Wall of Oppression is an eye-opener

The editorial about the Wall of Oppression in Tuesday's Wildcat missed one very large point.

Yes, the wall is controversial; yes, reactions to the wall run the gamut of emotions; however, your editorial skewed these reactions as being primarily negative. I volunteered at the wall today, the day your editorial came out.

You speak of sadness and anger that the wall is on campus. To tell you the truth, I'm sad it is here as well. Its presence means that UA is not a shining example to the rest of the world. It means that hate on our campus still exists. It means that ignoring the problem isn't solving it.

As I stood next to that wall today, I didn't talk as others listened. I listened to stories.

I listened to the students of the UA tell me of times when they were openly discriminated against due to their race, class, gender and sexual orientation.

I saw vehement reactions, not to the wall, but to the messages on the wall. I listened as students explained that they never realized that phrases they use in their daily lives can and do harm other people.

I saw people become angry about bricks because they reminded them of the time they heard those hate-filled phrases thrown at them.

No, the wall isn't beautiful. No, it isn't some poetic expression about love, compassion and understanding.

The wall is about acknowledgement.

The wall is about the fact that society, including the UA, is not over the desire to hate. This wall shouldn't be here.

That is why this morning the wall comes down by the hands of the people that put it up. You may hate the wall, Wildcat staff, but the wall has done more to draw attention to an evil that exists than anything I have seen before.

This wall has made the point that the topics of discrimination and hate cannot be avoided on campus. You say it's an eyesore. I say it's an eye-opener.

Jessica Rose
pre-business sophomore

Students' voices heard on ceremony

I am grateful to President Peter Likins for reinstating the December university-wide commencement and pray that future students don't have to stare down the same fate that I had to as my graduation approached.

However, what is the reason that we were even standing at these crossroads in the first place? To me, canceling it due to the racial insensitivity of throwing tortillas at graduation is a stretch.

The agenda of the future promise of racial equality was truly tainted by a severely flawed argument that this celebration is somehow showing disregard to their segment of our culture.

Something I buy into more about all this is that it was more of a disguised cost-cutting move. I can even believe a rumor I was told that it was all due to the fact that Likins got hit with an identifiable flying object at one of these galas.

Nonetheless, it's refreshing to hear that the concerns of the students are heeded. I just wish the fun police would stop taking my tortillas and putting redtags on my house. By the way ... viva la tortilla.

Eric Hathaway
economics senior

Student section a source of pride

As alumna living in Los Angeles, we came over last weekend for the UA-Wisconsin game. The student section was awesome!

Most of us hiding from the storm under the press box were expecting the student section to be half-empty when play resumed after the lightening delay. Watching the game in a nice warm and dry bar seemed like what most students would probably be doing.

But as we emerged from our shelter to go back to our wet seats, we were excited to see almost all of the Zona Zoo back in force and ready to continue cheering on their Cats.

From alumni everywhere, thank you for making us proud and braving the rain to finish out a fantastic game. Keep it up, and we'll see you all here in Los Angeles on Oct. 9 to beat up on some Bruins.

Sue Thisdell
UA alumna