Swatted Student Caused Own Troubles

* In reading your story “Swat Leads to Discrimination Complaint Against Professor,” (June 10) I too felt a rush of humiliation and rage. As an African American father of four, my humiliation was at the fact that (Keary Johns) willingly placed himself in such a compromising position because he was “in a bind” of his own doing. My rage was because rather than accept responsibility for his actions, he set out to blame everyone but himself for what resulted. (Johns) was not stripped of his manhood, he willingly sacrificed it when he chose to compromise his bare backside in pursuit of a grade and a diploma. How valuable can graduation from a university be when it is gained at the cost of one’s manhood? I think his humiliation came too late in his academic learning process.

I make no excuses for the Prof. (Julian) Fosters of the world. They represent those in our society who will take a swipe at the bare backsides of all who allow themselves to become vulnerable. (Johns’) college education should have taught him that.

Johns also alleged that he was unfairly stripped of his financial aid when Cal State Fullerton dropped its football program. I suggest he talk to some of those people in the real world he is about to enter who lost their jobs because their companies found it necessary to downsize. Talk about unfair! Wake up, Mr. Johns, and take a look at the realities of the competitive world you are about to inherit.

Keary, the next time you expose yourself to a whacking, let it be on your head. That is where your problem appears to be, not your behind.

JERRY DAVIS

Brea

* So poor Keary Johns thinks he lost his manhood due to a swat over a failing grade from a professor emeritus who was raised in England. Nonsense, he lost it first when he decided not to attend classes, next when he groveled and begged for a passing grade, next when he reneged on his part of the deal, and again when he decided to prostitute himself by going to an attorney to make some money.

The upshot? The press trashes the professor, makes Johns out to be a victim/hero, and our legal system gives him a lot more money than he could have made on his own. Only in America!

GREG BISHOP

Irvine

* Recently I read an article on African American student Keary Johns, who was seeking $1 million in damages for a bias claim.

It is so ridiculous. I really cannot understand Johns’ decision to claim money when it so clear that it was by his choice to have undergone a deal. It was his fault from the start that he chose not to attend that class. I’m not saying that what Prof. Foster did was marvelous, but Johns had initiated this problem from the very beginning and the professor is paying a great price.

Today’s society, unfortunately, suffers from many racial conflicts. However, for everyone to blame everything as a racist incident is senseless. Everyone seem to be using this excuse as a source of income. We all must have understanding for our fellow brothers and sisters of all races. We ought to stop blaming ourselves for once.

JENNY H. CHOI

Mission Viejo