GUEST COLUMNISTS: Penn Puerto Ricans outraged by hoops tournament description

Guest Columnists, Kathy Charneco and Larissa Garriga Guest Columnists, Kathy Charneco and Larissa GarrigaAfter reading the disparaging remarks made by Scott Miller in his commentary "San Juan was not a hoops paradise," (DP, 12/3/97), we feel compelled to clarify various misconceptions that he presents of Puerto Rico. In the process of questioning the suitability of the island to host an intercollegiate basketball tournament in which the Quakers participated, the commentary portrays what we believe is a biased and inaccurate perception of Puerto Rico. Furthermore, the tone of the commentary was insensitive and condescending towards Puerto Rico and its people, making it an irresponsibly written piece of journalism. It is unsound to propose the tournaments' goal was to further tourism on the island, or to "give Americans a taste of Puerto Rico." Instead, the tournament sought to give the participating teams an additional opportunity to play outside of their regular league games. Moreover, "running the event did not have anything to do with Puerto Rico," said Jules Speath from the Athletic Department when we spoke to her. This discredits the impression Miller tries to convey in his title and throughout the commentary: that Puerto Rico was unqualified to host such an event. Puerto Ricans, especially those at Penn, were delighted that Puerto Rico was hosting this event. A reception for the Quakers, not merely "a meal," was organized at the Hard Rock Cafe and sponsored in part by the Association of Puerto Rican Students at Penn (ADEPEP). Philadelphia Mayor Ed Rendell and his wife attended, as well as many alumni and students who wanted to make the team's stay in Puerto Rico a pleasant one. With this in mind, and trying to squeeze in some fun sightseeing into the team's tight schedule, members of ADEPEP toured the Quakers around Old San Juan. At all times, it was our understanding that the team was enjoying the trip. In fact, Jeff Goldstein, captain of the basketball team, said "it's good to know que tenemos familia en Puerto Rico" when he addressed the guests at the reception. The tone of Miller's column presents Puerto Rico as an island which is host to a "plethora of depressed areas" and where "everything else" is "nothing short of abysmal." The commentary describes the sports complex where the Quakers played, home of the "Criollos de Caguas," (not "Corillos Caguas") as a "decrepit facility." Likewise, in a previous article reporting the outcomes of the tournament ("M. Hoops can't find 'la canasta' in Puerto Rico," DP, 12/2/97), it said the "ramshackle facilities" the Quakers played in "were an embarrassment." The facilities might not have been in optimum conditions, but saying they were an "embarrassment" instigated wide disagreement and indignation on our part. The presence of "unsightly areas," of which there are few around Caguas, also seems to have bothered the DP. We Puerto Ricans are not embarrassed by any of these areas, and neither seem to be the many others who frequently visit the island on vacation, including University President Judith Rodin. After spending only five days in Puerto Rico with the purpose of covering the tournament for the sports section of the DP, Miller was not in a position to assess the socio-economic conditions of the island. Therefore, how could he conclude that there is a "plethora of depressed areas?" As it happens, Puerto Rico has the highest per capita income not only of the Caribbean, but also of Latin America. It is a shame the Quakers experience in Puerto Rico was degraded by Miller in such a way. It is also disturbing this level of ignorance and disrespect exists in an Ivy League Institution that claims to encourage diversity and multiculturalism. We hope this has served to rectify the faults of the DP articles and Miller's general attitude towards the island of Puerto Rico.