Fed up with WNBA
To the editor,
It seems to me that the viewpoints of Mike Jindrick have uprooted a battle of the sexes on the U of A campus. His supportive letters have been from males and his opponents all female. Well, allow me to be the first to break the pattern. Though I myself am a female and feel that women need to make themselves more visible in the athletic world, I still see the WNBA as nothing more than a sorry excuse for multitudes of ego-driven women to boost their self-esteems. With all of the feminist garbage being spouted out lately about equality between the sexes, you would think the female race would take some of their own advice. Women obviously are in no way equal to their male counterparts on the hardwood, and any female claiming otherwise is in a state of severe denial.
The WNBA is pathetic. The ball is smaller, the play less intense and the ideas behind it are hypocritical to say the least. Good idea all you feminists out there. Let's demand equality by further segregating ourselves and asking for even more special treatment. If equal rights are what women want, then we should have equal circumstances as well. Does Lisa Leslie or Cheryl Swoopes want to play professional ball? Then let them just try and get picked up by the Pacers or the Blazers. If they can hang with their male counterparts on the court, then power to them. They must really belong on the hardwood. We all know, however, that they are no match for Shaq or Scottie or even Travis Knight. The guys speaking their anti-WNBA ideas are not chauvinistic, nor do they feel their masculinity is threatened. They are simply sick of having to sit through the so- called 'highlights' of WNBA games while waiting for more important updates on SportsCenter, as am I.
I applaud all of you that have finally spoken up against the horrendous quality of play in the WNBA, regardless of the accusations of sexism and narrow-mindedness. What is it ladies? Too scared to get on the floor with people that actually realize and embody how the game should be played?
Give me a break. Play with the big boys or clear the court.
Mariel Cisterino
Accounting freshman
Pride article destructive
To the editor,
As the 1999-2000 and current acting Volunteer Coordinator for Pride Alliance, I feel uniquely qualified to respond to Ms. Bapat's column.
First, Pride Alliance is not a club, as stated in the article. PA, as a part of ASUA's Programs and Services, is specifically funded to provide service(s) to the campus community. The main service we are charged with providing is to maintain our resource center. Second, is our mission to help educate the campus and greater community on issues affecting those with sexual, affectional or gender diverse identity. Period. As a matter of fact, we are specifically restricted to social activism and are barred from partisan political action. To condemn our organization based on the idea that it is a club, or that it doesn't meet the ideal qualifications of a minority of its members is to discredit the invaluable resources that it provides.
We provide a sense of community to people who don't feel accepted by the rest of the campus community. If we, as a group, don't always agree or if some people see us as a dating service (like a sorority or fraternity or any other identity based group doesn't have in-group dating), then fine. PA welcomes diverse views. But that doesn't mean that the efforts of our leadership, members and countless volunteers should be trivialized.
Second, I fail to see how someone who has never been to our general meeting, nor has contacted the current leadership of this organization feels qualified to comment on our lack of cohesiveness. The article is inflammatory and downright inaccurate. If Ms. Bapat wanted to write about how to help eradicate homophobia and heterosexism, more power to her. Unfortunately her article offers more destruction of the work done by tireless volunteers (the Director of Pride Alliance is paid a yearly stipend of $500 for 20 hours weekly, equaling $.78 per hour), than any constructive ideas on how to make a more unified campus, much less a more unified campus GLBT community.
Let it be said that the struggle we face against heterosexism and homophobia is a struggle for justice. Let it also be said that truth will sow justice and justice will sow truth. The truth of the matter is that many wonderful and dedicated people have and do work for Pride Alliance and each one works tirelessly to fulfill the mission of our organization.
Jonna Lopez
ASUA Pride Alliance
Volunteer Coordinator
Gay community cohesive
To the editor,
My sympathies to Mr. Hansen on his unforgivable attack six months ago and my compliments to the Wildcat for the positive press that the gay community has received over the past year.
It is somewhat disturbing that the Aug. 31 Wildcat article attacks the UA gay community for the issues that UA members presented during the protest march. A protest march is an opportunity to meet for a common purpose or cause and to increase awareness of the issues that affect the cause. This is what a protest march is all about. The community came together for a protest march, not a memorial service. I disagree that the UA gay community is not a cohesive one. UA students, staff and faculty have maintained a total of eight campus organizations that provide services and resources to lesbians, gays, bisexual and transgendered persons. In the three years that I have been with the university only one of these organizations has ceased to exist. Not a bad track record for organizations that are supported by student, faculty and staff volunteers.
UA students and faculty leave the university for three months every summer and the volunteer organizations must begin anew each fall. In spite of this obstacle the Tucson gay community (including many campus members) experienced political successes this past summer with a Gay Pride March as well as the Stop Dr. Laura protest. It sounds as though Pride Alliance is experiencing the same challenges that organizations deal with year after year.
If Mr. Hansen feels that the UA gay community has let him down, he may be pleased to learn that hate crimes issues are being addressed by community members (including UA students and faculty) who are protesting a "homosexual panic" defense in the re-trial of hate-crime offender Richard Bell. Perhaps more man/woman power is coming from non-university folks, but, so what, enjoy the support and visibility. If it isn't happening on campus, let us not take the wind out of the sails of community members who are making it happen.
I don't believe that the gay community needs to grow up. I think instead that the Tucson gay community needs to continue to connect people with opportunities for advancement towards equal rights and stop criticizing each other for what we perceive as failed efforts. Hopefully the many battles that are taking place in Tucson will one day have a positive impact in our state capitol where our war for civil rights will ultimately be fought.
Neal Dorschel
UA staff
