No Carl’s Jr at CSUN

Congratulations to CSUN! At long last, an institution of higher learning practices what it preaches and sets a good example by not allowing Carl’s Jr on campus.

Students are taught to be open-minded, to thoroughly analyze situations before making decisions and choices, and not to discriminate on the basis of race, sex, religion, culture, etc.

Carl Karcher and his foundation exemplify the extreme opposite. A national survey (Haile, 1990) identified Carl Karcher Enterprises as one of the nine worst companies to work for, due to its discrimination against employees based on gender, race, etc.

And don’t believe the standard Karcher corporate reply: “What Mr. Karcher does with his own money is his business, not Carl’s Jr’s.” Corporations set up tax-dodge foundations all the time; Karcher is president of the Karcher Foundation as well as chairman of the Karcher Enterprises board. Thus, he bears the ultimate responsibility for both.

It can be difficult to do the right thing by our youth when money is involved. Rental of an on-campus site by Carl’s would have generated income for CSUN, but given its students the wrong message.

Recently, my co-ed Explorer Scout post approached several foundations for financial help with travel to Washington to accept a conservation award as one of President Bush’s “Points of Light.” After discussing the foundations, our youth officers decided NOT to ask the Karchers for help because “Exploring stands for good citizenship, respect for the basic rights of others and non-discrimination; to request help from a foundation which does not stand for those ideals would be morally wrong.”

Hurrah for my Explorer youth and for CSUN. CSUN’s decision to ban Carl’s from campus is not a rein on freedom, but a clear message that CSUN values citizens’ rights, beliefs and anti-discrimination. I respect CSUN and am proud that my son is a CSUN freshman.

Anyone who wishes to support Karcher’s policies can eat at the Carl’s Jr one block west of campus.

MARLENE M. LUGG, Winnetka