Letters

Published: Thursday, May 11, 1995

Masturbation proclamation

Editor:

Female voices were noticeably and unforgivably absent from "The stigma of self-pleasure," The Daily Bruin's May 8 article on masturbation. Women were hardly mentioned and no female psychologists were quoted, save a virtually prehistoric comment from Masters & Johnson. As far as I can tell, only one female student got to air her views, although that student wasn't specifically identified as female.

Shame on you, Daily Bruin. When half of UCLA's student population is all but ignored by a Daily Bruin reporter writing a major feature, I call that sloppy journalism. I don't mean to frighten you, but women enjoy masturbating too. And some of us aren't embarrassed to admit it. Next time, try asking us.

Jane Garcia

Junior

Women's studies and

Political science

Two wrongs don't make a right

Editor:

This letter is in response to Aisha Jones's May 8 article, "Affirmative action must right past wrongs." Marina Bogorad obviously has the ability (an extremely rare one, on this particular campus) not to take herself so seriously, to step aside and examine the issues with a clear mind. So if this is what you call "messing with a sister of color," should I be afraid for my life?

I commend Bogorad for her courage (although there should be no reason for fear), as well as her unusual levelheadedness. Jones, on the other hand, seemed to be too busy worrying about what is best for her, rather than what is best for the greater good. There is always the chance that I, especially as an engineering major, was accepted to UCLA with the help of my gender. I'll never know, but I can tell you this for sure: I would a hundred times rather know for a fact that I got in based purely on my ability and that I was treated exactly the same as the rest of the applicants. It's a matter of self-respect, not to mention that I firmly believe in my anti-affirmative action stance.

You say that affirmative action must right past wrongs, but since when do two wrongs make a right? And since when is racism a good thing? Doesn't it seem strange that a people, who for years have been chanting "do not judge us based on the color of our skin," are suddenly saying "judge us based on the color of our skin"?

Aisha, once you stop thinking about yourself, maybe then I will listen to what you have to say.

Jill Ruszkowski

First-year

Mechanical engineering

One ticket to Cuba, please

Editor:

Bruce VanDenburgh's May 3 contribution to Viewpoint ("The appeal of living in our right-wing country") was long overdue. I have also experienced this blind anti-Republican, anti-American rhetoric on campus. These groups would like us to believe that Republicans are responsible for everything from unemployment to premature ejaculation. Blanket indictments that all "right-wingers" have ruined the country demonstrates that such socialist fanatics are incapable of rational, meaningful debate. Such sweeping accusations do very little to foster an academic environment conducive to a respectful exchange of ideas.

Perhaps one should not feel too upset. Take comfort in knowing that these socialist zealots who constantly bitch about capitalist America would be the same people who will be begging to work for a greedy corporation 10 years from now. Unless they plan to live in Cuba or North Korea, there is no future for their limited political philosophy.

Eric Leung

UCLA student