LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: Endowed chair causes concern

To the Editor: The DP article lauds Young, who died in 1971, for "his efforts to transfer traditionally underrepresented groups into the economic mainstream by increasing educational and career opportunities" and notes his roles as a civil rights leader and executive director of the National Urban League. Young's efforts and ideals are as noble and powerful today as during his lifetime. Because they are so powerful, they transcend race and serve as an inspiration to all Americans. Denying a person access to employment based on his or her membership in a particular group is the essence of discrimination. By restricting the Whitney M. Young, Jr., endowed chair to professors of African-American origin, the Association prevents any professor who is not African American from attaining the position and continuing the work that Young began. Additionally, by employing race as a criteria for employment, the Whitney M. Young, Jr., endowed chair would indirectly sanction the use of race as a means of discrimination. By so doing, I fear that the African American MBA Association effectively institutionalizes the very same racial discrimination that Young and others fought to eliminate. Powerful ideas can broaden minds and change our world. Not long ago, the doctrine of non-violence espoused by a pacifist in India spoke to the mind of a young American minister. Similarly, Young's ideas speak not only to African Americans, but to all Americans. Were Young alive today, I doubt that he would support advancing the opportunities of one group at the expense of another. I implore the president of the University, the dean of the Wharton School and the African American MBA Association to rethink their plans before they do more harm than good. By all means, create the Whitney M. Young, Jr., endowed professorship for an individual committed to Young's ideals of serving the economically underrepresented people of our nation. But keep it open to anyone, regardless of race, who will champion his ideas. James Kallman Medical School '96 Editor's Note: According to The Chronicle of Higher Education, while the Wharton African American MBA Association would prefer that an African-American business scholar is hired to fill the new Whitney M. Young, Jr. chair, this preference is not an absolute stipulation. Questionable priorities To the Editor: According to Eisemann, not only is it a fact that the female orgasm is ignored in her biology books, but also that the female orgasm is ignored in sex ed classrooms. Know what? The male orgasm is also ignored. No one teaches men how to reach orgasm; thus women have no right to complain about men's ability to reach orgasm. Furthermore, Eisemann states that "biologists don't like physiological processes they cannot simplify into standard and predictable steps?" I find that statement completely false. Currently, the medical and biological fields are baffled as to why HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, manifests itself faster in some individuals and not others, or why cancer can be miraculously cured in some people and not others. These are not simple answers and biologists have not ignored them. Most likely, biologists are not studying the female orgasm because it would appear to be a little lower on the dilemma scale. A scientist could find a cure for AIDS, or he or she could study the female orgasm. I think it is obvious which one merits more attention. Additionally, professionals do exist to help women with their sexual problems. A woman could see a sexual therapist, a gynecologist or a counselor (a significant amount of women's orgasmic problems are mentally and/or emotionally based). Women are not helpless individuals waiting for some cure, as Eisemann seems to imply. They are in control of their bodies. Instead of whining about her lack of an orgasm, perhaps Eisemann should do some research on the female orgasm and write some literature about how a female should achieve orgasm. If she did this, not only would she be helping women, but also we all would be spared from her complaining. Peter Maitland College '99 Ms. Penn merits kudos, too To the Editor: What a wonderful job you guys did covering the Mr. and Ms. Penn competition ("Student competitors bare their muscles," DP, 1/25/96). I was so pleased to see half of the front page given over to a photograph of the first-place big huge buff oiled guy. I noticed that you mentioned Ms. Penn as well, but I didn't see any big pics of her on the front page, or anywhere for that matter. How will those of us who couldn't attend the competition know how to congratulate her on her victory -- from one Penn student to another -- without knowing who she is? Perhaps she asked not to have her picture in the paper. Perhaps all of your photographs of her were unflattering. I'll give you the benefit of the doubt. Tanya Witman College '97 Debit card and UPSFCU To the Editor: This is to inform you that your article on the debit card ("UA supports debit cards," DP, 1/25/96) was partially incorrect. I do hope that the DP and the University of Pennsylvania Student Federal Credit Union (of which I am CEO and president and a member of the Board of Directors) can maintain closer ties as the debit card program moves forward. I believe it is a shame that The Daily Pennsylvanian, the premier student newspaper in the nation, knows so little about the largest student credit union in the nation. For example, UPSFCU is a $7.1 million asset corporation, federally chartered and completely run by undergraduates. Therefore, I approach you in the hope that a closer relationship is built. Perhaps an article describing the UPSFCU (as the largest in the nation, we are one of few who are completely run by students) would further this goal. If not an article concerning the credit union, perhaps you could inform me of who to contact should the UPSFCU decide something concerning the debit card. Rajeev Shah Wharton and Engineering '97 President and CEO, UPSFCU Don't blame crime victims To the Editor: On Thursday, January 25, the DP carried an article entitled "Cellular phone thefts on rise." University Police Captain John Richardson's response was to blame the victims. His recommendation is to "remove the phones from view" and "make people more aware." Let's carry this reasoning to its logical conclusion. If people would only stop leaving phones and cars lying around, crime would cease. One doesn't have to be a detective to catch these thieves in the act. Just put a cellular phone on a car seat and wait. How long would it take? I've heard that the University's police force is the largest private operation in Pennsylvania. If that's true, why are the Penn Police practically invisible on campus? Alan Myers Chemical Engineering Professor