I’m very rarely moved as much as I was when I read the student’s letter on Oct. 11th. And, I’ll be honest here — it’s because I know who he is.

To me, the student and his sister weren’t much different to me than dozens of people I knew from my hometown who are now students here at Iowa State.

I found a response about the incident at Friley Hall written by Jim Trenberth at the Daily’s Web site. Mr. Trenberth made an amazing point: The result of hate crimes may not always be the same, but the hatred is.

He also stated that we will never know how close we came to being linked to Laramie, Wyoming. Had Matthew Shepard somehow sensed the evil in his attacker’s intentions, he may have escaped with what the student did: a few degrading remarks, some threats, and perhaps some lasting emotional issues. And, if the two men at Friley Hall had consumed perhaps one more beer, the student could have very well been someone we now mourned, wondering what we could have done differently.

Don’t let Ames, Iowa, be known for something we could have prevented. We should all be proud of this wonderful school.

I’m sure the people of Laramie, Wyoming never imagined something so horrible could be connected with their town, and if they were able to go back in time and do something to prevent Matthew Shepard’s death, they would. Let’s not let ourselves fall into a sea of regret.

I wish these individuals who committed this act could realize how closed-minded and ignorant they not only make themselves appear, but also make Iowa State University appear. We need to stop the hatred, and begin to show the type of love our entire nation needs right now, because we are all brothers and sisters, and we are all fellow Americans.

Jennifer Juon

Senior

Exercise and Sport Science

Editor’s note: The name of the victim was removed from this story.