LETTERS: The facts on studying abroad

To the Editor: The current review of study-abroad programs is being conducted by faculty members, not by administrators. The major focus is academic quality, not financial considerations. The goal is not to "cut" study abroad options, but to improve Penn Abroad programs for thestudy of other cultures and languages. Indeed, during the past 10 years, more than 3,500 students have spent a semester or year abroad as an enriching part of their formal undergraduate education. The Penn Abroad offerings comprise one of the most extensive study abroad networks of any Ivy League university. Among the more than 70 options from which students may choose, each of Penn's four undergraduate schools offers one or more specific programs designed to provide an international experience that complements on-campus curricular options. Students are strongly encouraged to enroll in their host university's regular courses, taught in the language of the host country. This ideal is not always feasible. But even when modifications are made because of timing or language constraints, the fact remains that Penn is very concerned about the depth and academic quality of our students' experiences abroad. They should be rigorous and intellectually challenging, and they should be related to the work students do here on campus. Students are expected to strive for academic excellence when abroad, just as they would in Philadelphia. Finally, as mentioned in your article, Penn seeks to educate leaders of the nation and the world by creating an international environment. Not every student will study abroad, but all students should benefit from curricular programs that prepare them for the international arena. This includes substantive interaction with the outstanding international students and visiting faculty members active on our campus, the opportunity to take "content courses" in foreign languages (you will soon be hearing more about "Foreign Languages Across the Curriculum")and new joint degree programs in international studies (in addition to the recently introduced International Studies and Business program). Joyce Randolph Dir., Office of Int'l. Programs Supporting DuBois To the Editor: As a woman who is not of African descent, I would like to voice my opinion in support of the African Americans who choose to form a community through living together. Whether the general population believes it or not, discrimination in our society exists against people of darker skin. The best way to combat this disability is building a self-empowered community. I am not advocating a separatist society nor am I encouraging segregation. Rather, I am saying that I understand the need for what others call "self-segregation" for the purpose of strengthening a community. What gets me mad is when idealistic, privileged college students neglect these issues and are only concerned that their utopian college dreams of being able to meet those who are different is not effortless. For those of you who will argue for integrated housing, ask yourselves why. Is it perhaps because you look at African Americans in homogeneous groups and feel intimidated? Do you wish you could confront your prejudice toward black people, but are afraid to enter a space where you are conscious of being a minority? Perhaps you don't want to admit your discomfort, fearing it's racism, but would rather attribute your own problem to the existence of W.E.B. DuBois College House. Maybe this is it, or maybe it's not, but I'd like to suggest maybe some people are displacing their own discomfort in dealing with racial issues onto DuBois. It's not the responsibility of black people to break down other people's prejudices, especially if doing so is at the expense of their own empowerment. If individuals are interested in experiencing diversity, they should take the initiative to learn about other cultures, rather than passively expecting others to educate them. Nicole Weiner College '97 u To the Editor: Is columnist Mike Liskey a racist? I would like to know why he picked W.E.B. DuBois College House as an example for the main topic of his column "The negative effects of separatism" (DP, 11/21/96). How can Liskey criticize blacks and black institutions, being a part of the privileged race? Does he classify himself as a racist? How many buildings on campus are named after members of the white race? Has Liskey even been in DuBois? If the answer is no, he should come for a visit. He will find not just blacks here, but people in general -- people treating each other as people, and with respect. We have people of all races here. They are here because in this house we strive to be a "family," with students and faculty looking out and caring for each other. Is DuBois the only college house with a "faculty master?" I think not; I do believe all the college houses on campus have a "faculty master," not just the primarily black ones. Liskey makes several statements in his column that I question: For one, how does he know if students 25 years ago were racist? Did he know them personally? I think not. Did Liskey speak with the administrators whose "white liberal guilt," as he called it, helped create DuBois? Please, don't even write about what the judges and courts are doing to the blacks and the rest of the non-white race in the courtrooms. The courts haven't corrected anything because there isn't anything to correct as far as DuBois is concerned. Is it too hard for Liskey to handle or deal with a college house named after a great black man? If so, how does he handle going to a university named after a great white man? DuBois does not have to justify its existence on campus. Black students pay their tuition just like white students. Their money and talent justify their being on campus and living in DuBois. If the public schools would teach more black history, Liskey would know that blacks only receive and get what they fight for and deserve. I write as a black woman, black mother and a black worker at DuBois. I know the black race is well aware of what exists in the real people of this world. Liskey is not one of the real people. We (the blacks) know very well what Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and the Civil Rights movement were fighting for and stand for because we, the non-whites, are the Kings of the Civil Rights Movement. People like Liskey are the only roadblock, not DuBois. It is only a building bearing a name -- a black one. Lillian Blair, receptionist W.E.B. DuBois College House u To the Editor: I was most disturbed by Mike Liskey's column "The negative effects of separatism" (DP, 11/21/96). His claim that W.E.B. DuBois College House is a racist institution is absurd. I find fault with almost all of his arguments, but would like to focus on only three of them. Firstly, Liskey states that because DuBois emphasizes the teaching of black culture, it is therefore not open to all students. On the contrary, the purpose of DuBois is to educate anyone and everyone about black culture. This form of education is essential because most of us have been taught American history solely from a European perspective. History lessons often exclude the imperative documentation of the progress of non-European peoples. The objective of DuBois House is to fill in some of these unfortunate gaps in our education. Liskey also pointed out that because the house is named after a black individual, only blacks are welcome there. Since when does the background of the namesake of a building become a determining factor in the discussion of who is and who is not welcomed there? Are only Jews welcome in the Annenberg Center? Should there be a "Quakers Only" sign on the door of the Franklin Building? Liskey must realize that everyone is invited to reap the benefits of DuBois. Most horrifying, however, is that Liskey believes "blacks need to integrate into the larger Penn community, just like other racial groups on campus." This brazen statement reveals that Liskey is a proud advocate of assimilationist thought, which asserts, among other points, that the more white (read: "superior") one is, the more successful. Liskey seems to suggest that blacks should lose their cultural identity to be more like the rest of Penn. Such acculturation is totally counter-productive to the idea of tolerance of cultural differences. I hope Penn never becomes the cookie-cutter institution of sameness for which Liskey longs. Dara Lovitz College '00 u To the Editor: Judging from his column "The negative effects of separatism" (DP, 11/21/96), Mike Liskey is obviously quite concerned about racial integration. Give his belief in integration, I'm surprised he is not attending a traditionally African American institution such as Howard University. And after making his decision to attend Penn, I would have expected him to choose W.E.B. DuBois College House as a residence. Apparently Liskey hasn't done this "because of the racial motives that created it and its emphasis on black culture." Liskey also wrote that "by naming the college house after a black inidividual, the black-only welcome mat was put out for all to see." Does he hesitate to enter other residences or virtually every other building on campus because they are named after white men and because their namesakes embraced "white culture?" I agree with Liskey that if a residence banned minorities, people would be furious and label the action "racist." But since a majority of undergraduates are white, there are already residences primarily used by whites. Also, people of European descent have a much greater amount of national power than people of African descent. Therefore, banning whites from a residence would not have the same effect as banning people of color. Underlying Liskey's column is a question: "What is racism?" A current working definition of racism is that it equals "prejudice plus power." Almost everyone has experienced isolated cases of discrimination due to his or her ethnic background. Anglos, unlike people of color, have not experience racial prejudice backed by vast amounts of power. Ann Dixon Physical Plant Thanking mentors To the Editor: I am a student at Philadelphia's George Washington Carver High School of Engineering and Science. Last month, I visited the University to shadow a staff member and see what a day is like in her profession. I waited for my day on campus for a couple weeks. Upon arriving, I tried to imagine what my day would be like. Penn has many wonderful sights. I viewed many of them along Locust Walk, including the largest library on campus -- Van Pelt. I found out that the Faculty Club is also known as Skinner Hall. I enjoyed seeing the Fisher Fine Arts Library and Houston Hall. After touring the many different buildings, I returned to the African American Resource Center, the workplace of my mentor, Isabel Sampson-Mapp. I asked Sampson-Mapp questions about her profession and the types of things she does. I enjoyed shadowing her, and discussing the different programs she developed. Visting the University was a great opportunity for me, because there are not often many students who have the chance to go to other places and acquire new knowledge. I thank Bonnie Raggsdale from Staff, Faculty and Alumni Volunteer Services and the University for allowing Carver students to come to campus and experience new beginnongs. Jamiya Price G.W. Carver High School Student Clearing the record To the Editor: I am writing concerning the article "Implementation of 'tangible changes' begins" (DP, 12/6/96). It contained misinformation about the Skating Party that occurred last Sunday night. While the Social Planning and Events Committee, in cooperation with the Tangible Change comrnittee, participated in Winterfest, the Skating Party was sponsored by SPEC. Sean Steinmarc, co-director of Connaissance, a SPEC committee, was present at the meetings as a representative of SPEC as well as the Undergraduate Assembly. Melissa Muniz SPEC President College '97 Ending speculation To the Editor: In recent weeks, there has been some speculation about the future plans of University President Judith Rodin, including rumors about her joining the second Clinton administration in Washington. Rumors should rarely be credited, and I am happy to be in a position to dispel these. Rodin has clearly informed me and the Trustees of her intention to remain at the University, and her deep commitment to accomplishing the vital goals of the Agenda for Excellence. As we approach the 21st century, we should all be very pleased that Penn will move forward under Rodin's leadership. Roy Vagelos Chairman, Board of Trustees