Crossing Behavior Border

I was utterly appalled by Casey Schreiner’s column “An 80 percent chance of annoying questions,” published on Feb. 14. Mr. Schreiner allows himself to cross the border of behavior which should probably not be crossed, even with the right of free speech.

Mr. Schreiner states that majors in computer science will have all the wealths of the world coming to them just upon graduation and finding a job would not be a problem. I wonder whether the columnist knows the level of competition in the computer science field, and the huge number of young specialists who cannot find jobs. I wonder whether he knows that majoring in computer science does also require studying, effort and ambition, just as in every other field.

Students at Boston University have the right to choose their majors. This choice includes not only fondness of the subject but also the responsibility of finding a job. People who are competitive enough will succeed and the others may not, or at least not in their major field.

As an international student applying for graduate school, I feel personally offended by the author’s suggestion that people who intend to attend graduate school live in an “altered state of reality” and are “whining.” Actually, the people who plan to attend graduate school obviously are serious about being competitive in the job market and about having high qualifications. I don’t know what Mr. Schreiner’s vision of “reality” is, but reality also includes planning ahead and desperately trying to earn money to both pay off loans and attend graduate school. If the pressure of doing this, and trying to pay taxes, to attend school and maybe to work at the same time is Mr. Schreiner’s perception of “good years in an altered state of reality,” then I suggest he reconsider his vision.

The description of John Silber as “evil,” “cackling maniacally” and all the actions he would probably do in his tank to the “shivering, hungry bodies” of the students is the top of the despicable excessiveness and tastelessness. I certainly doubt a man who raised $30 million or more for Boston University while being president is concerned about single cases and will thus start beating Mr. Schreiner, although Mr. Schreiner certainly deserves it. I wonder whether Mr. Schreiner knows John Silber took all the expenses of the Alea III contemporary music ensemble for their trip to Greece. Spitting on someone for no particular reason and just because it is convenient and makes you popular is certainly a sign of bad professionalism. You will certainly NOT be hired and will NOT find a job, Mr. Schreiner, if you insult your readers with disdainful texts like yours.