Humanist club requires initiativeIn response to your article "Atheists on campus require support" (Forum, March 8):

When I came to Brandeis last semester, I had just left Orthodox Judaism and was specifically looking to be active in the Brandeis Humanists. It turned out that the club was about to peter out. Several of us managed to arrange a movie night and a trip to Harvard University to hear [author] Sam Harris speak there. Unfortunately, those events seemed to be the last I have heard the Humanist Club arranged. The Brandeis Humanists need people to arrange weekly club meetings so that future events can be arranged. I think once somebody takes the initiative to do that, the Humanists will be able to build a strong campus presence. After all, other humanist clubs at colleges around Boston have been able to foster strong communities while promoting reason and spirituality (as well as challenging faith-based concepts).

-Baruch Pelta (GRAD)

Editorial comments disappointing

To the Editor:

Due to the selective quotation of Boston University: Students for Justice in Palestine's letter to BU: Students for Israel-the topic of Elizabeth Stoker's column-we at BU-SJP believe it worthwhile for Brandeis' campus audience to hear from us directly. BU-SJP wrote a carefully crafted and principled response to BUSI, outlining why we rejected BUSI's call for a discussion and dialogue and chose instead to resort to building a mock apartheid wall. The basic point is: We are far past the point of debate and discussion. In the 1980s, when campus activism ignited over [then-President Ronald] Reagan's continued support for the white apartheid regime in South Africa, no one would have thought, much less suggested, that anti-apartheid activists stop their demonstrations on campus and sit down with white racists to evaluate the merits of the apartheid regime. However, we at SJP are being asked to do this exact thing here. BUSI's willingness to debate and discuss the Israel-Palestine issue is a ruse-not unlike the 'peace process' to which we have all been 'committed' for 17 long years. It is a stalling tactic designed to ensure that Israel remains immune from criticism on campus and, therefore, allowed to continue its occupation and expropriation of the West Bank and Gaza. We at BUSJP have made a moral and tactical calculation not to take part in the ruse to divert campus attention from the real issues at stake. Nevertheless, BUSJP are willing to have a forum to discuss and debate these issues provided that BUSI take a stand for the legitimate political and human rights of the Palestinians and act in accordance with such a stance by opposing the now 4-decade- old Israeli occupation of the West Bank and Gaza. We wait anxiously for BUSI to take up our offer and stand on the right side of history. Until then, we at BUSJP will continue to agitate on campus for an end to Israel's apartheid and occupation regime, without the hindrance of a never-ending dialogue.

-Tyler Cullis



The writer is a member of Boston University Students for Justice in Palestine.