RE: “Let’s talk”

I deeply appreciate and can relate to the remarks contained in Mario Williams’ column in the Nov. 13 issue of The Daily Iowan. His observations and experiences mirror my own personal life experiences as an African American wherein I have borne witness to and participated in some great teachable and life-changing moments with regard to race relations. I, too, have never set one foot in a protest march, but I know that I have participated in actions, along with my father, the late Rev. Fred L. Penny, that have made a real difference in the lives of blacks and others who were hurting. Thank you very much and keep up the good work, Mario.

— Dianna Penny

We’d love to talk. It is saddening you feel this way, and if others are, too, it needs to be addressed. Many of your Facebook friends are presidents or have other leadership role in those orgs you felt are not inclusive, talk to them, talk to me; it can be public or private. I hope you take this serious as we take this serious as well. We are your community despite how much you are around or leading in other arenas as well. Hope your family and friends at Mizzou are doing well.

— Antonio Rodriguez

You’re stereotyping the others in minority organizations as being exclusive and not fostering diversity. I think how you describe them is wrong and unfair. These groups do not exist to isolate minorities from the population, rather to provide a safe place for people that have a higher chance to face inequality. Portraying them as social pariahas who are refuse to engage with other races is presenting them as prejudice and borderline racists. That goes against the entire philosophy of the diversity organizations. I suggest you join one before making such broad assumptions. Or at least show evidence rather than painting with a broad brush.

— Shahaed Hasan

Mario, good for you.

While your fellow students push for inclusion by excluding others, promote free speech by shouting down dissent and work for a safer campus by intimidating others, you are actually moving us forward.

— Henry Ascher

Smart jocks

Although athletes are stereotyped as “dumb jocks,” the University of Missouri football team recently forced Missouri-system business-man President Tim Wolfe’s resignation when his regime was exposed as “illegitimate.”

Now, our coach Kirk Ferentz is a strong academic leader, but he’s not going to protest the legitimacy of our president’s hiring because the coach is doing the business of “college football.” (However, the astute Ferentz must secretly realize that Bruce Harreld is as fit to run UI as Athletics Director Gary Barta is to teach women’s studies.)

Suddenly, in this strange postmodern world, it may fall on the steadfast shoulders of Hawkeye football players to exert the power necessary to remove Harreld from office by refusing to play for am illegitimate administration on Saturdays.

So men, how about it? Are you here to play football for a university president who is a blatant “cheater,” whose own recruitment process could easily justify an NCAA investigation if only he had been a student-athlete? Or did you come here to work (at very low pay and great personal risk) for a university that honors fair play and the “rule of law?”

I’m betting that some of you are socially conscious “smart jocks.” In the words of Spike Lee, “Do the right thing.”

— Richard J. Roberts, Ph.D