Letters to the Editor

Boycott Op-Ed Turns a Blind Eye to the Obvious

"A Baffling Boycott" (Feb. 1) was a particularly sad example of ill-informed and cynical student journalism. The uncomprehending tone says more about the author's ignorance and failure to carry out basic research than it does about Berkeley City Council's decision; he/she appears not to have even read the relevant resolution, which clearly states that the authority will "cease all purchases from Chevron, to the extent allowable by law." Is that really too complicated for this journalist?

The resolution also does not affect what City employees do in their free time, something that ought to be obvious to any casual observer. A largely symbolic gesture maybe, but at least Berkeley City Council is living up to its responsibility to engage with real-world issues, something apparently beyond the author of this op-ed.

Kellie Kemp

Berkeley

UC Regents Must Find Alternatives to Cuts

In "UC Sees Jump In Number of Applications For Fall 2008" (Jan. 30), the reporter writes about the increase in applicants to the University of California for the upcoming school year.

Although this is very exciting news, in light of the proposed $331.9 million budget cut to the university, the UC Regents are considering different options to offset the cut. Some of these options include another student fee increase or even cutting enrollment by 5,000. These are not viable options.

In the past six years, fees have skyrocketed over 85 percent while executive compensation and nuclear program funding has increased. If the regents pass another fee hike over 7 percent, fees would have risen over 90 percent in the last seven years.

Simply put, students cannot afford another fee increase.

With a record-breaking number of applicants and as a university that seems less accessible to many students of color and working-class students, enrollment should not be cut.

Increasing fees and cutting enrollment will only hurt students, a constituency that does not get prioritized when the UC Regents make decisions.

Students are fired up and ready to take action. Join the student movement: The University of California Student Association is committed to advocating for an accessible, affordable and quality university. We are hosting our annual Student Lobby Conference and Lobby Day in Sacramento from March 1-3 and will also be organizing an action at the next UC Regents meeting at UC San Francisco March 19-20. More information can be found on the UCSA Web site at www.ucsa.org.

gregory cendana

UCLA campus organizing director

Policy on Marines Should Cost City Its Federal Aid

I went out to visit my father's grave and found the ground disturbed.

It seems like my father, a WWII Marine, on Iwo Jima and throughout the South Pacific, had turned over in his grave, when I told him about the Berkeley City Council trying to throw the Marine Recruiting station out of town.

All federal funding should be removed for Berkeley: no more federal assistance or troops sent after next big disaster, fire, earthquake, flood, etc.

col. dan sedusky (ret.)

Champaign, Ill.

Members Rethink

Council's Votes

On several occasions since the war began in 2003, the Berkeley City Council has publicly and passionately stated its opposition to the war in Iraq. On Jan. 29, 2008, the Council approved a series of recommendations intended to impede the recruiting activities of the Downtown Berkeley Marine Corps office, which for many people in Berkeley is a symbol of that war.

Specifically, the recommendation to inform the Marine Corps recruiting office that it is not welcome in our city was insulting, hurtful and wrong. We failed to make it clear that while we continue to oppose what we consider an unethical and illegal war in Iraq, at the same time we respect and honor all the brave men and women who are serving, or have served, in the military.

In our passionate opposition to this war, and in our horror and frustration over the thousands of Americans and hundreds of thousands Iraqis who have died in it, we have erred by not adequately differentiating between the war and the warriors. It is understandable that the unnecessarily inflammatory language included in the Council's action offended and insulted many Marines and their families. We apologize to all those in the military and their families who took personal offense. This was not our intention.

In a completely separate action, the Berkeley City Council granted fee waivers for permits to an organization actively protesting the Marine Corps office. To grant a privilege to one group while actively seeking to eliminate the legal presence of another is discriminatory and contrary to our longstanding support of free speech. In retrospect, the City Council should have considered the impact such an action would have on the rights of free speech and expression for all citizens. These rights must be paramount and must be preserved and protected for all of us.

If Berkeley is truly to remain the home of free speech, then our priority should be to preserve it for all citizens, so that personal and governmental decisions can be made through informed debate.

betty olds and laurie capitelli

Berkeley City Council members

Hospital's Campaign Alienates Voters

Oakland Children's Hospital is trying to deceive voters into believing that the Democratic Party has endorsed Measure A, the $300 million tax measure that the hospital snuck onto the Feb. 5 ballot. The underhanded manner in which the hospital got this measure on the ballot in the first place and the other dishonest claims it has made in its $1 million ad campaign are the last straw for me. I am offended that a private hospital with an objectively positive mission would stoop to this level. I hope you are too. Vote no on Measure A.

Katina ancar

Oakland

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