Saturday, October 11th, 2008

Letters

Letters

Bicycling bureaucrats

Editor:Yes, Brian Stannard ("Cop collision," Nov. 20) is right. It's very

ironic. Not only will you fellow bikers need to have serious concerns about

pedestrians and bike thieves, as well as dodging police punishment when

locking your bikes on campus, you must also worry about UCLA's

bureaucracy.

That's right! My $300 Trek, supported by the sturdy, standard U-lock,

was cut off a stairwell, supposedly by maintenance. It was then, according

to the mature and organized people who call themselves UCLA Student

Operations, supposed to be impounded by the police. However, neither the

police, maintenance nor Student Operations knows where it is!

And now, I'll be paying to lock up my "new," used, cheap piece of junk

bike? Who pays $12,000 a year to go to a prestigious and esteemed school

like UCLA?

I do! I do! And so do all of us.Alexandra K. Mattran

Second-year

English

Pricing trees

Editor:Regarding the Bruin article detailing the lame reasons for ending

newspaper recycling ("ASUCLA scales back recycling program," Nov. 27): If

you - the Daily Bruin - produce a newspaper, do you feel a moral obligation

to see that your newspaper is recycled? I certainly believe that it is your

moral responsibility to make sure that the Daily Bruin is recycled.

ASUCkLA distributes newspapers, therefore it is morally responsible; yet

its actions indicate that it is reprehensible, not responsible.

Recycling does not generate a profit - what a crock. What price do you

put on the environment? Trees are a renewable resource only if carefully

managed by nonbiased professionals. Of course, trees provide us with much

more than just newspaper.

Once again, UCLA proves to be one of the thousand points of light. My,

how advanced. Am I wrong or are our universities supposed to push the

envelope, set the example, take the high road and do what is right, even

though such action may not produce a profit in the short-run for the

shortsighted?

Have the Daily Bruin and ASUCkLA not heard of work study? Apply work

study to recycling, urban planning, environmental studies, environmental

engineering, sociology and other areas. When I was a VISTA at the Community

Service Commission, many students participated in a volunteer project for

class credit.

D.J. Schulte

Eco Retro Grouch

Biased picture

Editor:I am severely disappointed with your Nov. 20 article ("Beat $C rivalry

benefits university charity, Greeks") covering "The Rivalry," an event

which partially benefited UCLA's UniCamp and was sponsored by the

Interfraternity Council, Panhellenic Council and Zeta Beta Tau (ZBT)

fraternity.

In an effort to show Greek unity and support for UCLA, the organizers of

"The Rivalry" worked long and hard to plan and promote an event which could

generate money for both UCLA's UniCamp and the Greek system. Over $5,000

were put into this event, and over 1,600 tickets were sold.

By only quoting event organizer Christian Ramers as saying, "Partially,

we are hoping to beef up IFC's budget;" by highlighting that "The Rivalry"

eventually grew into a benefit ... for UniCamp;" and by failing to mention

that included in the original purpose of "The Rivalry" was the

proposal for the Greek system to step in as a unified group and help save

UniCamp from a potential budget crisis, the Daily Bruin once again painted

a biased picture of the Greek system and its efforts.

If the Greek system unites to raise $3,000 for UCLA's primary charity

and is still condemned by biased publicity, it seems that no effort by the

Greeks will ever be fully recognized and appreciated. While I in no way try

to assert that the Greek system is perfect, its ability to do wonderful,

positive things for our campus community should not go unnoticed.

I think Ramers, Brad Miller (ZBT president and "The Rivalry" organizer),

IFC, Pan Hellenic Council, and the members of ZBT all deserve UCLA's thanks

and appreciation. Their hard work and dedication has definitely made a

difference in the lives of the many children who attend UniCamp.

I hope that in the future, the Daily Bruin can push aside its biases and

rightfully acknowledge and support all campus groups who deserve our

appreciation.Jaime Bardacke

Third-year

Political science/sociology