NEWS ANALYSIS: U. still 'PC' after water buffalo case

and Lisa Levenson While the recent denial of funding for The Red and Blue by the Student Activities Council may appear to be an isolated incident of poor judgement, SAC's action may be indicative of the prevalence and dangers of political correctness on campus. Even though the infamous "water buffalo" incident occurred two years ago, and the Commission on Strengthening the Community issued its report, it appears that students and the office of the Vice Provost for University Life have not yet learned their lesson. Only last night did University President Judith Rodin address SAC's actions, releasing a statement that she is committed to "a University where free and open expression is a paramount value and where we will all learn from dialogue and debate." But to some, SAC -- by stifling the voice of The Red and Blue -- has prohibited this exchange and interplay of ideas from occurring. "In terms of SAC, it seems to me that the foundation of any ethic is the equality of citizens before the law and before rules -- that the same rules apply equally to all," History Professor Alan Kors said. "At a university of free people, we all are variously offended at different times and we do not end the debate and we do not apply rules arbitrarily and unequally." Others, however, believe that by silencing The Red and Blue, SAC has done a service to the University community. "Within the Penn community, since the administration is always preaching diversity and multiculturalism and sensitivity to all cultures, I don't feel that there is a place for such a paper as The Red and Blue," College senior and Black Student League President Robyn Kent said. Numerous events over the past two years have further clouded the University's perception of that vision. Tuesday night, a black student and a black University employee were denied access to a meeting sponsored by the Penn Women's Center. Women's Center Director Elena DiLapi told them "it would not be appropriate for you to be here at this time." Ironically, Black Student League President and College senior Robyn Kent said she supported DiLapi's rationale. Her organization barred a Daily Pennsylvanian reporter from a meeting in the W.E.B. DuBois College House last week. And early Monday morning, a raucous and unregistered Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. celebration in Superblock kept students from studying or sleep during midterms. Some students questioned the University's motives in not quieting the black sorority. "I think if the issues are addressed on the basis of maturity and intellectual honesty and forthrightness of discussion, then we move closer and closer to a time where we can have genuine debate and discussion of ideas," Board of Trustees Vice Chairperson Gloria Chisum said. "But there are always immature people and that cuts off a real discussion of issues." Although the Commission on Strengthening the Community, which Chisum chaired, was intended to improve relations between various campus groups, some say nothing has changed. "Apparently, nobody wants to have a community in which people know each other well enough to talk to each other, because that hasn't been happening," Adjunct Professor of Legal Studies Nicholas Constan said. However, a source from The Red and Blue -- who spoke on the condition of anonymity -- said Monday's SAC meeting shows that the University "is as politically correct as ever. "Unless [Rodin] has the guts to make heads roll within the bureaucracy, things are going to get no better," the source said. "Within the bureaucracy still lies the PC monolith which dominates at our University." Indeed, examples of politically correct thinking abound on campus, including the recent controversy over the printing of racy satire in The Penn Law Forum, and the Law School dean and faculty's subsequent call for the resignation of its student editors. The University also drew criticism for its decision not to prosecute the students involved in the confiscation of 14,000 copies of The Daily Pennsylvanian in April 1993.