1997_09 The Daily Collegian September 1997

              THE DAILY
COLLEGIAN
Thursday, September 11,1997
Opinion
Telephone: (209) 278-5732
Hard work has no merit
in liberal education
By Manuel Annear	
There was once a great kingdom
of Usa, ruled by wise men who felt
their people should receive the Gift
of Knowledge.
To this end they established
schools in which the people's chil¬
dren were advanced to higher lev¬
els of enlightenment by hard work
and accomplishment. A great
golden age ensued.
The people became aware, their
lives were enriched, and they re¬
joiced in freedom and intelligence.
The Usans called their gift Public
Education, and it was good.
Then a pestilence came upon the
face of the land. Demons called
Liberal Education Administrators
arose from the brimstone-filled
depths of bureaucracy and set about
to destroy the Usans.
They told the people that hard
work and sacrifice had no merit.
They wailed that children with-
Please see ANNEAR page 4.
Letter to the Editor
We're not the bad guys
Dear Editor
Wc would like to thank the read-
. ers for taking the time to consider
the information contained in this
letter.
In 1992 nine undergraduate stu¬
dents established Nu Alpha Kappa
(NAK) fraternity at California State
University. Fresno. Sinccfl992, our
membership has grown into a 67-
member student organization that
has given back to its community
and stressed its three goals of edu¬
cation, culture and brotherhood.
The incident at Baja's Restau¬
rant on the night of Sept. 5. 1997
was without a dought an unfortu¬
nate one. In this incident, a young
woman was physically assaulted, a
celebration was ruined and the
reputation of Nu Alpha Kappa fra¬
ternity was damaged. In the press
reports and in the television cover¬
age this incident was associated
with another tragic assault lhat oc¬
curred a few weeks earlier at a party
that was sponsored by a different
fraternity.
We would like the readers to
know that the person arrested by the
police as the perpetrator of the as¬
sault to the young woman at Baja's
was not a fraternity member and is
not associated in any way with the
fraternity.
From all indication, the assault
was not prompted by hate or race
and appears to have been an unfor¬
tunate and senseless incident.
Nu Alpha Kappa is proud of
their community service. We have
been recognized because of our
participation in Kid's Day, Big
Brothers and Big Sisters, assisting
at the Ronald McDonald House and
St. Jude's Hospital. Nu Alpha
Kappa was also recognized because
we have tutored young students at
Winchcll Elementary School, have
rhentored students at McLanc High
and participated in many culture
events on campus such as Chicano
Commencement and the Chicano
Youth Conference. It is sad to think
that (he unfortunate incident which
happened last week can negatively
impact all the positive and pro-so¬
cial activites the Nu Alpha Kappa
has been involved with since 1992.
Our name was published be¬
cause an innocent young woman
was physically assaulted at a dance
and this was associated with a rac¬
ist crime that happened at another
fraternity's party.
In the past, whenever someone
heard something about NAK the
chances are great that it was a posi¬
tive reaction. It is our collective in¬
tention to build upon our substan¬
tial positive contributions and let
that overwhelm this one. negative
incident.
-Gentlemen of Nu Alpha Kappa
SIGNE
PHILADELPHIA DAILY NEWS
Phiadcipna
USA
ftEP/W£ For a Mlf& S&N& GgjggT
Letter to the Editor
Racial diversity should be
encouraged on campus
By John Welty, university president
The university community and
I deplore the vicious off-campus
assault of two of our students Fri¬
day night. Aug. 22.
University administrators and I
have visited with Malcolm S. Boyd
and his family. We will continue to
beof any assistance that wc can.
Our thoughts and prayers are
with them. Counseling and support
services have also been extended to
Jason Bechara and other students
who were affected by this tragic in¬
cident,. ,
I am pleased that an arrest has
been made. It has been determined
that this violent attack was a "hat?
crime" and that the attackers were
nol students nor members of the
university community.
Nevertheless, I deplore this type
of behavior. We are a university
community in which diversity is
encouraged, protected and cel¬
ebrated.
Wc will not tolerate improper
behavior that is directed at individu¬
als or groups based on race, ethnic-
ity, gender, age. disability, or sexual
orientation.
Any instance of this kind, or any
that intend to abridge the rights of
anyone on campus, will be thor¬
oughly investigated and the appro¬
priate action taken, including the
most stringent legal action when
necessary.
I have assigned Dr. Judy Sakaki,
Vice President for Student Affairs
and Dean of Students, to work with
the Fresno City Police Department
and others in the ca/npus commu¬
nity regarding this incident.
We will fully cooperate to insure
that every step is being taken to
thoroughly investigate this crime.
Our university police depart¬
ment has also been directed to as¬
sist with the investigation.
Even though an arrest has been
made, the investigation continues.
Anyone with information regarding
this crime should contact Detec¬
tives Frazier or Byrd at 49K-I27I
or Dr. Sakaki at 278-2541.
The University has established
a Malcolm S. Boyd Assistance
Fund to assist his family. Donations
to the "Fresno State Foundation
Malcolm S. Boyd Assistance Fund
can be sent lo the California State
University Fresno Development
Office at 5244 N. Jackson. MS #45.
Fresno, CA 93740-8023 (27S-
4036).
There are many concerned stu
dents, faculty, staff and administra¬
tors who are working to create op¬
portunities for discussion, dialogue
and action relating to this incident.
I encourage members of the univer-
sity community to participate in
these activities. I ask that wc rcdedi
catc ourselves to the elimination ol
barriers between us created by race.
ethnicity or other differences.
Please work with me to make
Fresno State and our community a
better place.
\
Daily Collegian
California State University, Fresno
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Manuel Annear,
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The Daily Collegian is pub¬
lished five times a week for and
by the students of California State
University, Fresno.
Opinions expressed in the
Collegian are not necessarily
those of the entire Daily Colle¬
gian staff. The editors reserve the
right to edit letters for length and
clarity. To be considered/or
publication, letters must be typed
and should not exceed 250 words.
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