Letters to the editor
Heated response to cartoons unhelpful
To the editor:
I am an American Muslim and condemn both the cartoon depiction of our Holy Prophet Muhammad and the violent response made by a minority of extremists among the Muslims.
I am also proud of the responsible conduct of our American newspapers. They have shown that the role of the media is to inform and create understanding among different races and religions. Freedom of speech must be balanced with a duty to refrain from vulgarity intended to provoke hatred.
I hope that my Muslim brethren will follow the advice of the Holy Prophet and return insults with forbearance and forgiveness. Now is the time to revisit such forgiving platforms for all observing these recent incidents. Now is the time for conference, not confrontation; dialogue instead of debate; for engaging rather than enraging.
Mehvish Mirza
Biology '06
Hoops fans have reason for complaints
To the editor:
Professor Jeffery Zorn delivered a scalding commentary on an editorial suggesting that the men's basketball program may need new leadership. Though I also feel that Dick Davey has been an asset to the Santa Clara hoops program, I must point out several inaccuracies in the letter.
First, Bronco fans have nothing to be ashamed about; this season the Ruff Riders have flocked to home games, filling record numbers of Leavey Center seats whilst their Broncos sit comfortably at the bottom of the conference (the epitome of sticking with a team through the "thin").
Professor Zorn is correct that a reliable indicator of good coaching is improvement throughout the season. After all, last year, Roy Williams led his struggling Tarheels to a National Championship after a disappointing early loss to our own Broncos. But lately Davey's team has done just the opposite. The Broncos have won 36 percent of their conference games (which occur at the end of the season) the past 4 seasons. And a look at Davey's own 14-season career at Santa Clara reveals a similarly disappointing trend.
Sports demand a strange combination of characteristics from its best coaches: integrity, leadership, and consistent production of winning teams. I join a growing group of dedicated Bronco basketball fans who are hoping the athletic department will consider finding a men's basketball coach who possesses all of these.
Ryan Fante
Biology '06
Call for new basketball coach unjustified
To the editor:
How can you rightfully ask for a new men's basketball coach at Santa Clara, as you did in your editorial in the Feb. 9 issue?
You, with only four years of Santa Clara sports exposure because you are a student, not a long-time Bronco basketball follower, are remiss in asking for the ouster of head coach Dick Davey.
Posting a 13-year, 217-164 record in his 14 seasons at the helm of Santa Clara basketball, Davey has made three NCAA tournaments, won three West Coast Conference championships, and has posted five wins over Top 25 NCAA teams.
A member of the prestigious National Basketball Coaches Association, he has the most wins ever among active WCC coaches.
How do you justify the ouster of this great coach with his outstanding overall won-loss record and contribution to the university in his 27 years as assistant mentor and head varsity coach?
An attribute of Dick Davey not in the Feb. 9 editorial is that he always been popular with both Santa Clara faculty and students.
Dick Degnon
Athletic news director, 1962-81
Editorial misrepresents intent of FERPA
To the Editor:
The recent editorial on the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act makes a number of misguided arguments and is predicated on fundamentally false information. It argues that the true intent of FERPA was "to prevent parents - from viewing their child's grades."
However, FERPA was authored to empower parents of minors and adult students to review educational records and request a correction if they include "inaccurate, misleading, or otherwise in violation of the privacy or other rights of students."
You contest that "educational records" is a catchphrase, suggesting that it is a tool to protect institutional reputation. Yet, the Department of Education clearly enumerates what must be protected under the law.
If the thrust of your message is that university officials may be concealing criminal information, it is incumbent upon you to present evidence for the community to evaluate. The absence of such evidence does not justify the conjecture of your editorial.
Information access is critical to a democracy, but it is not the preeminent right of our nation. Citizens should be free from unnecessary interference from government, public enterprises and private citizens -- a protection critical for those most vulnerable, including sexual assault survivors.
Non-disclosure is not intended to evade the press, but to protect the victim's rights -- a small courtesy to pay to someone whose life has been irreversibly traumatized.
Exercising the rights of a free press requires attention to corresponding responsibilities. Accuracy is the primary goal; public service is the supreme measure of its value. Your editorial failed both measures.
Timothy Haskell
Director of First Year Programs