OCTOBER 29, 1971
Letters to the Editor
I am writing to comment on the article in the last Westerner concerning the percentage of so-called "freaks," "greasers," and "straights." The entire article has an air of senselessness to it, in my opinion.
First of all, it again calls to attention the artificial differences between students and the tendency for people to stereotype each others' characters on the way they dress.
As far as I am concerned, how people dress is no indication of their personalities or backgrounds. In our present day need for unity and brotherhood, I cannot understand why the Westerner would take it upon themselves to make a big deal out of how many "freaks," "greasers," and "straights" attend school here.
At the very least, the article should have said something about brotherhood and the need to disregard surface differences. It didn't. Instead, the Westerner only quoted cold statistics, a few peoples' prejudiced ideas, and ended with the rather weak and ambiguous statement, "Naturally this is not a complete reflection of student opinion, but perhaps it has helped to explain youth on a local level when the words freak, straight, and greaser are used."
Is there anyone at Maine West, save perhaps some of the freshmen, who is not aware already of these definitions? And does the article purport to explain youth, even insofar as these terms are concerned?
In short, the article had no message, no meaning, and no interest for Maine West.
Larry Northon
I would like to apologize to Mr. Blazek for what I said about him in "Wandering Warrior." After I read my answer in the Westerner I really was sorry I said it because it made Mr. Blazek look bad.
When he told us that he only spent $.40 on a date he was not bragging. Mr. Blazek was only trying to tell us that you could go out and still have fun spending little or no money at all.
I hope that everyone who read my comment reads this letter so no one will have the wrong idea about Mr. Blazek.
Kathy Fagan