LETTERS: Helping or hurting community?

To the Editor: Often we see heartwarming articles about students helping the community beyond the borders of campus. And we frequently hear of new initiatives Penn is preparing to make University City a better place. The DP discusses how the University disrespected West Philadelphia for years by tearing down buildings and ruining neighborhoods. But administrators claim in these articles that the University has learned from its mistakes. They brag about how they will invigorate University City with new retail, without the destruction of years past. And they continue to tout their supposed interest in the welfare of the community. Yet while we read some articles about how the University is so dedicated to the community, other articles completely refute this. In constructing the new Wharton School classroom building, for instance, Penn officials are treating long-time retailers with absolutely no respect. Their deplorable actions blatantly show that they do not care about the community. While many businesses have fled West Philadelphia over the years, some of the stores located in The Book Store building have remained loyal to the community. Even still, University officials would obviously prefer to have a Gap or J. Crew over local retailers who have kept up some sort of commerce in the area for decades. This is shown by their demands of unreasonable rents, profit clauses and unwillingness to relocate businesses. Also, I am sure that University officials will make the same mistake with the Wharton building as they did with the Annenberg School and Theatre, the Franklin Building and Van Pelt Library. Instead opening up to Walnut Street with retail, the building will turn its back on Walnut and create bleak expanse of brick and a deserted sidewalk. Why does the University continue to perpetuate its bad relations with the area? I would like to see University officials admit that they would prefer to have more highly profitable Gaps and City Sports than the businesses that have struggled on our campus for years and still contribute to the local economy and community. I challenge any member of the administration to contact me personally, or via the DP, to address why they have no intention of respecting the existing businesses of University City while creating their entirely new, pristine shopping district. Christopher Wallgren Engineering '99 Defending 'Current' Dear Editor: Thanks for Mike Madden's column letting us know that Trammell has two l's, ("All good news, all the time," DP, 1/21/98). By the way, Rosof has one f. As for not commenting, I just wasn't comfortable being part of the news. DP reporters have pretty much the same rule of thumb -- not to comment for University publications. Libby Rosof Penn girls: hot or not? To the Editor: I completely disagree with the premise of Ben Dietz's article "Countering the myth about Penn's female population," (DP, 1/21/97). Aesthetic beauty is not the only characteristic that guys use when finding girls attractive. While there are many girls that are "hot," not many are attractive, and it is attractiveness that guys look for in girls. What is the difference between the two? Personality. I'm not saying that if you see a girl walking by, you won't find her attractive. But because Dietz has only looked and not actually talked to any of these girls, he hasn't realized how much of a turnoff it is for guys at this school once some girls open their mouths. What Penn girls don't realize is that you will never make it through life by your looks alone, because looks are transient and fade with age. On the contrary, one's personality is permanent. I don't think that guys are so upset over the fact that girls are not "hot." It's the fact that guys see a lot of girls who are "hot," but once they talk to them they don't find them attractive any more. If I have offended any girl, I apologize. But are you offended because of what I'm saying or because you feel it's directed toward you? Ross Brown College '00