This letter is response to Lauren Michelle Evans' letter, "Mascot should be forgiven, no one has perfect record" (Dec. 4). Whether you are a student, professor, or administrator, everyone should be held accountable for his or her actions in society and on campus. If you break a law and just so happen to be a college mascot, the lion suit does not grant you special powers or magical protection from the law. Sheep was charged with driving under the influence and was caught. He was charged with willingly and knowingly consuming alcohol and getting behind the wheel of a vehicle with others on board, and therefore should be prosecuted the same as anyone else would and should be irregardless of his dedication to Penn State sports. You're correct that he is a human being and prone to making mistakes like leaving the toilet seat up and forgetting to pay his cell phone bill on time, but this is not just any mistake.

My uncle was killed by a student who happened to be drunk, driving home from a party, so these little mistakes can greatly affect and shape people's lives. I realize people can screw up and I hope Sheep's family and friends eventually forgive him, however, I see him as someone who needs to serve his time in order to realize the magnitude of what he has done and what could have happened.

Kami L. McManus

senior-anthropology and sociology