LETTERS: Enjoy 'The Mother of all Flings'

To the Editor: We also have a simple request that, in the spirit of community and cooperation, students be mindful of respecting our neighbors. During festivities we hope that you will try to keep noise to a level where our neighbors won't be disturbed. With your cooperation the weekend will be pleasurable for our entire community. Glenn Bryan Director, Community Relations Misplaced intentions To the Editor: I am writing in response to the letter "An Open Letter to Penn's males" that appeared on April 14. As a woman, I fully agree rape is a horrible crime that needs to be addressed. However, using the word rape to encompass whistling, honking and pinching undermines the seriousness of the word. Rape is a strong word describing a serious crime. Statements like "Rape is not a foreign felony: It's everyday words," that include verbal insults in the definition of the word rape trivialize its meaning. I was infuriated by the sarcasm and hostility directed towards men written between the lines in Marissa Engel's letter. Hating men won't make rape go away. If we want to deal with the real issue of rape, we need both genders to "take back the night" every night. But we need to stand together. Not all men are rapists. Most men aren't rapists. Blaming the male gender won't eradicate rape from our society. Instead it undermines events like Take Back the Night by redirecting hurt and anger onto men and alienating them from these types of events. We need men and women to hear the message because both women and men are victims of rape. Honking horns and whistling isnƒt rape. They aren't right, but they're not rape either. While the enthusiasm of Engel is admirable, it is slightly misplaced. I have little respect for people who can not stand up for their rights every other night of the year. I have little respect for people who let others diminish their identities. And I have little respect for those who would rather use their anger to hurt others instead of working towards a society where women and men can live without fear. Katie Lapp Wharton '00