USC at Fault? Answer’s Worth an ‘Easy A’

Your fact-filled report, “USC Athletes Led to ‘Easy A’ Class,” [March 28] is truly the stuff of magnificent and groundbreaking journalism. Nary a school in the land has such comparable classes.

Thanks for saving America.

ROY ROUDINE

Los Alamitos

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To single out one class at one university, as you have done with the class at USC where everyone got A’s, is very unfair of The Times. Going back to 30 years ago when I was an undergraduate at a campus of the University of California, every university I have either been a student at or taught at has had one or two professors notorious on campus for being an “easy A,” with little or no work. Therefore I think it is unfair to present it as if this were the norm at this university or any other. I also know that athletes at USC have to take many challenging courses, as do other students.

ARTHUR C. BOHART, Professor

Long Beach State

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I’m pretty sure every school has these classes. I’m equally sure that most of us who went to school were blessed with enrollment in at least one class of this nature.

We called them “gut” classes, but there were other names: “Mick” (for Mickey Mouse) or “jock.”

At L.A. City College, when I played water polo, I was “led” to these classes: “Theory of Officiating and “Competitive Team Sports.” I still managed to graduate--and the team won two games in two years.

Get off your high horse, unless, of course, you never attended one of these classes in our institutes of higher learning.

PETER ARBOGAST

Newhall

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I went to an Ivy League school and we all knew which were the “gut” courses. My friends from UCLA told me they had a “Sportscasting” course, good for an automatic A. I’m sure even Mr. Dwyre’s revered Notre Dame has a “Proper Etiquette for Baby-Sitting” course and others of similar intellectual challenge.

JAMES E. KELLEY

Chatsworth

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As The Times’ investigation shows, the second John Robinson era is now in full swing at USC. The swagger and arrogance are back, along with the “tradition” of academic irregularities, recruiting aberrations and Rose Bowl appearances that curiously follow.

KENNETH D. PASSON

Irvine