Dear Tell All: I disagree with your answer to In Shock, who criticized the sexual misconduct of Madison-based track star Suzy Favor Hamilton ("Sympathy for Suzy Favor Hamilton," 1/4/2013). You excuse Favor Hamilton's decision to spend the past year as a high-priced Las Vegas prostitute because of "the pressure she must have felt" as an Olympic athlete, a corporate spokesperson and a motivational speaker. Well, who forced her to be all those things? When most of us feel pressure, we stop doing whatever is causing us trouble.
I'm hoping the Big Ten removes her name from the Suzy Favor Hamilton Athlete of the Year Award. Favor Hamilton has disgraced her alma mater, the UW-Madison, with this inexcusable behavior.
Honor Code
Dear Tell All: Thank you for sticking up for Suzy Favor Hamilton, who simply dared to act out on being human. Hold onto your undies, In Shock, 'cause guess what: You are human also.
It is unfortunate that people are so quick to judge. Our culture has taught us to bury any feeling that reveals us to be human. Suzy simply decompressed and showed us she is real and, yes, a beautiful and complex human.
Realist
Dear Tell All: I was with your article up to "A lot of people...can't relate to having sex with strangers for $600 an hour." I have many faults, but I am not a hypocrite. I won't criticize Favor Hamilton. If strange women wanted to have sex with me, they would not even need to pay me $600 if they were better than average looking.
Horny Hetero Guy
Dear Honor Code: A reasonable argument could be made for removing Favor Hamilton's name from the Big Ten award, given that she was involved in an illegal activity. But come on - she didn't kill anybody, steal anything, or cheat at her sport. Yes, she engaged in unsavory sexual activities, but so do many of the male athletes we revere. Indeed, some of America's most respected figures have a dubious sexual history. Thomas Jefferson slept with his slave, for God's sake, and he's on Mount Rushmore. I say we keep the Suzy Favor Hamilton Athlete of the Year Award.