No Justifiable Racism

Responsible journalism is not The Crimson's claim to fame, I realize, but I have assumed that those whom it trashes in its pages are at least given a chance to respond.

In your article on my Wall Street Journal op-ed piece, you say "Thernstrom could not be reached for comment" ("Article Sets Off Angry Response at HLS" December 1). Since your reporter didn't bother to pick up the phone, of course she could not "reach" me; had she tried, should would have had an easy time doing so.

But, having seriously distorted my argument, I can understand her reluctance to get in contact. Needless to say, my aim was not to "justify racist comments." Only the lunatic fringe finds racism justifiable. The ideological war at the Harvard Law School merits serious debate; it would be nice if, for once, The Crimson rose to the occasion. Abigail Thernstrom

Editor's Note: The reporter tried to reach Thernstrom four times on November 30 at the number listed for her office at Boston University, but there was no answer or answering machine.