LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: UTV 13 Must Come of Age

To the Editor: As a result of our performance, I am stunned, amazed and amused that anyone would think that our programming would or could be considered irresponsible. UTV13 has continually and currently offers a wide variety of entertaining and informative programs. We now offer "UTV13 News Digest," "Crosswinds," "Frontline," "Sports Talk," and "Penn Sports Programming," as well as many other interesting and informative presentations. Additionally, UTV13 has a strong hands on training program and employs rigorous guidelines in producing programs. We as a dedicated staff realize that as we continue to grow and expand our responsibility to the viewer, as well as the University, must increase and not decrease. In response to Carol Scheman's concerns: I believe that the status of UTV13 and the DP should be as equal representatives of Penn; Her statements regarding a faculty overseer strike me as being contradictory in that she favors the appointment of a faculty representative to make people feel "accountable" and at the same time she feels that "It would be utterly inappropriate for the faculty to be in a position of censorship;" We must ascertain where the governing line would be drawn before this is even considered; I am confident that through aggressive advertising and private sponsorship we would not skip a beat financially if UTV13 were to become independent. In private conversations with Jon Teitel, he indicated that his quoted language in the DP was simply a quotation from a caller on the November 19 edition of "Midnight Live." The show in question "Midnight Live", which is a live call in talk show requests each caller to not use obscene language. If we do expand, the show may have to be pulled or changed according to FCC standards, i.e. the use of a delay for editing purposes - only achievable through proper finances from SAC. I support Jon Teitel in his position as well as his statement and feel the DP did not go far enough in its own censorship. Remember, at this juncture, we at UTV13 are not technologically equipped to deal with obscene language as is the DP. We are being presented with irresponsible print journalism of the first order. In conclusion: The DP article on this issue smacks of one-sidedness; The DP has a greater responsibility to examine in depth the way in which UTV13 and its staff conducts business -- past, present and future; The DP failed miserably. I extend an open invitation to Carol Scheman and a representative of the DP, preferably the article's author, to appear with me on UTV13. I suggest having a discussion of this issue at the University Council Committee on Communications Meeting on Dec. 18, 1995 or at a mutually convenient time in the near future. Michael Schain UTV13 Vice President, Broadcast Relations Wharton '98 Professor Remembered To the Editor: Thank you for your nice piece on my father, Dr. Kenneth Goldstein. Obituary columns in The Philadelphia Inquirer and The New York Times, and the upcoming stories in The Almanac and The Mileage Voice, serve to pay tribute to a man that influenced so many people both professionally and personally. Although my father received many honors during his 68 year life, it is a pleasant reminder for our family, the many people who knew my father, as well as those that did not have that pleasure, to be able to read these type of stories. Anyone who attended Dr. Goldstein's funeral service will tell you what a remarkable experience that was. So many people spoke of how my father was responsible, wholly or in part, for their love and involvement in the folk music and folklore scene. People spoke about his influence on the folk community, his guidance in their academic careers, his true love and concern for their personal feelings and his undying commitment to his students, colleagues and friends. There were stories of happy times with good food, great stories and song, bawdy jokes and tales and about Dad's incredibly enthusiastic energy. That energy was always clearly evident, especially to those seated nearby (or, for that matter, within a two block radius) in the Palestra, as my dad shouted often rude, but nearly always clever insults at the referees who worked the Quaker basketball games. My father attended nearly every home game since 1980 with his wife of 43 years, Rochelle, and always showed his support, also travelling on occasion to important away games. It was the erroneous mention in The Inquirer's piece and the subsequent mistake in the November 14 DP, referring to my dad's dedicated support of Penn Quaker football, when it should have stated basketball, that led to the writing of this letter After all of the pleasure that the basketball team gave to my father, it would be unfair for the football team to take the credit. Thanks again for helping to share with people about the life of a man who touched many people here at Penn,and throughout the world. Scott Goldstein Owner, Scott's Vegetarian Cuisine Commitment to Feminism To The Editor: While it is certainly flattering to be remembered years after I first spoke out in defense of the Penn Women's Center, it is, under no circumstances flattering to be misquoted ("Center City," DP 11/8/95). The sentence attributed to me: "We're really concerned about the idea?that people, especially women on campus, don't feel that they can use [the Women's Center]" with its ellipsis and brackets is a serious misrepresentation of my words and thoughts regarding the Penn Women's Center. Only an extremely irresponsible journalist would cut and paste the words of an outspoken feminist and Women's Center supporter to imply that Penn women, as represented by the Penn Women's Alliance, did not support the PWC. As I wrote in a column which was printed in the DP, "I know that the PWC can be a resource for all women in the University community -- students, faculty, and staff." I am as secure in that knowledge today as I was when I authored those words two years ago. To imply otherwise is both inaccurate and offensive. Since my graduation in May, I have left Philadelphia for New York City and academia for a position as a corporate marketing writer. My life has changed very much since my days as a campus feminist. My commitment to feminism and to the Penn Women's Center, however, has not changed. I am proud of my association with the Women's Center, proud of the women who run it, proud of all of my sisters at Penn. Debra Pickett College '95