The Crimson makes the fine point that "no action occurs in a vacuum." Vali, the editors argue, is to be excused and shown leniency because he was performing "nothing more than a typical college prank." How much more leniency are we to expect, then, when the offending actions are taken out of the direst economic necessity? When the actions stem from long-standing, verifiable physical addiction? Was Vali unaware of the law he was breaking? Was he not in control over what he was doing?

Again, this is not to argue that Vali should be punished. Rather, I urge that we not see things solely from our own privileged, safe position in society. I would hope that Vali, after this "youthful indiscretion," will consider working with the newly founded Harvard Students for Prison Reform in an effort to make our system of justice more just and less punitive--encouraging increased judicial discretion, especially in cases of non-violent offenses, and working toward alternatives to incarceration that address the roots of crimes committed. Further, I would hope that Harvard students and other privileged Americans everywhere will reconsider our national response to crime. Putting people like Chandrasekaran, Drake or van Winkle behind bars for many years is neither an appropriate response nor an effective one. Our country has the highest rates of both incarceration and crime in the world.

The joke, much like Chandrasekaran's, appears to be on us.

Alex A. Guerrero '01

Feb. 8, 2001

The writer is the director of the Prisoner Education Program and a member of the Steering Committee for Harvard Students for Prison Reform.

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