Under the "News" tab in MyUW on 11/29/06 there were links to articles describing the UW's decision to withdraw students from its language program in Oaxaca, Mexico due to "violent protests." Unfortunately both of these articles fundamentally mischaracterized the unfolding situation.

While the UW did not author these examples of poor journalism, it is a disservice to members of the UW community to offer these misleading articles as the only explanation.

According to Luis Hernández Navarro of the La Jornada (11/28/06), federal police forces "throw tear gas, violently beat people, arrest without warrants, invade houses without authorization, destroy property, occupy hospitals and clinics, interfere with the free movement of citizens and sexually violate women."

"It was they who began the aggression. And they did it brutality and with rancor. The repression was savage: three deaths, more than 100 injured, 221 detained."

Detainees, by the way, have been systematically tortured and denied access to lawyers. Sound familiar? Given that Mexico's leaders steadfastly claim their fidelity to democracy and the Governor of Oaxaca campaigned as a "man of unity," we in American should pay close attention to the hard lessons of Oaxaca and demand accurate coverage from the UW.

For further information I recommend www.narconews.com.

Josh Strange

Graduate student, aquatic and fishery sciences