Letters to the editor
Is MLK Still Relevant?
MLK Night 2010 honored Dr. Martin Luther King by emphasizing the importance of breaking through detrimental stereotypes to achieve unity. Through poetry, dance and song the show successfully represented this struggle.
Instead of trying to reenact the injustices taking place during the civil rights movement, this year's show was an artistic interpretation of which current issues demand Dr. King's calling for equality today.
From an emotional presentation on Haiti, monologues challenging the perceptions of hip-hop and even a poem condemning the use of the "n-word," the show encouraged new ways of understanding and provoked laughter, tears and overwhelming applause. To a diverse crowd of adults, children and both high school and college students, Dr. King's values and mission resonated to every person through every aisle in the packed Mayer Theater.
But even with these successes, the show will remain bittersweet for many in the audience as well as on stage. The performance itself was not deemed important enough to get any recognition in The Santa Clara.
Instead, the front page article showcased Associated Students' role in helping finance the show. On the week dedicated to celebrating Dr. King, this article was chosen as more intriguing than the event itself. Equality, peace and justice for all were the values for which Dr. King died.
Sadly, if there wasn't a black history month, the achievements of Dr. King and other pioneers of civil rights would be forgotten. We honor him every year because his mission is and will forever be timeless.
Isn't that always important?
Amechi Brendan Okechukwu
Co-Chair of Igwebuike
Accounting,'11
No bars in more places
In the past few months, AT&T and Verizon have been waging an all-out ad war that has left me questioning just where exactly AT&T's priorities lie.
Perhaps instead of trying to convince customers over who has the largest or fastest network, AT&T should focus on what really matters: providing quality phone service to its customers.
One can't help but laugh at their claim of "more bars in more places," when in reality, here on Santa Clara's campus, we have no bars in more places.
Time and time again, I have found myself frustrated by my phone's inability to make or receive phone calls, texts or voice mails. But despite the fact that this is a very real problem, we continue to shrug it off and assume like we can't do anything about it.
Next Monday on Feb. 8th however, Associated Students of Santa Clara University will be staging a "Call AT&T and Complain Day." While it may not have a catchy name, it's still a worthy cause. ASSCU is asking students to call AT&T's representatives and make our concerns known, hopefully forcing them to fix the shoddy service that they have forced on us for so long.
I plan to be one of the first people to call AT&T next week. I plan to let them know that their poor service won't be tolerated for much longer. And whether or not this event succeeds, I know that if AT&T doesn't change its ways, Verizon will definitely have a new customer in the coming weeks.
Nhunguyen Le
Biology, '12