LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: Revealing photo angers readers

To the Editor: I'm writing about the suggestive front-page photo in last Tuesday's DP (10/28/96), depicting a model in the annual Heritage Week fashion show. Of all the photo opportunities you had, this blatant attempt at sensationalism was not only in poor taste, but a poor representation of Heritage Week. It was the only picture and the only image the Penn community saw about the week. I also failed to find an accompanying article describing the event. What were you trying to say? Underlying the disappointing coverage (three articles total, two of which were two to three days after events) is the more important issue of the DP's priorities and professionalism. As one of the nation's top five college newspapers and the University's most influential communication tool, journalism like this cannot and will not be overlooked. On a campus so wrought with racial tension and diversity issues, the DP's timeliness in reporting minority affairs news is essential. I sincerely hope last week's coverage does not reflect the attitudes of the DP staff toward Asians and other minority groups. I also urge you to cover minority issues more effectively in the future. Eric Lee Vice-Chair Asian Pacific Student Coalition Wharton '98 u To the Editor: Shame on the DP for publishing that racy photo on the front page, after reprimanding 34th Street Editor Jason Giardino for his use of four-letter words in Street's "Best of Penn" October 24 issue. I am referring to the front-page photo from October 29, depicting an attractive, scantily clad model from the Asian/Pacific American Heritage Week fashion show. The picture was far from Penthouse material, but the model is clearly braless, with her nipples visible. Who determines what is "vulgar" and what is acceptable in the DP? Giardino's column and the "Best of" issue were potentially offensive, as was the photo. As a strong supporter of the First Amendment, I found neither out of line. Jonathan Zucker Wharton '98 u To the Editor: In your October 29 edition, a picture of a young woman wearing only a tight, black, sexy piece of lingerie and sandals appeared on the DP's front page. Her outfit was so transparent that her bare breasts were clearly visible. It was a disgusting and tasteless picture, and as it glared at me, I had difficulty reading the article next to it. It was an inappropriate picture for the official newspaper of one of the most prestigious universities in America. Is this the statement The Daily Pennsylvanian wants to make about its attitudes toward women? Do you enjoy degrading women and Asians? Do you think it is morally and journalistically correct to include pornographic pictures in your paper, especially on the front page? It is bad enough that the student pictured wore her outfit in public, but for your staff to publish the image is even worse. I thought you had better judgment. Of all of the activities that took place during Asian/Pacific American Heritage Week, this was the scene you chose to cover photographically. I know there were other activities where you could have taken a more appropriate picture. At the fashion show, there must have been other outfits that better displayed Asian/Pacific heritage. What infuriated me the most was that this picture appeared on the front page the day President Clinton visited campus. One of the most respectable and powerful men in the free world holds a rally at our school and this is what you put on Page One, right next to an article about him! It is quite unfortunate that your newspaper printed this picture because it is harmful to us all. Faith Dzurovcik College '00 u To the Editor: I find it ironic and disturbing that even after tremendous efforts throughout Asian/Pacific Heritage Week to promote cultural awareness and understanding, the only indelible image of the event the DP presented was a photograph of an anonymous, scantily clad model at the annual Heritage Week Fashion Show. Throughout Heritage Week, coverage of events was paltry and often inaccurate. Not only had the fashion show occurred five days before the photo was published, but it was misrepresented as "the conclusion of Asian/Pacific American Heritage Week." The last event was actually a charity gala on October 26. In addition, the DP did not qualify the picture with an article. The non-timely coverage of the fashion show and the arbitrary inclusion of the high-profile photograph naturally leads me to question the photograph's function and your editors' intentions. The photograph was nothing more than a front-page centerfold to bring some hormonally driven hype for the DP, at the expense of Heritage Week. It is disquieting to witness such insensitivity and lack of judgment by the DP, especially in light of its large reader base and circulation. Howard Chen Wharton '98