Participation In Protests Went Underreported

Dear Editor:

The article titled “Tritons Pepper Immigration Protests” in the May 4 issue grossly misrepresented the successful collaborative efforts of numerous UCSD organizations to mobilize around the May 1 “Day Without an Immigrant.” The article repeatedly emphasized themes such as student apathy, lack of organized efforts to mobilize student activists and general indifference to the issue. As someone involved in the student organization efforts, I can assure readers that these claims are entirely inaccurate, and worse, demonstrate that the Guardian would prefer to fall back on the old stereotype of UCSD as an apathetic campus than do any real journalism.

The Guardian managed to remain oblivious to the fact that we UCSD students got over 600 letters signed and sent out to U.S. senators, passed a resolution in support of the rights of undocumented immigrants, held two teach-ins on campus venues, and organized carpools to take students to both the Balboa Park and San Ysidro protests. It’s embarrassing that the supposed “student voice” of UCSD would write its cover story on this topic without including any of these events.

— Michael Bakal

Eleanor Roosevelt College Sophomore

Maya Angelou Not Met With Due Respect

Dear Editor:

I recently attended “An Evening with Maya Angelou” at RIMAC. A technical error or two in an event is unfortunate, though excusable. But problems went so far beyond harmless mistakes that I doubt Angelou would accept an invitation to come back. It began with sound problems. The only people who could initially hear Angelou were those in the very front seats. After some time the sound was fixed, but we still had to strain our ears to hear her. The man who introduced her spoke very quickly, and though I could not hear what he said, I could see that he was staring down at the podium the entire time. I am surprised that the university did not seek out a better public speaker to introduce a world-renowned, incredible woman. Furthermore, the lights on the audience were never dimmed, and the spotlight on Angelou went out several times. People were still flooding in, stomping down the bleachers, well into the first half-hour of her speech. Not only is this disruptive to the audience members, it is rude to any speaker. The event concluded with no closing speaker or thank you, no bouquet of flowers, no display of kindness or gratitude. I left enchanted by the words I could discern, but ashamed to be a student of this university. I hope that the next time UCSD receives such an honored guest, he or she will be treated with respect.

— Kyla Buckingham

Sixth College Junior