Letters to the editor

Primary results show Clinton should concede

The only way that Hillary Clinton can win her dying bid to become president is to force the delegates from Michigan and Florida to make their voices heard at the Democratic National Convention this summer. After the Indiana and North Carolina primaries on Tuesday, Barack Obama became the true victor. Although Clinton won Indiana by a smidge, Obama walked away with more delegates, which increased his lead over his rival. Nevertheless, Clinton is pushing forward with a new message.

Clinton claims that Obama can't pull certain states that are necessary to win the general election. Instead of embracing her stunning loss last week, she is nitpicking at exit poll data -- very scientific -- that suggests she is doing better with blue-collar workers, and assumes that they would vote for a republican before voting for Obama. If that was true, she would be winning and Obama would be conceding today.

Only in the ivory tower that she lives in could Clinton keep pretending to run for president. She has had to lend herself $10.4 million just to stay afloat. She claims that Obama is outspending her three to one, partly because the American people keep giving him money to fend her off. She has lost, both in delegates and fundraising, which are vital if she wants to continue her fantasy.

The next president will have to rethink our current strategy around the world and at home. Someone as entrenched in Washington, D.C., politics as Clinton is incapable of changing this country for the better.

For some of us, Obama brings the correct approach to a world no longer interested in American dominance. Obama can unite this country to counter the domestic infrastructure crisis that will require a "new deal" type solution.

How could Clinton solve these issues after "George W. Bush-ing" her way into the democratic nomination? Senator Clinton, it is time to concede and unite the democratic base around Senator Barack Obama.

Brad Speers

Political science and history '08

Open communication key in dating debacle

Though Kerr in her article in the May 1 issue and Coblentz in the May 8 issue had interesting takes on the consequences of our "hook-up" culture, I think both women failed to give sufficient credit to the mature choices two adults can make by simply communicating.

If Kerr had been straightforward about her expectations from the beginning, her relationships would not have ended as dismally as they did. Her confession that she sends suitor "A" a drunk text every once in a while does not count as honest communication, especially when her text messages only serve to garble Kerr's request that he "never call her again."

And while I am not saying that I fault Kerr for dropping "B" and "C," at least these men were attempting to tell her what they genuinely thought. By being truthful, even though their statements may not have been what Kerr wanted to hear, "B" and "C" acted as relatively mature participants in their relationships by attempting to convey their expectations.

Though Coblentz clearly urged readers to communicate with each other before embarking on any sort of physical escapade, I think her encouragement to us -- that we become friends or date before pursuing a romantic relationship -- may have fallen on deaf ears. After all, for better or for worse, the "hook-up" culture is alive and well at Santa Clara and is not showing any signs of going away.

Instead of trying to revert back to traditional ways of meeting and getting to know potential romantic partners, I think we need to focus on how to encourage our peers to communicate more effectively and honestly with each other.

I am not implying that going on dates or being friends first is somehow obsolete in today's fast-paced world. In fact, I think that getting to know the person before engaging in sexual activity almost certainly makes for a more secure long-term relationship.

But let's be honest: We are not all looking for long-term relationships, and I don't think it is wrong if two consenting adults agree to engage in physical relations on their own terms. The key here lies in the couple's mature and open communication. Both partners must be aware of the other's expectations while remaining sensitive to his or her feelings.

If we challenge ourselves to engage in sexual relations only under open and honest circumstances, then perhaps conversations regarding "hooking up" will happen regularly instead of being relegated to those dreaded "morning-after" conversations or drunken text messages.

Krystal Wu

English and women's

and gender studies '09