Damone Jones is correct -- mostly ("Student athlete responds to reader's charge of preferential treatment," March 16). Being the reasonable man that I am, I understand his good intentions in standing up for the athletic department and the student athletes of Penn State.

In fact, I agree with almost all of what he had to say regarding the outstanding achievements of past and present student athletes. I, too, know what it's like to be a student athlete and deal with the pressures of balancing studies with practices, as I did play college basketball for two years. I also agree with his opinion on The Daily Collegian's "mediocre reporters," because a good newspaper would not print fraudulently signed articles.

That's right, folks. I am not the coward that wrote that letter ("PSU athletes receive preferential treatment," March 15) and then signed a different name. I will not sit back and let someone use my good name and major to write his or her opinion in a paper that is read by my peers. I am extremely disappointed and disgusted with The Daily Collegian's lack of effort in verifying its sources. Furthermore, to the person that submitted the letter: I hope you do know that what you did is illegal.

Finally, I know that Jones was ill informed about the origin of the letter, but how dare you attack my major and credibility by calling me a "half-wit geoscience major?" You have no idea what the major requires and would no doubt hardly last a semester. I'm certain a geoscientist would have no troubles with classes in your major of "recreation and park management," which you so conveniently left out of your rebuttal.