What students don't ask themselves is: What kind of illnesses are these kids dealing with? What family situations are they escaping from? Where can they go if they need help? There are a hundred-and-one programs directed at kids at Phillips Brooks House and none for the homeless youth in Harvard Square. While youth services exist in Cambridge, they are mostly daytime shelters. At night, most homeless youths must sleep on the streets. The Cambridge City Police reported last year that most violence in the Square was directed at the homeless by other homeless people. Youths, lacking a haven at night, are the most vulnerable targets.

It's easy for Harvard students, many of whom have overcome great obstacles in order to be accepted here, to look disparagingly at the pit kids' lifestyle and supposed "choices." What's hard is resisting the knee-jerk reaction to condemn instead of understand, to draw conclusions about character from outward appearances. There is clearly more to this story than skinheads and hate. As Sullivan said, "There are a lot of people at Harvard who want to help...but there a lot of people who want to turn their heads."

Meredith B. Osborn '02 is a social studies concentrator in Leverett House. Her column appears on alternate Fridays.