A Vote to Condemn Iraq War

Re “A Faculty for Misstatement,” Commentary, April 22: So that’s where some lawyers learn their specious syllogistic reasoning. The august UCLA law professors Kenneth Klee, Daniel Lowenstein and Grant Nelson, believing the liberation of Iraq to be “just and necessary,” conclude that the invasion of Iraq, which presumably resulted in the liberation of Iraq, was also, therefore, “just and necessary.”

Moreover, they engage in a bit of hyperbole in their claim of having been “mugged” because their endorsement of the war was not reflected in the statement approved by the majority of UCLA academic senate members who voted.

And since when are elected politicians the only ones entitled and qualified to make political commentary?

Robert Shragg

Pacific Palisades

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Whatever one’s position on the war in Iraq, the conclusion drawn by these professors is draconian. Technically, present UCLA academic senate rules require a bare minimum of 200 senate members (out of a total of about 3,000) in order to conduct business, whatever its content. The actual vote, “180 for the resolution, seven against and nine abstaining,” adds up to 196, four short of that bare minimum. Therefore the resolution cannot be considered to be a valid representation of the will of the academic senate. (As an emeritus professor and a member of the senate, I for one had no knowledge until I read the commentary by Klee, Lowenstein and Nelson that a petition had even been circulated calling for a special meeting.)

I suggest that, rather than jettison the institution of the senate, members of that body be convened to debate and implement changes in its rules, if such are deemed necessary.

If we Americans are truly dedicated to democracy -- as we seem to be proclaiming to the entire world -- should we ourselves not act in a manner consistent with those beliefs?

Roy Travis

Academic Senate

Member, UCLA

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The good professors have time to write a commentary but they don’t have time to vote? What kind of example are they setting for their students?

Democracy isn’t always convenient, and it takes effort to be an informed, responsible citizen. We are now suffering under King George, in part because not enough people took the time to vote. Dear professors, dear America -- next time, please vote.

Chuck Petithomme

Burbank