Dear editor:

If there were any question as to whether the far right is gaining ground in this country, the open and public existence of your "contribution" to public discourse should remove all doubt. A decade ago during my graduate studies at the University of Wisconsin, if such writings had appeared on campus, they would have been followed by mass protest and public denunciation. . . . Affirmative action is a necessary tool in leveling the playing field for minorities. What is perhaps most chilling is the fact that you have somehow duped a woman of color (Ms. Mohammed) into joining your staff and participating in her own subjugation. With the winds of intolerance blowing as they are, my daily hope is that American society will somehow find the strength to resist the hatred and intolerance which you and many young people like you have unfortunately decided to champion.

Hans Gregorian, Ph.D.

Sonia Mohammed's reply: As a "woman of color", I find it morally reprehensible that you would suggest that I have been "duped" into the conservative movement. Guilt-ridden white liberals (such as yourself) cannot fathom the fact that I defy all of the stereotypes anointed race-hustlers (such as yourself) create to "dupe" the world into thinking that all minorities are helpless ignoramuses who can't survive without government handouts. Affirmative action has been an affirmative failure, and I detest your insinuation that people of color ought to be poster children for the degrading and demoralizing racial preference policies that you advocate.

Dear Editor:

Your paper is the most sickly racist and bigoted rag I have ever seen in my entire f***ing life. You make me gag with your vile, juvenile, twisted sense of humor and pathetic misunderstanding of the world around you. If the administration of this so-called university had any sensitivity for women and people of color, you would be expelled and your disgusting excuse for a newspaper shut down.

Cindy Flinn, liberal arts freshman

Editor's reply: If you'd like the opportunity to explain to our readership precisely why you believe we are vile, bigoted, insensitive, et cetera, let us extend an open invitation for you to do so. We'll give you a full column to use to explicate exactly what about our paper you believe to be misguided, evil, or otherwise off-base. Personally, it seems to us that you may simply be upset because you can't generate a coherent explanation as to why you have such a strong emotional reaction to what we write. But again, if you can come up with one, knock yourself out. We'll publish it.

Dear editor:

Thanks for the g*d-d*mned paper. I use it frequently as bedding for my two parakeets.

Tony Matola, Austin resident

Editor's reply: Glad to be of help. We support recycling.