Letters

Let me clarify…

I am writing to clarify my position about writing instruction in FRINQ, which was misrepresented by the quotation in the story “Faculty set sights on UNST writings requirements,” March 5, which reads, “No matter how talented the University Studies professor may be, they necessarily lack the experience to weigh in as writing professors.” What I actually wrote in response to an earlier query by a different Vanguard reporter on the subject more accurately conveys my point: The “responsibility [of administering the University’s writing requirement] rests with University Studies, and specifically on the shoulders of FRINQ faculty, many of whom are extremely well trained in their disciplines but have not been trained to teach writing.” I made no generalizations about the “talent” or “experience” of “the University Studies professor.” The quote in the article indicates that I said that no FRINQ faculty are qualified to teach writing, which not only runs counter to what I believe, but is just plainly factually wrong.

Elisabeth CeppiAssociate Professor and ChairPSU Department of English

Exhibit sends wrong message

Despite the Iraq Body Count Exhibit’s efforts to show the tragedy of war and the price of freedom, this project illustrates the underlying and deeply embedded racism of Americans. One white survey flag represents at least six Iraqis, while one red survey flag represents only a single American soldier. This project implies that the Iraqi people are less than human. The 1:6 ratio insinuates that an Iraqi life is worth less than an American life: Is it not similar to the counting of an African American slave as three-fifths of a man? This project devalues the death of an Iraqi. It displays the death of an Iraqi as less than one-sixth as tragic as the death of an American soldier: Is it not more tragic when an unarmed civilian, especially a child, is murdered? This project dismisses the bravery of the Iraqi people. The white surveyor flags represent Iraqis: Is a white flag not the international symbol of surrender? Yet, the Iraqi people are the bravest of all. They do not flee from their homes. Rather, they stay and fight, even though they are not as well armed or as well trained as the American soldier. The Iraqi people do not have the option of retreat. To say that the Iraqi people are not as brave as a trained and armed American army is inherent ethnocentrism reminiscent of colonial occupation. I condemn this project’s blatant racism and arrogance toward the Iraqi people. This is both an emotional and a rational appeal to the people of Portland; uphold morality and condemn racism. Reject the Iraq Body Count Exhibit at Portland State University. Never allow Portland to become a haven for imperial ethnocentrism and racism.

Chris Geier

Fix-term faculty needed

It is a shame that the University is choosing to eliminate long-term fixed-term faculty. I can’t see how doing this is helpful to students. Faculty members in University Studies who have been with the university for a number of years should be rewarded for their commitment, not removed. If they were of such a high quality that it warranted renewing their contracts year after year, what benefit is so great to justify losing them?

Anonymous

Compromise is key

As officers and members of Kaibigan, the Filipino American Student Association at Portland State University, we would like to respond to SALP’s recent decision to move OSPIRG out of their office [“OSPIRG told to vacate office,” Feb. 19], a space that we have had to share for almost a year. Sharing an office with OSPIRG, we have especially been extra sensitive of OSPIRG’s ongoing battle with SALP to claim a student organization status. Though we support the certain student group guidelines and regulations under SALP that hold student groups accountable, we strongly feel that OSPIRG is an organization that works for causes that favorably affect the student body and community. Student group or not, we support OSPIRG for the contributions they’ve made to PSU and for their commitment to activism, a quality that we have had an opportunity to see from OSPIRG organizers while sharing an office with them. It is for these reasons that we hope that SALP and OSPIRG will soon come together with a compromise that will satisfy both sides. While we understand SALP’s role in holding student groups accountable, we also request that SALP works with OSPIRG in finding a solution that will allow OSPIRG to continue to uphold their mission.

Kaibigan Executive Board