I'm embarrassed that Julia Sharpe's "June bug" was published, and that the ignorant and racist attitudes in the article were condoned by the editors of The Cavalier Daily. I am disturbed by the author's blase attitude towards genuine poverty, suffering and inequality, along with her naive faith in the trickle down economics of tourism. Here's the reality: none of the money she spends on drinks or dancing will reach the people she saw in "real Africa." She's just accepting a rationalization about "African magic" instead of thinking critically about the problems a developing country faces. She perpetuates the worst stereotypes about study abroad at U.Va., that it is a for-credit tourism experience, in which drinking and photographs take priority over learning opportunities.
Rachel Vaughn\nCLAS II
Read More
CULLEN: Let's not make the U. like it used to be
By Robert B. Cullen | 7 hours agoFortunately, there is a remedy for this that can produce a diverse student body without resorting to affirmative action based on race or gender. It is affirmative action based on socioeconomic status.
5 U.Va. COMMUNITY MEMBERS: Gerber has it wrong — our U.Va. is better
By 5 U.Va. Community Members | YesterdayIt seems clear to us that expanding the available pool of faculty and students has heightened the School of Law’s standards and dramatically improved the University.
RASHID: The time to expand the students’ role at the administrative level is now
By Muhammad Ali Rashid | 4 days agoSo long as students’ power is limited to an advisory role in the administration, governance at the University will remain fragile.
