Community responds to letter condemning athlete service brings comments
Athletes insulted by letter's implications
I would like to respond to the letter printed Jan. 19 by Tim Crouch regarding the "hypocrisy" that is Notre Dame. More importantly, I would like to voice my discontent with his grossly unjustifiable opinion that Notre Dame student athletes are poor role models for children.
I was a participant in the Christmas party held for these children and I cannot even believe that you had the audacity to take such a cheap shot at a group of student athletes that volunteered to spend some of their time with these great children. Why are you complaining about the good deeds of others? Should student athletes be restricted from giving of themselves?
In my opinion, we have many gifts to share with these children, and it would be a shame to keep these to ourselves. The Christmas party has been one of the most successful and enriching experiences that I have been involved with in the last four years of my career here at Notre Dame. You asked, "what was the PR coordinator thinking" when he planned this event?
Well, for your information, the party was coordinated not by the PR people at Notre Dame but by the Life Skills directors at the University. Life Skills is a program that helps to organize opportunities for student athletes to volunteer all over the South Bend area. Volunteering isn't about PR, Mr. Crouch — never has been, never will be. It is about giving of yourself to help others.
That night at the Christmas party, I was inspired by the strength and determination of these kids who are battling a disease that they cannot even begin to understand. I was moved by the child who sat next to me to decorate Santa Claus pictures and could not stop talking about what he wanted to be when he grew up. He looked like he had been through chemotherapy, but his smile, ear to ear, made me just smile back and laugh with him until our Santas were done. You said in your letter, "Is it humane to show these children what they can't achieve?" Are you kidding me? Who are you to tell these kids what they can and can't do?
These kids are fighters and I will not let you tell them that they will not achieve all that they have dreamed and hoped. I hope that our presence made some of those kids happy, if only for one night, because that experience will live with all of us forever. We athletes are all extremely fortunate, Mr. Crouch and I believe that as such, we should try to help each other and those not as fortunate. Many students at Notre Dame, not only athletes, contribute their time and their hearts to many causes already. Many even do this on a daily basis. You don't need a Christmas party to help and visit with sick children. You don't need a golden key to go to the cancer ward at a hospital or participate in community service events. Your wife can do the same and would obviously have much to contribute from her experience. I am thankful for my great health everyday and do not take it for granted. But, don't ever tell someone else that his or her heart isn't big enough or true enough to help.
I took your article personally, as did many of my teammates and I resent your opinion that I am not a good role model and that instead of volunteering for things like the Christmas party, I should give way for others who are better than I am.
John Scolaro
senior, off-campus
Track and Field Team
January 21, 2001
All Viewpoint Stories for Monday, January 22, 2001
