Depiction of Native Americans not trivial

Stereotypical imagery of Native Americans is a very large problem in our society. Many groups, Indian and non-Indian, have been struggling to eradicate such imagery in our media for numerous years, just as African- Americans have been successful at eradicating images of black face in our media. Dave Low's comic of the stereotypical Indians with feathers sticking out of their heads exemplifies this larger societal problem. Being that this month is National Native American Heritage Month, I felt compelled to express my desire to stop such imagery from entering into our media. The consequences of such imagery (which probably neither J. Thompson nor Dave Eggers are aware of) are the ignorant questions and racist comments that we as Native Americans receive in our everyday lives. J. Thompson and Dave Eggers may have the privilege to take stereotypical Native American imagery as a non-issue; however, myself and other Native Americans do not have that same privilege. The real "harmful activity" is when an act of racism occurs and no one does anything about it.

Travis L. Lane
UA alumnus

Eisenhower believed in individual effort

Ronald Breiger fails to fully realize Eisenhower's speech. His quote that "any man who seeks to deny equality among all his brothers betrays the spirit of the free and invites the mockery of the tyrant" is preceded by, "It asserts that we have the right to choice of our own work and to the reward of our own toil." In the context, it is easy enough to tell that Eisenhower believed in the equality of every man; that is, their equal right to work and receive reward for their "toils" ÷ not that all men should receive equal reward for unequal work.

Dan Norwood
pre-computer science sophomore

Voting is the solution to students' concerns

Regarding the article "Presidents concerned about foreign student attendance," here's one thing pretty much all of us can do to remove a major part of the problem. That problem can be gone permanently from us on Jan. 21, 2005. Mark an appointment in your DayTimer or calendar to get to the polls on November 2 of next year. Let's make it happen!

Dana Eyde
Disability Resource Center staff member

Hilton sex tape review Îwitty' and Îinsightful'

Nate Buchik should be commended for his insightful and witty review of the Paris Hilton sex tape. Not only was his assessment accurate, his perceptive evaluation was presented tastefully and with tact.

My thanks to Nate for providing something new and different to the pages of the Wildcat. Rarely do I have a smile on my face after reading the Wildcat, but Thursday was one of those rare occasions. I know for a fact that I was not the only one whose day was a little brighter because of Nate's article.

Keep up the good work, Nate.

Armand Navabi
computer science senior

Theta Nu Xi stands for open dialogue

I was recently forwarded a column written by columnist Susan Bonicillo, and while I do agree with a few points Ms. Bonicillo made, as a proud member of Theta Nu Xi Multicultural Sorority, Inc., I feel that she may have misguided readers as to what my organization is all about. We are all about open dialogue between people of all races; that's the reason we exist ÷ not to pacify the situation, but to show that as women we can come together and get things done, although we all are very different. If it weren't for opening the lines of communication, we wouldn't be able to accomplish that goal. I think Ms. Bonicillo should have spent some time getting to know what Theta Nu Xi was all about before using the forum to launch an attack on multiculturalism. I think she would be pleasantly surprised to find that my organization has a definite purpose and one that should be the model for years to come.

Andrea Bell
Alton, Ill.

Band is highlight of many sports events

I just wanted to say aloud how much I love our band. I think many people overlook how much energy and animation the band contributes to our sporting events. The band is constantly making a contagiously cheery, lively and proud atmosphere. The members are so into their music that they move with the beat. That's true devotion. Frankly, my favorite part of any game is the tuba players' song and dance. You guys make me smile. Way to be, band.

Hadar Avrahami
Judaic studies and journalism senior

Author of drinking study exhibits racism

From the accusatory title to the ridiculous assertion that colleges should reject qualified white male applicants to cut down on binge drinking, Erin Schmidt's "Binge drinking linked to white men" article exemplifies the hypocritical reverse discrimination that has been directed at white males in recent years.

The wording of the title implies white males are the cause of binge drinking, like a disease would be linked to a virus.

However, the most damning words belong to the study's author, who thinks universities should look to the study results as a benefit of a "more diverse campus." To even suggest that such a blatantly racist idea should be considered in already anti-white male admissions policies is ludicrous. Imagine if the Wildcat published an article about a study that found a higher crime rate among African-Americans than among whites (which would be the case but is certainly no reflection on individuals). Would it ever be suggested that universities should think about excluding qualified African-American candidates as a benefit of racism in admissions policies? Of course not, because that would be obviously wrong. While it is obviously more offensive to be "linked" (to use the author's prose) to violent crime than to binge drinking, it is the same principle.

Civil rights pioneers saw an America where all citizens (white, black, brown, purple, green, etc.) would be judged on the basis of their merits rather than their physical traits. Every time people are fed this kind of garbage in a hard news article, we fall further back into the 19th century. This is what creates racism.

Dustin Meisburger
undeclared freshman

Respectful dialogue doesn't stifle debate

This letter is to address Susan Bonicillo's opinion article titled "Multiculturalism, a misguided outlook." I understand everyone has his or her own opinion, and I do respect Ms. Bonicillo's critical analysis of the ideology of multiculturalism. However, as a member of Theta Nu Xi Multicultural Sorority, Inc., I do feel that Ms. Bonicillo has entirely missed the mission and purpose of our sorority and what the Nu Chapter at your university was trying to accomplish through their annual "Create a Hate-Free Zone" forum.

Our sorority and its members stand on the principle that knowledge and respect of other cultures is critical. Ms. Bonicillo suggested that multiculturalism breeds hypersensitivity and stifles open dialogue because of the fear one may have of being labeled a bigot or prejudiced. Theta Nu Xi is a multicultural sorority of diverse women from all races, cultures, religions, backgrounds and lifestyles. No one in this world is without prejudice or ignorance, but what Theta Nu Xi aims to do is acknowledge this and do something about it ÷ not just ignore prejudices due to the risk conflict, because that creates ignorance. We want to open up the dialogue and create an environment for people to be educated and feel that if they do not understand someone or something, they can ask without feeling like they are offending someone. If someone is educated about another culture, yet still does not agree with the beliefs and teachings of that culture, that is a personal choice and does not invalidate the ideology if multiculturalism.

I think Ms. Bonicillo needs to take a closer look into what multiculturalism and the people who stand for it are really about.

Caryn Haywood
Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.

Bring back ÎOptimal Stubble' to comics

As I opened the paper last week, I turned directly to the comic section and to my horror and dismay that "Optimal Stubble" was nowhere to be found. Instead, there was a lame comic in its place. This comic, that shall remain nameless, must be terminated. It is retarded. Please bring back the funny comics (i.e. "Optimal Stubble").

Angelica Hancock
studio art junior

Filibuster shows true Democratic colors

The 30-hour debate about a filibuster that was put on four of Bush's federal bench nominees by the Democratic senate demonstrates how Democrat leaders in this country often do more to inhibit progress of minorities than to encourage progress.

Democrat members have said that the nominees, whom are all minorities, are not qualified for the position. This is not true. Instead, the filibuster was for obvious reasons: The nominees did not hold a liberal opinion. Despite what people like Elijah Cumming, the representative of the Black Caucus, say about the minority nominees, they are all highly qualified individuals.

It is odd that sexist and racist claims made against the GOP-led Senate by various Democrat senators hold true among many liberals and minorities, despite the fact that the Republicans confirmed more women and minorities to the Supreme Court than Democrats ever have.

Obviously, Bush believes that minorities are smart enough to hold leadership positions in this country. In fact, it is evident that he believes minorities have just as much potential as anyone, which is why he is raising education standards for minorities across the country instead of lowering standards like various Democrat leaders have. I hope this debate was a wake-up call, particularly to those American minorities who have been brainwashed by the media and so forth to think that they have to associate with the Democrat party because Republicans are supposedly "racist." The accusation that Republican leaders are racist, however, has been disproved time and time again, and once again it has been disproved in light of the recent 30-hour marathon.

Ariana Ford
journalism sophomore