Columnist Cassino not fit to print

The New York Times had a slogan, "All the news that's fit to print." They recognized perhaps that not everything IS fit to print. The Wildcat obviously does not wish to uphold the same standards of journalism, because they continue to print commentaries by Dan Cassino.

I wonder if Mr. Cassino intends his articles to be amusing. If so, perhaps I just don't understand his sense of humor. In his commentary "Debunking the Diversity Myth," that appeared in the Feb. 18 issue of the Wildcat, Mr. Cassino expressed a view that diversity, or "multiculturalism," simply makes people uncomfortable. When I was a child, I learned that individuals who are made to feel uncomfortable by the presence of people different from themselves are known as bigots. Mr. James Byrd and Lance Cpl. Carlos Colbert were each attacked by men who were made to feel uncomfortable by multiculturalism.

I recently discussed this issue with Brian Barker, Editor in Chief of this paper, who assured me that I had misunderstood Mr. Cassino's intentions.

If this is true, then Mr. Cassino's articles should not be published solely on the basis of his inability to communicate his ideas. Many other readers have "misunderstood" also.

Mr. Barker stated to me that Mr. Cassino was entitled to his opinions. I agree. I simply feel that perhaps this newspaper is not the correct forum for his antiquated, separatist/segregationist viewpoints. Hitler had an opinion, but journalistic integrity, if not human decency should prevent you from printing it in your paper.

Heather Ferrea
Microbiology junior