Death of Athletes

Several weeks ago the San Diego State University crew team lost several members to a tragic car accident while returning from a meet in Central California. This is the time to learn from this tragedy.

The media have pointed to the fact that excessive speed was involved as a fact of consequence; also, if more students had worn seat belts, most would have survived with few injuries. These are not, however, the crucial issues.

The most important fact is the intercollegiate competition program scheduled this meet, 500 miles away, one week before final exams, and the colleges did not provide transportation by common carrier.

If a college involves students in activities more than a two- to three-hour drive from campus, it should be morally bound to provide common carrier transport. We cannot gloss over the cost in time and money to achieve mobility. We cannot afford to risk the lives of our fine young people because we are reluctant to pay the very real costs of transportation.

Death on the highway is not a regrettable but unavoidable consequence of modern life. Death on the highway is a tragedy which can be avoided by care and forethought.

KAY STEWART

MICHAEL NADEAU

BARBARA STEWART

JUDITH RIFFLE

AL MERCER

San Diego