Letters to the Editor

The life and death of Phat Le Editor--Please accept this signed letter as a collective communication from us, concerned students, at Laney College.

We are writing to you to tell you of our deep sorrow over the senseless murder of our fellow student Phat Vin Le.

Phat was shot and killed this past weekend of October 10th 2009, at 6:40 p.m. on East 23rd Avenue in Oakland, while driving his car home from work. Some of us knew Phat directly, some of us did not, but we all grieve the loss of his life and for his family.

We write to you because Phat Le's life was meaningful and full of promise. We write to you because his death was violent and tragic. We write to you because we are tired of seeing our wonderful city of Oakland suffering under the strain of so much violence.

We write to you to request that you honor Phat Le's life and acknowledge his death by taking action. Oakland needs leadership that will guide this city towards less violence, more effective policing, stronger schools, and more opportunities for all people; particularly young people who need hope to avoid despair, continue in school, and reach their full potentials.

We ask for you to please respond to this letter, in person or in writing, and offer us ideas, leadership, and the hope that things can, and will, change for the better.

We ask that you respond so that Phat Le's death does not go unnoticed, like too many before him.

Phat Vin Le was only twenty years old. Concerned Students Laney College

Cut it out Editor--Cuts, cuts, cuts! UCs, CSUs, Community Colleges…Everyday there's less and less left of higher education.

There are fewer classes for the students. Some students have problems completing their programs.

How did it happen? Where did the money go? Who allowed such a dramatic downfall of, what was in the past, a very solid organization? What kind of professionals do we want to have in a few years?

All these questions and many more arise as we see the disappearance of classes, teachers and, now, also, students…. For many years the money has been funneled into the pockets of a few people, away from its intended recipients. Now there's no money left to sustain programs or to pay the teachers.

Meanwhile, the students are paying more and gaining less. There must be a way to evaluate some of the exorbitant salaries enjoyed by a small group of officials and bring them down. With the right regulation thousands of dollars could be directed towards achieving the real purpose of educational institutions: education of the students. Victoria Robinson Spanish Instructor