LETTERS: An embarrassing arts magazine

To the Editor: I am not a regular reader of 34th Street magazine though I know if I ever needed to look up showtimes or find out about the latest movies, I could refer to it. However, it does bother me, when I am flipping through the DP and notice articles in Street entitled, "How to get laid at Penn," and "Hey, did hear that one about the girl and the frozen hot dog?" (34th Street, 11/20/97). I cannot even begin to express my disgust and embarrassment for the Penn community at having such articles being printed weekly in our newspaper. I am aware that the magazine publishes such articles only to be humorous and does not intend to offend any of its readers. However, I feel in such a university we need to know where to draw the line. While we are a community which values open-mindedness and tolerance, especially for those things whose sole intention is to brighten our day and add a good laugh, I think there is only so far we ought to go. An open mind is only good as long as your mind does not fall out, and by letting such articles be published in our newspaper, however humorous they may be, it causes a great embarrassment to this University. Eva Taksel College '98 LGBA stereotyping others To the Editor: Since I was specifically mentioned in the LGBA's column that appeared on Monday, please allow me to respond in kind.("Trying to provide a safe environment for gays at Penn," DP, 11/24/97.) Because The Red and Blue published an article that was critical of the LGBA's yearly chalking of Locust Walk, the LGBA felt it was appropriate to condemn the magazine and its staff for being ignorant and hypocritical. Ed Yang's article "B-GLAD, Why not just B-QUIET?" was written individually and does not necessarily represent the opinions of the editorial board. Would the LGBA call Time magazine right-wing if it published an article critical of Bill Clinton? Is Vanity Fair left-wing because it published an article critical of Rudy Giuliani? It is disappointing that the board of the LGBA must resort to stereotyping an entire magazine on the basis of a single article. Although the LGBA may demand ideological conformity from it's members, The Red and Blue does not. Our staff is very diverse and, it is precisely this manifold of opinions that allows us to present a wide range of ideas regarding Penn issues. It is a sad state of intellectual affairs when the co-chairs of the LGBA stereotype groups of people rather than choosing to address individuals, such as myself or Ed Yang. But, The Red and Blue will continue to stimulate campus debate and open minds through controversial content and in-your-face journalism. We'll leave the chalk drawings about how Bugs Bunny was gay to LGBA co-chairpersons College junior Alex Gino and Engineering senior Dan Weiner and the LGBA. Michael Bressler Engineering and Wharton '99 Managing Editor The Red and Blue