Zero Tolerance

Re "Fire Station Pranks or Harassment?" March 11 I am appalled that Los Angeles would allow and tolerate attitudes and actions in the Fire Department that clearly create a hostile work environment. Is it because any resulting lawsuits come out of the taxpayers' pockets? How can the city attorney defend this with taxpayer dollars? Private industries constantly train their employees and have zero tolerance for this type of behavior -- simply because they have to answer to shareholders, and lawsuits reduce profits.

Re "Presumed guilty," two-part series, Dec 11-12 After reading your series on drug testing, I can only think that somewhere, former International Olympic Committee President Avery Brundage is smiling. He had zero tolerance for professionalism, and I'm sure he would have the same attitude toward drugs. To me, zero tolerance equals a gross lack of common sense. Do we expect all athletes to be chemists and know a skin cream will result in a positive drug test? I know the United States is a member of this World Anti-Doping Agency outfit, but I think we ought to give a long, hard look at what the organization is doing and give deep consideration about continuing our association with it. DAVID TURNER \o7Apple Valley, Calif.

In a ruling that may lead to a review of Newport-Mesa's "zero tolerance" policy, a college-bound senior expelled over suspicions he had been smoking marijuana has won the right to return to Corona del Mar High School, his attorney said Monday. The student, Ryan Huntsman, said the empty zip-lock bag and pipe that a police officer found in his car two months ago belonged to a friend. The 18-year-old took and passed a drug test to prove his innocence, said David Shores, the student's attorney.

School trustees have upheld the punishment of a student found with an alleged marijuana pipe in his car, even though the teen contends police discovered it during an illegal search. The Newport-Mesa Unified School District board voted 7 to 0 Wednesday night to uphold the forced transfer of senior Ryan Huntsman from Corona del Mar High School to Newport Harbor. The district's zero-tolerance drug policy requires violators to transfer and also forgo school sports.

School district officials said they are unlikely to change their "zero tolerance" drug policy despite a judge's decision to postpone the suspension of one student who allegedly violated the rule. Judge Robert Thomas ruled this week that Ryan Huntsman could return to Corona del Mar High School pending a March 17 hearing with the Newport-Mesa Unified School District on his suspension.

Mrs. Ellingsen, the French teacher, was Cosmo's favorite. "She was the funniest," the 13-year-old honors student said. "She was the nicest." On his A-average report card last December, she reciprocated. "A pleasure to have in class," she wrote. "Enthusiastic." Every Christmas, Cosmo gives his favorite teachers a present. He sits down with his parents--a renowned telescope designer and a veteran flight attendant--and they decide on a gift tailored to the special tastes of each instructor.

Two Capistrano Valley High School students returned to school Tuesday after a three-week suspension by the school district, which is moving to expel them for drinking rum on a spring-break trip to Europe with the school band and drill team. Orange County Superior Court Judge William F. McDonald ordered the girls reinstated on Monday, pending the outcome of a May 20 hearing. Despite that, the Capistrano Unified School District plans to continue expulsion proceedings, said Supt. James A.