LETTERS: Eliminating local bookstores

To the Editor:I do not attend your school, but I can attest to the ripoff that Barnes & Noble does to the student body at Temple University. Barnes & Noble has us paying $60 for a book that they will buy back at the end of the semester for $17. By the way, that price is only valid if another professor is going to use that book. If the book becomes outdated or another professor is not ordering that book, then you are stuck with that book. Barnes & Noble has thorougly "reamed" the students at Temple with their very high prices and very low value. At the very least, you can delay this from becoming a reality by using whatever forms of the media you feel appropriate. One good thing about independence, it fosters competition and with all the expenses associated with being a student here, don't you think that you should get the best deal possible for your money? That is what competition does and what it will do for you. Another issue that I do not agree with Barnes & Noble on is the relatively low-pay of their workers, who coincidentally happen to include a lot of students. If Barnes & Noble is allowed to come here, they will introduce their employees (and your fellow students) to a low-pay scale, even by today's standards. Is this what you really want for your school? I don't think so -- so for your own sake, start organizing -- solicit the support of those who have the most to lose by this -- the independent bookstore. What it all boils down to is this, it is time for you as students of this great university to come together and keep the "vultures" Barnes & Noble out of here. Tacuma J. Bethea Temple University '97 A victim of racism To the Editor: Two weeks ago on Friday evening, two friends and I attended a party in Houston Hall, thinking it would be a fun alternative to the monotonous frat party scene. We had heard there would be a DJ spinning house and dance music, and although we were also aware we would probably be the only white people there, that didn't intimidate us. As someone who attended a highly diverse high school outside of Chicago, most of my friends before this year were African American, and it was easy to have friends of all different ethnic backgrounds. Although it would be naive to say that all the ethnic groups respected and understood one another, there was little hostility. The Houston Hall party, however, was a strikingly different story. At our very entrance, all eyes were on us. Moving towards the dance floor, I felt more and more self-conscious when I heard myself and my friends being referred to as "white hos" and "these white bitches," but we initially tried to overcome the tensions and just enjoy ourselves. People, however, continued to stare and laugh. It was a slap in the face to hear someone remark, "It's too bad that girl is white because I sure would like to dance with her." But that was only the beginning. As I ran into people I knew fromsports teams, classes or through other friends, I was ignored or avoided. I could not believe that the same people I talked to everyday at school would act as if they didn't know me at a party. We left after an hour, angry and confused. I had never been the victim of racism before, and wasn't sure how to handle it. While the experience made me appreciate my background and my diverse community at home, it also opened my eyes to the world. I expected Penn to be more color-blind, but it is not. I do know, however, that it can be. Racial harmony is not an illusion, a myth, or an impossibility. I have seen its beginnings with my own eyes. But as students we have to make an effort. All I am trying to illustrate is that segregation is a huge problem on campus. Until Friday night, I was unaware of its magnitude. But the problem lies with the students. I have learned another attitude from my African American, Asian and Hispanic friends, but it is not something that can be taught in a classroom. It is a shame that people this well-educated cannot learn this type of attitude. Lauren Dickie College '00 A mature columnist To the Editor: I just ready Shiraz Allidina's column in Wednesday's The Daily Pennsylvanian and want to congratulate him for his wise reasoning. It is especially heartening for me (a grandfather who audits University courses to keep learning) to know that we "seniors" have much to be grateful for as we recognize the rationality Allidina espouses. I don't meant to patronize him but he displays a far greater sense of maturity and sound thinking than many of my generation and, specifically, than University President Rodin herself. Would that she and others charged with the awesome job of leading this school recognized the common sense as expressed in Allidina's statement, "True diversity is brought about by a rich variety of individuals, not by a system which?lumps people into groups?" I'm also impressed that Allidina's workload yet permits time for such well thoughtout and very well written views. I wish him success in all of his endeavors and look forward to future columns. Charles DeMirjian