Letters to the editor

Universal health care is no solution

In response to last week's article by Pearl Wong; to begin, the difference between GDP spending and the estimated cost for universal health care is the fact that GDP spending includes individuals' private spending rather than a government deciding what best to spend tax payer money on.

Only individuals can make the best decision for themselves and their families, not politicized government bureaucrats. A government run system will experience higher demand than supply and thus result in rationing through queuing. A national policy is not the right answer because failures at the national level affect the entire nation. Criticizing the profits of insurance companies is another illegitimate excuse to nationalize health care. Corporations are not some mythological entity; they are publicly owned companies with millions of shareholders.

True health care reform will include competition across state lines, tort reform and tax credits that encourage the purchasing of health insurance through the patient's own choices. Finally, if "America is a democracy," as Wong argues, then each person will make the economic decisions viable to them and their families. When the government decides how to spend a person's money, it not only controls their income but their physical well being as well as their life.

Timor Brik

Political Science '10

MCC overreacts to theme party

I am writing to comment on Kurt Wagner's article describing recent upset and reaction to an off campus sorority party. I am a 1980 alumnus and parent of one the students at the party.

While I do not endorse racism or stereotyping in any way, the reaction to this event serves to incite negative feelings and divide the student body more so than the actual event.

I find it interesting that the person who brought this event to the university's attention makes the assumption that gangsters or thugs are all African-American. We all know there are plenty of white gangsters and thugs. If the party had depicted young white males as crooked stockbrokers or CEO's would there be this much of an outrage?

When I was a student at Santa Clara there were plenty of on-campus events where male students dressed up as women, depicting them in an unfavorable light. Once there was a dance where everyone came dressed as "hicks" or country folk. Often students came to parties dressed as Jesuits or nuns; there was no outrage then and we all got up the next day and went to the library to study.

When does foolish fun become a social injustice? Where does that line get drawn and who gets to draw it?

The MCC is overreacting, and in their fervor to point fingers they are fostering division and creating unnecessary hysteria.

Respectfully,

Chris Carlyle MS LPC

Class of 1980

Theme party reflected hip-hop culture

I am truly disappointed at the immature display the Multicultural Center has put on regarding the Alpha Phi "Notorious P.H.I." party. While the promotion of cultural diversity is essential to a well-rounded education and campus lifestyle, the MCC was too hasty in taking offense on this occasion. Unlike the infamous "South of the Border" party, this party did not have any themes about race; it was a party focused on hip-hop music and the culture that surrounds it. The MCC has taken offense in saying that the attire and themes exhibited at a rap party are derogatory towards African-Americans: I am somewhat concerned that our multicultural center is so quick to attribute hip-hop lifestyles to African-American culture in general. By insinuating that grills, "ghetto attire" and hip-hop lifestyle are directly related to African-American culture, the Multicultural Center is guilty of the same racism of which they accuse Alpha Phi. The MCC should find better ways to promote cultural diversity than organizing witch hunts for imaginary racists.

Benjamin Drahmann

English '12

Party marks lack of awareness

It was recently brought to the attention of the Multicultural Center that a theme party displaying negative socio-economic and racial stereotypes had occurred off campus. The Center found the party to be offensive because it targeted a specific race and class through the overt and implicit portrayal of negative stereotypes for entertainment. Such stereotypes create a hostile environment which makes minority students feel targeted and unwelcome.

The Center believes that this incident is about an issue that is much broader than a single party, organization or individuals. What is at the heart of the matter is a fundamental disconnect between privileged and marginalized groups in society. The fact that this incident is just one of many in recent memory is proof of a serious lack of awareness about minorities within the Santa Clara community.

To prevent future incidents from occurring, there must be structural changes that result in respect for Santa Clara's diverse background in both on and off campus festivities. Some changes not mentioned previously that are proposed by the Center include collaboration with RLCA and the Council of Excellence Through Inclusion to educate current students, a freshman orientation session with a cultural emphasis to educate incoming students and textual changes to the Student Handbook to resolve ambiguity regarding offensive behavior. The Multicultural Center has received the support of students, alumni, faculty, and administration and we plan to move forward together to tackle the real issues at hand in order to make SCU a better place for all.

MCC Executive Board

A fair representation of hip-hop

This is ridiculous. The theme was hip-hop, not African-American. These girls and guys dressed like many rappers do, especially from the Bay Area, in all their music videos. The shirt with the "ghetto certificate" was a generically made shirt, one which can be found at a numerous stores. I have seen both African-American and Caucasian men wearing very similar shirts at events like baseball games. This party was nowhere near the "South of the Border" party.

In the early 90's hip-hop artists such as Snoop Dogg, Ice T and Dr. Dre fueled the fire for this so-called stereotype by wearing bandanas and having tattoos that portrayed that they were "thugs" and "ghetto." Their lyrics about murder and gang warfare are very much a reality, not some mythical stereotype.

The men and women who are a part of the hip-hop industry, be they African-American, white, Hispanic or Asian, do in fact dress and act how the girls and guys did at this party.

Music is not a racial divide, it is multicultural organization. Every single race is represented in the hip-hop community and a hip-hop theme party does not single out one group. This is not a stereotype of the African-American community. It is a very real representation of the hip-hop community.

Sean Carusi

Online Comment

Party was offensive and derogatory

Hmmm, a hip-hop party. Any microphones present? Turntables? Hip-hop music played at the party? Anybody rapping at the party? Any black people at the party? Instead of inviting black people to the party, let's just portray a stereotypical image of them? I wonder what black members of Alpha Phi think of this party. Far be it for an organization like Alpha Phi to actually invite black people to the party that is just too hip-hop. Well, this was one way to go. I wonder if there was a more creative way to have a hip-hop party. Maybe have small groups come up with a hip-hop song about Alpha Phi and perform it at the party? Maybe have a punch called gin and juice?

That's a theme party. The intent of this gathering is clear. For those of you who really do not get why this is offensive and derogatory, you betta check yo'self before you wreck yo'self.

Kimberly H.

Online Comment