I am a Muslim female student at Bellevue College who wears a headscarf. Last week’s front page story, “Hate speech spurs Bellevue College students to question safety,” made me incredibly embarrassed. First things first. I apologize for the paranoia and undeserved bashing of Bellevue College staff exhibited by various students.

A quick “F—- Islam” scrawled on a computer desk by some guy or girl who’s probably failing the quarter and has a number of other vexing disappointments in their life, does not merit the label “hate speech” and likely does not constitute a significant threat to public safety.

While I cannot speak for the LGBTQ community at Bellevue College, I highly doubt that incidents involving a couple of peevish scribbles really earn us the generous title of suffering through “challenging times” here at Bellevue College.

Muslims are facing real problems here in the USA. Domestic violence, imprisonment without trial, police violence and Guantanamo Bay are looming larger than ever. These are serious issues and there is no need to obsess over creating imaginary ones. As far as I’m concerned, everyone can calm down, go home and study for finals.

Kawthar Bakhach

Bellevue