Quake-Damaged Schools

* A major expression of congratulations to Cal State Northridge President Blenda Wilson for her gutsy leadership and commitment in getting the school reopened so rapidly, however imperfectly. And a major-league thumbs down to the grousers, spoiled students and others, including your own headline writers and reporters, who chose to ignore what it took to get the job done and to emphasize mostly the problems that arose (“Quake-Ravaged CSUN Reopens Amid Confusion,” Feb. 15).

Certainly all of the above folks knew there had been devastating damage to the campus. Reopening at any time would have had some chaos attached to it. Even regular registration time at most universities is an exercise in frustration. Here, however, we had a college administrator doing her best to get things going, despite many of the problems that simply had to occur, but with the sure and certain knowledge that the difficulties would eventually simmer down into adjustment to changed circumstances. And she should be roundly praised for her efforts.

JOSEPH J. HONICK

Chatsworth

* Our community should take pride in the “disaster plan” that worked in the Los Angeles Unified School District. The hundreds of principals, assistant principals, plant managers, custodians and office managers who reported to their schools on Jan. 17 and thereafter were the foundation of the LAUSD disaster plan. The hundreds of plumbers, electricians, carpenters, tradespeople and school police who reported to schools made the disaster plan work. These were the employees who made the first evaluations of earthquake damage, at the risk of their own safety, and reported them to the district.

Together, all of these heroic people deserve commendations from the public for getting the schools back up and running again. They put the welfare and safety of students and parents above their own personal tragedies to do the job that had to be done. We owe them a public debt of gratitude for their efforts.

ELI BRENT, President

Associated Administrators of Los Angeles