To the Editor of the Clarion:

The recent article in the Clarion by DU senior Stuart Cobb is appalling. It is surprising that in this day and age, when at times it seems that our society has come a long way, that someone can make such disparaging comments towards women, or anyone for that matter. Perhaps what was supposed to be funny turned into a misogynistic themed column.

This article draws such ire because it is so completely false. There are many gifted and intelligent women in the DU community. Also, DU’s administration is highly supportive in helping women and a diverse group of individuals from all walks of life reach their educational goals, as is evidenced by the many excellent programs, such as the DU Women’s College, the DU Latino Center and the Center for Multicultural Excellence.

It is sad that, as a senior, Mr. Cobb is preparing to go out into the working world with such a narrow-minded attitude.  With the excellent education that DU offers, it is truly unfortunate that he will leave without a chance to avail himself of some the mind-opening experiences he has missed out on to date.  Perhaps hearing the feedback from this article will help change Mr. Cobb’s opinion of women at DU.

It is a shame the editor of the Clarion allowed the article to go to print, as it gives such a poor view of Mr. Cobb and of the University’s publishing community.  He is probably a much better person than this article leads the reader to believe. We hope so anyway.

The DU Latino Alumni Association Co-Presidents,

Melanie Herrera Bortz, BA 1988

Andrea Smith, BA 1985

 

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To The Editor,

Wow, where to begin?

Normally I would be surprised to find discrimination and humiliation printed in a campus news paper at a prominent American university, especially one that ardently professes a commitment to diversity, equality, and a zero tolerance policy on discrimination.

Having attended a provost lecture given by former governor Richard Lamm last year, however, I ought to know better. (Please compare Lamm’s “8 Ways to Destroy America” diatribe to the University’s mission statement, diversity statement, and zero tolerance policy to fully understand what I mean.)

Nevertheless, I was indeed startled when confronted with what can only be seen as entitled white heterosexual privilege splashed across the pages of the Clarion (“Fancy That: Seven Women You Meet at DU”).

This article reflects a dangerous lack of social intelligence and yet presents itself as fun-loving social authority.

Frequently, within our basest efforts at humor, we can find proof of the complete failure of purely bureaucratic diversity statements and the spiteful intellectual incompetence of this article and another like it (“The Two Types of Men You’ll Meet at DU”) present fine examples.

In each of the disturbingly inappropriate and boringly essentialist categorizations of women at DU, Stewart emphasizes sexual innuendo in his presentation of young women as the prize.

In so doing he endorses and underscores many of the justifications and mindsets which fuel misogynistic patriarchy and sex and gender based bigotry.

Presenting hateful and commodifying notions such as these as good and innocent fun, or even as free speech, only encourages others to participate in the spite.

It is one thing to allow fringe opinions to exist, it is quite another grant them the megaphone of editorial journalism.

Use of inflammatory and childish stereotype to characterize sexual conquest in a hunter-hunted frame dooms thousands of the vulnerable to lives in fear and casts the rest of us as leering, scheming predators.

Bottom Line: This type of “opinion” should rank along side Aryan and slave-owning propaganda and should no longer be considered to be of social interest.

Sincerely Yours in Education & Communication,

Marissa Yandall & Aaron Donaldson (as one voice)