SUSPENSION WAS OVERKILL

I just read on NDNation.com that Kyle McAlarney was suspended from
school. Please tell me this isn't true. Frankly, it's embarrasing. The
punishment certainly doesn't match the misdemeanor. Has the University
gotten so caught up in its conservative self-righteousness that it's
now making an example of one of its more visible members? I hope not.
Suspension from the basketball team for the remainder of the year is
much more fitting. McAlarney's smoking marijuana does affect his
stamina and does hurt the team. It should not be tolerated.
McAlarney's smoking marijuana does not hurt the Notre Dame community.
It may offend some of the community's more conservative members.
However, let's not confuse smoking marijuana with murder or rape - or
invading countries that pose no threat to you. As importantly, we
should look to the past as a means to move forward. In my four years
at Notre Dame, a number of kids were caught smoking marijuana. None of
them were suspended from school. All of them received some form of
discipline. However, none of these punishments were as draconian as
academic suspension. Now would be a great time for University
President Father John Jenkins to intervene in the name of common
sense. Clearly, common sense went hugely wanting at McAlarney's
disciplinary review.

Jeff Barber

Class of 1982

Pittsburgh