LETTER: Noble Cause

Coming from someone who is obviously not involved in the volunteering of his own time to helping the less fortunate members of Philadelphia, Bill Madison's column struck a very hypocritical and prejudiced note. Madison observes that the younger members of Philadelphia's underprivileged "have lives that don't begin and end in the shadows of College Hall." He fails to see, however, that the same can be said for the volunteers. A student's life usually comprises more than just academia. Is he saying that each individual should remain in his or her respective sphere, or that since the women volunteers lacked "black experience" in their parts, then they are "unqualified" for goodwill? Isn't it more important to celebrate the fact that, despite the obstacle of different histories, that an effort is being made to gain "black experience," and that it is not used as an excuse to maintain a distanced perspective? He does mention that the mere fact that they volunteered is "commendable," but his intermingled statements based solely on assumption suggest that something else is at the heart of his displeasure. Yes, "motives are the issue here." I congratulate anyone who takes time out of his or her college activities for community service. Even if the work may satisfy other ends, the fact of the matter is that they, not the people passively watching them parade by, are pursuing a noble cause. VIRGINIA MATTINGLY College '92