George,

Once again, the world has chosen the wrong heroes. The story about the athletes who shot, skinned and beheaded an innocent,defenseless animal and were suspended for 15 days from the team, illustrates that colleges have gotten their priorities all wrong.

They have effectively given a "bye" to athletes to behave any way they please and get away with it because they bring in revenue to the school to be spent on more spoiled athletes who are using the college for a farm team experience so they will get noticed and picked up by a pro team.

Regardless of their status or aptitude at a revenue generating sport, what they did is sick and illegal and should be dealt with accordingly. This is how an ordinary student would be treated. So should they receive the same treatment. By the way, this goes for UVA cash cows as well.

Martha Wood (electronic mail, April 30, 2001)