Thoughtful criticism and provocative debate is essential to a healthy intellectual climate on campus. Two Chinese students complained yesterday about Lucia Bill's March 28 column urging more outspoken U.S. support for Taiwan.
Her column certainly does not "foster anti-China feelings" nor does it "compromise the international diversity on campus." Another student asked for an apology -- please, please don't do that ... Don't extend Chinese censorship to The State Press.
--Zach McKinney
ASU student
Bake sale distasteful
As a prospective student to Arizona State University, I was really offended by what the Arizona State Republicans did with their bake sale and would not want to attend a college with such a racial covert (or maybe even overt) message they were trying to send ...
I am sure many of them did not attend the same neighborhoods or schools that my black, brown or yellow brothers and sisters attended. Affirmative action allows minorities to attend college at a maybe more affordable cost, but because we are not all on the same page.
Republicans would probably think we are.
Many of us minorities are not asking for a handout, but we are not asking for bread crumbs either. Many of us have our own self-determination, but the Republicans continue to cry about what is fair and what is not fair to them.
Are not the Arizona Republicans pushing anti-immigrant bills in current state legislation? Why aren't they pushing for an end to that? It seems a little hypocritical to me.
I just wanted to point out that one shoe size does not fit all.
--Gabriel Cruz
Journalism student, Glendale Community College
Sports in need of help
So in the past couple of weeks, we've lost our athletic director, Ike Diogu is leaving, Rob Evans is almost out the door, Loren Wade was arrested for shooting a former football player ... and two [offensive] linemen were kicked off the team for photographing women nude.
Hey presidential candidates, forget about Lot 59. Someone fix the ... athletic program.
--Mike Smith
ASU student
Republican PETA protests unrepresentative
I was disappointed to read about ASU's College Republicans' event "Eat an animal for PETA day." Having worked for a Republican U.S. Senator, I found that Republicans are supportive of improving the welfare of animals.
... Animals that live on factory farms do not have the luxuries of breathing fresh air, stretching out their limbs or even seeing sunlight, followed by an inhumane death. I am not sure how contributing to animal suffering by passing out Slim Jims is part of the GOP's policy.
--Reasa Haggard
Student Animal Legal Defense Organization president, ASU college of law
Bhajaria column incomplete
I appreciate that Nishant has written about this important problem in the United States. Not the problem of immigration, but the problem of punishing children who came here, yes illegally, but not on their own volition.
What Nishant fails to mention, however, is the Dream Act. The Dream Act is legislation going through Congress to make the necessary changes to put people like David Alameda on a legal path and allow them to attend universities and have a future.
I find it hard to believe that Nishant finds it difficult that Americans could make the difference between those who break the law knowingly and those children who had no choice in the matter.
I have met people in David's situation, and they are just like you and me: American in speech, manner and beliefs; they don't have an accent and speak of the homeland -- they know only America.
Luckily Sen. Hatch and many other responsible Republicans and some Democrats recognize this, and I eagerly await the passage of the Dream Act.
--Andre Olivie
ASU student
