Cambodia's problems precede free trade Adam Shackelford's Jan. 27 letter to the editor, "Free trade propagates Cambodia conditions," does very little to explain current conditions in Cambodia. While Shackelford makes important arguments (with which I am sympathetic) about morally repugnant sweatshop conditions in the third world and the conditions that lead to them, he naively assumes that all of Cambodia's ills can be traced to the free trade policies that propagate sweatshops. This is indicative of a general tendency on the part of the anti-globalization left to make simplistic, reductive arguments about patterns of economic imperialism that they seem to think are identical all over the Global South. This unfortunate style blinds them to the specific historical situations of highly variant countries and regions. One of the most glaring inaccuracies of Shackelford's letter is his claim that "there was once a local economy" in Cambodia that was assaulted by agricultural corporations under free trade policies. The fact is that Cambodia was and is one of the poorest countries, and that there was no idyllic pre-free trade condition of a self-sustaining, subsistence-based agrarian economy there. In fact, the agricultural communism of the Khmer Rouge left Cambodians malnourished and mass starvation was a huge part of the atrocities of the Khmer Rouge regime. Even a cursory survey of Cambodian history over the last 30 years will reveal Cambodia has not been "devastated by free trade," as Shackelford claims, but rather by three-and-a-half years of Khmer Rouge brutality followed by more than a decade of civil war. In addition, Shackelford's basic argument that Cambodian sex slavery grows from the same root of free trade as sweatshops is simply false. It is contradicted by the basic fact that sex slavery preceded the development of Cambodian sweatshops and is likely to have existed prior to the end of Vietnamese occupation in 1991. Further, while both sex slavery and sweatshops are morally condemnable, it is true that sweatshops give an alternative to the sex industry for young girls desperate for work. This fact does not make sweatshops good, but it is a fact and ought to be recognized.
James Bourke-Junior
MIke Puzen-Senior
Tough choices supported Greeks As a former leader of the IU Greek community, I feel the need to address many of the issues presented by Judd Arnold in his column, "Open letter to Greek heads" (Jan. 27). We no longer live in an environment where the "Work Hard, Play Hard" motto is acceptable. Competitive grades, dollars donated and potential alumni contributions can no longer be used as excuses for behavior that endangers (or in some cases, kills) unsuspecting students, subjugates women or interferes with the academic mission of IU and more importantly -- our national rituals. During the past year, the leaders of the IFC and PHA have made tough choices. We replaced a social surveillance policy that did little to prevent irresponsible behavior with one supported by the IU Administration and University Police. Arnold does not mention that not a single fraternity was expelled during the previous administration -- a sign that the system has worked. We replaced a serenades system rampant with alcohol abuse and that objectified women as mere sex objects with a program that highlights entertaining and social skills which can be used for a lifetime. Arnold doesn't mention the hundreds of comments we received from sorority women thanking us for a program that actually respects them. We replaced a recruitment system that forced freshman to choose a fraternity based on racy presentations and real-estate propaganda with a system that requires fraternities to highlight their positive achievements. Arnold mentions his desire to fill houses; we were more interested in finding values-based men in a system that evens the playing field between established brick-and-mortar chapters and those challenging the notion that a fraternity must have a structure to be a real fraternity. In closing, I challenge Mr. Arnold to re-examine the reasons Greek leaders have made tough decisions during their terms -- to extend the mutually held values of our respective rituals, not to promote outdated, irresponsible traditions.Samuel Locke-Senior
Cheer for the whole team Any fan knows the amount of criticism the NBA gets for the lack of team ball and how the one-on-one aspect of the game is settling in rather comfortably. Many college basketball analysts seem to think that this NBA style of play is seeping into the NCAA, and Coach Mike Davis isn't one to throw stones. Coach Davis is known for his NBA style of coaching, and Bracey Wright admitted in our beloved IDS that the IU players are starting to catch on. Does this mean we should be rooting for Bracey instead of the good of the team? It seems the IU cheerleaders are doing just that. In last Tuesday's win over the arch-rival Boilermakers, the cheerleaders all wore No. 4 jerseys. Do A.J. Moye's heart and George Leach's once missed paint presence mean nothing to the enthusiasm builders, the core of the crowd? What about Roderick Wilmont's clutch three-pointers? For the cheerLEADERS to support Bracey Wright by only wearing his jersey is an insult to the team as a whole. Don't LEADERS help teams rather than singling out individuals? There is no doubt Bracey is a competitive ball player and GREAT for IU basketball, but on Tuesday night the cheerleaders affirmed the notion of the college basketball analysts with the beliefs that the NBA's influence is overriding what once was five-on-five. But maybe this attack on the cheerleaders is coming too soon. The cheerleaders haven't worn anyone's jersey this year before Tuesday, so maybe they are showing team unity within themselves, and they will all be wearing another key player's jersey like number 2, or 3, or 5, or 10, or 12, or 22, or 23 or 34 tonight against Illinois.Matt C. Williams-Senior
Grocery store violation Last week I went to Marsh to grocery shop. Like most stores, they have a card that allows them to track your purchases for marketing purposes and then discount you for using it. So, I filled out an application. The store asked for my social security number and driver's license number -- two items I felt had nothing to do with marketing. Name, age and address I could all see as important demographics. When I refused to give them my social security number, which they have no business asking for, or my driver's license number, they refused to issue me a card. I was told this is because they use the card for check cashing. I told them I am paying cash, and they still refused. Has the time come that the grocery stores are now playing the role of Big Brother? You need to show ID at Marsh grocery stores to purchase food or you have to pay an exorbitantly higher rate. This strikes me as a serious violation of our civil liberties. I won't be shopping at Marsh again, and I hope others will boycott them as well.Wendy Taheri-Graduate Student
Enough with the Greek-bashing The Greek community at IU has been continuously berated by IDS columnists. They have done nothing but label us as the irresponsible frat boys and sorority girls that society already thinks we are. As president of my chapter, I am faced with the challenge of overcoming these stereotypes and proving to the world that we are more than "frat boys." Do I agree with the alcohol policy on campus? No! I think it is unrealistic and will ultimately be the root cause for more injury and death on this campus. Do I think the Greek system is strong? No! We are too obsessed with petty rivalries. If the Greek system will ever be strong, it will take much more than the officers of IFC and PHA. Each chapter will have to truly evaluate what is more important: being a part of what could be the strongest Greek communities in the country, or what to paint on SNU's rock. That being said, I am disgusted with the image the columnists have painted. There is more to Greek life than partying. Fraternities and sororities strive to better their members and the community. Zeta Tau Alpha's BMOC raised over $40,000 for breast cancer, and every person involved in the event was Greek. Furthermore, Greek members run IUSA, IUSF, Dance Marathon and many other organizations. Is this the work of people who only care about "par-tees," "kay-gers," and getting "whay-stid?" I think not. During my time at IU, I have seen many chapters leave campus. Would a more reasonable alcohol policy have saved them? Maybe. However, this cannot be our only goal. Not only is it improbable given the University's maintenance of the "dry campus" policy, but it simply labels us as people who only care about drinking. We should fight for a better policy. I'll be the first to sign up. However, we also need to prove to the world that the Greek community is more than a collection of binge drinkers, but a collection of men and women who not only better this University, but define it.William Riesner-Senior
Protecting an institution What a great piece by Judd Arnold (Jan. 27) regarding the current sad state of the Greek system at IU. It is my hope that those at the helm of the IFC and the Panhellenic Association heed his words. The IU administration may want to see the Greek system fade away, but one would think that the elected Greek representatives would put up more of a fight to protect their institution. In my years at IU, I witnessed the steady demise of the Greek system at the hands of the administration as well as some of the Greeks themselves. Stand up to the administration and seek to protect a valuable part of the IU experience.Patrick McDonald-IU Alumni '02
It's evolution, baby Regarding Phil Kijak's "Let's Get Sexy" (Jan. 28) ... while I do agree that taking sexual promiscuity and calling it empowerment may not be the best idea, there is a certain anthropological explanation to consider. Note the term "stud." The term is used as slang to mean a male who has many sexual partners and who prides himself on his promiscuity. However, a stud is the name for stallions who impregnate several mares over their lifetimes with the intention of creating as many racing colts as possible. The phenomenon is an evolutionary instinct that is not limited to just horses. We -- as emotionally driven people -- allow our personal morals to influence our sexual drives. From an evolutionary perspective, humans, just like any other animal, would have its males impregnate as many females as possible to propagate the species. This is an evolutionary urge that we try to control using our minds, but often our bodies and uninhibited (read: drunken) selves do not succeed. What is most disturbing is that this evolutionary process is being warped -- certain men and women use the position of being the aggressor and make it into a banner of pride. The process exists because of evolution -- we can't fault the system. But, we can choose how we play it.Gabriel Lewin-IU Alumni '02
Stand up for your sisters Why do some women, when finally in a position of power, strike down their sisters? In the January edition of Maxim singer/songwriter Michelle Branch stated, "I'd rather hang out with men than women, honestly. Women are insecure and cruel." I was so proud of Branch to be a woman in a male-dominated business, writing her own songs and playing an instrument, but I was shocked and felt alienated when I heard her condemnation of her own sex. Was this statement said to score points with the sexist gentlemen who would agree with her? On the IDS opinion page last Tuesday an article entitled "Boys' night out" by Chelsea York did the same thing. She commented about how spending time with boys was much more enjoyable than being in the company of girls. She stereotyped what the typical conversation was for girls as compared to boys, implying the former to be airy and mindless. She concluded, "Girls can be extremely annoying," complaining of a loud group of women at a restaurant. I am disturbed and disappointed by the article. Both groups of men and groups of women can at some times be annoying, loud or have senseless conversation. Branch's and York's comments are degrading to women in general. Comments like these help to enforce already established negative stereotypes that make up a glass ceiling for females. For example, York also said, "If guys don't clean up after themselves when they cook, I overlook it. I mean, that's a guy for you, but girls should know better by now." This talk is ridiculous! Come on ladies with influence, respect your sisters!Abbigail Webb-Sophomore
