In response to Chad Calek’s column entitled “Deal with this: the Lilith Fair is evil,” my disagreements are many.

Let me begin by debunking his general argument against Lilith Fair.

Mr. Calek claims that Lilith Fair is run by “male-bashing, lesbian warrior types that are ready to kill anything with a penis.”

This statement is not only flawed, it is untrue. Lilith Fair, as described by its founder, Sarah McLachlan, is “a celebration of women in music.”

While there may be a feminist agenda, it has never been a “male-bashing event.”

Later, Mr. Calek makes the argument that an all-male music festival would be frowned upon.

However, the apparent sexism is easily explained:

Males not only receive more radio play time, they also control the music industry.

Unlike female performers who may overcome their adversity by banding together, males have no need for an all-male music festival, as males are so dominant in the music industry.

In fact, the purpose of such an event would not be legitimate promotion but would be a slap in the face of the female world.

However, Lilith Fair is not intended to be offensive; it is truly a celebration of women in music.

It isn’t anti-male in any sense.

But my quarrel with Mr. Calek goes far beyond his basic arguments.

His tone, attitude and language are offensive to both women and men. Words like “pussy,” “lesbian,” and “vagina” aren’t nearly as funny as they were in junior high.

Mr. Calek is the type of person who gives males a bad name — and let me assure you ladies, few of the men I know share his views.

Finally, to the Daily. I am a strong supporter of freedom of speech, but a Daily column needn’t be so offensive.

Such a column would never be found in any major paper, and as the purpose of the Daily is to prepare students for professional life, perhaps it would be logical to hold Daily staff writers to the same standards as major publications.

---

Matthew A. Larson

Sophomore

Construction engineering