Many Factors Included in Choosing a Job

To the editors:

Re "Anti-Social Behavior" (Opinion, Nov. 4): I was struck by Jonathan Jacoby's comment "many at Harvard...are (mis)guided in their so called career pursuits by the primary intension of selfishly accumulating inordinate wealth." As I understand his somewhat polemical writing students at Harvard who are going through recruiting are at fault because they take jobs largely based on the financial rewards of their work.

If we are to take Jacoby at his word and castigate those individuals who work for the monetary rewards of their work, would he also have us condemn a security guard or dining service worker or a janitor who works to make money?

It seems to me that most people choose jobs or careers for lots of reasons, and the financial rewards of work is an important input in their decision. To condemn those who take jobs for money oversimplifies the complex factors that all Harvard students, all workers, must consider when choosing jobs or careers. ANDREW G. PATTERSON '98-'99   Nov. 4, 1998