To build or not  to build library

Re: “Editorial: A new La Mesa Library should be a priority” [Volume 8, Issue 6 or bit.ly/2lxR6Ls]

Your piece urging La Mesa to make completion of the permanent library a priority (at long last) was terrific. No other civic institution in La Mesa serves a greater demographic range of our residents — seven days a week. And many people still do not realize how much we have already lost in time and treasure while City Hall sits on its hands. Perhaps this is the nudge our leaders clearly need.

— Dr. Anthony D. McIvor, La Mesa

I always enjoy reading your articles, even if I don’t totally agree. I like hearing different opinions and ideas and try and learn from them.

Reading your editorial on the “new” library caused me to come up with a few questions, if you don’t mind.

Did you talk with Yvonne, Greg or any staff about the status and reasons why the library is not currently being built?

When I heard it brought up at our council meetings, I did some research.

Yes, it was built as a temporary library with the plan being to build a larger one in the future. However, that was put on hold when redevelopment money quit coming to the city. This money was going to be used to build the new library.

I have spoken to a lot of the residents pushing for a new library and I ask the same question: Where will the money come from?

We are looking at options to increase the size and expand the current library and will continue to do so. [Councilmembers] Bill [Baber] and Colin [Parent] are on the subcommittee for our civic center and my understanding is that the library is all part of it.

They would know more about it that I would.

Anyway, thanks again for covering La Mesa.

— La Mesa City Councilmember Guy McWhirter

Trigger happy

Universities should not be expected or mandated to provide “trigger warnings” or “safe spaces” for students. They are a place to learn new ideas, discuss those ideas, and debate those ideas with the hopes of implementing them into their particular fields.

A university focus on trigger warnings and safe spaces can undermine its primary duty of challenging and growing students through provoking thought. As a result, trigger warnings and safe spaces will not create the best learning environment.

How much work would it take to make sure professors were aware of every trigger warning for every student? If the professor had a list of every student’s trigger warnings, surely the professor will be hindered from the freedom to teach as best they know how.

Responding that trigger warnings are more for the veteran before a WWII video or a woman who has undergone rape before a sexual discussion is not a reason to create mandatory trigger warnings for the university. These instances are extreme and can be taken care of via common sense warnings before discussions.

Let us not burden professors with every person’s baggage. Their job is to instruct and challenge, and I’m sure they will be sensitive when it comes to truly disturbing material.

As for safe spaces, this is not the university’s job to provide these but to allow for the formation of these. Rather, it is the student’s job to organize extra-curricular gatherings and activities. If a group of students want to meet and feel safe in discussion or connect with like-minded or like ethnic people, let them do so, but on their own initiative.

—Sean Henschel, La Mesa

Moved to give

Re: “Settling down: La Mesa resident and refugee publishes book about challenges of resettlement in America” [Volume 8, Issue 6 or bit.ly/2KxyiGM]

Thank you for the interesting article about Dr. Mudekereza and the New Neighbor Relief program. I was moved by the need and made a small donation to the org.

— Vicki Fielden, La Mesa