OCIR Seeks Campus Support, other letters

To the Members of the Oberlin College Community:

The Oberlin Coalition for Im/migrant Rights is a newly founded student and community coalition committed to working in solidarity with the millions of protesters across the nation demanding justice for documented and undocumented im/migrants.

We oppose racist and xenophobic legislation, such as the recent HR4437, which criminalizes im/migrants and their allies and denies them of their basic civil, labor and human rights. We join with activists in this growing national movement in calling on the U.S. Senate to pass just im/migration reform that includes a pathway to legalization, family reunification and stronger labor protections for all workers regardless of legal status. Im/migration is not a problem; it is a phenomenon. We envision a movement that not only challenges recent legislation, but broadens its focus to break down the divisions between all working people and address the root causes and institutions that breed inequality and injustice in this country.

The thousands of unnamed mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, daughters and sons who have been killed in the past decade trying to gain entrance into the U.S. demonstrate the urgent need to reframe this debate by asserting that no human being is illegal.

In the wake of massive protests, hundreds of im/migrant workers have been fired from their jobs, caught up in Immigration raids or deported as reprisals for standing up to demand dignity and justice. As allies in this movement, we have a duty to stand in solidarity and let our voices be heard with those who far too often are silenced by unjust laws.

Therefore, in the tradition of Oberlin College’s long commitment to social justice issues, we aim to promote discussion and organizing around the current im/migration debate on campus and in the local community.

We invite all members of the Oberlin community to join us in showing their support for this cause.

Thank you for your support.

–Oberlin Coalition for Immigrant Rights

To the Editor:

It’s April and that means it’s almost up for the school year. Of course, the weather won’t behave for another month (if then), but still, you know; you can feel it — it will be summer soon. For some of you, this means graduation and the joys and pains of “real life.” For others, you’ll head off to summer jobs and internships, traveling or pursuing projects of your own. Almost all of you will be quitting Oberlin for the wider world, for a few months at least. I tell you what you already know in order to tell you what you may not know: Oberlin doesn’t actually stop at Pyle-South Amherst Road or the edge of Russia Township. You can find Oberlin pretty much anywhere in the world you choose to go.

Let me give you an example: In Colorado, where I live, (btw: I’m an alum, graduated in 1985, sit on the Executive Board of the Alumni Council, come to campus three times a year as part of this role), there are some 600 alums. Some teach at or attend universities, others are musicians, professionals, doctors, lawyers, work in high tech, art, the environment or business. You get the idea. Alums here know the ski slopes and the job market, can offer housing and professional advice, will get you interviews or take you rafting, or know someone who can do all these things for you, and more.

You know how, when you’re in third grade, the fifth graders seem REALLY old, and the seventh graders are off the charts — they have absolutely nothing in common with you? Then when you get to college, an age difference of two or three or four years doesn’t seem to matter much, if you have projects and interests and values in common. Well, I’m here to tell you, the trend continues the older you get. Interesting people are interesting people, and, as we know, Oberlin people are among the most interesting, involved, smart people out there (she says modestly!).

I’ve recently gotten to spend time with Obies 20 years younger than I, and Obies 30 and 40 years older than I. In each case, our similarities far outweighed our differences and we delighted in the common values and history we share. By signing up for Oberlin, you have signed up not just for a few years of your life, but for a life-long connection that can provide fellowship, encouragement and concrete assistance any time you care to tap into it. So before you head out of town in May, do yourself a favor. Take a look at Obie Web, the online source for alumni connection. Go to Career Services to get started with this incredibly useful tool and take advantage of the thousands of alums out there who are just waiting to connect with you. Find us by location, career, interests, etc. and be comforted as you venture out into the world that Oberlin is out there, everywhere and you will always be part of it.

–Ellen Hertzman
OC ’85

To the Editor:

I am writing to send best wishes to Professor of Sociology James Walsh as he ends his teaching career at Oberlin with the end of the spring semester.

Sometimes as a college student, you have classes that you look forward to going to, are interesting and in which you learn quite a bit. Sometimes you have classes that stick with you even after college. Most rarely, there are those classes that combine all of these things. I had two classes with Professor Walsh during my time at Oberlin. They combined all of these things and more.

So congratulations, Professor. Enjoy retirement. Oberlin will miss the likes of ye.

–Ian Bellis
OC ’99

To the Editors:

The Review has lied to me for the last time. Now that I can no longer trust the printed events schedule, I have nothing left to believe in. It is shocking to realize that on the campus that experienced the Biggs closing, the London Program closing, the off-campus housing closing, the Pyle Inn near-closing and the Dolly the Sheep cloning, the final twist of the blade should come from none other than our venerated student-run media. I already knew better than to trust the Opera reviews and the PSAs (motherfucker), but I had always thought that even Review staffers were capable of copying a schedule. However, the Pussy Pirates and the Teeth did not play the ’Sco on Sunday at 10 p.m., and thus the last nail has been hammered into the camel’s back.

–Joe Kimmel
Double degree fifth-year, Grape editor

To the Editors:

I wish to congratulate the Review on its successful new fiction section. Oberlin’s newspaper-of-record has always been this school’s premier publication when it comes to events that actually happened, so it’s a breath of fresh air to now be able to enjoy the fanciful stylings of last week’s delightful “Arts Calendar” tale. When I feel lethargic and demoralized from a long week of classes, it is amazingly rejuvenating to lean back, put up my feet, and get lost in a world where the Teeth and the Pussy Pirates really did play a show at the ’Sco last Sunday night. Call it escapism if you like...but oh, what a wonderful world that would be.

–Walker Evans
Double-degree fifth-year

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