LETTERS: An invitation to visit DuBois

To the Editor: I am a resident of DuBois. I am also white (notice I don't use the term "token white"; I'll leave that to the ignorant). I will not begin to explain the reasons why I chose to reside in DuBois; that is an entirely separate issue. However, I will express my amazement at the audacity of those who, having never spent a day (and in most cases, even a moment) in DuBois, presume to analyze the attitude and mindset of its residents. One would not find me criticizing the Quadrangle or Hill House because I have never lived in either. Not so with my home, though. Nowadays, everyone seems to be an expert on DuBois. DuBois can enrich people of any race, gender, or socioeconomic class. A familial atmosphere permeates every corner of the small, cozy college house. In DuBois, everyone knows everyone and one can discover great comfort in the sense of belonging. For people of all ethnic and racial backgrounds, DuBois can provide a bridge to the rich past and cultural identity of the African American people whose struggles and accomplishments have greatly shaped the present world and will continue to do so in the future. I challenge those who criticize DuBois to visit and partake of its greatness. Then and only then will you be able to comprehend the importance of its presence on the University of Pennsylvania campus. Monica Brady College '00