Someone who works at the gym back home has been harassing my little brother. I found out about it and this is not going to rest until that man is out of a job. My letter to the gym:

Dear Tony:

Thank you for getting back to us today and for your professionalism regarding this unfortunate incident. As discussed, we would like to file a formal complaint against Mr. Mark Carter.

The initial incident which took place in February occurred when Mark encountered Michael in the area by the Tennis room next to the basketball courts. Mark said to Michael in a very caustic, condescending manner, “Why don’t you act your age.” Later, Michael was in a stall in the bathroom of the men’s locker room; Mark was in the room as well and said, “Fuck you” before walking out. There was no one else in this area, and there had been no verbal exchange between the two parties prior to this comment.

Our family was appalled by this incident and reported it immediately to Grace who handled it very professionally and attentively. We chose not to file an official complaint at the time, as my mother (who was the one talking to Grace) could not identify Mark, and did not want to have Michael look for this man as he was very upset. We decided, given the quality of the establishment, that this was an isolated incident and let the issue drop.

Yesterday evening, on May 13th, 2004, Michael crossed paths with Mark inside the club and Mark called Michael a “Butthole.” Michael’s feelings were extremely hurt and he reported this to his mother, who talked to a manager. Michael identified Mark to the manager and they all approached Mark, who claimed that “he had not seen Michael for months” and that he never went into the Tennis room, which was around where this incident took place.

As a former employee of ClubSport of Fremont, I was enraged and disgusted to hear about these incidents. I clearly remember the establishment’s visionary mission statement and the stringent code of conduct in which employees abide by in order to provide a high level of service and experience to members, and as far as I know, these expectations have not changed. So I do not understand at what point and on what level, this type of conduct is acceptable.

Michael is afflicted with autism which makes him act more immature than his peers. Despite this, he works hard at abiding to social rules and at worst, is overly friendly; but he has never acted in an aggressive or threatening manner.

On the other hand, Mark has made multiple severely ignorant, prejudiced and emotionally-threatening comments to someone who is mentally handicapped. Would he just as easily have asked someone in a wheelchair to “walk like a normal person?” Is this any more or less acceptable? And at what point, in a civilized society, is it okay to call people derogatory names without any provocation? Would he have been as equally brazen to walk up to myself, an able-bodied, able-minded adult female, and call me a “Butthole?” Or someone who is his own size and possesses equal mental capacity? Or did he say these things because of the victim’s lack of ability and lack of articulation to defend himself?

Mark’s prevarications about having not seen Michael for months and about never going into the equipment room by the basketball courts added insult to injury. He has seen Michael on various occasions in the past months; we know this because various members of our family, on accompanying Michael to the gym, have watched Michael suddenly stop in his tracks, frozen in fear, because he is afraid of crossing paths with Mark. But in regards to this particular incident, for Mark to say these lies in front of Michael and deny his actions, knowing that Michael is not as articulate and able to express himself, again begs the question…would Mark have dared to lie to the face of an able-bodied, able-minded person who reported his misconduct? Or is he consciously picking on someone who does not have the ability to defend himself? The implications are morally atrocious.

For this type of incident to take place in such an upscale establishment is shocking, but for this type of disrespectful, debased conduct to be exhibited by a member of the staff is beyond belief. Our family has been members of Clubsport for over 13 years, and is accustomed to courteous, professional and friendly staff members. While we do not feel that the actions of Mark Carter are a true representation of the entire staff or of the overall company philosophy, we hope that the establishment will take into serious consideration whether this type of behavior or personality is something it is comfortable with having represent itself.

Kind Regards,
Julia S.