Don't cry over spilled journalism
It's ironic that The Daily Texan editors excoriate students for not being sufficiently outraged about the situation in Iraq - as you did in your piece marking the fifth anniversary of the war - and yet are so thin-skinned when criticized for your reporting on the war ("Directing the anti-media bandwagon," April 7).
Your editorial on the criticism of Teresa Mioli's articles on Iraq plays the victim of the mean ol' antiwar movement just a bit too much. I don't know who gets into journalism and expects to be above criticism. You can take your ball and go home, or try to figure out why so many people are distrustful of the media and your publication in particular.
In his lecture at UT last Thursday, journalist Dahr Jamail pointed out how Mioli's interview with pro-war student-veterans opens describing their stories as "the stuff of this generation's history books," which doesn't suggest that she was taking a critical eye toward the subject matter.
Jamail did more than bash Mioli's interview. He contrasted it with statements he has collected from veterans that paint a much more grim picture of life under US occupation than the rose-tinted recollections of the subjects of Mioli's piece. Too bad nothing he said about that was reported in Mioli's coverage of his lecture.
Your attempts to deflect the criticism don't cut much ice. Yes, the government lies and pressures the media to toe the line. That's not an excuse for sloppy journalism.
As when the media establishment uncritically regurgitated the Bush administration's claims about WMD's in Iraq, there's a new Big Lie being promulgated: the idea that the surge is "working." This would be an important issue to investigate critically, and yet Mioli didn't include any of Jamail's detailed dissection of the myth of the surge in her perfunctory coverage of his lecture.
A country and its people have been devastated, we have created a refugee crisis worse than the one in Darfur, thousands of American soldiers have lost their lives or had their physical and mental health wrecked, and we're spending half a million dollars every minute on the war while more Americans face economic hardship.
Somebody criticized your articles. Get over it and do better.
Mike Corwin UT staff International Socialist Organization
Villa controversy
Regarding your article on the Villas on Guadalupe's parking garage, I think you should follow up on this story because a vast majority of the residents who live there, including me, are angry about this situation ("Tenants worry about parking garage thefts," April 4).
I am fortunate enough to say my car has not been broken in to, but I am extremely disappointed and upset about their way of handling this situation. About five weeks after the gates were initially broken (and open 24 hours a day), they sent flyers out to the residents stating that it was our responsibility (and no one else's) to secure our vehicles in the parking lot, listing a series of precautions to take. I believe that we are responsible for taking these precautions, but we are not the only ones. If they are charging for these services, they should uphold their end of the bargain. I have paid full rent during these two months that the gates have been broken and open, but I have only received part of the services they promised on their lease (secure parking with gates that open to a safety code).
Furthermore, Johanna Janovsky's comments about the garage gates at the Villas on Guadalupe are blatant and utter lies. I have lived at the Villas since August 2006 and have used the same gate code up to this day, so they have not changed it quarterly. The gates are not closed at all times, as they have been broken for a little bit over two months, and their interest in fixing them only started because of the complaints they have been getting about vandalism in the parking garage. If they are being paid to provide a service, they should uphold it or be responsible for any and all damages. It is truly disappointing that these people go about their business so irresponsibly.
It is not the first time that they have lied about situations affecting the residents. When my parents called them more than two weeks ago inquiring about the gate situation, they were told that the part that was required for fixing the gate had already been ordered and was on its way. Two weeks later, however, they sent out a flyer stating that the contractors had evaluated the gate situation and had just determined what part was needed to fix it, and that it was on its way. This two-week discrepancy is a lie, one among many from the Villas ever since they changed their management to JPI, the worst thing that could have happened to this apartment complex.
Foillowing up on this story would certainly unravel all this apartment complex's unethical practices. If anything at all, it would certainly help by focusing some attention on them and encouraging them to shape up, or shed some light on what an awful place to live the Villas has become.
Rodrigo Maycotte Advertising senior
Texan not a pulpit
Conceding that publishing opinion pieces is the prerogative of any newspaper, I question whether these pieces serve any purpose in a student-run newspaper. Specifically, I question the appropriateness of columns (such as those of Daniel Earnest) which do not pertain directly to the student body ("Bring the troops home, but only in triumph," April 8). There are forums for publication of editorial opinions on foreign policy, but I reject the notion that The Daily Texan is one. By the fact alone that any contributor to the Texan is not an expert in the field of foreign policy, I find it hard to imagine the Texan's intention in publishing these opinions. They serve only to incite arguments (I anticipate several Firing Line responses to Earnest's column) which, from past experience, are not informative. I'm disturbed also by the fact that Earnest states some pretty provocative opinions as fact, which reads as misinformed at best and disingenuous at worst. I fear that, as the elections near, the Texan will be flooded with opinion pieces and will begin to preach to, rather than inform, the student body. Please don't let this happen.
Sumedh Joshi Mechanical engineering and math senior
YCT defiles the left, again
In case you didn't know, the Young Conservatives of Texas are making another attempt to defile Democratic Leaders. They are bringing Peter Schweizer April 9 to UTC 4.132 at 7 p.m. In case you didn't know, the man claims to be exposing the "hypocrisy" of the left. I encourage anyone who has the night off to go arm themselves with knowledge, be prepared to defend our leaders and not allow attacks on people such as Michael Moore who are fighting to reform our health care system.
I will simply not stand for the defiling of my leaders, and neither should you. Come join me in disputing this so-called "hypocrisy."
Jerrod Michaels Government freshman
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