Letters to the Editor

Candace Joy Lewis, Student Affairs Officer, Writing Programs & LGBT Studies

Dear Editor,
I deeply appreciated Wendy Soderburg's front-page article, "Could it happen here? Plans in place to safeguard campus" [April 24].

Having begun emergency preparedness training here on campus (organized by the student chapter of the American Red Cross), I learned state employees like LAUSD teachers can be mandated to stay at work for up to two weeks in the event of a natural disaster with regional impact like Katrina. I briefly spoke to David Burns during fall or winter quarter and seem to remember his confirming that this might apply to UCLA employees, although I've since learned UCLA employees might be waived of such responsibilities if we're employed by the UC Regents as opposed to the state of California.

Regardless, I urge you to offer more coverage of what our responsibilities are as UCLA employees to UCLA's students, faculty and "public" clients (health-care patients, field-tripping elementary-age children, etc.) during a time of crisis.

If we can be required to stay at work during a disaster, we must have mechanisms in place to ensure that our loved ones know our absence at home after a disaster may be in light of our work responsibilities and not because we are "among the missing." Such information may also spur UCLA employees to develop response plans with their families so child-care arrangements can be made with family members who are not UCLA or state employees.

Lastly, such coverage may reveal how we can galvanize and organize volunteers on-campus to assist Mr. Burns as well as the UCPD, UCFD and UCLA medical center in times of regional emergencies.

Andrius V. Varnas, Redondo Beach, CA

Dear Editor:
Oh please! And this is news? ["Bringing in the new Bruins," April 10]. Isn't that what the holistic admission process was designed to do? Celebrate all you want but it is nothing less than rank discrimination against white and Asian applicants.

Muhammad Abdullah, Los Angeles, CA

Dear Editor:
I just read your article ["She rebuilds strife-torn lives of people in crisis," March 20]. I work with Unity Two Gang Intervention/Prevention located in South Central Los Angeles. One of the main things omitted is that we are an oppressed and colonized people, and until this oppression and colonization is removed fratricidal strife will continue to exist.

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