CSUN’S Hiegert Is in No Way a Racist

* I am a former student athlete at Cal State Northridge and found the story “25-Year Feud Casts Pall on CSUN Sports” (Oct. 17) about the rivalry between the Black Students Union and the CSUN athletic department very offensive.

I played baseball under Bob Hiegert from 1980 to 1982, and every year held at least two jobs, paid rent and found time for studies. I call it “choice.”

You choose your path in life, and some always choose the path of least resistance. Oh, by the way, no scholarship money for me. I paid my own tuition, books, rent, meals, etc.! I had as much talent as the scholarship recipients, but too bad! It was my choice to participate, and no one forced me.

If a few disgruntled athletes and BSU members want to make a black and white issue out of this, maybe someone should advise them that Bob Hiegert was solely responsible for the Lyman Bostock Memorial Scholarship Fund. This scholarship was given annually to a black athlete.

Under Hiegert, there was never a remote feeling of racial separation. We all traveled and roomed together.

We all went head to head with a coach at some point in our careers, but Hiegert a racist? No way!

If everyone of all races, religions and colors had Bob Hiegert’s morals, values and work ethic, our country, states and cities would have far fewer problems.

TIM COLLINS

Palmdale