PSLM Protest Showed DisrespectTo the editors:
I was shocked and dismayed to read about the recent Progressive Student Labor Movement (PSLM) protest outside Loeb House during the announcement of Lawrence H. Summers as the 27th president of Harvard University (News, "PSLM Protests Search Process," March 12). Though I admire the PSLM's campaign for a living wage, and though their commitment impresses me, I now question my respect for them.
In fact, this is all about respect. One of the PSLM's goals is for Harvard to respect its workers' right to a living wage. The very least the PSLM can do, in my opinion, is offer a little respect to Summers as the new man at the top. PSLM members claim that the protest targeted the confidentiality of the selection process and not Summers himself, but the rude timing and manner of the protest still disrespected him.
As Harvard students, we should welcome Summers into our community and send him the message that we want to work together to make Harvard a better place, just as The Crimson did in its staff editorial ("Welcome, Summers," March 12). To greet him with an obnoxious protest for the sake of publicity is petty and confrontational. I challenge the PSLM in the future to accomplish their goal with the same degree of dignity and respect they claim to extend to Harvard's workers.
Jeffrey W. Helfrich '03
March 12, 2001
Misinterpreting Tragedy
It seems to me unthinkable that Adam I. Arenson '00-'01 would use the horrible tragedy in his neighborhood school to advance his "anti-Bush" political agenda (Opinion, "Intolerance and School Violence," March 8). He neglects to mention that California has the strictest gun regulations in the United States, and his attempt to play the "race card" is totally inappropriate--the shooter wasn't even in Arenson's neighborhood long enough to absorb the alleged culture of racism that Arenson proposes is the root cause of this random act of violence.
Ron Brogan
New York, N.Y.
March 8, 2001
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