To the editor:

I think Eric Southard is out of touch with not only his senior class, but his school. While hazing may not have been done at Free State High School, there was other vandalism done by Free State students during Senior Week. (Just ask your principal about the phone calls he received.) Several houses in the Free State neighborhood were not just egged, but painted, splashed with syrup, motor oil, mustard and other items. Cars were also vandalized.

I’m sure it was not only time-consuming but also costly for these parents to clean up the mess from this “thuggish behavior.” In the Free State case, the students did not get caught or turned in by angry parents.

Both high schools can stress the importance of a safe Senior Week, but the schools cannot patrol what goes on in our community after school. Parents must take that responsibility. The parent who “approved the duct taping” is encouraging hazing. Even this cannot be tolerated.

I think the bottom line in this whole issue is that not only should we not condone hazing, but the vandalism that students do during Senior Week. Both schools are guilty, and I hope our schools and community will move forward and encourage our future seniors to enjoy Senior Week with fun activities. Activities that don’t harm, humiliate or vandalize people or property.

Linda Williams,

Lawrence