I wish to respond to the letter of Salvadora Hernandez in The Observer March 6, 2000. The letter in point was headlined "Don't discriminate in church."

Apparently the writer was deeply offended that she was asked to sit in a side aisle at a 5 p.m. mass at the Basilica, as a portion of the main aisle was reserved for the participants of the Scholarship Fellowship Recognition Weekend. I would like to point out that the attendees were about 250 in number hardly taking up the bulk of the Basilica. As for a wedding, a special group, it is customary to give the honorees the privilege of sitting together in the main aisle.

Somehow I feel the letter of Miss Hernandez indicates an ultra-touchy and whiny attitude. Miss Hernandez acknowledges the generosity of these donors have made it possible for her to attend Notre Dame. Was it really asking too much of her to extend a gracious courtesy to this group by allowing them to sit together in the main aisle?

Thomas J. Cooney

Class of '43

March 14, 2000

• Social notes from a bygone era
  
• It's time to laugh at fear
  
• Let's end the graffiti dance
  
• Honor donors in church