IDS arts feature insensitive and disrespectful

My family is here on campus for several months; my husband is a visiting scholar. I'm a writer on disability issues, researching a new book, and our son is enjoying exploring the campus again (we were here in 1998). He looks forward to his morning workouts with other students as a new member of the SRSC. People have been positive and welcoming while Jim meets people and learns the routine.\nWe also look forward to reading the IDS every day to see how we can become active members of the campus community. I noticed an item on Page 12 in the Arts section of the Jan. 26 issue called "The Complete Moron's Guide." I'd ask to you reconsider using terms that are degrading to people with disabilities; I know "moron" is in common usage, as is "retard," "idiot" and other less-than-humanizing terms.\nA lot of people don't see any harm in them. Certainly Jerry Lewis made a career out of mimicking people with intellectual disabilities. But I think that students at IU appreciate the rich diversity here. They understand the power of language and the disrespect even the most benign words can perpetuate. Substitute slurs for any other minority in your headline and there would be a protest.\nPlease consider this mine on behalf of my son.\nKarin Melberg Schwier\nBloomington