LETTER: Rewarding Visit

After reading the article concerning Anita Hill's upcoming visit to the University, I could not help but go back and count the zeros again and again. I am referring, of course, to the $11,000 she will be receiving for her appearance. When I first saw she was coming, I planned to attend the event. Now even when it is free, I can't bring myself to go, probably because the whole time I will be thinking, "This is worth 11,000?!?" I always thought speakers were given money for transportation, hotel accomodations, a few meals and something extra for their time along the lines of, oh, $1,000 or maybe the proceeds from tickets sold. I'm not saying she isn't an important speaker, or that she doesn't have a lot of things to say, but taking $11,000 for two hours is absurd. [Conaissance chairperson] Richard Smith said that she's not trying to make a profit; that she could get so much more and go so many more places. Why is Penn one of the few stops on her circuit anyway? Are we the only school crazy enough to pay? If the Women's Studies Department and Connaissance want to spend money, why not donate it to a cause that will help hundreds or even thousands of women, rather than just one who will make a fortune off rights to a book and miniseries anyway? I understand why Anita Hill could be upset with the treatment she received from Clarence Thomas and the Senate Judiciary Committee, but why take it out on innocent universities? If Clarence Thomas is found run down by a brand spankin' new $30,000 car, we'll have our answer. LAURA GLADSTONE College '95