Convicted criminals deserve just hiring practices

I am writing to commend Steve Mangan, general manager of IMU Dining Services, for his position in the Sept. 5 article, “Hiring practices might ‘burn’ IMU Dining Services”, that “he is not afraid of hiring a convicted criminal and empowering them with a second chance.” Thank you, Mr. Mangan, for recognizing that people can change and deserve an opportunity. \nUnfortunately, the tone of the article, from the headline to the text, made it clear that Ms. Avon and the IDS disapprove of such fairness. Perhaps opinions should be saved for the opinion page. People who have been convicted of a crime have the right to be part of our society. They have paid for their crimes. Isn’t that what our justice system is supposed to be about? \nOf course, we all know that that isn’t the reality. We have sold people a false hope, the hope that once they have served their time that they will have a second chance at being a productive member of society. However, the truth is that we don’t mean it. We continue to punish people after they have served their time by denying them the right to vote, access to student loans, access to housing and access to jobs. Our system denies them the right to self-respect and then we are shocked by the fact that they re-offend. What choice have we, as a society, given them? \nMost criminals are convicted of non-violent drug offenses. What if underage drinking suddenly became a felony? Then those 108 students that received excise citations over the weekend, according to the IDS, would now stand the risk of being convicted of a felony. They would stand the risk of being denied their rights as American citizens for the rest of their lives for one stupid mistake. Whatever happened to fairness and compassion?