LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: On minority permanence

To the Editor: I was asked if the University is doing all that it can to increase minority faculty. I gave a two-fold answer. The first point was that there are a limited number of talented faculty who meet the standards set by Penn. Penn is competing with the other Ivies and prestigious schools for them and the competition is stiff. The second point was that the University must have an environment that is conducive to productivity. It must provide support, financial and otherwise, in order for these people to succeed. Does Penn provide this support? Yes, but like each and every Ivy League school, it can always be better. I feel strongly that Rodin's stated plans on minority permanence are a step in the right direction. What the DP neglected to report were the other statements I made when I said that the University needed to clarify its goals. I suggested that it would take commitment from faculty, administration and students alike to increase the presence of people of color on this campus. We must all work to decide how we want Penn to look and where we want Penn to be; therefore, we all must work collectively to clarify the vision of minority permanence at Penn and to make that vision a reality. I would also like to address the notion that a special faculty advisor is not needed because it is my responsibility. I specifically told the DP that my office does not recruit faculty, students or staff. My staff and I are responsible for monitoring the University's Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action policies and activities and providing assistance to people with disabilities. ?Rodin realizes the importance of academic matters and is wise to seek out someone to handle them. Anita Jenious Executive Director Office of Affirmative Action Getting Greek facts right To the Editor: As a member of the Greek community and an active soror of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc., I was personally offended by the article "Black Greeks celebrate Zeta Day" (DP, 9/11/96). It was filled with errors and very misleading. ?The first of these mistakes are the organization's names. Black Greek organizations all fought hard to become incorporated, so our official names reflect that and we expect them to be written as such, with the words Fraternity or Sorority, Inc. Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. is not a historically black sorority. It is a historically black fraternity that is the official brother organization to Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. ?The 7th Annual Zeta Day was hosted by the sorors of Mu Iota Chapter of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. to celebrate the founding of our organization and its inception at the University of Pennsylvania. This year's theme, "Back Together Again," was to welcome the new and the old to Penn. The event was open to all members of the Penn, Greek and Philadelphia communities. Mu Iota invited ten Penn Greek organizations to Zeta day, including all eight members of the National Panhellenic Council on campus, the two Latino Greek-letter organizations, the two non-Greek social fellowships and several other cultural groups. These organizations were asked to either give a brief history history of their organization, display their talents in a step exhibition or both. None of the groups performed a step show and an exhibition, as your article stated. I'm sure my soror Candice Gallagher relayed this information to your reporter. Were you just experiencing a case of selective memory or a bad episode of amnesia? In either case, you need to get that checked out before you butcher another organization's event. We appreciate that you wanted to cover our event. We are rather disturbed, however, that the DP failed to present an objective, well-researched piece on the event, and instead published a poorly researched article fraught with misinformation. It's a shame to think that there is still so much ignorance and stupidity out there. If you ever have a question, please do not hesitate to approach one of us to get clarification. We will not tolerate such injustice to our organization. Andrea Charlton Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. Secretary Nursing '98 On the right track To the Editor: I am writing to wholeheartedly endorse your editorial "Home in the community" (DP, 9/19/96), calling on Penn to adopt a comprehensive program to attract faculty, staff and graduate students back to the University City area. A group called Penn Faculty and Staff for Neighborhood Issues (PFSNI), made up of Penn people who live in the area, has been actively pressing this agenda for almost four years. Specifically, PFSNI is calling for: · a beefed-up home ownership program that includes cash incentives for faculty and staff to locate in the local area; · a local special services district modeled along the lines of the Center City district, complete with uniformed personnel to patrol neighborhood streets for trash and graffiti; · improved security coverage, including Penn security personnel patrolling "safe corridors" for pedestrian traffic along Locust, Spruce and Pine streets throughout the evening hours; · a partnership with the University City New School at 42nd and Locust streets to become a magnet school within the city public school system; · and revisions in Escort service policy to focus on the areas west of campus and promote both foot traffic and safety in these areas. I applaud the DP for covering neighborhood issues and look forward to reading more stories and editorials addressing these important matters. The Rodin administration has been receptive to these ideas, but has yet to develop a comprehensive policy addressing them or to devote the concrete resources that are needed to bring Penn people back into the neighborhood in meaningful numbers. Richard Shell Legal Studies Professor Mistaken identity To the Editor: Hasn't anybody noticed that College Hall bears no resemblance to the Addams Family Mansion? There's a reason for that. Your latest recitation of the myth that Addams "modeled the? mansion after College Hall" ("Church to be named for Addams," DP, 9/13/96) to the contrary, it just ain't so. How do I know with such certainty? My freshman English instructor had his office in the real model for the Addams Family mansion -- a spitting image, on Walnut about 36th Street as I remember. Alas, like so many treasures it fell to the wrecker's ball to make way for the University's expansion. Surely someone else must remember the facts? And don't get me started on the thin ice that one must walk across to install Ben Franklin as our founder? Bill Iverson Wharton '63