Gay rights mov't shouldn't reject stereotyped members

I enjoyed reading Daniel Scarpinato's views on the coming out process and the gay civil rights movement, even though we probably don't see eye to eye on this or other social issues. The idea of "a nonpartisan, inclusive atmosphere that rejects stereotypes" seems like a particularly good idea, not just for gays, but for everyone. However, I get the impression that Mr. Scarpinato may have a problem with drag queens and other "in your face" (obvious?) gays. I hope I'm mistaken. Rejecting stereotypes shouldn't mean rejecting those who are stereotyped. We should certainly fight for a balanced view of gay life in the media, and against unfair generalizations by others in society. But the way to do that isn't by forcing others back into a closet because they aren't "normal" enough. Likewise, the sentences that followed the above statement seem like a real non sequitur: "Forget about reclaiming the word Îqueer.' It's insulting and unnecessary." How can we have an inclusive atmosphere if we deny people the ability to even identify as they choose?

Jason Crockett
sociology graduate student

Poor reasons behind name change for Econ. building

No reason presented by the opponents of renaming the Economics building after CŽsar Ch‡vez was damning enough to reverse the decision to do so. That the new name is temporary is highly unlikely. Nevertheless, the university ought to reflect on what it has done and why it should never happen again.

The honor of having a university building named after somebody should be reserved for those who contributed to the university or its mission, either through scholarship or through financial contributions that enable scholarship.

That Ch‡vez was boss of a sometimes-coercive union doesn't disqualify him. Nor is it inappropriate for the university to name the building that houses the Mexican American studies department after a Mexican-American. The choice was inappropriate because CŽsar Ch‡vez had nothing to do with the university or its mission.

Ch‡vez's myth is a nice story for grandpa, the former fruit-picker, to tell his grandchildren to instill courage and ethnic pride. He was an effective leader whose work benefited the underprivileged, yet he was also a populist, a social Marxist and an

ethnocentrist ÷ qualities contrary to the universalism of the educated. Ch‡vez, the icon and the man, is an important subject of study, but he was no scholar.

Additionally, the administration's given justification is worryingly subversive. President Likins has said that the renaming is a "statement ... to Hispanic students, Îwe respect your cultures and traditions.'" It is not the business of the university to affirm the grand narratives of any subculture. Nor is it appropriate for the university to honor, stroke the ego of, or "welcome" any ethnic group. The university's mission is universal; to claim that anybody has been unwelcome is simply wrong, and Likins' assertion is about as absurd as saying that a building should be named after Ayn Rand to show that the university feels "Objectivists are people, too."

Surely, the administration and the Mexican American studies department could have produced an appropriate figure to award this particular honor ÷ perhaps a renowned Mexican-American intellectual or one of the founders of the department.

Ben Kalafut
optical sciences graduate student

Adults need to have better understanding of students

This is in response to John King's opinion that college students should learn how to control their emotions when drinking in order to be called adult drinkers. Well, come on, man snap out of it. Are you really that boring of a person? You can't honestly tell me that you haven't yelled once in your life "wooohooooo" when taking a shot or drinking a beer. I consider myself an adult and I like to get a little crazy when I drink. Why, you might ask, do I get crazy? It's because it is fun! Who enjoys sitting around and displaying inside voices when drinking? This just shows us how boring of a person you are and how you really need to rethink where you are living. You are living in a college town idiot! If you have problems with the noise, move to the foothills or somewhere farther than 15 minutes from campus. Don't write these negative letters about drinking and noise pollution. I mean, where do you live that you are bothered this much by loud noise? I lived around the campus for four years and there were some loud nights here and there, but not enough to complain about it. The fact is that most college students will drink at some point of their college career and a few might get a little loud. If this bothers you, John, then get a new job away from the UA and get yourself away from a college town. It's people like you that bring down the fun that students try to have being part of the UA community. The real issue on the table is that you are jealous that you never had that much fun when you were an undergraduate student. Because if you did, then you wouldn't write these ridiculous letters in the paper that make people like me get pissed off.

Also, you end your letter by saying that you are tired of seeing broken glass and plastic cups in the street, but I want to ask you how many times that has happened. Honestly, you can't make these claims that you can't back up. Ask anyone who lives close to campus and see how many times that has been a problem. Probably not much, because the mess most often happens inside the house where the party is being thrown, and not on the streets.

So my advice to you, Mr. John King, is to lighten up. Go get a drink, scream a little, feel that excitement, have a great laugh with friends and, most importantly, stop harassing students with your supposed advice on how to be an adult. Get a little crazy; you only live one life.

Aaron Vill
UA alumnus

Americans are too eager to 'throw down the race card'

I think that your article on how Asian-Americans experience racial bias because everyone thinks they're smart is stretching things a bit too thin. I can understand a little bit of pressure you might feel if this perceived "injustice " is true, but aren't we as Americans looking too hard for racial bias in this country? All of it is growing to the point where I feel like everyone is crying wolf and I can't tell the real problems from the people throwing down the race card for personal gain. Personally, I could care less what color, race, religion, sexual orientation, etc. you are, but as a white male I guess everyone figures I'm out to get them. I truly can't wait until this country becomes a kaleidoscope of colors so I can have a moment of solace in the fact that I'm no longer the face of some oppressive majority.

Eric Hathaway
economics senior

Mt. Graham protester's rights violated by police

In response to Tuesday's article "Protest erupts over Mt. Graham:" I think that an even more disheartening factor occurred. I witnessed what happened and I saw nothing that resembled an assault. What I did see, however, was an American citizen along with others voicing his opinion and acting upon his rights granted to him by the Amendments of the Constitution of the United States of America. I am not going to pretend to care about telescopes on Mt. Graham and all of that stuff, but I do care about our country and the rights that we have for being a part of it. I can agree that in the midst of arresting Daniels, when the rest of the protesters were yelling "let him go," that the officers felt for their safety. The fact remains that they should have never been arresting him in the first place. Too often people with authority overstep their boundaries and by doing so are actually the cause of the disturbance. It is almost like a big, bad, muscular gym rat that bounces at a bar. How often do they initiate the problem? They come to squash a problem and end up making an even bigger one. In this case, UAPD is the bouncer, and all they did was escalate a situation and violate everything this country stands for.

Jonathan Moore
agri-business management and economics senior