Letters to the Editor

Raiji wrong about SOLE, activism

To the Daily:

I was disappointed with Manish Raiji's attacks on student activism in his column ("Taking things too far; Or how to be a Michigan activist" 10/10/00). He seems confused as to why SOLE members would voluntarily be arrested in support of human rights. Perhaps he is unaware that concerned citizens have recently staged similar protests at many other Kohl's locations across the country. These widespread protests have not been in vain. They have forced Kohl's management to reexamine, if not amend, their relationships with third-world laborers.

Raiji also notes that some of the Ann Arbor protesters were first and second-year students. So what? Does he mean to argue that only upper-class students ought to participate in social action? He also misrepresents the size of the demonstration at Kohl's. Ten students chose to be arrested and I admire their courage. More than 20 other students attended and protested in other ways and I admire their courage as well.

On abortion, if radicalism is really what Raiji deplores, I don't understand why he would elect to be inside of the fences rather than outside. Does he seriously believe the Genocide Awareness Project to be less radical and extremist than students holding hand made signs affirming a woman's right to chose?

I believe that the students who occupied the tower, the students who demonstrated in Kohl's, and the students on both sides of the Diag fences were standing up for what the believed in, regardless if they were branded as radicals. As anthropologist Margaret Mead would say "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world, indeed it is the only thing that ever has."

These groups of committed citizens did look before they leapt, just as Raiji advises. They looked and they saw something they firmly believed was morally wrong, just as Jesus Christ, Gandhi, Martin Luther King Jr. and countless other radicals have done for the good of humankind.

Aaron Ohlrogge

RC sophomore

'Superficial' column was embarrassing

To the Daily:

Just for clarification, does Erin McQuinn have a sister named Daria? Maybe not, because even Quinn Morgendorfer's "Fashion Club" at its cattiest could not compare to the psychotic episode that the Daily called McQuinn's column ("A weekend in East Lansing makes me appreciate A2," 10/10/00). With the level of intellect that she displays, she is sure to go far in life. Sure, she might become a bag lady one day, but she can thank her lucky (Michael) Stars that her returnables will be in a Prada bag.

Does McQuinn even realize that the majority of her reasons for disliking State consist of unimportant differences between student fashions? Is that the best she can come up with? She clearly does not demonstrate a rational comparison between the two universities, but rather a superficial, snobbish opinion based on completely irrelevant details. McQuinn alleges that the majority of the girls at State are "plain." The reason for this plainness, according to her, is because they hail from Michigan, "the second plainest state next to Idaho." Does she realize that by this line of reasoning, she too falls into the category of "not hideous - just plain"?

Additionally, in McQuinn's view, we as students can finally feel superior to Michigan State because, "our parties are about 500 times better than theirs." Well, that is certainly a resume worthy statement. Now we remember why we went to the University in the first place. That, and our "more sophisticated" school colors, of course. It seems more likely that people would value a school's athletics and incoming ACT scores over the fashion trends and dance styles of the students. Clearly, the former should be disregarded as long as we all have "big hoop earrings" and undyed hair.

This column was an embarrassing display of shallowness and intolerance for anyone who doesn't fit into McQuinn's narrow conformist mold. If this sad attempt at journalism is the best that Daily writers can do, we just might strangle ourselves with our black booty pants.

Marie Packer Amanda Aikman

LSA seniors

MSU student glad not to be at 'U'

To the Daily:

As a student at Michigan State University, needless to say I was appalled at the column that Erin McQuinn wrote in the Daily ("A weekend in East Lansing makes me appreciate A2," 10/10/00). Born and raised in southeastern Michigan, I am more than familiar with the Michigan-Michigan State rivalry and more then considered attending the University of Michigan. However, after reading this opinionated and obnoxious article, I am more then pleased with my decision to attend Michigan State.

Now, I have plenty of friends at the University of Michigan that I know do not agree with the views of McQuinn. And I do not blame her for her thoughts, everyone is entitled to their own beliefs. For example, I hold the belief that McQuinn is correct about being an "arrogant asshole." That is besides the point. My complaint is that the Daily would have the audacity to publish such literary garbage. I understand the idea of free speech, etc. as I worked on the newspaper staff at my high school for two years. However, this is above and beyond opinion and borders on slander. I would personally be ashamed to attend the University of Michigan after one of its students decided to write this column and also because the Daily published it. Grow up and learn some class.

David Geiringer

Michigan state university sophomore

Students should be involved in program decisions

To the Daily:

In light of the recent events concerning the future (or lack thereof) of the Organizational Studies program, we as a committee feel that our opinions on this matter must be voiced clearly. We believe that not all of our concerns were addressed in yesterday's Daily article ("LSA dean ends organizational studies option" 10/11/00) and we wish to state them now.

1. Our current demand is that Organizational Studies be immediately reinstated until a decision has been made on the official proposal to make Organizational Studies a formal concentration. Furthermore, we believe that Organizational Studies students should be involved in the proposal-making and decision-making processes from Step 1 until the very end.

2. This unfortunate situation could have been avoided had LSA accepted the original proposal, given two years ago by the Psychology Department. This proposal would have established "a formal interdisciplinary concentration with appropriate faculty oversight and advising" (as Dean Neuman stated in her letter).

3. Although this may not affect any of us who have already declared, we still passionately believe in the value of this academic program and its future. Organizational Studies gave students the chance to acquire a diverse educational experience that was unique from any other offered major. We will take every step possible to see that Organizational Studies is reinstated and received the recognition it so deserves.

It is our hope that Dean Neuman will take this opportunity to meet with us in an effort to reach a fair conclusion regarding this issue.

Please contact us with any concerns or questions and attend our mass meeting next Wednesday for more information. We are more than willing to help in any way we can. Please get involved in this effort - the future of Organizational Studies depends on all of us.

The organizational studies student assembly executive council

Ignorance, snobbery shown in the Daily

I am writing you in response to the Oct. 10th column by Erin McQuinn, "A weekend in East Lansing makes me appreciate A2." I was both appalled and embarrassed by the ignorance and pure snobbery that was showcased in the Daily. I am writing not only as a Michigan State student, but also as someone who visits Ann Arbor fairly often. I have many friends who attend the University of Michigan and I have had a lot of great times in there. Although I am a Spartan and am proud of it, I am fully able to recognize, appreciate and enjoy all the good things that the University of Michigan has to offer, not only academically, but socially also.

This column made me embarrassed to come from a state where an article in a university newspaper could be so unbelievably arrogant. I have never been a person to believe negative stereotypes that are often associated with certain institutions and I still am not. I do, however believe that this article reaffirmed many preconceived notions that many of us rioting, American Eagle-wearing Spartans had always kind of suspected about some people who go to the University of Michigan.

Katie Lynch

Michigan state university sophomore