PUBLIC FORUM : WRIGHT: VIOLENCE AT CSUN WAS PREDICTABLE.

The circus that took place on the Cal State Northridge campus Sept. 25 was just the type of spectacle that I was hoping the university and student leaders would avoid when I offered to speak as a replacement for David Duke in the so-called debate on affirmative action.

Student President Vladimir Cerna claims that he and his fellow senators searched high and low to find a qualified spokesperson to argue the case against affirmative action. Cerna and his associates apparently didn't search very far before selecting Duke, because they never contacted me or my office.

When I learned that Duke was scheduled to appear on the Northridge campus, I was, to say the least, more than a little concerned about the repercussions of such a debate. I strongly believe that the students and faculty at Northridge deserved a rational, informed discussion on the issue of affirmative action and how the upcoming California Civil Rights Initiative will affect California institutions and residents. I sent a letter to Cerna offering my services to the Student Senate to replace Duke at no cost to the university.

Cerna knew well in advance that this circus that he had created would result in the type of melee that transpired Sept. 25. Most of the problems were created by outsiders, not Northridge students, who, for the most part, behaved honorably throughout this whole process. But Cerna knew that troublemakers with extreme views would be attracted to this event like moths to a flame.

Fortunately, the people of California can see through Cerna's irresponsible, sophomoric publicity stunt and will approve Proposition 209 in November. After all, all Californians, including Cerna, have the right to be judged by the content of their character, not the color of their skin.

- Cathie Wright

State Senator, 19th District

Simi Valley 

With leadership comes responsibility. In the aftermath of the near-riotous situation at the CSUN campus following the Proposition 209 debate between Joe Hicks and known bigot David Duke, Associated Students President Vladimir Cerna's remarks show that he is in fact no leader.

For Cerna to hide behind the First Amendment and accept responsibility only for the debate shows that he lacks the courage of his convictions.

If Cerna did not anticipate the problems with a Duke invitation, then he is certainly naive and lacks the forethought necessary to lead a student body of more than 25,000.

If Cerna did expect the near-riotous protests and still absolves himself and the Associated Students of any responsibility, then he shows his disdain for CSUN and the students he supposedly represents and a recall should be initiated immediately.

As an alumnus of Cal State Northridge, I hope that the students will learn to take a greater interest in voting for their representatives and that more than 707 students will vote at the next election. I also hope that the students will elect representatives who will have the courage to stand behind their actions and accept the consequences and responsibility that goes along with the privilege of representing such a great campus.

If the students do not learn from this debacle, then they must accept the consequences of their inaction.

Finally, CSUN President Blenda Wilson must also accept responsibility for the out-of-control protests that took place. I agree with her decision to allow the Associated Students to select speakers of their own choosing, without intervention; however, to not recognize that the CSUN campus has been negatively impacted and to not take any remedial actions will only continue the dwindling of alumni support.

- Jeffrey R. Dominique

Granada Hills

As a graduate of CSUN, I am thoroughly ashamed by my school's behavior in the recent Proposition 209 debate.

I think each alumnus of CSUN should withhold financial support from the university until it gets its house in order. President Blenda Wilson should be fired and the so-called student leader, Cerna, should resign for their part in this disgraceful incident.

- Joachim Fernandes

Santa Monica

I have done my daily run at CSUN for many years. On the day of the Duke-Hicks debate, I purposely avoided the campus, for obvious reasons. The next day I returned with a feeling of sadness that violence had taken place there, however well the police were able to contain it.

There are large holes, due to ongoing construction since the earthquake, on Lindley Avenue, within the campus. I saw them anew as a metaphor for the deeper wounds which seek to divide us. Yet, they are not without their potential healing.

As a CSUN alumna, I have a heart for CSUN's unity and diversity. They are not mutually exclusive, just as they are not in the larger world.

I think our peaceful solutions can be found in dialogue rather than in debate. And that peace can prevail.

- Jeanine D'Elia

Granada Hills

Smog Check II

If you thought that Smog Check II was designed to cut smog, then think again. The smog credits for every ``gross polluter'' confiscated by the government and removed from the highway are sold to business polluters who can then continue to emit the smog that would otherwise have have been emitted by the car during its lifetime.

What's that? You don't have to worry because you already have your smog certificate? Not so. There are roving smogmobiles set up on freeway on-ramps where you must accelerate uphill. If you fail this test - as you probably will, because cars are dirtiest when they accelerate under load - you will receive a photograph of your car, a pending revocation of your registration and a request that you report to a state referee for further testing.

Neat, huh? You lose your car. Business continues to pollute; and the government receives a payment far greater than you could have sold your car for. There's a bonus for car manufacturers; they get to sell more cars . . . maybe. Not many owners of clunkers can afford new cars.

How many people will be caught in this scam? How many poor, old and sick will be sacrificed to a bureaucratic elite's vision of a socialist utopia.

But, then, consider how easy it is to maintain control of the ``lower classes'' when they are denied personal transportation.

- Wm. O. Felsman

Woodland Hills

I just spent $400 on new plugs, points, filters, muffler, carburetor overhaul and valve adjustment on my 1969 Volkswagen van and it still does not pass the $25 Smog Check II. It runs marvelously, but the government said it's junk.

What am I suppose to do now? I use my van in my work and now Al Gore and his tree-hugging environmentalists are forcing the state of California to make me scrap my car. I'm not going to do it. I'll drive it to Mexico or Canada and give it away before the government gets it.

I sure would like to know the dummies in the California Legislature who did this to us.

- Ray Holm

Woodland Hills

Protect and serve

Recently, there was a young adult party in my neighborhood. As the party broke up and the guests were leaving in groups, I heard loud angry voices and the next thing I heard, I think, were shots fired.

I understood that a young man was hit and was down. The police arrived and took over, and from what I could see and hear, it was done very efficiently.

The next morning, I went out to pick up my morning paper and the police were still there, going about their business. My paper was not there but I figured the street was blocked off and the delivery person couldn't get through.

About a half-hour later, as I was eating breakfast, my dog started barking and I looked out and there was a policeman delivering my paper to my doorstep.

Later in the morning, an officer came to my door to ask questions about the previous evening and what I saw and heard. The young officer was very efficient and his demeanor outstanding. He also was sensitive to the impact this event had on the neighbors.

I have never had direct contact with the LAPD, but if he is representative of L.A.'s finest, then we are in good hands. The Police Department's thoughtfulness to hand me - and I'm sure my neighbors, too - the Sunday morning paper, was just above and beyond.

- Betty J. Dotson

Canoga Park

Wilson and hot buttons

I write in response to Peter Schrag's article on Gov. Pete Wilson's apparent loss of his once noteworthy compassion and good judgment (Opinions, Sept. 27, ``Whither Pete Wilson?'').

I used to respect Wilson back when I thought he stood for progressive social ideas and well-thought approaches to economic issues. Now he seems to have become a champion of hot-button issues and party rhetoric.

My thinking is that he's trying to convince someone he really is Republican.

- Bob Loza

Burbank

Lewis made `baseless accusation'

Anthony Lewis made a very disturbing and baseless accusation in his column (``House immigration bill does more harm than good,'' Opinions, Sept. 30.).

Referring to Fauziya Kasindja, a 19-year-old woman who fled her homeland on the island of Togo to avoid the brutal practice of genital mutilation, Lewis said that I was opposed to granting Kasindja political asylum in the United States and denied her access to a fair hearing. Furthermore, he claimed that I would send all women home to be mutilated.

I am stunned that Lewis would make such a caustic remark without checking his facts. I abhor the brutal and inhumane practice of female genital mutilation. I supported granting asylum to Kasindja, and I support listing the practice as a method of persecution warranting asylum in the United States so that women like Fauziya Kasindja will not be turned away when fleeing such cruelty.

- Dianne Feinstein

U.S. Senator

Washington, D.C.

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Photo

Photo: Protesters clash outside the affirmative action deba te at Cal State Northridge.

Michael Owen Baker/Daily News