Students and Perelman Quad

To the Editor: Student input has been "vital" to the success of this project, which aims to become the most dynamic "hub" for student life at Penn. I have met with numerous student leaders, student groups and individuals interested in every phase of this project as it has moved forward. I will continue to do so. The next time Miller would like to meet with me, perhaps he should pick up the phone and set up a meeting. Showing up unannounced during the busiest time of the semester and "setting up" an unsuspecting staff member does not build goodwill and is distracting to the goal at hand. I'm available to talk about Perelman with Miller or any other student interested in the subject. Let's stop building up walls of antagonism and instead construct solid foundations as the terrific Perelman project becomes a reality. Stanley Chodorow Provost Un-seasonal spirit To the Editor: Rarely do we see any seasonal festivities on campus. As fall turns to winter and exams start rolling around, students complain about the gloomy atmosphere. This season, we decided to put our studies aside and sought permission from the VPUL office to bring a brighter atmosphere to campus during this stressful time. Much to our chagrin, our efforts were thwarted by students who misconstrued our efforts as a religious attack. It is very disheartening that when students take the initiative the night before Reading Days to brighten things on campus, library administrators are forced to tear down mere ribbons and bows due to two students claiming that these efforts were "insulting." It is unfortunate that when students try to make campus life better, religious differences get in the way of good intentions. Our efforts were not religiously based -- they were only an attempt to make Penn a better place. So let the menorahs burn brightly, the star on the Christmas tree glow and all other holiday festivities thrive at Penn. Happy holidays! Samara Barend Chair, UA Student Life Commitee College '99 (5 signatures follow.) Going by the rules To the Editor: The entire Athletic Department was astonished to read the article "Wharton: A big draw for football, men's hoops" (DP, 12/9/96). Your reporter decided to include a quote from an anonymous sophomore who said, "I don't believe that anyone truly believes that we don't bend the rules." This unsubstantiated comment is a great insult to student-athletes at Penn who, not only achieve on the playing fields, but in the classroom as well. For the record, every admitted football and men's basketball player's admissions credentials are reviewed by every Dean of Admissions at all eight Ivy schools, plus the Executive Director of the Ivy Group, Jeff Orleans. None of these individuals has ever concluded that Penn "bends the rules." Shaun May Dir., Athletic Communications Minority perspective To the Editor: Reading the DP Online, I came across the name of a good friend from high school who turned out to be one of your columnists. Kristopher Couch ("Liberty and justice for all," DP, 12/6/96) and I graduated together in 1993, although I haven't seen him much since. I think his columns are great, not so much for content -- although his writing is excellent -- but for the stand he takes in them. It appears he is somewhat the minority voice in a lot of ways on your campus. I was sorry to see his Friday column was his last. You as editors should strive to find someone like Couch to continue what he has been doing. Michael Dean Clark Editor-in-Chief, The Clause Azusa Pacific University '97