Editor:

I am writing about the irony and hypocrisy for the struggle for respect and social justice. Let me start by saying that I am a Hispanic woman and very proud of it. I am also a resident assistant here on this campus and I am very proud of that position. Now, I would like to relay a very disturbing incident that happened to me the other day that challenges my sensitivity as both a Hispanic and a resident assistant. In class, someone asked me where I was an R.A. at, and I said, "Graham-Greenlee." A member of MEChA proceeded to say that Graham-Greenlee was a "piece of shit." I looked at this person and said, "That is my home!" It was then reiterated that it "still was a piece of shit." I was very offended by this statement. I am very proud of where I live. I was placed at Graham-Greenlee two years ago, and I love it. Perhaps it is not aesthetically pleasing to the eye, but it holds wonderful people, memories and a hard working staff that has given it a lot of love, time and work.

The following day, this same person asked me to sign this person's petition for ASUA Senate. I refused and told this person that perhaps in the future this person should think twice before calling someone's home a "piece of shit." This person then told me that it was a joke and that a number one thing is having a sense of humor. I then replied that having respect was number one in my book. The reason why this is striking me so pathetically ironic and hypocritical is because the day before, this same person was talking about the phone calls that a Kappa Sigma member made to a Hispanic guy that lived a few doors down, playing discourteous clips from "Full Metal Jacket." Hasn't MEChA been holding vigils at Kappa Sigma for racial slurs? Yes. Isn't MEChA and the whole Hispanic community here at school angry about the phone calls and the racial slurs? Yes. I admire the unity and the persistence for recognition to something offensive, but the person that I have been dealing with, from the same organization, is telling me that I should not take this comment so seriously, that I should have a sense of humor? Excuse you! I am extremely offended and shocked to hear that one offensive situation should offend and another be taken as a joke. Why? There is no explanation for it, and it angers me. One may ask, "But don't the racial slurs and those phone calls hurt a community of people?" Well, when you call Graham-Greenlee a "piece of shit," that offends all 300-plus residents, 16 resident assistants, one hall director and all of the resident life employees who give 110 percent of themselves to give residents a nice, safe, comfortable and enjoyable place to live.

Respect and sensitivity should be equally given and received on a full-time basis. When you do not know someone well, be careful of what you say because you never know if you are going to offend that person. Granted, we all say things that we do not intend to be taken negatively, but if they are, then an apology should follow. It is contemptuous to try to cover up a biting remark by turning it into a joke. It would be simpler to acknowledge that the comment is offensive and apologize for the misstatement than to circumvent it. After all, isn't that what Kappa Sigma should be doing? We are all different, and no matter who we are, we will feel passionate about something. Even if those things are different, we have to respect that. How can we ask for respect when we are unable to give it? Para darce a respetar, hay que respetar a los denas!

Kristina Rivera
sociology junior