OCR Text |
Show ™SUMMERUTAH CHRONICLE COPINION www.dailyu tahchron icle.com PageS Wednesday, May 18, 2005 ' Srr Colorblind aldmissions can increase diversity Americans should celebrate the history of Cinco de Mayo Ihe.U has changed its student admission policy in order to avoid lawsuits—but it might have inadvertently found a way to increase real, diversity at the same time. * ''•: In the past, after the Admissions Office had rejected applications that did not meet the U's minimum standards, up to 5 percent of those rejected applica• tions could be sponsored for admission. " More often than not, the deciding factor about whether to offer an applicant a second chance was his or her self-identified race. The new policy removes the boxes where potential students would check their race and replaces it with a comments box where applicants can describe themselves and their various experiences.;•. ; ; ; : Diversity in a student body is important for the v education of all its members. How good can an education be if it only exposes students to one set of opinions, one worldview, one way of doing things? In the course of achieving the U's goal of having a diverse campus, however, it is important not to limit the scope of diversity itself. Administrators say they want students who will, according to the new policy, enhance the life and Editor: Have you ever stopped to think about what Cinco de Mayo is, what it means to you and how it has affected your life today? After taking some time to educate myself on the history of Cinco de Mayo, I quickly discovered that along with the majority of Americans, I had the history all wrong in thinking that Cinco de Mayo was the day Mexico gained its independence from Spanish rule. Cinco de Mayo is far more than a day to party with friends and family or gorge yourself with Mexican food. Cinco de Mayo is the day that Mexico gained its land back from the French Army in a battle at Puebla, Mexico in 1862. Mexico's victory kept Napoleon III and his French Army from supplying Confederate rebels, thus allowing the Union to strengthen its army and defeat the Confederates at Gettysburg. This occurred just 14 months after the battle of Puebla, essentially ending the Civil War. If Mexico had not won this battle against Napoleon Ill's Army, a strong relationship between Mexico and the United States may not have been established and both our histories would have been dramatically changed. Britni Sanchez Unsigned editorials reflect the majority opinion of The Summer Utah Chronicle Editorial Board. Editorial columns and letters to the ' editor are strictly the opinions of the author. The forum created on the Opinion Page is one based on vigorous debate) while at the same Lime demanding tolerance and respect. Material defamatory to an individual or group because of race, ethnic background, religion, creed, gender, appearance or sexual orientation will be edited or will not be published. Going on vacation What are you looking forward to most about summer? Catching up on sleep To vote, visit www.dailyutahchronicle.com percent percent percent percent percent Alumna m-- -. character of the institution and Us student body. •' V;;Jj When the U admits more students with uniquely # different backgrounds, the student body will come • ;i -r-closer to actually being diverse. .; Diversity should not be defined by a narrow set of, categories. It is counterintuitive to assume that only • •; a particular group of people can be diverse. Diversity is not just denned by race; it is also de- ;•,; fined by religion, sexual orientation, socioeconomic background, nationality and a thousand other factors that cannot be summed up by checking various boxes on a form. By narrowly defining diversity, we necessarily limit diversity. ; This new policy expands the potential for diver- ; iV sity on campus. Rather than making students define themselves as African American, Caucasian or American Indian, the new admissions policy allows students to define themselves by their own terms. , ,: Though the reasoning behind this policy change -y -< was to avoid the type of lawsuits other schools -> across the country have experienced, the possible outcomes of the policy could also include a more diversified student body. , .V Being clone with finals A new job or internship \ > ' ' l : ' " - v . T •• ' Editor: A new law signed by President Bush on May 9, 2005, expands the 2003 Medicare law, giving $1 billion for emergency care to illegal immigrants. This law renders military retirees, other veterans, and millions of poor, honest people last class citizenship status. Why is it that our military warriors who made untold sacrifices for the freedoms of this once great country have less priority than those who are breaking the law by their being here in the first place? What in the world is this country coming to, and how long can it expect to be around if It honors illegal aliens so much more than its own citizenry? Has it come to the point where the needs of honest, upstanding, legal citizens come last in this country? All law abiding Americans should be totally disgusted and fed up. They should do what they can over the next few years to see that every sitting elected official of this ilk is voted out of office. Ron Shaw United States Air Force, Retired 39 9 votes \.y-- Starting summer semester classes Veterans and the poor deserve more than illegal immigrants 8 votes 30 votes 18 votes 12 votes - r ' •'.•'• •:Y/" The grass isn't greener on the whiny side of the fence Republicans should worry less about partisanship and more about representing us P eople are often turned off by politics, and it's not hard to see why. At one time, a senator was considered distinguished and respectable. The public expected manners and proper etiquette from their civic servants. Now, it seems like all they can do is fight with each other. The new hot-button issue for partisan politics is the fight over judicial nominees. The Democrats have used the filibuster to block 10 of President Bush's nominees. With a filibuster in place, the Senate would need 60 votes to confirm a nominated judge. There are 100 senators. Now, I'm pretty bad at math— I just barely passed 1030 with a C+. But even I know that 60 out of 100 is just 60 percent, and 60 percent is not an overwhelming majority. Senators are supposed to represent the people. Shouldn't at least 60 percent of the constituency support whatever judges have been nominated? Republicans are claiming that using the filibuster to halt the nomination process is dirty politics. Since the Republicans are the majority party, I guess they figure every nomination deserves a straight upand-down floor vote. I try to use common sense when dealing with political issues. That's Committee, would not arty affiliation should not matter even allow a committee hearing on more on an issue as important as judicial than 60 of Clinton's judicial nominees. appointments. This form of obstructionism is even worse than using the filibuster. With want) nominees that appeal to all a filibuster, the Senate only needs Democrats or all Republicans—we a measly 60 votes for the appointneed nominees that appeal to ment to be confirmed. people on both sides of the divide. With the judicial chairman blockParty affiliation should not matter ing a simple committee hearing on on an issue as important as judicial the judge, not even 90 votes could appointments. We, as Americans, get a judge confirmed. A judicial ap- need serious politicians. And those pointment is a lifetime appointment. serious politicians need to do what This fact alone should make people is best for America—not what is want a bi-partisan judge. best for their party. We don't need (and shouldn't letters@chronicle.utah.edu P LJ. Lither why I'm having a hard time understanding this logic. Currently, Democrats have blocked 10 of about 250 judges. To me, this seems a bit hypocritical. Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, as chairman of the Senate Judiciary The face of war looks a lot like mine The Iraqi invasion becomes more real when your family members are involved E arly in 2003,1 watched the 1138th Military Police Company from the Missouri National Guard leave town amid aflurryof flag waving and cheers. It's an awesome sight to see an entire town turn out to say good-bye to their guardsmen and guardswomen. While I felt a sense of civic pride watching them go, I didn't know W hile I felt a sense of civic pride watching them go, I didn't know anyone involved. I wasn't directly affected. anyone involved. I wasn't directly affected. That is no longer the case. My daughter Amanda graduates from high school in a few days. In July, she will report to the Naval Training Center for basic training, and will be on active duty in the U.S. Navy within weeks. As her mother, I am proud of her, but I'm also terrified. My charming, intelligent, talented, beautiful 17-year-old daughter could be going to war. My friend Scott, a member of the Idaho National Guard, will be leaving for Iraq in June. His unit deployed last fall, but because of an injury, he's been home completing physical therapy. For months I've been praying for his recovery—just not too quickly. Kathie Cameron When the United States invaded Iraq, I supported the decision to go to war. With some reservations, I still believe that we did the right thing, though it appears our motivation may not have been as pure as we'd like to portray. I've had numerous conversations over the past $wo years with people on either side of the fence. There are strident, anti-war folks who believe that we never should have gone to Iraq and should pull out immediately. They cite military and civilian statistics, among other things. Then there are those who believe we should stay in Iraq until a democratic government is. in place and fully functional, which would -take years. There are young people who worry about potentially being drafted. There are veterans who don't understand why there isn't more grassroots support for our troops. I've even had people question my parenting skills for allowing my daughter to join the Navy. According to The Associated Press, more than 1,603 members of the U.S. Military have died in Iraq. That's 1,603 families where the war has hit very close to home. Whether or not you agree with the war, our troops are committed for the time being—we can't just walk out. So more families will feel the effects of war in the future. It takes a special kind of courage to be willing to serve your country. And it takes courage for those of us left behind to let our loved ones go. For now, my daughter Amanda and my friend Scott are safe at home, where their friends and family would selfishly like to keep them. But soon they will be in harm's way with thousands of other daughters, sons, husbands, wives and friends. War hits very close to home, indeed. letters@chronicle.utafLedu |