LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Hypercritical Coverage

To the Editor:To the Editor: I am writing in response to the DP's ambiguous and often hypercritical coverage of the Undergraduate Assembly. I appreciate the DP's close coverage of important issues at the University, but I also feel that the paper's obvious bias against certain institutions at Penn -- including the UA -- is damaging to the paper's credibility, as well as that of the UA.To the Editor: I am writing in response to the DP's ambiguous and often hypercritical coverage of the Undergraduate Assembly. I appreciate the DP's close coverage of important issues at the University, but I also feel that the paper's obvious bias against certain institutions at Penn -- including the UA -- is damaging to the paper's credibility, as well as that of the UA. I cite examples from the cover and editorial pages of Monday's paper:To the Editor: I am writing in response to the DP's ambiguous and often hypercritical coverage of the Undergraduate Assembly. I appreciate the DP's close coverage of important issues at the University, but I also feel that the paper's obvious bias against certain institutions at Penn -- including the UA -- is damaging to the paper's credibility, as well as that of the UA. I cite examples from the cover and editorial pages of Monday's paper: "KUDOS? To the individuals -- both on the Undergraduate Assembly and outside it -- who are working hard to reform student government so that it can best serve students?To the Editor: I am writing in response to the DP's ambiguous and often hypercritical coverage of the Undergraduate Assembly. I appreciate the DP's close coverage of important issues at the University, but I also feel that the paper's obvious bias against certain institutions at Penn -- including the UA -- is damaging to the paper's credibility, as well as that of the UA. I cite examples from the cover and editorial pages of Monday's paper: "KUDOS? To the individuals -- both on the Undergraduate Assembly and outside it -- who are working hard to reform student government so that it can best serve students? "CATCALLS? To the Undergraduate Assembly for still doing a lot less than they could be, although they've done more than in the past." (Editorial, DP, 12/12/94)To the Editor: I am writing in response to the DP's ambiguous and often hypercritical coverage of the Undergraduate Assembly. I appreciate the DP's close coverage of important issues at the University, but I also feel that the paper's obvious bias against certain institutions at Penn -- including the UA -- is damaging to the paper's credibility, as well as that of the UA. I cite examples from the cover and editorial pages of Monday's paper: "KUDOS? To the individuals -- both on the Undergraduate Assembly and outside it -- who are working hard to reform student government so that it can best serve students? "CATCALLS? To the Undergraduate Assembly for still doing a lot less than they could be, although they've done more than in the past." (Editorial, DP, 12/12/94) (Note that the positive notice was located at the end of the "KUDOS" list, and the perjorative mention was at the beginning of the "CATCALLS".)To the Editor: I am writing in response to the DP's ambiguous and often hypercritical coverage of the Undergraduate Assembly. I appreciate the DP's close coverage of important issues at the University, but I also feel that the paper's obvious bias against certain institutions at Penn -- including the UA -- is damaging to the paper's credibility, as well as that of the UA. I cite examples from the cover and editorial pages of Monday's paper: "KUDOS? To the individuals -- both on the Undergraduate Assembly and outside it -- who are working hard to reform student government so that it can best serve students? "CATCALLS? To the Undergraduate Assembly for still doing a lot less than they could be, although they've done more than in the past." (Editorial, DP, 12/12/94) (Note that the positive notice was located at the end of the "KUDOS" list, and the perjorative mention was at the beginning of the "CATCALLS".) On the same day, the UA or its members were quoted or referred to in no fewer than three of the front page news articles for their recent actions: "At the same time, the Theater Committee -- comprised of representatives from PAC, the Undergraduate Assembly, the Social Planning and Events Committee, the Student Activities Council and the office of student life -- submitted a preliminary proposal to Rodin, Chodorow, and the VPUL." ("Admin. receives theater proposal", DP, 12/12/94) "The Office of student Life would not allow the Junior Class to continue with the concert plans without SPEC's and the Undergraduate Assembly's support?" ("Phish may play at U.: SPEC contests plan", DP, 12/12/94) "The UA arrived at the five percent [tuition increase] figure as a goal because it is one percent greater than the inflation rate over the past 10 years, UA chairperson and Wharton junior Dan Debicella said. "A five percent increase would represent the smallest tuition hike in over three years." ("UA proposes to limit tuition increase to 5 percent", DP, 12/12/94) I would like to add that I have no vested interest in the actions or reputation of the UA -- except for my personal interest as a student of the University. I am writing this letter only as a result of my concern for professional journalism and the welfare of this school. Katy Burns-Howard College '97