UConn Chef Says He Forgives 'Mac 'n' Cheese' Student From Long Island

By BARBARA HEINS (Patch Staff)

Photo: screenshot of Bill McKay, left, helping Union Street Market manager Dave Robinson, to tackle Luke Gatti, of Bayville, after a profanity-laced tirade inside the UConn restaurant on Oct. 4.

All should be forgiven — at least in the eyes of Bill McKay.

That’s the opinion of the Union Street Market worker at the University of Connecticut Storrs campus who tackled the potty-mouthed student from Bayville who pushed and berated McKay’s boss in a profanity-laced tirade because the student was refused service for bringing alcohol into the eatery.

In a letter to the editor published Thursday by UConn’s newspaper The Daily Campus, McKay wrote that he shouldn’t be considered a hero for jumping in to help his boss. He also said that his faith dictates he should forgive Luke Gatti, 19, who is facing criminal charges for the Oct. 4 incident that became an overnight viral sensation on the Internet. Gatti, who had a bottle of alcohol, kept demanding he be served bacon, jalapeno mac ‘n’ cheese, has since apologized for the incident.

“I’ve had a lot of time to think about this. The bottom line is since I am a Christian I need to forgive,” McKay wrote. McKay added, “Forgiveness does not mean I believe Gatti shouldn’t be held accountable for his actions. He should, and he will.”

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He also countered opinion that Gatti’s You Tube video apologizing for the incident was insincere or disingenuous.

McKay explained, “I can’t say no (to forgiveness) because I don’t believe your apology is sincere. I’ve not always been the best Christian, but perhaps I can use what happened to set an example now. … You can forgive someone, but they still need to accept responsibility for their actions.”

McKay added, “It is obvious he has a problem. He admits he has a problem, and he needs to deal with it. Do I think he should be expelled from UConn? I honestly think he should be, but not for the reasons you might think.

“I feel there are more deserving students living in state who would not squander the chance like he has. But furthermore, based on his behavior last week and last year at UMass, I don’t feel he is ready for college,” McKay wrote.

McKay advised Gatti to get help for his admitted drinking problem and perhaps even serve time in the military where he will learn to become disciplined and a team player.

McKay said he shouldn’t be considered a hero for doing what he did. “Helping someone in need is not heroic. It’s something we should all be doing.”

McKay’s entire letter can be found here.