Bar Association

Grand exit:Regarding C.J. Janovy's "Requiem for a Room" (June 3): I tended bar for 29 years on Main Street and Broadway. I tried for 30, but my body said no.

I was lucky enough to work at Milton's and the Grand Emporium. To work at two world-famous bars didn't seem like much at the time because it seemed so natural. Now, to look back and reflect, it makes me feel proud. When Roger Naber took over the Emporium, Milton was afraid it would take business away from him. It did!

John Albertson
Kansas City, Missouri

Girl, Interrupted
Chalk one up: I'm really shocked by "The Girl in the Bathroom," (cover story, June 3). Kendrick Blackwood delivered the story with a lack of bias and respect to all parties -- thank you for that.

It's not only that Brianna was abused and raped by those boys but also that she was raped by the school officials whom her mother once trusted. So much more could have been done to discipline the boys and prevent the second attack. It just doesn't seem right.

It's important for other people to know about this. I just pray for Brianna and her family.

Keith Gaboury
Olathe

Hall impasse: Mr. Blackwood, this story really sickens me to no end! Being female first and the mother of two daughters second, I could not imagine the pain that this "child" has gone through.

I had a situation with Raytown. Fortunately, my daughter was not raped but was involved in a fight, and the way the school handled it was horrible. We send our children to school in hopes that they are cared for and educated, not attacked by other students and those who are put in place to protect. They should be the ones to pay for her care.

Please keep us up on what happens with this case.

Name Withheld Upon Request

Bathroom brake:This letter is to inform the public about what really happened in the boys' bathroom at Ruskin High School.

It was about 10 a.m. on a day where all of the homecoming court members were told to meet in the art room to take pictures in the yearbook. I went down to the art room and was there for about 15 minutes before the 18-year-old came in the art room and told me that there was a girl in the boys' bathroom sucking dick. I asked if she was still in there, and he told me yes. So I went down there and saw that she was in there. I approached in a way that a shy person would. She was sucking on a sucker. I made a gesture in a way pointing to my penis and I said these exact words: "So what's up?" She simply got on her knees and grabbed my penis and started to suck. She wasn't forced to do anything she didn't want to do.

I wish these stupid people would wake up and see that this girl was too ashamed to admit why she was really in the bathroom. She wanted to be in there. As far as anyone threatening her life not to tell anyone, let's get serious -- no one is going to threaten anyone's life over some head. No one has to force a girl to go in the bathroom when they can find a girl who is willing to be in there.

This girl is making a fool out of all of you who believe her. To me, it's not that she wants the 18-year-old and me to get in trouble, it's that she doesn't want to be in trouble, either. It's too late for her to tell the truth now. She's in too deep. She's going to lie herself right into her own grave. As far as the second attack goes, what boy in their right mind would come anywhere close to this girl unless she was a willing participant? This girl has taken it way too far.

Name Withheld Upon Request

Editor's note: ThePitch has confirmed that this letter was sent by the 16-year-old identified in the first incident.

Forward pass: In regards to Kendrick Blackwood's story of the girl who was assaulted/raped at Ruskin, I think that everyone involved in the administration should be punished.

If any faculty member finds a girl in the boys' locker room or bathroom, the parents should be notified immediately, regardless of the circumstances. If the girl was there by her own doing, the parent should know this. If the girl was there not by choice, the parent needs to know that as well. The vice principal, the officer and all others who interrogated the girl without her parents should be fired.

While I am always fearful that boys can be accused of assault falsely, you should always err on the side of what is best for the victim. There are no second chances.

It is also interesting that the suspects are "star athletes." Would there have been the same actions, or lack of actions, had these been "troublemakers"? Notice that the "geeky nerds" are mentioned. If schools worried more about education and less about winning games, perhaps Kansas City schools would not have the reputation that they do. And this young girl might be a little better off.