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The speech by political activist and hip-hop artist Mutulu Olugbala, otherwise known as M-1, drew upwards of 300 people to Goldwin Smith on Friday night, far exceeding the carrying capacity of the auditorium. The event lasted about three hours, which is rather impressive considering that it was Friday night and that M-1 wasn’t there to perform hip-hop. He talked about his early days of political activism in Tallahassee and Chicago, and in the end he didn’t even get to his time as a member of the unabashedly political hip-hop group Dead Prez. He spent some time speaking on issues like America’s neglect for its urban centers and the extent to which real peace and freedom are possible in light of political marginalization. The questions he raised were ones of cultural identity and the politics of exclusion, many of which had highly theoretical substance about framing, discourse, and the English language, and might have seemed more endemic to a class taught by Diane Rubenstein or Sherry Martin. But after about 45 minutes it became clear that the massive group had come not only to hear M-1, but because we too had things to say. The conversation focused on political organization and the frequent self-doubt that arises out of trying to make sure what we study here is actually helping what goes on in the rest of the world, not just reinforcing existing inequalities. This is an issue that I often find myself grappling with, because although I’m fairly confidant in my ability to create some positive change with the material I’m studying, the mere symbolism of the geographic seclusion of Ithaca, or my own disproportionate consumption of resources, can raise doubts about the net impact I’m having on the world right now. Contrasting this to M-1’s recollection of his political involvement in Chicago’s InPDUM movement at the age of 20, it’s understandable that much of the crowd seemed humbled solely by the fact that he had lived in the thick of the nationwide Rodney King riots and could look back on his life without any such doubt about being on the right track. This level of respect, and the entire discussion, was underlined by the general feeling that political activism on college campuses has become stagnant, at least to the degree that is used to be. The “undergraduate activist” interest is no longer a player in the American political sphere, on par in vocality with interests such as gun control or even the religious right, as it once was. It is this silence, in a time that all economic markers, prison demographics and statistics about higher education point to increasing inequalities, that drove so many people to come voice their concerns Friday night.

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Re: “A Different Kind of Dialogue,” Opinion, Sept. 26

To the Editor:

The comments made by Mr. McMorris in his article are completely irresponsible and present a twisted image of the religion of Islam. One could easily respond to his arguments by writing about the crimes committed in the name of Prophet Jesus (peace be upon him) during the Crusades or the Spanish Inquisition, but doing so would threaten the delicate interreligious harmony that both and I and Mr. McMorris seek to uphold on campus. Instead, suffice it to say that acts of spontaneous terror targeting innocent civilians have no basis in Islamic doctrine; the Holy Qur’an, the Muslim holy book, Chapter 2 Verse 256 reads, “There is no compulsion in religion.” Furthermore, in making his case, Mr. McMorris completely overlooks the plethora of Muslim organizations that have consistently been involved in community-building, charity, and other peaceful engagements year-round. For instance, in Washington D.C. on September 10th of this year, a peace-walk was held remembering the tragedy of September 11th that attracted over 2,000 people. This walk was sponsored by a number of prominent national Muslim organizations, including the Council for American-Islamic Relations, the Islamic Society of North America and the Muslim American Society. Even here on Cornell’s campus, the Muslim Educational and Cultural Association, like other campus organizations, actively contributes to Cornell’s rich array of cultural and religious diversity and holds prayers, dinners and banquets open to the entire Cornell community. In fact, before making further irresponsible comments about Islam in the future, Mr. McMorris would be best served by learning about Islam from the Muslim students on campus. He is more than welcome to attend any one of our meetings, which are held every Wednesday at 4:30 p.m. in 218 Anabel Taylor Hall.

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Re: “West Campus Initiative to Shut Down Transfer Center,” News, Sept. 29

To the Editor:

I’m writing to correct the misinformation provided to the Cornell community in the recent news article. While we appreciate the level of concern and interest raised by the inaccurate information provided in the article, the Transfer Center program will not be eliminated, even though the building will be demolished.

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Re: “Welcome to the Freak Show,” Opinion, Sept. 29

To the Editor:

Jackie Levin’s “Welcome to the Freak Show” was an alarming disgrace — an awful stain on Friday’s paper. Her pretentious babble was hurtful and profoundly worthless. Isn’t college — our Cornell experience — an opportunity to mature? It is distressing that her malicious spew made it into a widely circulating campus paper. I have family that lives in Ithaca and have also worked with Ithaca teenagers — some that might fit the author’s cruel “Central New York White-Trashy Thugs” category. That she has the gall to stereotype and dismiss these friends and family of mine as “freaks” is despicable. As a Cornell student, I am sincerely upset that her rash words are at all associated with me.

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Re: “Welcome to the Freak Show,” Opinion, Sept. 29

To the Editor:

I would like to respond to Ms. Levin’s article. As an Ithaca volunteer firefighter and Cornell student, I have the oportunity to interact with both the employees of the department and a wide swath of the Ithaca population as a whole. In both cases, my two years of service to the department have given me nothing but enormous respect for the employees of the department and the people of Tompkins County. Ms. Levin should be ashamed to assert that “we are smarter.” What a truly crass thing to say, and a blow for the town-gown relations that President Skorton is obviously working hard to improve. Just remember, Ms. Levin, the “freaks” read your newspaper! When a Bangs Ambulance employee is hustling the latest victim of partying too hard to Cayuga Medical Center, who’s smarter?

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Guest Room

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Seven years ago, a Northeastern University student named Shawn Fanning released his masterpiece, a peer-to-peer file sharing service called Napster. The program started a revolution and the Napster generation was born. Nearly any song was a point and a click away, and, at times, we could even download entire albums months before their release. The best part was that it was free. There was no obligation to invest any money in your music, except for the cost of an mp3 player or blank CDs and a Discman. Gone was the expectation that you would have to pay to hear a song. The mere thought of paying had become outrageous! Why pay for something when you could get it free? Oh, wait — it is illegal. This was a minor technicality for many.

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Re: “The Image Problem,” Opinion, Sept. 25

To the Editor:

College admissions have NEVER been more competitive — especially at the top. High-achieving students, particularly those from well-off families, look for any possible edge in obtaining the most “bang” for their higher education bucks. With admission rates at Harvard, Yale, and Princeton straddling single digits, top students are applying to an average of 11 schools, thereby increasing the number of applications at most top-ranked universities to record levels.

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Hundreds of Cornellians and Ithacans will rally in front of Bailey Hall tomorrow at 5:30 p.m. to tell Eliot Spitzer and John Faso that New York needs universal health care now. The two will later debate at 7. Barring a third party upset, one will be elected Governor in November and wield significant authority over health care statewide. Join us and the candidates and help ensure that our next governor is one who understands and supports decent, efficient healthcare for all New Yorkers.

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To the Editor:

I was thrilled to see a column published in The Sun about the women’s rugby team since most people don’t know much about us. However, I would like to rephrase what was printed in the article because it was taken out of context. As a rugby player, I am disappointed that there are stereotypes about my fellow players and me. Being stereotyped is always negative, regardless of what the stereotype may be. There are very diverse people on our team, and every one of them is valuable to me and to the game. I want to be clear that I do not think homosexuality is at all negative, and I regret the comments printed in last week’s paper.

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Re: “Vs.: N.Y. Governor: Spizter or Faso?,” Opinion, Sept. 22

To the Editor:

As a Policy Analysis and Management student with a focus upon Health Care Policy, I am very excited about the debate Tuesday taking place at Bailey Hall between gubernatorial candidates, Eliot Spitzer and John Faso.