Anarchy in Bloomington \nA safe and civil city, that is what Bloomington is supposed to be, but on the fateful morning of Sept. 16, a couple of days after the dreadful event in New York City. An African graduate student experienced anarchy in Bloomington. While returning home from the club, he was jumped by two unidentified hoodlums. \nUnfortunately, the Bloomington Police cannot release their names. I guess they need their Mama and Papa's consent. To make matters worse, according to the victim, these individuals who took the law into their own hands yelled derogatory statements as they mugged him.\nTo add insult to injury, the IDS has also been publishing accounts of how this graduate student is now a suspect of the SUV vandalism. When the police arrived on the scene he informed them that the two individuals had assaulted him. But he was arrested and spent time in jail. \nDid the IDS bother to inform its readers on the assault charges? No! I hope the IDS will do us a favor and report all sides of the story and not just one side. Without any evidence I wonder why he was charged. Just on the account of two vandals? \nI hope there is justice for all international students. We don't need to see someone die before we denounce such shameful acts. A couple of years ago when another international student was gunned down, the whole community took up arms to rid the city of such evil. I hope the community will ask for the truth in this case and clear the name of an innocent African student. Who has traveled thousands of miles from his home just to get an education like you and I. \nI hope the administration doesn't take this matter lightly and gets to the bottom of it. And lastly I hope the Bloomington Police Department did not arrest this student just on the account of two thugs.\nKwane D. Dakwa\nGraduate student
Some Muslims agree with Sept. 11 attacks \nDuring the last few days, many readers have written to your forum to justifiably condemn the anti-Islamic verbal assaults reported in this paper and others. I believe that the sentiment of these condemnations admirably reflects the tolerant attitudes of the majority of Americans. It is absolutely correct to assert that the actions of a few Islamic terrorists do not accurately represent the goals or beliefs of the majority of followers of Islam in this country or overseas. \nBut they do represent the aggressive political desires of some of them. The philosophies espoused by the followers of radical Islam (whether they be Shiite, Sunni or in the Palestinian groups) generally tend to advocate the use of violence to achieve their aims of toppling the moderate Arab regimes, destroying Israel and eliminating the influence of the West in the Islamic world. \nThese philosophies are not merely the fetish of small cells of fanatic terrorists but are actually subscribed to by a sizable portion of the worldwide Islamic community. Many analysts estimate that the followers of militant, radical Islam probably constitutes 10 to 15 percent of the global population of Muslims. \nThis population is not concentrated in a few "rogue" states, but is spread out among virtually all nations containing sizable populations of Muslims -- including the United States. Many counter-terrorism experts also point out the importance of this population to the support of the actual perpetrators of violent acts of terrorism. \nMany radical terrorist movements such as the bin Laden-associated Egyptian "Jihad" and the Algerian "GIA" have been shown to be reliant upon the monetary donations and tacit support of the sizable minority of the worldwide Islamic populace who support their aims. Similarly, the FBI investigation of the 1993 World Trade Center bombing has documented the importance of a small minority of the Muslim immigrant community's support of Ramzi Yousef's cell -- notably through the logistics support of the 'Al Kifah' center in Brooklyn and through the use of radical Muslim safe houses and job patronage. The large number of "material witnesses" (around 45) recently taken into custody by the FBI also testifies to the large amount of local logistical support that this latest attack would have required. \nAlthough the vast majority of the American Islamic community was justifiably horrified by last week's heinous attack, we should not lose sight of the fact that a small minority of that same population would have identified with the goals of the murderers -- and an even smaller portion actually helped them.\nMatt Cohen\nJunior
A call for solidarity\nLike the rest of America, our Bloomington campus responded to the sudden attacks of Sept. 11 with outrage against terrorists, compassion for victims, determination to help and concern for those among us vulnerable to misguided acts of reprisal. Our IU community was strengthened by the strong leadership of Bloomington Chancellor Sharon Brehm and IU President Myles Brand, who articulated these responses immediately and clearly. \nThe Bloomington chapter of the American Association of University Professors joins in this campus expression of national commitment. It now seems likely that the coming months or years will test even more deeply our commitment to fundamental structures of American life, including protection of free expression, toleration of dissent and an ever-growing embrace of the challenge to create a civil society marked by diversity and mutual understanding. No American response to attacks on our society can be successful if we sacrifice the unique character that makes America so important to defend. \nAs an organization founded to protect these distinctly American values, the AAUP looks to students, faculty and staff members for solidarity in rededicating ourselves to preserve on our campus respect for the free exchange of ideas and diversity among people in the pursuit of knowledge and community. \nBen Brabson\nPresident, IU chapter of the American Association of University professors. On behalf of the executive committee.
Mainstream individality \nI can't help but chuckle reading the better portion of Sarah Payton's columns. From her ode to Tupac last year to Friday's "Respect Rant," this girl has a lot on her mind. And I just don't get it.\nMaybe it's my own negative attitude, but I'm sick and tired of everyone with a butterfly tattoo and a navel piercing thinking that they're some kind of off-the-wall individual who is misunderstood. The steady flow of suburbanites to IU and colleges like it has given birth to silly little rants and raves about how proud they are of their "rebellion," and how everyone else needs to cut them some slack.\nIf you think that your ankle or lower back tattoo sets you apart from the norm, why don't you look around campus. You're not different, at least in that respect. Lately I've been hearing girls complain about what "all guys want" -- on the bus, walking to class and now in the paper. I'm not going tell you about 20 guys I know who aren't like that, because either you won't date them because they're not in a fraternity or you flat out won't believe me. \nBut if you expect things to change just cause you've got a "beef," well I've got news. The hundreds of girls on this campus who join you in your chorus of "we want respect" will continue to "strut their stuff often to late at night at places 'nice girls' shouldn't be." I don't have a problem with girls dressing one way or another, but the fact is that the high school games have spilled over to college versions, and these charades will continue for as long as keg parties and gettin' laid are more important than anything else. \nYou say that these sex vs. sex battles are fought at places like frat parties ... but if you were to ask women to stop going to frat parties because of sexism? Ha, we'll see if that ever happens. It's worth the risk to stay popular. I say let girls wear what they want to wear if it makes them happy. If a girl is wearing skimpy clothes just because she wants to fit in, why should anyone feel sorry for her? That's pathetic. \nCollege campuses are full of diverse and interesting peoples, but the social elite and their rules will never change. I wish you the best in overcoming your sexist injustices, but please spare us all the "I'm a rebel because I have pink streaks in my hair" talk. You attend a major state university. You have the opportunity to receive a valuable education. You don't have it so bad. \nJohn Hamlin \nSophomore
Claybourn misleading in column\nJoshua Claybourn's column "Re-orientation needed" was misleading. While I agree with his criticism of the Earth Liberation Front, he has unfortunately lumped other campus organizations that participated in Disorientation under the moniker "left-wing activists preach(ing) eco-terrorism." Space does not permit all of the groups to be mentioned here (they can be found at www.tofuequalslove.com/disorientation), but among them are groups that few would consider left-wing: Allys (straight allies of the GLBT community), Amnesty International, Indiana Public Interest Research Group, No Sweat!, Spirit of Service (St. Paul's Catholic Center), Students Organized Against Poverty, WFHB Community Radio. I was especially troubled by the wording in the final paragraph "the ELF and the other eco-terrorists in attendance." \nWho are these other eco-terrorists? Would that be the Sierra Club, the Student Environmental Action Coalition or the Monroe County Green Party? To the best of my knowledge, these groups do not endorse destruction of property to achieve their goals. In fact, one of the four pillars of the Green Party is Nonviolence, alongside Environmental Wisdom. \nMr. Claybourn must be learning his terminology from right-wing talk radio, where environmentalists are labeled "eco-terrorists" or "environmentalist whackos" (His thoughts on tolerance are obviously informed by the same source, thus talk of "thought-police" in connection with hate crimes: see his Aug. 31 column). Disorientation was intended as a way to introduce IU students to progressive organizations on campus. University students should be open to new ideas, questioning their assumption and abandoning the prejudices they may have grown up with. Perhaps Mr. Claybourn believes that students should be "re-oriented" to the wonderful practices of homophobia, torture, corporate abuse, environmental destruction, sweatshops, poverty, etc. \nChris Sapp\nGraduate Student
United States not in the wrong \nThe question to be answered in the minds of many Americans is not "why do so many people hate us" as much as, "why did they have to target and use innocent citizens to prove their hatred?" To read about why so many people hate us made me literally sick to my stomach as I sat here at my desk on campus at IU. Yes, there are many terrible mistakes, injustices and mysteries to the workings of the American government, that is nothing new. \nHowever, in all of history from all the hatred of other nations and even our own has possessed towards our government, there has never been an attack such as this. To try to put into words "why so many people hate us", seems like trying to justify what was done, and that is sickening. This attack was not made directly on those who make all those decisions, it was made on innocent citizens of the United States of America... it was made on INNOCENT men, women, children and flight crews going on with their lives.\nYes, the United States was reluctant to join WW II. That was actually one of the first things out of my mouth was that I hoped we wouldn't somehow be punished by other nations for our past mistakes. However, where in that letter was all the things we do contribute to other nations? Where was it in that letter about all the privileges we enjoy in this country, that lead us to be as egocentric as we are? Where was it that we have never had to live in fear of attack on our own soil, tyranny, a political uprising, hostile takeover of our government or the other awful incidents that are commonplace in other societies? And most importantly where in that letter written by someone living and breathing in the United States of America, and I'm sure enjoying all of the privileges and freedoms that we are allowed to each and every day...where were the "thank you's" to those keeping us safe, the "thank you's" to those who will be fighting the invisible enemy, and most importantly where was the "thank you" that we are Americans!\nAmber Combs\nSenior
Thank you for solidarity\nI would like to thank all the individuals and student organizations who have expressed group solidarity in the past weeks in response to the threats against Muslim and Middle Eastern members of the community. \nMy e-mail inbox was packed with mail from the folklore and ethnomusicology department, as well as from several student organizations. There was a discussion on the list regarding how people could best show campus solidarity as well as protect Muslim women from further assaults. The latter discussion was sparked by an e-mail from a student who was organizing a "buddy system" for Muslim women. \nOthers organized a movement in which people were asked to wear a head covering and a flag last tuesday as an expression of solidarity (if anyone who participated in this would like to share their experiences, please e-mail me, I'd like to interview you). Someone also forwarded me a letter from Hillel urging its members to show solidarity to Muslim and Middle Eastern community members. Several of my teachers have used class time to allow us to talk about our feelings regarding the event and the actions that may take place because of it. \nWe can't bring back the people who were taken from us in the Sept. 11 tragedy, but we can all do our part to make sure the community stands together. Thanks for being such a good example of what a community should be.\nLori Goshert\nGraduate student
Teater's column lacks temperance \nDuncan Teater's columns in the past have been, well, pretty lame. But his September 24 column "Searching for the Right Words" had all the intellectual depth of Dan Quayle in a third grade spelling bee. We get the point: you don't like George W. Bush. True, paltry derision does have its place in the United States political system -- in moderation. Even so, like boy bands bound for Betty Ford, your column lacks this temperance. I would ask for your future political analysis columns to contain some resemblance to actual analysis; however I'm sure that's analogous to asking Quayle to spell eleemosynary.\nTerry J. Record\nSenior
Claybourn wrong on Disorientation \nI object strongly to Joshua Claybourn's Sept. 10 charge that the Disorientation event "preached eco-terrorism."\nAs a Green Party member, I vehemently oppose eco-terrorism. Endangering human life by acts such as tree-spiking and arson directly conflicts with our core value of nonviolence. Such acts are also\ncounterproductive. The environmental movement must be a populist movement to succeed, and I don't believe anyone will suddenly become enlightened as a result of having their SUV destroyed.\nThe bulk of Mr. Claybourn's article condemns the Earth Liberation Front and the Animal Liberation Front. I agree with that condemnation, and note that neither of these groups was part of Disorientation; none of us wanted to be associated with them.\nMr. Claybourn also presents an unjustly narrow characterization of environmentalists. Some people are environmentalists because they place deep, emotional value on trees and nonhuman animals, and do not feel that we have the right to destroy them. Others, myself included, are environmentalists for a more pragmatic reason: runaway environmental destruction threatens the very survival of human civilization. The ozone hole is already increasing skin cancer rates at the southern tip of South America. Global warming and the concomitant rise in sea levels threatens to literally submerge some low-lying countries within our lifetime. Overpopulation leads to wars, famines, and plagues. It is not a coincidence that the cradle of human civilization, once called the "fertile crescent," is now a desert.\nThese are not just the views of "left-wing activists." A document signed in 1992 by a majority of the world's Nobel-prizewinning scientists warns that "If not checked, many of our current practices... may so alter the living world that it will be unable to support life in the manner that we know."\nEnvironmentalism isn't just about saving the whales. It's about saving the humans.\nPeter Drake\nGraduate student
RPS meal prices outrageous, unfair\nThis is a response to the article "IUSA examines C-store prices." There is no real mystery behind the excessive prices of the C-stores located throughout campus. The only fact necessary to draw the correct conclusion are given in the article: "... the students in those other dorms still have to buy a meal plan." ("Other dorms" refers to all dorms except Willkie.) The meal plan system is a monopoly! By requiring students to participate in the meal plan, RPS has forced the student to purchase their product or waste their money entirely. As with every monopoly in American history, this one has become corrupt. They provide continually worsening service at ever-increasing prices. RPS cuts down on locations and offerings. I have lived in Forest the last two years. Last year, I thought it was pretty ridiculous that Forest only offered a meager grill line with lousy hours, but having nothing at all sure has taught me a lesson. RPS has a captive audience of thousands of students, and hence\nthousands of customers, who all MUST pay for their product. It would be a supermarket manager's dream to sell to that kind of market. \nI propose that RPS does one of three things: 1: Eliminate the C-stores entirely, get local retailers to accept IU meal points, and have at least some kind of prepared food in every dorm. 2: Don't require students to buy a meal plan. Or 3: Allow businesses, that, by nature of having grown up in a competitive environment, already offer good food at a good price, to set up stores inside the dorms on meal points (like the McDonald's in Read Center). Option three should include some kind of groceries in each neighborhood, and three or four restaurants.\nSo, in conclusion, the RPS meal plan is a monopoly and should be dealt with as such, or shut down entirely. I, like Jake Oakman, would be willing to pay a little extra to not have to leave campus for food, but not an average of 81 percent per item. Competition is the key.\nNick Rebman\nSophmore
