Editor’s note: The “”Predators Stalk Campus for Big Win”” article in the April 1 DisreGuardian was based on the highly publicized “”Most Tritons”” campaign by the Sexual Assault Resource Center alerting students that “”9 out of 10 Tritons always stop sexual activity when their date says no.””

Our staff found this statistic deplorable – obviously, it should be 10 out of 10. We found the insinuation that 10 percent of the campus population would pursue sexual activity with an unwilling partner to be quite disturbing, and the campaign to be laughably ineffective. The DisreGuardian gave us a venue to explore the issue in a satirical manner. The article mocked the potential perpetrators of these horrible crimes and a flawed campaign, not victims. However, we recognize that the subject was controversial, and we regret that some individuals were offended by the story.

Guardian Satire Crosses Over Line of Decency

Dear Editor,

I was deeply disappointed when I found out that our university newspaper seems to think that rape is something funny. I am referring to the April 1 article titled “”Predators Stalk Campus for Big Win.””

Rape is a serious problem that scars the lives of millions of women in our country each year. Most rape victims are traumatized for life. Every two and a half minutes, somewhere in the United States, someone is sexually assaulted. One in six American women are victims of sexual assault at some point in their lives. About 44 percent of rape victims are under the age of 18. Among females, 66 percent are under 18. One in 12 male students in the United States surveyed had committed acts that met the legal definition of rape or attempted rape.

Are you laughing yet?

This article shows how insensitive you and your staff are, and frankly, immature. It also suggests that you are not very creative when it comes to writing satire, but we won’t hold that against you.

If the Guardian is to be taken in any way seriously by our community, I think you should make amends by printing an apology for this incident on your front page.

– José I. Fusté

UCSD Graduate Student

Dear Editor,

I understand that the DisreGuardian was meant to be funny or amusing or whatnot. But rape is not. As a professional staff at UCSD (and I have cc-ed this letter to my department colleagues), I do not condone this type of humor, even if it was meant to be satirical. I am sending this letter as an expression of my frustration and anger with how for nonvictims, rape can be a joke. It is certainly not and I would like for you to publicly apologize about this matter as soon as possible.

– Jimiliz Maramba Valiente

Program Assistant, O.A.S.I.S.

Dear Editor,

I found your April Fool’s Day article about a UCSD Rape Team not only tasteless and tactless, but offensive. I am sure that anyone who is a rape victim, has a sister who has been raped or a close friend who has confided in them about a rape, would not write such an article, much less chuckle over it.

Rape, hate and violence are not funny. I am disappointed that the Guardian would stoop to capitalizing on trauma, especially a trauma that affects so many students here at UCSD.

I demand a formal, published apology (which was not present in your most recent issue), and I hope the chancellor addresses the use of student funds to publish such “”entertainment.”” I believe in freedom of speech, but I do not believe in using my tuition for shoddy laughs.

– Kyla Buckingham

Sixth College Senior

Editor’s note: The Guardian is entirely self-funded through advertising revenue, and does not receive funding from the university or the Associated Students.