<p>So, I may as well state my opinion, given that I am a student (freshman) at the UW currently (though I’m not in the Student Senate). I do definitely disagree with the idea that we shouldn’t erect a monument to Boyington just because he is (well, maybe not, given what prayerful mom said) a “rich white male.” In deciding who to erect monuments for, we definitely shouldn’t decide based on socioeconomic status, race, or gender - this is, quite obviously, discrimination.</p>
<p>However, I do agree with some of the sentiments expressed by the Senate. Do the students of the UW really want to establish another monument to a hero of war? I think that it’s time that we establish some prominent statues of academic titans - maybe even contemporary academics. Now, I’d like to establish that I’m not necessarily categorically against having statues of war heroes, but given that we already have a number, can’t we memorialize another type of person that inspires us? These people, namely, are scholars.</p>