Dear Editor,
It took me some time in deciding if I should respond to Jeff Sturgeon's Feb. 3 letter in the Daily News. It is a great benefit to all involved that I reply and try to shed some light on my point of view.
First off I would like to start by asking Mr. Sturgeon which comments he deemed "ignorant" and why? Do you feel that those who made these comments lacked knowledge of the subject matter?
I would be tempted to agree with your comments regarding students and their lack of support for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s idea of unity, but I disagree that this was made clear by my comment in the Jan. 31 issue of the Daily News.
Yes, I was quoted as saying that "The only time I feel comfortable is when I am with my people." My comments were made in the context of a speech, which illustrated the black community's responsibility in these matters and that the Black Student Association along with the black community needs to be more proactive and less reactive.
I would also like to enlighten Mr. Sturgeon that the Black Student Association does not promote segregation and is not strictly black. The organization is comprised of members from many different communities on campus and strives to bring the history and struggles of African Americans to the forefront. It is an opportunity to learn and to teach. This opportunity is given to everyone. We can only show you the door, you must walk through it.
The movement to have Dr. King's birthday recognized by the university was a very personal struggle for me. I spoke, I marched and I was on committees trying to find the best solution and the most equitable for the university and its students, and did so with the idea that the university would continue to work with the community to make sure that there would be proper observance year after year.
Before the change in policy, black students on this campus had put on very successful programs each year commemorating the day; we never relied on the university beyond providing space on campus. We still do not rely on the university or anyone else, but we hoped that it would have lived up to its side of the bargain.
Both the university and the black community dropped the ball on this one, and it is our hope that in the future, with better communication and commitment from both sides we can avert these negative issues and focus on the true goal: unification.
Jarrod Dortch
senior
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