Parking Privileges

* The Simi Valley multiple sclerosis group is outraged after hearing about a group of current and past UCLA football players who allegedly forged Department of Motor Vehicles documents to obtain disabled-person placards.

While UCLA is not at fault for the students’ actions, we feel it is the school’s responsibility to impress upon its students and alumni that dishonest and illegal behavior will not be condoned or tolerated. The statement in The Times by Dean [Bob] Naples leads us to believe that this action on the part of the students is viewed as a simple parking violation and will be dealt with in that manner (“Severe Punishment Unlikely by UCLA,” July 13).

In our view, this is an injustice to all disabled persons and the students themselves, who obviously don’t understand or care about the difference between right and wrong.

It is difficult enough having to live with multiple sclerosis without having the too few parking spaces allocated for the handicapped taken by strong, able-bodied athletes. I am sure that the UCLA campus is not the only place these illegal placards are being used.

I assure you that all disabled persons, regardless of their affliction, are disgusted by this act of rampant disregard for the rights of the disabled, much less, the law.

UCLA stands for honesty, integrity and character. Shouldn’t the same be expected of the students?

DENNIS H. ZURCHER

Simi Valley MS Support Group

Simi Valley