Re: “Western full of hilarious idiots” Feb. 26, 2010

To the editor:

I love contradictions, so when Jaela Bernstien began her article with “I’m no elitist, but…” I was overjoyed. I could only have been happier if the argument following “but” was actually correct. It wasn’t.

Supported by a Facebook page and the hypothetical “any professor,” Jaela is pretty sure that Western is full of idiots. The solution to this dire problem: stricter admission requirements. Which is reasonable advice if you also think gyms should only let in fit people. I for one was under the impression that university was not an exclusive club for the intelligent, but a place where people improved themselves. It’s not a place where people know, but a place where people learn. So long as you don’t already know everything, you can be a member. What admissions requirements there are, exist to create the best atmosphere for those attending. Finite resources should be put to the greatest gain.

I don’t really care if Jaela is an elitist or not. I do care, however, when a person wants to restrict the availability of education. The reason of “having to sit through dumb questions” is disproportionate to that kind of response. Even elitism doesn’t justify a complete lack of perspective.

—Jonathan Lee
Math IV