Letters and Emails

Devoted fans correct injustices against "the D"

I AM OUTRAGED at the use of the phrase "Jack Black and Tenacious D" in the Oct. 24 Calendar section. Had you known anything about music, anything about anything, if your socks have ever been truly rocked off by the beauty of this dynamic duo's (note: duo means two!) amazing talent, then you would know that Kyle Gass, KG, Rage Kage, Kage, makes up half of the D. See. Just because Jack Black happens to have appeared on Access Hollywood does not make him sole god. He shares that title with KG. While Jack Black has been in more mainstream films, Kyle has had a very lucrative and critically acclaimed career in the spotlight. Although he never made it in the final version of this film, Kyle had a featured role in Cameron Crowe's masterpiece Almost Famous. And I don't know if you've ever watched TV before, but if you have, you would remember exactly where you were and what you were doing when Kage unleashed his twin tin flute solo on NBC's Saturday Night Live. Yes, it's true, he did once quit the band, but now they're back together again, a la la la la la. You wouldn't split up Cato and Nash, you wouldn't split up Tango and Cash (that's also true)! So why would you split up, divide, and diminish the work of the greatest band in the world, Tenacious D?

Joseph O'Malley, theater, '05

Joseph Brady, theater, '04

Campus Crime overlooks community dangers

FOR THE SAKE of Santa Clara students' safety, I am willing to concede my image as a fearless stud. During my residence in The Alamedas last year, there were several times that I was scared during my trek to the Santa Clara campus and my classes. This fear arose not necessarily from being unprepared for the class I was on my way to attend (which certainly could have been the case), but from trying to cross Benton Street without being introduced to the pavement by one of the passing cars speeding by. I recently was made aware of another reason I had to be wary of the walk. This past Monday, The Mercury News reported that there was an armed robbery in the 7-Eleven, located on Benton and Alameda, the day before. The very 7-Eleven that about 75 Alameda residents (give or take, depending on the previous night's activities) walk past on their way to classes daily. It appears that on Sunday Oct. 27, around 10 a.m., an unidentified male walked into 7-Eleven with a semi-automatic handgun and held-up the place. I feel that it is the right of Santa Clara students to know, which is why I only bring this up after The Santa Clara's failure to notify us of the event. I suggest that in the future, the Campus Crime section be extended to include crimes within close proximity of the campus and its residence halls, including those not located on it.

Michael Hubbard, combined sciences, '04

Emphasis on altered states disappoints staff

I DO NOT understand what value the Out and About column [Scene section] is supposed to add to The Santa Clara. I have been reading it for several weeks now, since its debut, and I am concerned as to the levels of drug and alcohol use portrayed by the author(s) of the column. It seems to me that the only way that the authors know how to have fun is to ingest substances to alter their minds and moods. If all weekend plans (every weekend) include drugs and alcohol (as the column would suggest, regardless of whether or not that is reality) then that is not healthy fun - that is a substance abuse problem.

I think that the Santa Clara community deserves more. I personally do not find it interesting or entertaining to read about someone's exploits smoking marijuana at the Bridge School Benefit (it happens all the time, not newsworthy), pounding tequila and Guinness or partaking in some other substance use. I also think this column reflects very poorly on Santa Clara as a school. The first rule of news is that you write about things that are newsworthy/important. The content of Out and About for the most part has been neither news nor worthy of running in The Santa Clara. I am all for social scene coverage, but Out and About leaves much to be desired. Please leave the party talk to the partiers and save the newspaper for real, interesting news.

Heather Browne, '00

Program Coordinator

University international programs

Ancestral roots should not be forgotten

FROM HIS LETTER in the Oct. 31 issue of The Santa Clara, it is evident that Rene Cardenas has most likely never visited the Multicultural Center. We despise stereotypes. Our purpose is to dispel the myths society has about minority groups. The fact that a member of the minority community is perpetuating these stereotypes reminds us ever so strongly why we are here.

One reason the MCC exists is to encourage minority students to attend college. In California, for every 100 Latino students entering kindergarten, 61 graduate high school, 31 complete some college and 10 obtain a bachelor's degree. Congratulations, Mr. Cardenas, you may become a member of the "Talented Tenth." This information may be unimportant to you because "you made it," but we will not ignore the magnitude of these statistics. It speaks volumes about the current state of racial politics.

I also want to dispel the myth that members of the MCC define themselves strictly based on race or ethnicity. If you visit the MCC you'll find women and men of every faith, political party, sexual orientation and class. We value our differences just as much as we appreciate our similarities. I'm sorry that you don't recognize this.

Our ancestors played a large role in the rights you and I have today. I'm thankful for their sacrifices and won't forget what they did (only 40 years ago) so I could have the opportunities I have today.

Kendra Boyd, political science and ethnic studies, '03

Oppressed must demand equal rights

IN HIS OCT. 31, 2002 letter to the editor, Rene Cardenas uses the phrase "an out-of-control drumbeat devoid of critical thought" as his inflammatory code for "affirmative action." Like the word "feminist," the phrase and more importantly, the historical significance of "affirmative action" has become so distorted and perverted that its original meaning is lost on current college students. If it were not for the original ideals propagated under the banner of "affirmative action," Hispanic students like Cardenas would not be allowed to sit in a Santa Clara classroom next to white males. It is our shared legacy of racism in America that must be held accountable for non-whites' continued lack of equal access to education, housing and employment opportunities.

Cardenas' charge that minority students "demand action solely based upon" where their "parents and grandparents came from" is absolutely correct. People have always had to "demand" their civil and human rights. Oppressed people have never been successful by politely requesting that the dominant power base relinquish their control over wealth and privilege. However, we members of the "minority community" have never demanded "special privileges" based on our heritage or "skin tone". We have only asked for equal access to a college education based on our ability to meet the same requirements as all other students. We hope to be welcomed and valued for our unique contributions to the Santa Clara ideal of a "competent, caring and compassionate" multicultural student body.

Kathryn Ortiz, English, '03