We've been publishing a series of articles on the general topic of Hate Crimes and Assaults here on the Loper Website. As a part of this series, we are interviewing people with something to share - insight, opinion, even more questions - and will publish these interviews from time to time. The framework for the interviews is a questionnaire, but we will not slavishly force each interview to follow a prescribed format - ideas flow too freely for that.

Dave Sagarin interview with Alicia Lugo

What are / should there be Hate Crime laws?

These laws were written to provide special protection for historically oppressed and persecuted people. I believe there are groups that need to be singled out - our regular system of jurisprudence does not adequately protect these people.

These laws can … assist in providing a measure of tolerance … there are people who just have wrong ideas, and we need [to provide] some incentive to govern behavior [like] these people's expression of biased and prejudiced attitudes.

Should we extend the coverage of Hate Crime laws?

Virginia Laws do not include sexual orientation - I think that's wrong - if it's not a crime, and they are [historically] an oppressed group - and that person's orientation is in no way an infringement of my rights - then they should be protected as well.

Comments on assaults on UVa students

I don't think it was race-based - just a bunch of kids looking for trouble - university people are particularly vulnerable walking around near the university -- thinking, you know, about this and that …

[There are] more children out of control now and getting into all kinds of foolish stuff. [They] haven't been taught in their homes and communities [a] notion of civility - in address, … in respecting other people.

You know, I wonder where we made the mistake, in women's liberation. [Girls] got the wrong message. Liberated women - to act like a man? Many girls now feel the way to express themselves is to act like men - like the worst kind of male behavior.

We are not peaceful people - we are violent people - [all this] gangsta stuff - these baggy pants dropping down - comes from prisons, where [prisoners] couldn't have belts - it's very wrong when kids find their role models in gangsters.

We tolerate bad behavior -- we don't discipline - there's a screwed-up sense of values. We need to create boundaries or children get lost; even adults get lost. And then, everything is "me." We're frightened of structure and discipline - people say, "you're stifling their creativity."

Comments on consequences for the assailants

Should they be punished? Yes! And they should not go back to that school. If you send them back other kids will see it as just a slap on the wrist - that's how to get your 15 minutes of fame.

Is "Restorative Justice"a good idea? Good in this situation?

Children do stupid stuff and ought to have an opportunity to learn from their mistakes.

Restorative justice allows a youngster who has gotten into difficulty to meet with his victim and apologize. This and [community] service can be … acts of redemption. [Restorative justice] is compassionate - [I think it's] a positive move.

If there is a possibility of redemption we should go for it - then if it doesn't work, come down hard.

I was a teacher for many years, [and with] every new class I would come in hard - Oh, I was very tough! Then, as they get to know you, it gives you leeway to ease up as the children earn it.

Comments on larger social issues

My altruism began in grade school - we brought dimes for the March of Dimes, and we learned to think about people outside [yourself and your friends]. [Today] they're not teaching [kids] how to be human beings in a community.

We're not honest - as a culture - we're too busy. Child rearing is the most precious thing - even if you [have to] give up some other things. We're too tied up in our own lives, whether it's cocktail parties or civic involvement ....

Parents say, "I work so hard - to get stuff for the kids." And here are kids out at all hours. I say, "Do you know where your kid is?

When I grew up, there was a closed black community that was completely supportive. I was 21 before I ever was called a 'nigger,' or experienced any racial bias.

It was a time when all people [in the community] felt a parental obligation - things were handled between adults.

You could be a half-mile, a mile from your house, and if you were doing something wrong, you knew that by the time you got home someone would have called your parents - they knew who you were. (April 22, 2002)

Alicia Lugo is Director of Teensight, which provides pregnancy prevention and assistance programs for at-risk girls and pregnant teens and their parents.