LETTER: No Carte Blanche

I am writing to you concerning your article "Married . . . With Homework" (DP 1/21/92). In this article, your writer makes a false statement. The statement that is incorrect is the following: " . . . students are issued guest cards for their partners, allowing them to use escort service, libraries, and the Penn Bus system, while spouses are given special ID's and the same access to facilites as students get." [emphasis added] While it is true that any partner, once they have obtained authorization from the student's department, can receive a guest card from our office, it is not true that spouses receive the same access to facilities as students. A GUEST card from the PENNCard Center entitles the holder to use of the Escort Service and Penn Bus and admittance to the libraries -- no borrowing privileges are granted to GUEST cards. Any use of the recreational facilities or entrance to University buildings must be obtained from the facility itself -- for example, payment of a fee at the gymnasiums. One of the subjects of your article has paid the fee at the gym and thus is allowed entrance. The only exception to this rule is if a spouse is living in a Residential Living building. In these cases, access to that building -- and that building only -- is granted as long as the individual has obtained authorization from Residential Living. I hope that this information will clear up any misconceptions about the privileges granted to GUEST PENNcards. FRANK NEITHAMMER Director PENNcard Center