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Daily's quote implicates all of Alianza

TO THE DAILY:

While I understand that the quote stating that the people responsible for stealing the Dailys could have been from Alianza was not an opinion necessarily reflective of the Daily, I still feel that it was irresponsible to even use this quote in the article ("Dailys stolen from campus drop sites," 3/28/96). For one thing, nothing at all in the article substantiated this claim.

Why Alianza? Because a red car was claimed to have been seen? Does Alianza have a monopoly on red cars? How did a connection get made to Alianza? Why not a Greek organization, a house council or just about anyone else? I have no idea of what really happened. I am merely basing my questions upon what I read in the article. None of these questions are close to being answered. As far as I'm concerned it was merely speculation.

However, the repercussions are much more severe. From here on out Alianza will be associated with the thefts, based upon this quote. Even when they're found to have no involvement, the association will remain. Furthermore, few people in the mainstream know anything about Alianza, nor its membership.

Thus, they probably assume every Latino/a is in Alianza, and since Alianza is "made up of thieves," what does that make us as individuals? Do you see where I'm getting at? The continued demonization of people of color on this campus! Racial prejudice may not be as blatant as it once was, but repeated occurrences such as these continue to perpetuate the hostile climate on campus for "minorities" and increase ethnic and racial divisions.

While fingers are pointed at events such as MLK Day celebrations and Chicano History Week as being divisive, it's the subtle actions, such as the comment regarding Alianza, that are more dangerous. When it is shared with thousands and thousands of people through the media, in conjunction with continual other misrepresentations, it consciously or unconsciously ingrains an image of an entire group of people in the minds of others.

People need to realize that they must take responsibility for what they say or report. Many innocent people were affected by this article. I am not calling for censorship, just more thoughtfulness in the future. As journalists, you all should very well know the power of words and the media. Then again, maybe that's why the quote was included.

DANIEL D. ZARAZUA

LSA SENIOR