ETTITOR

You know, I’d intended to keep the subject matter of this week’s Lettitor as deep as a wading pool as per usual. But the events at Dawson’s College last week deserve mention, and certainly a few moments of reflection. For those of you that have been hiding under a rock (or home- _work) for the last few days, I am referring specifically to Kimveer Gill,

the disturbed individual that entered Dawson College on September 13th ' and went on the attack. Mr. Gill’s random act of shocking violence result- ed in the death of 18-year-old business student and Montreal resident Anastasia DeSousa.

Now I’m no psychologist. As such, I’m not particularly inclined, nor qualified to fill this column with a rant about the violent state of modern society. Nor will I bend your ear (or eyes as it may be) about the obvious need for a functional gun registry and stricter weapon control.

_ T’ll also avoid expanding on my disgust that this event took place | within the borders of this country.

And I’ll skip the subject of U.S. media coverage and how they found it "necessary to confirm the incident was a “Non-Terrorist Act” when cover- _age first hit the airwaves. | What I will say, is that I’m sorry Anastasia. I’m sorry this happened.

_ You deserved better. And as a student, this could just have easily been me, or you dear reader. For this was a random act, at a random Canadian _ Post Secondary Institution. | What can we do to stop such acts? I don’t know. My sociology marks ' aren’t what they should be. But if the root of this event is the loneliness _and isolation of one misguided individual, then maybe a preventative start would be if each of us was just a little nicer to that quiet kid that sits in _the back of our classrooms and keeps to himself. Maybe we can best learn from this incident by being a little nicer to each other, rather than _casting blame into the stratosphere. This incident took place within our borders, and the way we react should be on the introspective rather than the defensive, as that’s the inherently Canadian reaction. Now go and do something nice for someone.

‘Trevor Hargreaves | Editor-In-Chief

MAILBAG

Agree with an article in last week’s issue? Or maybe you read some crap and want to complain. Or maybe you have something else to tell the worl Whatever your drive for putting e to mail, we’re interested in hearing fro1 you. Send your feedback letters to editor.otherpress@gmail.com

Re: Pride is Out and Proud on Campus

I’m writing regarding the above article in last weeks Other Press. Now I’! all for toleration and respect of anyone on campus, but several of Chris Sleightholme’s comments were rather ridiculous. Specifically, his comme regarding the challenges the Pride Collective faces were a little askew. W he refers to “pride and aboriginal campaign materials” in the SUB getting destroyed by someone early one morning as “an act of violent vandalism’ he’s a little off base. A baseball bat to the head is an act of violent vandal- ism. Some flyers and pamphlets getting ripped up is unfortunate, but certz ly not violent. How about sparing us the dramatics huh? In my experience this school, people are pretty pride-friendly, and you really don’t have mu to complain about. Maybe that’s why the destruction of some reading mat rials gets escalated to “violent vandalism” huh? If you ask me, you’re in 2 supportive atmosphere, so cut out the sensationalism!

Regards,

John Q. Pub.

Editor: What say you Sleightholme?

Why does David Suzuki write for your paper? Yuko.

Editor: We clean his house on weekends in exchange.

You guys are hilarious. Snakes on a Mammajamma Campus! Todd Schiffler.

Editor: That joke is so last week.