Letters to the editor

Congratulations: class of 2009 valedictorian will inspire future Columbia women

To the Editor:
I am so impressed by valedictorian Emily Clader, as well as salutatorian Mollie Schwartz. The fact that two women, one in math and philosophy and one in chemical physics, have stood out among the throngs of amazing students at Columbia as the top scholars of the class of 2009 is something we should all be proud of. Women in STEM careers (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) face a unique set of obstacles, and this year’s class awards are evidence that Columbia is a great place for anyone, including all of us women, to participate in a vibrant community of STEM research. These two outstanding women are planning to continue their work in math and science in their graduate studies and I know they will make outstanding contributions both to their specific fields and also as inspiring examples to female undergraduates at Columbia College and elsewhere. Having met Clader through friends and a class we took together, I know she is a testament to the fact that at Columbia, one can pursue serious scholarship at the same time as maintaining other interests and a grounded social life—something all women in college should have the opportunity to enjoy, but something that we all know is sadly much more difficult to attain than Clader makes it seem. I am floored by Clader and Schwartz’s academic achievements and excited that Columbia women will have such a great record of accomplishments to look up to in the future. Take that, Larry Summers!

Emily Rose Jordan, CC ’09
April 22, 2009

Columnist presents partisan views while making false insinuations

To the Editor:
Columnist Jon Hollander’s April 15 piece, “Activism that matters,” insinuates that groups like the Columbia Palestine Forum are the cause for the perpetuation of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict by failing to consider the most rudimentary facts of the situation. First of all, nowhere in its statement or demands does the Columbia Palestine Forum use the term “apartheid.” In fact, I believe the first usage of the term apartheid in this recent upsurge of campus debate was by LionPAC and Hillel in their flyer campaign. This being said, divestment and the impositions of sanctions on Israel are long overdue. “Demonizing” the state of Israel is not the new black. It’s a reaction to the atrocities which occurred in Gaza earlier this year, and which have been occurring for the past 60 years.
Israel is in violation of numerous United Nations resolutions, among which it is stated that Israel must withdraw to the 1967 borders and allow refugees the right to return. Israel’s most recent attack on Gaza was not only avoidable, but it indiscriminately killed over 1,400 Palestinians and destroyed the Strip’s infrastructure. Israel, as an occupying power, breached international humanitarian law with impunity for three weeks of massacre in Gaza.
Despite the rosy picture Hollander paints, Arabs do not enjoy the same rights as Jews in Israel, at least not in terms of property rights, hiring, marriage, healthcare, schooling, etc. Palestinians cannot move freely within their country, and are increasingly threatened by the growth of illegal settlements in the West Bank. Moreover, it was Israel that allowed Hamas to grow in the ’80s to subdue the secular nationalist movement. Nonetheless, what Hamas seeks is implementation of UN resolutions. The principal factor “feeding the cycle of hatred” is the subjugation and violence to which Israel subjects the Palestinians. So Hollander, before you pass judgment, I recommend you consult a source other than the U.S. Congress for an unbiased assessment of the situation.

Nancy Elshami, BC ’10
April 18, 2009

“Cold-hearted conservatism” columnist is indeed cold-hearted

To the Editor:
After picking up Spectator on April 22nd and being graced with the caring words of columnist Lauren Salz’s “Cold-hearted conservatism,” I have a few caring words to share with Salz, as well.

Unlike the children one may petition for in “Right to Life,” the children Salz encountered in Ghana may not be as blessed to benefit from her advocacy. Their destiny to live as not-so-orphaned in sort-of-HIV-prevalent areas under almost-subsided-post-colonialist-areas is not their choice. These children are not a means of experimenting good will, and Salz should start by educating herself about the history, culture, environment, and agency faced by these people.
But I shouldn’t be addressing Salz alone here because the rights she is fighting for as a “cold-hearted conservative” have granted her the liberty of speaking her mind. Instead, I would also like to address the student body and remind them that human compassion, education, and global awareness are not political ideals. Also, caring about those orphans does not mean “conservatively” ignoring them. Caring means devotion. Caring means actually learning for the betterment of someone other than oneself—learning to find a way that can feed their debilitating hunger while working towards a better future. I hope that Salz and the student body don’t abandon their education and their human compassion to assume that less hungry children are validation for conservative ideals.

Sarah Camiscoli, CC ’12
April 22, 2009