On Feb. 9, The Cavalier Daily published an article entitled "June bug" by Life columnist Julia Sharpe. The article detailed Sharpe's experience in South Africa and reflected an unfortunately common student tourist experience: a brief and superficial exposure to poverty followed by a luxurious tour targeted to wealthy westerners. Sharpe is uneasy with the juxtaposition of wealth and poverty she sees but puts it "at bay by drinking and dancing and enjoying the comfortable side of Cape Town" and reassuring herself that her tourist dollars help the economy. Her article ends with the suggestion, "Do not question it; just let it be," and excuses exploitation as being a product of "African magic."
Writing Sharpe off as ignorant and misinformed individual is tempting, but not productive. Her blas
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