I agree 100 percent with Angela Pok’s letter that stated the depiction of the perpetrator in the self-defense ad was offensive (“Self-defense ad offensive, wrong,” SN 2/14).

Although I did not assume the man was black, he was obviously a man of color - which could be Latino, Asian, Arabic or black. This does reinforce the negative stereotype that minority males are the biggest perpetrators of rape, whether that message is intentional or unintentional.

I commend the women of Alpha Xi Delta for apologizing for their mistake without trying to defend their position on the ad or attacking the opinions of the people who were offended.

Pok’s letter was well-written and factual. She was simply expressing her opinion in a noncombative way. It is unfortunate that all students can’t conduct themselves in the same respectful manner.

In fact, Roger Smith’s angry, harsh and immature letter attacking Pok’s opinion was unnecessary (“Advertisement not racially motivated,” SN 2/15). Just because he doesn’t view the advertisement as offensive does not make him correct, nor does it give him the right to impose his beliefs and devalue others’. In fact, I suggest to Smith that he remove the rather large chip residing on his shoulders. It sounds like the race issues mentioned were your hang-ups, not Pok’s.

Let’s put this situation in different terms. Let’s pretend the ad instead depicted a man wearing a baseball cap displaying his fraternity letters. The members of this fraternity, as well as all other fraternities on campus, would be incensed. No one likes being stereotyped as a rapist, whether it is men in a fraternity or men of color.

Monica Matteo
social relations senior