Letters to the editor

CML: strong without full-time staff

To the Editor:

I would like to make clarifications regarding the article in the April 12, 2007, issue, "Multicultural director's job eliminated."

Since most of the article focuses on the Center for Multicultural Learning and the programs that come from the James Irvine Foundation, it is important that the campus is aware that the CML does have a staff, which includes liaisons and project leaders/managers from different areas of the campus. In addition to executive director Jack Ling, the CML has an associate director, Mary Ho, and five liaisons -- Heather Dumas-Dyer from the Unity RLC, Tam Nguyen from the CSL, Francine Davis from Undergraduate Admissions, Lisa Millora from the Office of Student Life, and a project manager, Rosa Guerra-Sarabia, who oversees the LEAD/Bridge Program. There are three faculty project leaders: Alma Garcia, Michelle Burnham and Teresia Hinga. The CML's office manager, Pauline Nguyen, supports both the CML and Ethnic Studies. Jessica Gopp, an administrative assistant, supports the work of the faculty project leaders and Melvin Gaines, the post-baccalaureate from the College of Arts and Sciences.

All liaisons and project directors are responsible for working with the CML. However, the only full-time staff position is the associate director. As a team, we have worked hard to provide multicultural education and encourage collaboration on campus.

While there is not a full-time staff in the CML, it is important to acknowledge the contributions and accomplishments of the liaisons and project directors in spite of the challenging structure that is currently in place.

Mary Ho

Associate Director

Center for Multicultural Learning

Sensitive topics deserve careful conclusions

To the Editor:

Although I respect the staff's opinion that more guns are not the answer, I am astonished that the conclusion came from the absurd scenario of one student accidentally shooting another student while aiming for the gunman. Even if that were to happen, worst-case scenario, there would be three people dead versus whatever number of people the gunman was planning on killing. I imagine that someone would need pretty terrible aim to shoot 30 people before reaching the gunman.

Usually, I enjoy reading The Santa Clara, but in this case, I believe that the people writing on such a sensitive topic should give more thought to their conclusions.

Justin Charlton

Finance '09