Mideast Splits Campus

To the editors:

The recent violence in the Middle East (News, "Violence Intensifies in Middle East," Oct. 13) is a tragic blow to the struggle for peace in that region--we must all stand up against this atrocious loss of human lives. I support the recent vigils that have occurred on campus to protest the violence. However, I have been disturbed by the unashamedly one-sided points of view that have been advocated by different student groups.

In a flier passed out at the Memorial Church vigil on Tue., Oct. 10, the Concerned Students for a Peaceful Middle East claimed that the loss of what was then more than 80 lives in the recent violence was the fault of the Palestinians alone.

Alternatively, the Harvard Society of Arab Students, in an e-mail message publicizing the same vigil, declares that Israel's actions have been condemned from many quarters, but does not mention any wrongdoing by Palestinians.

If idealistic students halfway around the world are not open-minded enough to see both sides of this issue, is it any wonder that peace in the Middle East is so difficult? Without compromise, it will be impossible to put an end to the killing we have seen recently. I hope that here at Harvard we can set an example for the reasonable, forgiving negotiation that we expect from world leaders in the Middle East.

H. Wells Wulsin '01

Oct. 12, 2000

Kerry Errs at HYPE

To the editors:

I was in attendance at the Harvard Youth for Political Empowerment (HYPE) rally Oct. 15 (News, "HYPE Pushes Voter Registration," Oct. 16), and I thank those students with the Institute of Politics who took the time and effort to plan the event, which was a great success. I find it a terrible shame, however, that in his remarks to the audience, Senator John Kerry (D-Mass.) chose to spoil an opportunity to inspire students by imparting a partisan political message for himself and Vice President Al Gore '69.

The message of the day was to encourage an underrepresented element of the population to get involved and to vote. Kerry was the only speaker who drifted from this message to promote partisan political interests.

In explaining why young people are so politically apathetic, the senator pointed a finger at the detached public figures in Washington. As a registered voter in Massachusetts, I can say that behavior like that displayed on Sunday by Kerry is what disgusts me about the current state of American politics, and one does not have to look to Washington (only the Quad) to be sorely disappointed.

I would hope that in future appearances at non-partisan events, Kerry would show the integrity and appropriateness inherent in his office.

Brad Olsen '03

Oct. 16, 2000

Expos Hiring Fair

To the editors:

The Crimson's "Diversity Lacking in Expos Program" (News, Oct. 5) left us wondering what the article's motive was. If its aim were to uncover a history of unfair hiring practices, then surely the program's director, Dr. Nancy Sommers, allayed those fears right from the start by explaining the difficulties of minority recruiting.

If, however, its aim were to suggest that instructors shouldn't teach material they don't have "personal experience" with, then the article may have been headed down an intellectually dangerous road.

Personal experience is no guarantee of deep insight or good teaching. And the misguided demand for authenticity, if played out, could easily lead to exclusive and homogenous academic departments--by that reasoning, a white person is as little qualified to teach African-American literature as a non-white person is to teach Shakespeare.

It's too bad The Crimson didn't consider more thoroughly what our colleague, Mohammad T. Nezam-Mafi, had to say about how "limiting" it was for an instructor to be expected to teach only what he "represent[s]." By not doing so it lost an opportunity to reflect more responsibly on the important question of what we want when we demand "diversity."

Tony Brown

Emily O'Brien

Julia Rosenbaum

Oct. 17, 2000

The writers are preceptors in the Expository Writing program.