LETTERS: Cleaning up trash on the Green

To the Editor: Apparently the same people who took time out of their day to enjoy nature outside didn't have the respect to pick up their fruity drink container, walk 30 feet and deposit it in the recycle bins. Rather it was left for the maintenance crew of the next morning to take care of. This should not be their responsibility. I urge Penn's community to continue to relish the sun and beautiful weather during the afternoon, but please as you get up, dust of your dockers and make your way to class, take a second to tidy up the environment as well and recycle your plastic and paper in the provided receptacles. Gina Lucarelli College '97 Talking about race To the Editor: Your front-page story "Sorority sponsors race relations discussion" (DP, 2/19/97) reports on a relevant and "provocative" discussion held last Tuesday. I'm glad to learn who attended, that most of them liked it, that the organizers were pleased, and that everyone thinks more dialogue is important. But what was actually said? Lectures and panel discussions serve to air important facts and views. Your newspaper can help (as it sometimes does) by providing a wider airing. In the specific matter of race, I trust that the constant call for "more dialogue" is more than just a platitude of last resort, and that we all need to hear whatever grievances and proposals are on the table -- however jarring -- rather than keep pretending, as panelist Antonio McDaniel says we do, "that problems do not exist." Jason Eisner Engineering doctoral student Women's Ctr. satire To the Editor: Needless to say, when I picked up my copy of 34th Street on Thursday, I was surprised to see an entire article about me in it ("Why are we afraid of the Women's Center?," 34th Street, 2/20/97). I guess 34th Street had nothing better to do than slander innocent people again. Only this time it was me and I was mad. The article was a retaliation and vengeful response to a humorous and harmless article I wrote in Punchbowl. The 34th Street article states that one should not use "venomous personal attacks" and yet there were no qualms about using one against me. As a matter of fact, I found the entire piece to be a blatant attack at me, personally. How is it the article can say that I have a "malevolent insensitivity" when all that has been seen from me is a satirical article which was not meant to express my beliefs at all? The humor behind the article was the fact that it was a ridiculous idea. I'm not "afraid of the Women's Center." No one actually believes that the Women's Center is a whore house, or that Penn Escort is an "escort service" for that matter. I know that both provide a invaluable service to the Penn community and to think that someone thought my article was an attack at anyone who uses these services shows their ignorance. Then again, I guess it's true -- if you can't take a joke (or write one), then join 34th Street. Nicole S. Ovadia Wharton '99