Letters to the Editor

Headline Misconstrues Eco-Reps’ Views on Green Campaign

To the Editor:
I was distressed to open the Spectator and find the headline “Student Eco-Reps Suspect Green Campaign to Be Publicity Stunt” (Sept. 11). This headline completely twists and misconstrues the message I was trying to convey through my comments about the green initiatives of Columbia and Barnard. Taken out of context, this statement sounds unduly critical and only serves to divide the campus on an issue that the student environmental groups, and the Eco-Reps in particular, are actively working to rally the entire University around. The Eco-Reps are in full support of each step the schools take toward a more sustainable campus. We are working in enthusiastic partnership with them to make their commitments to the mayor’s PlaNYC 2030 Challenge an impressive reality.
While I understand that journalists are often charged with airing criticism and opposing views in an article, I feel that my comments were misused to create a sensational headline for an article on a non-controversial topic.
The Eco-Reps hope that this misleading headline will not create barriers for our future collaboration with administrators.

Acadia Roher, BC ’10
Sept. 15, 2007

Fakhruddin Ahmed is a Strong Leader Who Has Every Right to Speak at CU

To the Editor:
I am concerned by the Letter to the Editor (“University Irresponsible in Inviting Bangladeshi Leader to Speak,” Sept. 14) that called Columbia University “irresponsible” for inviting the first educated leader of the Bangladeshi Republic to the World Leaders Forum . As a person who has grown up in Dhaka, Bangladesh, I have seen the previous Bangladeshi governments at work, and there is a reason why my country was ranked as the most politically corrupt country in the world. Our politicians really owned up to this rank.
Dr. Fakhruddin Ahmed’s government, which was supported by the majority of Bangladeshis when it came to power, is now facing criticism from some because several officials are being charged for accepting bribes. This temporary government has done in a few months what other Bangladeshi governments have not been able to do in decades. It has been jailing those politicians who have been stealing money given to the Bangladeshi poor by well-meaning foreign countries. The military has found millions worth of black money in the name of the politicians’ wives and children. Not only did the politicians’ families fail to account for this money, they refused to give up claim of these illegal millions stored in places like the Swiss Bank. Some money is even stored in the form of luxury apartments in foreign countries. So what did Dr. Fakhruddin do wrong, if he ordered these politicians to be imprisoned?
As for the Dhaka University deans being jailed, they were jailed because they encouraged the university students to hurt public property even after the government had accepted student demand to remove the military from the university campus. The military was on the Dhaka University campus because it is the hot spot for corrupt politics and crimes. Shootings often happen on the campus, led by student leaders who are controlled by corrupt politicians. The only reason some of the public is opposing the government now is because the government is asking people to pay taxes.
On my recent visit to Bangladesh, I have seen the country at a much better place than the situation it was in when I had last left it. This is thanks to Dr. Fakhruddin Ahmed. Please also be aware that he is only here as a temporary adviser to the government and as the Chief Adviser of the Caretaker Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh today, and that in itself legitimizes his invitation to come to Columbia University.

Maisha Rashid, BC ’10
Sept. 15, 2007