ÿ Efforts could also be targeted towards improving the depth and quality of AU's holdings in essential areas, and in improving the consortium process. ÿ
That said, the editorial's cavalier implication that books are an inconvenience is troubling.ÿ UT's system was touted not because it made research easier and made information more widely accessible (which would seem to be the purpose of any library) but simply because it rid students of books in exchange for study space.ÿ The books themselves?ÿ Referred to as "eventually...things of the past", is a breathtaking and narrow-minded statement of arrogance.
The Eagle's editorial seems much less concerned with overall library improvement than it is with ensuring each student's personal study space, for which there are myriad solutions.ÿ Books may be inconvenient for some members of the student body, but blithely stating they'll "eventually" go away in a wonderland (technological or otherwise) of personal convenience is selfish and ignorant.ÿ Many collections of books, manuscripts, and letters may never be put online due to financial concerns, or fear of damaging the materials.ÿ
What would the Eagle propose then?ÿ And while study space is important for a library, the suggestion that it is somehow paramount over the quality of the library's materials, staff, and procedures is dubious at best. ÿ
Need study space?ÿ Just take away those pesky books.ÿ After all, it's "our" money.
Jason Speck Class of 1994
