To the editor:

Surely one of the saddest sites in all of Lawrence is the massive student parking lot at Free State High School. Our addiction to the auto-centric life begins with education!  From the hundreds and hundreds of cars parked there on a daily basis, one wonders if any students walk, ride a bike or use the bus to attend school.

I was somewhat intrigued then to read of the recent efforts of the Free State teacher to raise money for additional exercise equipment for the school (“Autograph collection to be auctioned off to buy exercise gear,” Journal-World, April 15). Seventy thousand dollars worth of new cardio machines might help to combat student obesity, although there might be less expensive options to encourage students to get more exercise.