LETTERS: Gym fee doesn't top UA agenda

To the Editor: The top two items of our agenda are getting student input into the revival of 40th Street and the possible disparity in the quality of computing facilities across different schools -- both of which I consider to be of more importance than the $75 fee for the Katz Fitness Center in Gimbel Gymnasium. With this in mind, naturally I was surprised to see the article entitled "UA challenges U. over Gimbel fees, payment" (The Daily Pennsylvanian, 9/23/98) on the front page, with no mention of the other seven items. But despite the harsh headline, the article itself is fairly accurate. I was even more shocked, however, the next day to see the editorial entitled "Challenge for UA: Let dead horses lie" (DP, 9/24/98), since it was the DP, and not the UA, that seemingly placed this item at the top of our agenda. The editorial mentions that a "power-packed resolution" had been written, while the article the previous day said that a UA member has not even met with Mike Diorka, the head of recreation, much less drafted a resolution. I do not mean for this to sound scathing in any way, but while I know that it is often difficult to keep track of every detail of everything that happens on our campus, I express humble concern when members of the DP do not even seem to read their own articles. I do not mean to downplay the issue of the fitness fee itself, for I am sure that many members of the community besides me find it disconcerting that students are charged additionally to use fitness facilities that are still far below the standard for campuses our size. Unfortunately, this is an issue where we can do little more than express our concerns to the administration and hope for the best. I am happy to report that I have been told by a top administrator that the $75 fee will be able to be put on the bursar bill next fall when the wiring for that facility is completed. I also would like take this opportunity to publically apologize to Mike Diorka for blindsiding him with this issue, for he has always been one of the most active administrators in responding to student concerns. Bill Conway UA Chairperson Wharton '00