pase SG Over the Edge has an open letter policy and ill undertake to print every letter re- eived from ‘the Uni- ersity and local com- unity. Letters must be typewritten, and hould include your name, student num- ber and phone num- ber (for verification purposes only). Let- ers should be no nore the 200 to 400 ords. Editors re- serve the right to edit uthlessly for length and libelous content. Only one submission per person per issue. etters will not be ed- ted for spelling or prammar. *LOL* = Laughing Out Loud! Dear Editor RE: Stop the Madness! Dear Mr. Matt Jackson et al, -Let me introduce myself, my name is Kevin Larson and I am a stu- dent here at UNBC and I major in Women’s Studies. i I am really annoyed by people like yourself who listen to hearsay, and then swallow it whole as if it were the whole truth and nothing but the truth so help you enlightenment! Before actually immersing themselves in the real truth, people like you say things like this, and let me quote you; “{In] Women’s Studies courses there seems to be a lot of man-hat-. ing going on.” So, I gather then from that overtheedge 21 Feb, 1996 LETTERS TO THE piece of ignorance spewing forth from your mouth that you have sat with us on numerous occasions to “witness” this “man- bashing”....”Hey!...Do I look like amasochist?” Your argument that the Women’s Studies is merely a platform for male-bashing is not only ludicrous, ignorant, and pa- thetically hilarious, but you do Women’s Studies a great disser- vice by imposing false beliefs on a Class that, literally, is all in its own. May I point out to you Mr. Jackson [at the expense of repeat- ing myself for the duration of my BA] that I am an ex-serviceman and five of those years were in the French Foreign Legion. I have personally trained Jungle Warfare to the Green Berets, and various Special Force units from around the world, and served three years in the Legion’s Para Regiment...."If I was being “bashed” do you think I would be here in Women’s Studies?” I left the military after having been through combat and having more than my fair share of “bashing”....and let me tell you, bashing is only in the hearts and minds of men and women who only profess themselves to be bashers...otherwise it’s only hear- say. If you doubt me but for a moment, I extend my hand and good cup of mocha for you to “wit- ness” this so-called BASHING thing of yours...with no offense to your intelligence meant, I find your comments extremely igno- rant. And if people who don’t speak up in class are afraid, they have Assertiveness Training Courses to help them speak up for what they feel is right. If they don’t speak up, should others who do, stay quiet? I have to keep this down to 400 words and unfortunately...this is 438. Ultimately my friend, Women’s Studies teaches us that we can make a better society by creating social equality for EVERYONE...that includes all you bashers out there...smile Kevin R. Larson Regiment....”If I was being Think Before You Write Dear Editor RE: Stop the Madness! I would like to take this op- portunity to respond to Matt Jack- son and his unfounded slur upon Women Studies, my undergradu- ate major. I suggest to you that it is dangerous ground to base an argument founded on heresy and only serves to perpetuate “the myth”. Women Studies is not “man-bashing”. If any generali- zation can be applied, it is that of a counternarrative to the patriar- chal narrative currently being passed as general knowledge, what we in Women Studies (History and English, too!!) affectionately refer to as DWEM (Dead White Euro- pean Men). Women Studies of- fers an alternative to the usual can- non of knowledge, from a female perspective. This does not, nor is it intended to, support or coincide with the male perspective. It is different, it is intended to be dif- ferent and inclusive of women’s experience and value. The stu- dents, both women and men, in the classes that I have been in all offer intelligent and thoughtful insights into the gaining of an alternate knowledge base that centres women. Discussion in class cen- tres around course material, not men. It never ceases to amaze me that there is an assumption when two or more women get together that they have nothing better to discuss than men, which is essen- tially what “man-bashing” is. Women have a multitude of top- ics of interest that have no relation or bearing to what the male spe- cies is doing. This does not mean that we “hate” men. The men in my life are all loving, caring people whom I hug on a regular basis, none of whom “giggle like the Pilsbury Dough Boy”, though. Your woman friend, who is intimidated in class, has the op- tion of discussing her concerns with the appropriate professor, and I encourage her to take responsi- bility for her own educational ex- perience and voice her concerns. No one person should feel shut out of any class discussion, no matter what discipline, and no one per- spective should dominate. Part of the education process includes learning different perspectives, all of which should be respected. In conclusion, I encourage you to obtain more first hand knowledge about the Women’s Studies Program and make in- formed assessments of the educa- tional experience being obtained by those students who have cho- sen this field as their study of en- deavor. Lynd Box Dear Editor Taxpayer's anxiety strikes again. RE: Ian Lorenz If there is one thing in life enjoy, it’s a fast fuck. Each time I read your column, I feel as though I’m getting a furious stroke. Believe me, sir, you are a master. I say this with particular envy, because I’m not a man of such skill; at best, a mere eunuch compared to your considerable prowess. It is with great delight that I bring to your attention the col- umn that you wrote for The Edge, titled Poison Pen (Feb. 7, 1996). Valentine’s Day be damned. In- deed. Let it and those who fall into the arms of such a silly tradition be damned. However, I must speak out with regards to the next issue that you so passionately attacked, to wit: children’s rights. In your column, you stated that “[p]erhaps if teens could vote, drinking ages would be lowered.” I ask you this, sir: Were you drunk at the time of the writing? Alcohol related deaths of persons under the legal age (gasp), still form a considerable number. Morgues are filled with the muti- lated remains of teenagers who went out for a few drinks. As for the “ridiculous curfews”, think man! Curfews are imposed, more often than not, for the mutual pro- tection of young people and adults. Perhaps if Montreal had an estab- lished curfew that evening, the riot might not have happened. The riots in the southern US during the sixties were not a result (or consequence) of misbe- having teenagers. Even referring to that issue tells me only that you are misinformed. To compare the social unrest of 1960’s America with your examples of children’s (Continued on page 12) Rlot Just A Tan, It’s An - 10 Wolff Tanning Beds - Ait Conditioned - Meticulously Clean - Open 7 Days a Week - Easy Parking A - Friendly Staff Minute and Monthly Packages Available 3133 Westwood Dr. 063-1010