First, your newspaper claims that partial birth abortions are only performed when "doctors discover severe abnormalities with the fetus." Perhaps you have not heard of Dr. Martin Haskell, a prominent late-term abortionist who performs partial birth abortions. In an interview with the American Medical News, Haskell said about the procedures, "most of my abortions are elective in that 20-24 week range ... In my particular case, probably 20 percent are for genetic reasons. And the other 80 percent are purely elective." Nowhere does he say any abortions are performed because "the mother has serious health problems" as is claimed by your newspaper. Furthermore, your newspaper claims "abortion is a freedom that is protected by law." The Supreme Court decision Roe v. Wade makes it clear that abortion can be prohibited by government, specifically during the time that Haskell has stated that he performs partial birth abortions.
I would also like to address the main point of the editorial. Your newspaper claims that conservatives are playing election-year politics. Frankly, I don't understand your reasoning. If conservatives are failing in the polls, wouldn't a controversial vote be the last thing on their to-do list? Also, your newspaper interestingly switches from using the term "conservatives" to "Republicans" in identifying the supporters of the bill, forgetting that many Democrats voted for the override, like Anna Eshoo of California, who is hardly a conservative or a Republican. What a service your newspaper provides. I'm glad I don't have to pay $5 for a Sunday edition of The Sacramento Bee to be provided with this kind of amusement.
David Granda
Engineering sophomore
After missing Jesse Jackson's visit to the University, I wonder what aspects of hope for diversity and acceptance were actually in the audience on Sept. 23. What did Jackson see?
Laurie Mayk writes ("Jackson touts the impact of student vote," 9/24/96): "Jackson commented on the diversity of the Ann Arbor audience - an aspect of campus life on which the University prides itself." Then Mayk quotes Jackson, "You look like what (Martin Luther King Jr.) lived and died for - you look like a little United Nations here."
Funny, but I don't remember being at Jackson's scheduled meeting.
But then again, those Jewish students who were worshipping at Yom Kippur services would neither be at his "rally" nor in class doing academic work. To me, as a Jewish student, spirituality on this most holy day forgoes all my academic and other commitments. I could not be present. Neither could any other spiritual Jews attend Jackson's rally or the lectures of their professors.
This conflict in schedule, and obvious contradiction in terms, (i.e., pride in diversity) does not have me stunned. Instead, this aspect of life is normal for me. Somehow I believe that the Yom Kippur article on Page 3 would have served a better purpose by being right next to the Jackson article in which he assumes the diversity of his audience.
When I consider the fact that visible minorities are still discriminated against every single day, I wonder what invisible minorities are ignored or overlooked everyday as well. I know some of the answers because I experience them.
Considering that the politicians are still talking about "family values," consider that I - and many other students - as Jews, as Muslims, as Hindus and as member of other religions cannot go home to their "families" to celebrate the most sacred holidays with them. Unlike "Christmas break," there is no "high holiday break." Furthermore, it is difficult to commit spiritually without suffering the consequences of missed classes.
The University campus continues to overlook the importance of Jewish or other "diverse" holidays of "diverse" religions. The respect granted to Catholic or Christmas-worshipping students and often taken advantage of, is not given to the many students, who similarly have important spiritual commitments during times of the year other than Christmas (i.e. the end of December).
This acceptance and respect is a possibility. Brandeis University, and its academic calendar, is a prime example. If we, as the University, are to "pride" ourselves on diversity, we should be able to walk the walk.
In addition to the University's blindness to the religious importance of spiritual holidays to students, there is blindness to diversity. Many academic programs continue to use the old version of the Affirmative Action Statement. Is this not promoting continued discrimination? Similarly, the presidential policy on sexual orientation is many times overlooked.
Finally - and most discouraging - is the University's inability to update the literature to the current and present names of different groups, support systems or program offices (i.e. the Lesbian Gay Bisexual Programs Office).
The University cannot seem to "walk the walk" despite its intense desire to be such a diverse campus. Visibility, change and reform are not moving quickly enough to take the pride in our diversity that Jackson commented about. Our campus still has a long way to go.
Funny enough, those who want to argue - political correctness isn't even the issue. Instead, the issue remains promoting acceptance and tolerance of all. The only way to begin along that path of hope is to put one foot in front of the other with our minds and eyes open wide.
Hopefully Jackson meant to say all that and more, so that we could spiritually connect at at least one level together on that Yom Kippur day.
Magda Konig
School of Social Work
I personally have more respect for those representatives who were elected on a party platform and choose to show integrity by remaining true to the reason they are in office, rather than let go of the coattails that got them into office at the first available opportunity and pose as independents.
Yawar Murad
EECS graduate student