Editor,

I love TSL. This semester has included some interesting articles, and I, for one, have thoroughly enjoyed it. I do, however, have some beef I would like to throw into the stew. Here we go: the good, the bad, and the ugly.

As always, TSL has some excellent material. First, the security briefs, always excellent, this year, brilliant. Bethany Anne Kibler’s insightful review of Cloud Nine made me wish I had gone to see it, and the Five Dollar Review has introduced me to some music about which I would otherwise have remained uninformed. To sum up, lots of excellent material.

In the ‘bad’ category I would like to apologize, but those of you writing about J-Board probably have "insufficient evidence" yourselves. "As members of an intellectual community," we should probably not write things about which we have little to no knowledge. In Allegations in J-Board Dispute, the authors write, "We should ask ourselves if the balance of power within the Judiciary Board truly lies with the interest of the students." I hate to burst your Pomona bubble, but no it doesn’t, nor should it. The Student Code states, "Judicial Board means any person or persons authorized to determine whether a student has violated the Student Code and to impose sanctions" (Pomona College Student Handbook, 100). The balance of power lies neither with the students, nor with the college, but aims to facilitate cooperation between the two (which in a more perfect world would be the same).

In addition, the letter states, "We should ask ourselves if the Pomona College Dean of Students, who oversees the Judiciary Board proceedings, truly represents the student body." Again, sorry. The Student Code clearly states that "A dean from the office of Student Affairs shall sit with the board as an advisor in the process and to represent the views of the college" (PCSH, 102).

When we speak of truth, let us remember the words of James Blaisdell: "The true character of a college is revealed in its loyalty to the truth under all deflecting influences and advantages." As "members of the intellectual community," we should do our homework and get the facts straight, not just spout unfounded opinions. Truth under all defecting influences and advantages.

Another letter states that "Mike and Grey’s memory of the event had grown a bit fuzzy" and that "not understanding the potential seriousness of the matter, they both went into the hearing with no representation." Is the author asserting that the accuseds’ ignorance and lack of preparation should be considered a violation of "due process?" This might come as a surprise to a great deal of the student body, but wealth, entitlement, Caucasian-ness and arrogance do not exempt people from the consequences of their actions. No, not even at Pomona College.

On a separate note, how about the most recent installment of Come to Papa!!!? I know I was a mere a sports associate during my stint with TSL, but I have been struggling to figure out whether "gay-game, or ‘g-deuce’ as it is known in relatively advanced circles" falls into the arts or features part of that section. To consider it a feature is a bold statement of self-deprecation to the grand institution that is TSL. To consider "throwing gay-game" an art, well, that’s just insulting and demeaning, which would be consistent with the theme of the column since its inception.

And the ugly: The One and Only Good Reason to Go to CMC. I couldn’t figure out whether this was a tragically failed attempt at humor or a serious expression of Pomona’s judgmental and supercilious attitude towards students of the other colleges. One example: "Once a recent Athenaeum-goer settles down from the shock that there is real cheese, wine and discussion here - not the standard Natty Ice, pork rinds and sexual harassment one is used to at most CMC functions." Later, Dioun writes, "It is full of stylish, cultured, affluent youth with button down shirts from J. Crew and khaki pants from Banana Republic, sipping on wine, eating cheese and talking about things that interest them. The McKenna kids were talking about money, Pomona kids were talking about how the McKenna kids always talked about money and the Harvey Mudd, Scripps and Pitzer kids...they were probably talking about something, but it probably wasn’t important." Hmmm… didn’t your mother ever tell you if you don’t have anything to say, don’t say anything at all?

One of the most wonderful experiences of my "Pomona College experience" thus far has been taking a class at Pitzer. When we stop dehumanizing each other with ignorance and prejudiced generalizations, we can actually get to know each other, and maybe even become…friends??? As nothing less than cream of Claremont, we might try leading by example. No, "they" are actually not beneath "us." James Blaisdell said, "This group plan of colleges in common goodwill, offers the most advantageous framework for higher education." In common good will. In common good will. Let each individual start with himself, and each institution focus on common goodwill. These stereotypes are limiting, intellectually, emotionally and physically. Mr. Dioun closes with "The only downside: the company." Many CMC students: agree.

Finally, my thoughts about the college motto "Our contribution to Christian civilization." Let’s just say, I don’t think the Pope or Martin Luther would be too thrilled about our contribution. I find the motto ingeniously sardonic and I say we should keep it. I don’t think Russian Literature 101 Adultery: Family and Transgression in Russia and Beyond was included in the Trivium, nor was Spanish 172: Sex, Power, and Religion in Golden Age Drama part of the usual education for Christian clerics. For that matter, the church would probably excommunicate most professors in the Philosophy Department for teaching Marx or Foucault. I don’t know of many Christian institutions with Queer Resource Centers or Women’s Unions. For that matter, educating Jews, Moslems, atheists and people of other belief systems didn’t really enter the milieu. For the blasphemous and subversive element of the College, the motto is a shining example of Twainian humor, for the Christian faithful, it expresses sincere belief. Everyone wins.

I love Pomona. I love it. I love Claremont. I love TSL. I love being around intelligent people. So, if only for my sake, start acting like it. This is a wake-up call. We only have four, sometimes five, years to create the college we all envision. I would like to close with another quote by Blaisdell, the great visionary of our institution:

"A college binds/ The Centuries into its Dominion/ It shapes lives/ It fashions generations/ It makes history./ In this Pacific area/ We have a meeting of the east and the west./ Here we have a new destiny/ And a new opportunity."

Sincerely,

Adam Goldwyn ’04