Friday, March 29, 2024

Ignorant column disturbs SN reader

Through this letter I hereby proclaim my distaste toward said article by Dottie Boyce (“‘U’ should not have to put up with hate crimes,” SN 10/2). For those of you reading this, the commentary is basically aimed toward Boyce. I apologize if this seems brutal, but it is a mere reciprocation of what was said about us in her misinformed opinion column.

I am enraged by your show of ignorance. Did you even read the article? Isn’t there some sort of journalistic integrity being taught in your field?

I am highly offended by the ignorance portrayed in your article. Perhaps I’m wrong, but it is my understanding that neither myself, nor Jen Carboni or Matt Harek, the building directors, were questioned or interviewed previous to the article you wrote. It seems to me that you have a minimal concept of exactly what went on here and are manipulating the event to express your views.

If you want to attack someone, attack me. Leave Jennifer Carboni out of this. I took the initiative. I set up the meeting with minimal consultation to the building advisers. Of the building managers and mentors, it was I who reacted to attack in such a manner that it required a town hall meeting - Jen was there for support. Had you actually attended the meeting or even consulted the actual reporter present, you would have seen this to be true. I feel you have very seriously misrepresented her persona on events you weren’t even present to witness and even owe her an apology for what was said.

Furthermore, by your very own definition, these were not hate crimes. First off, gender - this was not a gender-based attack, both boys and girls were attacked. Second, race - we are a very diverse building and all doors on the selected floors of attack were hit, no one got special treatment. Lastly, sexual orientation - how in the world are you supposed to know the average student’s sexual orientation just by looking at the door?

Yes, there are those who wish to express their rights to sexual orientation, but as is the case in our attack, even if the door was one big rainbow, it would have been attacked regardless of the fact. Violence was not advertised and promoted, you are manipulating the rape quote to fulfill your own personal agenda - shame on you.

How dare you accuse us of dismissing this attack. More than 100 residents attended this meeting, more than what the lobby was capable of handling. By no means are we shrugging our shoulders. I feel that the enormous attendance states clearly we are concerned with what happened and want to do something about it. It is hard not to fall back on your complete ignorance of the situation. Obviously you have no idea just how much work I put into orchestrating that meeting - try about 20 hours or more in some three days. I put up posters, made the appropriate phone calls and interviewed many of the victims myself. In regards to the quote of “It’s happened to everyone,” this is what is commonly referred to as “life.” This is not a utopian society, nor will it ever be, no matter how sheltered a life one may lead.

All these facts appear to have never made their way to your desk. If you are going to have an opinion, I suggest you make it on something you have a clue about.

Patrick Walker
computer science sophomore

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