LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: Crystal again offends, divides

To the Editor: Regarding McDaniel, his research and his positions have been misrepresented (read this young scholar's work!). I invite students at Penn to take Professor McDaniel's class, which he will teach again next fall. If you learn only a fraction of what I have learned from Professor McDaniel about race in America, then it will be among the most valuable classes you could take at Penn. Issues regarding the social construction of race in America are fascinating and important --too bad Crystal could not have set a civil tone for such a debate. Philip Morgan Sociology Professor and Chair n To the Editor: In response to yet another "Crystal Clear" column ("The ties that bind," DP, 2/15/96), I fear Dave Crystal is guilty of the same "closed mindedness" of which he has accused African Americans. Once again, we see how Crystal's interpretation has been blinded by his own cultural background and experiences. Speaking as a graduate of an historically black college that is not Howard, I can tell you that historically black colleges and universities bring in more diverse speakers than Penn will ever have. Since Crystal probably have never been to Howard University, does he know that practically every major speaker (white and black) has spoken at Howard, including President Clinton, George Bush (when he was president), Colin Powell and Nelson Mandela? Farrakhan is just one of many speakers to have spoken at Howard; it is just that his beliefs don't settle with mainstream culture. A final point about historically black colleges and universities like Howard is that there is an open speech policy just like at any other college or university across the country. However, Crystal would not know this because he hasn't been there! Does he know that there are Asian, Indian and Caucasian students who attend Howard? Probably not. Does he also know that not every African American believes in Farrakhan's views? In response to his column, as a doctoral candidate in the Graduate School of Education and as an African-American male who is "open-minded," why does Crystal subscribe to the mainstream view that African Americans are a reactionary group? Why is it that when we as a people speak up for what we think is not right, we are labeled reactionary? Do we not have a voice or an opinion just like you? Lastly, where did you get the impression that it was only African Americans who gave you negative comments. If you look at the February 12 issue of the DP, I don't see anyone saying what racial group they were from, so what makes you think that other racial groups did not negatively respond to your column? I hope that your years at Penn will broaden your mind so that you will be able to gain some insight on people from other racial and ethnic groups. And for the record, Farrakhan has spoken here at Penn -- in the spring of 1988, I believe -- and at other Ivy League institutions, so according to you, Penn and the other Ivies preach "Farrakhanism." O.J. Simpson was found "not guilty" due to reasonable doubt. If you can't understand what reasonable doubt is, ask a law professor or a law student. Alton Strange Education doctoral student n To the Editor: "Negroes?" Are you kidding me? What kind of outdated, ignorant terminology is that ("The ties that bind," DP, 2/15/96)? I read Dave Crystal's previous column ("Social construction," DP, 2/1/96) with an open mind since I've had some bad experiences with Sociology myself. However, I thought his comments about Professor Antonio McDaniel and Howard were generalized and inappropriate. But now I must say that this boy is lost. A person's perception is influenced by his experience. Generally speaking, a black person and a white person are going to have completely different experiences. Maybe a black person will more readily believe that O.J. was framed because countless numbers of African Americans have been in the past. And maybe a white person is more willing to condemn Farrakhan as a racist without ever listening to an entire speech of his. They'd rather listen to the excerpts and interpretations fed to us by the white media. The point here is that black people, because they are black, have every reason to be critical of Crystal. Obviously, his opinions are based on his experiences as a naive "honkey" (why hold back if we're going to speak in racially charged terms?). Crystal, your comments were completely out of place and offensive. You said your critics were black -- well, you can kiss my white ass. Dante Zappala College '97 Filth is students' fault To the Editor: I feel that J. Christopher Robbins fails to recognize the most significant factor in the creation of sty-like dormitory conditions ("Home sweet home," DP, 2/14/96). The school can be analogized to a farm, where students are like pigs who enjoy creating and living in their own filth. The housekeeper is like the farmer, who repeatedly cleans the stall because the obstinate pigs refuse to properly dispose of their own filth (and pigs are pretty smart!). I attend one of the graduate schools and know from first-hand experience the manner in which students (average age mid-20s) rarely clean up after themselves. Take a look in the cafeteria and common rooms at five o'clock, and they are never in the condition in which they may be found at 7:30 a.m. If building maintenance and housekeeping could spend their time on upkeep of the buildings, i.e. emptying trash cans rather than gathering discarded coffee cups and newspapers, the University would be immaculate. When I arrive at school at 7:30 every morning, the maintenance crew has been hard at work and the school looks its best, only for "professionals in training" to trash it. Maybe it's a class thing. Have you ever said hello to the housekeeper or maintenance person who works in your building? If you want someone to pick up after yourself, live with your mom -- and if you don't want to pick up after yourself, live in your own filth. A school is only as good as its students make it, and based on the behavior of my fellow Penn students it is no more than a farm. If you want to make positive change in Penn's appearance, pick up your own trash and (yes, God forbid!) someone else's trash, and throw it a proper trash receptacle. Aaron Romano Law '99