Letter to the Editor

Dear Editor, I am a current student at Rio Hondo Community College and I am writing to you in regards of an incident that took place today April 24, 2008 at around 4:30 pm while I was walking to my car. A friend and I were walking through Lot H on our way to Lot A. If you are familiar with this road you will know there is a makeshift un-labeled pedestrian walk way made up of large construction cones and caution tape.

Well my friend and I were walking outside of the cone area when a truck pulled up next to us and demanded that we walk on the inside of the cone area (please be aware that very few students walk inside the cone area). I calmly told him "thank you and next time I will walk inside the cone area".

I continued to walk as I was. This agitated the man who later told me that he is a professor here at Rio Hondo and I should do as I am told. By this time my friend had crossed to the inside of the cone area and the man said "see your friend is smarter than you!" At this point I felt I was being harassed by this individual and returned his demeaning comment by saying "Yes, he is and he is also smarter than you."

The man then continued to harass me by yelling out comments and telling me that I was an "Idiot!!!", "Stupid!!!", " Dumbass".. At this point I was embarrassed by the way I was being treated and I ignored the continuing harassment.

I have never been treated like this in my life and I would have never expected to be insulted, put down, made fun of and feel threatened by a College Professor who is here to help, motivate, guide and teach students.

After the incident I described the individuals vehicle to a shop teacher and he told me the truck belongs to professor Luke from the automotive department. I then spoke to a dean and asked that professor Luke be talked with about this issue. But as the day went on I have not been able to get over the harassment I received by this faculty member.

I feel threatened by this mans erratic behavior and feel he has anger problems and that can lead to him doing physical harm to others. If professor Luke has an issue with students not walking inside the "cone area" he should bring up the issue to the proper department in a professional manner.

I am writing to you to ask that this professor be talked with about his inappropriate and unprofessional behavior. I do not wish him any wrong or punishment but would like an apology from him.

Based on professor Luke's extreme and impulsive behavior I am not comfortable with facing him again. I would much appreciate a public apology in the school newspaper that at the bare minimum should state the professor's name and title and be directed to the whole student body for his unprofessional (unacceptable) approach and improper language used towards a student. I would also like to be notified of the publication date. The reason for the public apology is that there where other students that witnessed the verbal harassment. I feel they to need an apology for witnessing this man hurt the image of the faculty here at Rio Hondo.


Name withheld