Letters to the Editor

Rockville will have to wait its turn

I know I do not speak for the Board of Regents or other people in the administration of the university, but I'd like to respond to Dan Reed's Oct. 1 column, "Housing: Why Rockville should reign." It is always nice to see someone else interested in the naming of buildings on our wonderful campus. Last year, when I was the South Campus Commons legislator, I led an effort to name buildings after Muppet characters (to no success, yet...). However, I thought it was important to discuss Mr. Reed's complaint to the university for not naming the new building "Rockville Hall." Yes, we all know how many students enrolled at the university are from Rockville. As a Marylander, it's getting a little old. As someone from Ellicott City, Howard County (we locals call it HoCo), I find it offensive Mr. Reed feels one place in our fine state is better than another. Sure Oakland may not be the "Rockville" of Maryland, but I bet in Oakland you won't sit in your car for hours on end because they're doing construction on Montrose Road again. But on a more important note, if you take the time to learn why the next building will be named "Oakland Hall," you will learn the university names buildings after county seats alphabetically. Ah, all of the logic and reason is awakened! Now you can steer out of the traffic and understand that one day Rockville will have its moment to have its own building on our campus! But before Rockville gets its glory, let Oakland have its.

Joshua C. Swanner Residential Affairs Commitee SGA

A profiling experience

I am an Indian graduate student, and a recent experience with racial mistreatment has made me suffer not just loss of my self respect but also the substantial esteem I held for this great nation. It began when I booked a ticket for a stand-up comedy show at the D.C. Improv Comedy Club on Saturday evening, completely unaware of what sort of racist management runs the place. I was shown a seat quite near to the stage as I requested. I took a minute to visit the restroom and when I came back, my table was taken by two white people. I requested the manager get me my reserved seat back so I could enjoy the show from where I wanted. He sided completely with the two who not only hijacked a reserved seat but also held attitudes too rude to describe. The manager, being so obviously biased, took me to a seat near the exit that was so far back I could only get a glimpse of the stage.

What was about to happen was even more surprising to me. I requested a beer from the waiter, and he asked for proof of my age. I could provide him two valid IDs and neither was good enough for the manager who verified them. He gave me a list of rules about serving alcohol at the place. What really amazes is how I was able to buy beer at the same restaurant not more than four months ago using the same IDs but suddenly this manager has a problem with me!

Quite taken aback by this whole situation, I was sure that my experience with comedy that night wasn't going to be fun anymore and the situation was becoming more ridiculous by the moment. Then came the last shock that sent me running away from this place. A while after the show began, I requested a menu from the waiter, who replied, "Our kitchen is closed for the night." People at other tables were served with food and waiters were running around taking orders from them. I could not understand why the kitchen had closed on me while all other people were getting service. Please bear in mind this was the same waiter who denied me the beer and got the manager instead. Maybe they decided to not serve an Indian person that night! At this point, I had a quick talk with the manager, whose apathetic replies and meaningless logic told me there was no sense in being there anymore.

I am aware of circumstances in which a comic picks on his audience, embarrasses them and ridicules them. I was prepared for this and could take that treatment, as I know all that could be going on there is comedy. But never did I think the ridicule I would suffer would have racial intentions as obvious and shameful as they were.

Venkat Anurag Setty Graduate Student Chemical Physics