It's been interesting to watch the various reactions to the mannequin-burning incident that happened this weekend ("Police: Prank not race related," SN 2/25).

The police described it as "kids goofing around," saying it wasn't racially motivated, and "there was no intent to intimidate or threaten anyone."

What a relief to hear it was originally a white mannequin, and that the kids who burnt it didn't want to intimidate anyone. It was simply, how did that editorial phrase it? Oh, yes - an "unorthodox ex-girlfriend ritual." Strange to hear about the breakup, since our pyromaniac sounds like such a keeper.

Anyway, I'm glad we can put this behind us now. It was a silly prank, but why should we worry about a few guys impaling and burning a woman's head to help them deal with their feelings about an ex-girlfriend? Nothing worrisome or symptomatic here, right?

Oh, if you get bored, you might contact MSU Safe Place and ask about the frequency of domestic violence on campus.

Or you could talk to The Listening Ear or the MSU Sexual Assault line about how often women are raped by their boyfriends (or ex-boyfriends).

Thankfully, this was just kids goofing around. I'm sure there's absolutely no connection at all to the way we treat women (black or white) in this society.

Jim Hines
1996 graduate