Monday, September 28, 1998
Viewpoint offers forum for debate
PARTICIPATE: Popular points, controversial sides will be equally
represented
The monuments are mere specks from my airplane window. Through
the thick expanse of cloud cover, Washington D.C. falls away into
my memory; after a summer interning at the U.S. Department of
Education, I’m going home.
My heart feels heavy and my mind a little muddled. How do I keep
this experience with me?
There is no better way to share this experience other than
through the pages of Viewpoint, where every UCLA student has the
right, ability and ultimately, the responsibility, to speak
out.
Let me tell you what I have seen. A married, political official
admits sexual impropriety before his god, his family and his
country. An American ambassador escapes the rubble of an explosion,
a terrorist attack on African soil. Limited English proficiency
students sit in California classrooms; their first day at school is
a crash course in English linguistics.
I watch and read of these events in any periodical or news show
I can find. And through it all, every day, the reminders of an
uncertain time envelop me.
As I walk through the doors of the government agency that has
been my home for two months, the lobby television reports shootings
at the U.S. Capitol, a building a mere block away. Weeks later,
streets are blocked off; there has been another bomb threat. The
United States retaliates against terrorist aggression with a
military strike of its own. Meanwhile, a 25-year-old ex-White House
intern from Brentwood discusses her sexual history before an
Independent Counsel … who has nearly become as famous as the
parties in his case.
Every Monday, I peruse the news at home. Officers of the
Undergraduate Students Association Council (USAC) vote to cut their
salaries. University of California Regent Ward Connerly seeks even
less "special treatment" in admissions. Almost 20 students are
caught in cheating accusations. An Asian Greek fraternity is put on
suspension in response to hazing admissions.
As I absorb all of this, I instantly form my bias. I make my
opinions known, argue with others at a cafeteria lunch or during a
road trip to Philadelphia. I form alliances with those who agree
with my sentiments; I attempt to convince the "non-believers" of
what I see as their unsubstantiated viewpoints, all the while
attempting to defend my own opinion with fact, emotion and pure,
pride-filled adrenaline.
And so "it" dawns on me – that purpose, that mission that I’ve
been attempting to articulate for so long. I return home to my
family and friends and to The Bruin, where the pages of Viewpoint
have a grander scope for me now.
I know what we must do.
Those of us behind the scenes at Viewpoint will attempt to widen
your perspectives. We will cover issues that have been avoided or
ignored for far too long. We will seek out common sentiment as well
as seemingly unpopular opinions.
Through all the outlets of information available to us, we will
attempt to educate and motivate Bruin readers.
But we can only do so much.
We can juggle fairness, accuracy, entertainment and wider
coverage, but you, the reader, must control these pages
yourself.
Read, absorb, take an interest, even a passion in your school,
your community, your nation and your world. Through courageous
motives, submit your reactions in print. Respond to what you see or
read – criticize, compliment, rant and rave.
Express your feelings about Viewpoint staples: Speaks Out, Daily
Bruin Editorials, Thumbs Up/Thumbs Down, columnist submissions.
Pull up your e-mail access and write in. Complete your word
processing documents and walk over to the top of the Kerckhoff
steps and drop them off.
And if this participation is too much to expect of you, then
continue to read and debate, but don’t let any of us here at
Viewpoint hear your idle complaints – we have already offered you a
chance to join the conversation. It’s up to you to take us up on
that offer.
Perera is a third-year communication studies student and is the
1998-1999 Viewpoint editor. She can be reached at
[email protected].
Comments, feedback, problems?
© 1998 ASUCLA Communications Board[Home]