You’d think the Lincoln Park School District would learn from the bad publicity brought about in the wake of the 1999 court ruling allowing a girl to wear her pentacle. As it couldn’t bully high school students, it turned its focus to the endorsement of hate crimes against a 12-year-old girl (“Peers blamed for Wiccan girl’s suicide,” SN 11/14)

Not only do I hope that girl’s mother spanks these bigots by winning her lawsuit, I hope they have to build a monument in the name of the child they helped kill. That way, whenever anyone looked out into the courtyard of her school, they would feel the shame of their foul deeds.

I hope her classmates grow up ashamed to tell their grandchildren about what their parents encouraged them to do. I also hope this lawsuit sets a precedent regarding the endorsement of any hate crimes through inaction on the part of school administrators.

I’m a Pagan. I also have a daughter in the fourth grade. She hasn’t chosen a religious path yet. I leave that up to her, and give her any information she asks for. If, however, her safety were jeopardized by anyone because of my beliefs, I’d use every means available to assure her safety. I wouldn’t let up until the message was made very clear that this sort of thing will not be tolerated.

That girl’s mother tried every reasonable means available prior to filing suit. It’s obvious the harassment could have been prevented. I find the MSU community to be generally accepting of my being Pagan, but I’m also a 6-foot-6 ex-bouncer. I don’t belong to Green Spiral, but find comfort knowing it’s here and generally accepted by the school. I don’t mind answering questions about my beliefs and respect people’s right to disagree in a civil manner.

Harassment and assault are anything but civil and must be dealt with in accordance to the rules of both society and the relevant institution.

Dwayne Sortor
history senior