LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: Minorities are Marginalized

To the Editor: To believe that students and communities of color are not marginalized, and that race has ceased to be an issue worthy of our attention presents two problems. First, it ignores the painful day-to-day experiences of people of color who experience both subtle and blatant acts of racial insensitivity and discrimination. Secondly, it ignores the systemic and institutionally entrenched forms of racism. This can be seen in a curriculum that continues to give preference and predominance to Eurocentric and male interpretations of socioeconomic, political and historical phenomena. The UA's assertion that the concerns and interests of the so-called "minority" community at Penn are represented on University Council by the UA reps is the most recent and highly publicized example of marginalizing students of color and infers that race is insignificant. Lance Rogers and others believe the United Minorities Council (UMC) should not have a seat on University Council. The UMC represents a broad spectrum of the University community. This organization is made up of a multitude of racial, ethnic and cultural groups within the Asian Pacific American, African and Caribbean American, Latino(a) American and Native American communities. While their experiences, issues and concerns are varied and unique, one thing they have in common is the experience of being the object of racism that has often raised its ugly head in violent ways. This common experience served as the basis for students to organize the UMC, which was created to enhance the academic and sociopolitical experience at Penn. The UMC should have a permanent seat on University Council. Apparently, at one point Council also believed this to be the appropriate thing to do. One can only wonder what led to Council to amend its constitution -- which in effect gave the UMC the boot. Lance Rogers is correct in anticipating that other groups might follow the UMC's lead, and demand a seat on Council. This, however, does not justify excluding students of color from having a permanent voice there. If other groups believe they should have permanent representation on Council, I support them, but it is incumbent upon them to make their own case. No one can represent the concerns and interests of students of color to University Council but the students of color themselves. Anyone who thinks otherwise is guilty of paternalism at its worst. The UMC does not claim to represent all students of color at Penn, but its self-selected leaders represent the concerns and interests of the largest organized cross-section of the communities that come under the umbrella of the UMC. I applaud UMC Chairperson Onyx Finney for making the concerns of those she represents known. I encourage her and others to not back down on this issue, but to use whatever resources they have at their disposal to push on for what they believe to be in their best interest -- because, unfortunately, race still matters. Lawrence Burnley Greenfield Intercultural Center Director Computer Network Poor To the Editor: Recently, I attempted to install ResNet on a friend's computer. Since I have completed over 90 installations successfully since arriving at Penn last year, it figured to be a relatively easy job. However, I ran into a problem that I thought Information Systems and Computing (ISC) had corrected over the summer: Penn's IP Server didn't assign the computer an IP address. Not noticing this, the infamous ResNet software proceeded to the next step, accessing the network. The computer rebooted and, needless to say, didn't connect. I wrote to the ISC Help Desk to explain my situation. I received, over a week later, a message from Bob Barron that did nothing short of belittle me -- and suggested that I simply had overlooked the address when it was assigned. How silly of me. I wrote back to confirm that I had also tried a manual installation of the client and run into the same problem -- the TCP/IP client loads and reports that it loads correctly, but with no address. As I have worked in computer networking and consulting for the past two years, I expected a professional response from ISC. Instead, I got a lazy suggestion to sign my friend up for an Ethernet installation session. The last time I had a friend sign up for a ResNet installation, three students showed up, tinkered with her computer, spoke a foreign language to each other the whole time, then shut the computer off and left without a word. She soon found out the reason for the silence -- upon turning her computer on, she realized that not only was she not networked, but her copy of Windows didn't work anymore. She called ISC to have them at least correct the new problem, and got the runaround. The truth of this matter is simple. Penn's IP server functions so poorly that it's not always a guarantee you'll be able to obtain an address -- similar to a telephone company neglecting to give you a phone number. The difference with the telephone company is that it actually responds when you contact it. From ISC, you just get the standard form letter because no matter what the problem, it's always on YOUR end. Edward Lion College '98 Prof. Does Notice Students To the Editor: I really didn't think it was necessary to dot every "i" and cross every "t" in a letter to a university community. I can't help but wonder what Goralnik and Aronsky ("Tenure Debate Continued," DP 12/7/95) thought I was writing about in the last paragraph of my letter. I cannot help but be amused at the remark that I might have "failed to notice his students as an integral part of this University." If they are really curious about whether I have in fact noticed that, they might try examining the so-called Mendelson Report which for many years has been a sort of bible for the Office of the Vice Provost for University Life, and for all I know, may still be. They might also look at the report of the Task Force that I co-chaired, the work of which resulted in the rehabilitation of the Quad. Morris Mendelson Emeritus Finance Professor President, University chapter American Association of University Professors Women's Crew in Jeopardy To the Editor: As a housemate of the women's crew team captains, Maggie Hansing and Marianne Salter, I have witnessed all of the hard work they have put into ensuring an excellent program for women who row at Penn in the future. They are seniors, meaning that they may be unable to row for the Red and Blue in their last year at this school. Is that the experience that Steve Bilsky wants these two and the rest of the women's crew team to carry with them for the rest of their lives? In an effort, it seems, to placate Carol Bower, Bilsky has lost sight of his most important constituents: the student-athletes. These dedicated individuals are the ones who make the program what it is, yet at the same time, they need a leader who can effectively guide them. A coach who is not sensitive to the needs and desires of her players does not deserve to be a coach at any level. Bower stated that she was "shocked and surprised" at the extent of the team's dissatisfaction with her when they had a team meeting in November. In a sport like crew, where there is constant interaction between players and the head coach, Bower should have been sensitive to the feelings of her rowers. Kim Muscatel College '96 No, It's Not Discrimination To the Editor: We are writing in response to Jonathan Slotkin's letter ("Is it Discrimination?," DP 12/8/95). The fall issue of generation XX was not an attempt to solicit writers or staff for the publication. Nowhere in the issue did we announce an upcoming meeting or attempt to solicit any staff members. Previously in the semester, when we were soliciting writers and staff, we clearly stated on our fliers "Everyone Welcome!" generation XX is a forum for women's issues and as always we welcome anyone's contributions, regardless of gender, race, sexuality, religion, etc. In an effort to further this goal, the spring issue of generation XX will include the University's non-discrimination policy. This semester we received our first submission written by a man, Eric Austin. As his article pertained to women's issues and was well-written and informative, we gladly printed it and were excited that yet another point of view was represented in the publication. Eric's name was not listed in the staff box of generation XX. This was an oversight and an accident. He is a part of the fall staff of generation XX. We welcome future contributions from Eric and other male members of the Penn community. COLLEEN MASTONY generation XX Editor-in-Chief JENNIFER BLUMENFELD generation XX incoming Editor-in-Chief