Abandon ‘pre-set notions’ for open dialogue

Responding to Christopher Ortiz’s letter (“”Future depends on discussion today””), I would first like to say that he is absolutely right. Banning material should never occur at the UA, as it would prevent open dialogue and the expression of different viewpoints.

It’s ironic, though. Universities are supposed to be places of mutual intellectual exchange where students can express their thoughts with one another and reap the benefits of pure dialogue without feeling offended. From my experiences here, contrary to popular belief, all differing viewpoints are not considered and there is a lack of individuals who actually take in and reflect upon what their counterpart says.

For all I know I’m one of them (you can never be sure), but I try my best not to be. I came here thinking that I would be exposed to new world of thoughts, theories and ideas from which I could truly extract ingenious ways of thinking. I did, but it has been limited.

The bottom line is that people here are either “”conservative”” or “”liberal,”” pro-something or against it. There are too many predispositions in our environment that inhibit us from seeing outside of the structure that confines our thought processes.

It is rare to have a conversation that is mutually beneficial without having one party explode into rants about what the other is saying because it doesn’t fit one’s preset notions, except when talking with a professor (all of whom seem to know what true intellectual exchange means).

Instead of decrying the offensive display of abortion facts on the UA Mall, try to talk to those people and see for yourself, realize that they are there for one reason – to spread their message – walk away knowing that you didn’t affect them one bit. Then you’ll see the true meaning of “”open dialogue””: awesome, yet very hard to come by.

Mark de Barros political science senior

Still separate, still unequal

Of the 13 million children in our country that grow up in poverty, fewer than half of them will go on to graduate high school, and those who do will, on average, perform at an eighth-grade level. The existence of this achievement gap is the most important civil-rights issue facing our generation.

I urge UA students to consider doing what they can to help solve the problem. Teach For America is a national corps of outstanding college graduates who teach in both urban and rural low-income communities as part of a wider effort to end educational inequity.

I am a Teach For America corps member in Los Angeles and I have seen first-hand the resiliency of the children who fall victim to this trend. I have seen that segregation still exists in this country, how “”separate and unequal”” can quash the dreams of young and talented students before they even reach their teens, but I have also seen how desperate these students are for something more. They are hungry for adoptions and opportunities.

I have seen first-hand how a teacher who cares and is willing to go above and beyond can help these students to change their life paths. A teacher who cares about them and fights for them provides them with all that they need to succeed, a chance.

Teaching seventh-grade world history and English in south Los Angeles, I have watched my students make significant gains. During my first year teaching, my English students increased their reading levels by two grade levels. Maria went from a third grade reading level to a sixth grade reading level. Josafat went from a first grade reading level to a third-grade reading level.

In my second year, I have had the honor of seeing my students make gains inside and outside of my classroom. I have watched Javier make strides as captain of the speech and debate team and Mercedes beam as she was inducted into the National Junior Honor Society. And I wonder, who will teach them next year? One person can make a difference. One person can drastically impact the lives of 180 students every year, and one person can be forever changed by those 180 amazing people.

Please consider joining other college seniors who are committed to working toward a day when all children in this nation can attain an excellent education. For more information, join me at 8 p.m. Tomorrow in the Tubac Room of the Student Union Memorial Center or visit http://www.teachforamerica.org.

Amy Hermalik UA alumna

Cheap tuition appealing enough to ‘jump the border’

In response to “”Proxy Wars: Prop. 300 is immigration frustration run amok,”” the main reason that Arizona has such a problem with immigrants is that it is so appealing to jump the border.

What could possibly be the solution? Make it less appealing! How incredibly hard is it to understand the basics of the human mind? If it looks good they will come.

As to adding “”additional burdens on illegal immigrants,”” check the fourth word in that phrase. They are illegal! Why should they have access to things like in-state tuition? Or free health care? If actual citizens of the United States can’t get in-state tuition, then why should illegal immigrants be permitted?

No, Proposition 300 may not solve the problem, but if it helps at all, any astute American should be helping this proposition along, not criticizing something they don’t know how to fix, either.

Heather Kidd molecular and cellular biology freshman

Wildcat calendar page too biased

I have been reading the Arizona Daily Wildcat since I have been attending this university and I am simply appalled by the amount of opinions that are present in the calendar page in every Thursday edition of the Wildcat.

Mainly what I see is a lot of bias when it comes to the musical acts that are passing through Tucson. As a member of KAMP Student Radio, I find it completely inappropriate to name an event and then say that that band’s latest album is “”bland and every song bled together like an emo-kid’s wet dream”” (which is basically telling the reader not to go to that show) and then for other events say “”These experimental New Wave geniuses are not to be missed.””

The calendar page is meant to tell the reader about local events and give some background about the event or musical act. It is not a place to gripe or rave about music the writer likes and dislikes. I hope you can fix this issue in order to make the Wildcat a better publication.

Jacob Wexler retailing and consumer sciences junior