In response to Carrie Leonard's letter in Monday's Observer, I do not feel that the African-American alumnus who had submitted the letter earlier had anything against custodians or janitors at all. I feel the issue involved was the issue of preconceived notions that people may carry about others based upon their ethnicity, gender, religious beliefs, personal appearance, occupation, etc.

Though we should all try to "move on" after mistakes are made, we should attempt to learn from them as well.

Though the alumnus' experience could well have been an honest mistake, we should not be afraid to examine what can lead to these mistakes without being accused of turning something into a racial issue. Just as we should not look at custodial services any differently from how we look at other professions, we should strive to see one another in the same light.

As we approach this new millennium, we should all look within ourselves and work to look beyond whatever assumptions we may have about other people based upon their gender, ethnicity, religious beliefs and occupation.

Jesse Dang

Sophomore

Fremantle, W. Australia

August 31,1999

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