Letters to the Editor

GW and hate speech

I respectfully submit that the “Nobles and Knaves” editorial (Saturday) was based on a misunderstanding of the facts.

My position regarding the fliers that appeared on our campus two weeks ago has not changed. I never issued any statement regarding penalties for posting the fliers, either before or after the identities of those responsible became known.

Disciplinary action at the George Washington University is handled exclusively by Student Judicial Services, and the university president has no role in that process. I never took or contemplated any action against the GW chapter of the Young America’s Foundation (YAF); on the contrary, I have met with the chapter’s leaders and assured them they did not need to sign anything and that their status as an officially recognized student organization was not in question.

In my statement on Oct. 8, the day the fliers appeared, I indicated that the university did not know who was responsible but would investigate. Our YAF chapter, which was listed on the flier, immediately disavowed any connection to it, and subsequent investigation by the university confirmed that the YAF was not involved. Several students not affiliated with the YAF later came forward to acknowledge having posted the fliers.

I also said there was no place for expressions of hatred on our campus. I remain confident that the sentiments expressed on the fliers do not represent the attitudes of our student body. I trust that all students, no matter what opinions they hold, will continue to conduct themselves in the spirit of mutual respect that has long been a hallmark of this university.

STEVEN KNAPP

President

George Washington University

Washington

Adios, Mr. Catoe

As an immigrant to the United States, I am appalled by Metro’s decision to stretch an already thin budget by teaching basic Spanish to its employees (“Metro funding Spanish lessons,” Metropolitan, yesterday).

Fares are on the way up, service continues to spiral downward, and escalators remain stuck in place. This decision represents everything that is wrong with Metro management.

With this decision, Metro is selecting Spanish speakers as the only group of customers for which it will provide extraordinary services. Last I checked, it was the immigrant’s responsibility to learn the language of the new country, not the country’s responsibility to learn the language of the immigrant.

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