LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: Dancing Dreams of Wharton Luxuries

To the Editor:To the Editor:I am writing in response to the column by Max Page ("Learning from the Trenches," DP, 10/5/95), In his article he wrote, "For most Americans, the era of youthful success -- when 25-year-olds wielded millions and held corporate lives in their hands -- has come to a dramatic close, and none too soon. At Penn, the dream still dances in technicolor, fired by the presence of Wharton and the luxurious lives it promises. Mr. Page claims, "I experienced an 80's flashback last week when I saw a red Mazda Miata convertible with the vanity plates reading 'Wharton' parked in the Grad Towers parking lot, An invitation to be keyed if ever there was one." Before the "Wharton" plate was on the back of a Miata, it was on the back of a rusty ten-year-old Mercury with close to 150,000 miles on the odometer. I am a student in the Wharton School's Undergraduate Evening Division. In Mr. Page's eyes, my car may be a symbol of greed for money, power and position; in my eyes it represents hard work, enterprise and persistence. I am proud to own the Wharton plate as an emblem of the arduous struggle to earn an undergraduate degree from one of the best schools in the world, while at the same time holding a full time job. I encourage Mr. Page to visit Steinberg-Dietrich Hall at 6:30 p.m. on any Monday through Thursday, when the Evening Division's classes get underway. He will certainly encounter a broader range of Wharton students than his current narrow view encompasses. There are many Wharton students, both day and evening, graduate and undergraduates who come from diverse backgrounds and economic circumstances, and whose aspirations have more to do with improving the quality of life for themselves and their families than with making the "leap from elite educations to top positions in business and government." I do concur with the message Mr. Page conveys in the rest of his article: there are significant benefits to be gained from a balanced education which includes real life experiences derived from "working in the trenches" in the lower levels of an oreganiztion. Mr. Page should note, however that he descended into those trenches with a readily accessible ladder out: his education. Perhaps if he had paid more attention from his "worm's eye view" he would have acquired a greater appreciation from the perspective of those of us who are working to build our own ladders out -- one hard-earned rung at a time. And as for Mr. Page's comments concerning the "keying" of my car, decorum prevents me from responding in this venue. Kathleen Klinko Wharton '99 Save the Refuge To the Editor: I am outraged to hear that Congress is considering opening up the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil development. After travelling to Alaska last summer, I have taken a personal interest in the region and find it a disgrace that my country, with Sen. Specter's consent, will allow the destruction of such a unique and extraordinary place. The refuge is the only complete functioning ecosystem preserved by the National Park System that we have in this country. Opening the refuge to oil drilling would destroy a critical habitat for many animals, as well as the entire culture which depends on those animals, all for a one in five chance of extracting oil. I know that not everyone gets the opportunity to travel to Alaska; maybe if they did, they would understand better. But since this is not possible, you'll have to take my word that it is worth preserving! I strongly urge everyone to let Congress know that they are opposed to opening the refuge. Laura Protzmann College '98 n To the Editor: I am writing because I am outraged that Congress is considering to open up the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil drilling. The refuge is the last five percent of Alaskan coastline which is not already open to oil development. Oil development would destroy the wilderness of the refuge. Millions of animals such as migratory birds, musk oxen, polar bears and 152,000 Porcupine Caribou depend on this land. Allowing oil drilling within the refuge would mean that they would lose their homes. Along with these animals, a tribe of Gwich'in Athabascan Indians also live in the region, and their existing way of life depends upon these caribou. I cannot believe that Congress would allow such vast destruction not only of a unique ecosystem, but of the entire Gwich'in culture for a one in five chance of finding a small amount of oil. Unfortunately Congress is considering this, and therefore I feel that everyone should let our Senators and Representatives, especially Sen. Specter, know that we are counting on them to oppose the Arctic drilling in the budget reconciliation bill and co-sponsor S. 428/ H.R. 1000. Let them know that we will hold them accountable for their votes at the end of this month. Rachel Friedlander College '98