Mailbag


Arizona Daily Wildcat
Tuesday, December 6, 2005

Knight only successful in abusing players

It's good to see that there are still fans such as Michael Neish ("Time for Olson to step down") that want to restore the Arizona tradition. Of course it is a tradition that Olson created, but who cares about minor details?

Here I thought our assistant wants Jim Rosborough, but you have obviously set us all straight. Let's ignore that little championship and those Final Fours and decide to bring up a first-round exit in 1993. I am sure it is merely a coincidence that Pastner and "Roz" are on the staff, a coincidence that has nothing to do with being alongside one of the best coaches of all time.

Knight has been wonderfully successful lately, hasn't he? All those tournament victories and choking the players. It would be a great step in the right direction if he hired someone of his honor.

Jason Scheer
journalism senior

Intolerant among us keep society from moving forward

I thoroughly enjoyed David Schultz's column ("Gay PDA at the UA OK?"). I have to say I completely agree with what he wrote about. I hope one day that society will move into a more liberal front with individuals supporting the rights of the gay community.

I have to say that I experienced the same thing when my girlfriend was visiting me in early November. I enjoy the small amounts of PDA, and yet I still felt myself looking behind my shoulder to see if people were saying rude comments or gawking at the display we were showing.

I especially dislike the fact that even walking hand in hand with a significant other, or even a close female friend, usually it's the men who yell snide remarks such as "dyke" or "fag." It's those individuals who keep society from moving in a more positive direction with equal rights for the gay community.

Justyne Johnson
junior majoring in family studies and human development

Grijalva coverage in Wildcat not objective

Unable to attend U.S. Rep. Raul Grijalva's speech, I turned to the Wildcat for an account of it, but was disappointed by Zach Colick's article on the speech ("Grijalva supports U.S. withdrawal from Iraq") on two levels.

First, the article provided no more information than was printed in the caption to Grijalva's photo. So why waste space on an uninformative article? Second, the article displayed clear bias against Grijalva's position, including emotive terms such as "rhetoric," and concentrating more on the speaker's delivery than content.

Without explanation, Colick appeared to disapprove of the speaker's use of statistics to support his argument. Arguments require facts. Did more than 2,100 American soldiers and a far greater number of collaterally damaged Iraqi civilians not die in this war?

I'm not an apologist for terrorists, but our cause against them is not served by "news" that lacks objectivity. This is opinion masquerading as news.

Michael Schumaker
music sophomore

Students' privacy more important than getting the story

As a journalism student, I would like to express my profound disappointment in the way the Wildcat has covered the allegations against Cade Bernsen. While it is the duty of the press to hold those in power accountable for their actions, it is also to be expected that this be carried out with some level of integrity.

The allegations against Bernsen are just that: allegations. Yet the article in Wednesday's paper reads as though he has already been tried and convicted. And the inclusion of the ages, majors and positions of the accusers within the Associated Students of the University of Arizona makes them all too identifiable for anyone with five minutes and access to Facebook.

As the sole source of news for many UA students, the Wildcat has a responsibility to provide students with information. However, in this instance I believe it was taken too far. Sexual harassment is, obviously, an extremely serious issue, and in the event that these allegations are proved true, that should be reported.

However, until that point Bernsen should be shown at least some modicum of respect. If he is found guilty, he will be forced to deal with the consequences of his actions, as he should. But if found innocent, the coverage in the Wildcat over the last few days will have contributed to the stigma he will have to live under for the rest of this life.

There is a way to report the relevant facts of a story without harming any of the parties involved. In this particular case, the Wildcat managed to deny the privacy of all of them. As "the No. 1 student newspaper in the country," I expect the Wildcat to hold itself to a higher standard when reporting on such sensitive issues. Perhaps in the future the staff will recognize the students involved, not just the story.

Brittany Parish
journalism junior