Weekly answers to The Front newsletter's question of the week. Sign up to receive a weekly question AND driven student journalism delivered to your inbox every Tuesday.
The assertion that Bellingham is an intolerant liberal echo chamber is made often, and it can be valid – but more realistically, many members of the Bellingham community feel that they cannot speak against social warriors. The silent majority of Western students are not committed to the brand of social justice that some Western students are selling.
Addressing the topic of sexual assault in an ethical and comprehensive manner requires diligence, empathy, sensitivity, courage and nuance. It is a difficult topic for anyone to write about. As a disclaimer, my perspective on the recent opinion piece is inevitably informed by my personal experience. I am fortunate: I have not experienced sexual assault.
Letter to the Editor
-Eric Trent, Journalism Student
My name is Lisa Nguyen and I am commenting on your recent article “Hmong Student Association Host Tea Party for a Scholarship.” First off I would like to say I absolutely love this fundraiser! Coming from a low-income family and being the oldest, college didn’t seem realistic to me. Who would pay for my college? My parents were already struggling to put food on the table. I knew I needed to apply to scholarships and work if I wanted to have a college education. I personally can say scholarships have helped me out immensely. It has made it possible for me to achieve higher education. I am the first in my family to attend college and I hope I am not the only one. Scholarships like these reach out to people who didn’t think they had a chance. College is expensive, that is no secret. But having scholarships like these can really make a difference since the financial burden of college can be stressful. As noted in the article, Hmong population in college is one of the lowest rates of higher education attainment among Asian population. It is important to acknowledge this because diversity and inclusivity plays a vital role in education. We cannot just exclude a group. If we see someone struggling we reach out and help them. This is why I love the ESC. They are doing great things to positively impact our community by teaching and by giving. I look forward to seeing what else in store for the future!
Submission from Blue Group member Alex Martinez
Your article "Cultural appropriation at Western and how it can be avoided" (Feb 7, 2018) has finally moved me to speaking out about an issue that has bothered me ever since I joined Western almost 13 years ago. It's the name of our newspaper, "The Western Front". As most people are aware, it's a crude play on the title of the anti-war novel "All Quiet on the Western Front" ("Im Westen nichts Neues" in the original German) by Erich Maria Remarque.
"ICE in their Veins," a poem by Inga Elvrom, American Cultural studies major
Letters to the editor are not the opinion of The Western Front. The Western Front is committed to publishing letters to the editor from the community, as long as they meet the paper's editorial standards. For more information on letters to the editor, or to submit a letter, contact westernfrontonline@gmail.com
Letters to the editor are not the opinion of The Western Front. The Western Front is committed to publishing letters to the editor from the community, as long as they meet the paper's editorial standards. For more information on letters to the editor, or to submit a letter, contact westernfrontonline@gmail.com
To the editor and editorial board of The Western Front, Several of The Western Front’s recent articles were about campus safety in case of active shooters. Others have been about the safety of the neighborhood from burglars and voyeurs. With the increase in attention given to public safety and the dangers of insecure homes and classrooms, I believe it is time to rethink Western’s weapon policy. Currently, only law enforcement officers, authorized contractors, or permitted members of U.S. government agencies may carry firearms on campus, according to WAC 516-52-020, which is available to view on Western’s website. I believe that rule should be reexamined with current events in mind and evaluated by professionals to determine whether or not licensed students should be allowed to carry firearms on campus. If students are to be allowed to carry on campus, proper safety measures should be taken. Mental checks, registry with campus police and demonstration of firearm handling should be prerequisites for students to carry a weapon. If firearms are still to be restricted, I believe it should be encouraged for students to carry nonlethal self-defense measures such as pepper spray or Tasers. These are easy to use, easy to carry and can serve as a deterrent and defense against burglaries, personal assault or other threats. In any case, self-defense awareness and readiness should be encouraged in order to prevent harm to oneself and one’s property. People may accuse me and other self-defense advocates as alarmists who contribute to a culture of fear on campus. I believe that the news points to a need for readiness and that it is better to over-prepare than to underprepare. Instead of a culture of fear on campus, I advocate for a culture of empowerment and preparedness. Sincerely, John Simmons
Content warning: This story contains references to sexual assault.
Solutions by The State News
