EDITORIAL: A speaker from a different mold

Gloria Steinem represents a break from the mostly male and entertainment-focused guests of late. Connaissance, the arm of the Social Planning and Events Committee in charge of bringing in speakers, has been consistently successful in recent years as far as bringing in nationally prominent figures. With the latest bookings of Conan O'Brien, James Earl Jones, Dick Vitale, Billy Joel and Oliver Stone, however, the trend was becoming male-dominated. Inviting a feminist activist is especially appropriate this year as we celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Penn Women's Center and the Women's Studies Program. And while the aforementioned male speakers were indeed popular among members of the student body, a variation from the entertainment industry figure is welcome. Steinem will offer students a voice they can't hear everyday on television. That's not to say that she isn't actively involved in current issues. At 64, Steinem's commentary on the White House scandal has kept her regularly in the newspapers. Though that topic may have reached a point of near-saturation as far as discussion potential, Steinem certainly has interesting views on the issue and we urge that she touch on some of them in her November 4 speech. She can also offer much to students on this oft-lamented "apathetic" campus as far as her take on activism in general and feminism in particular -- neither of which need be considered radical. We hope that attendance at Steinem's talk is on par with the sold-out affairs in Connaissance's recent history. And since Zellerbach auditorium can hold only about 900 students, we encourage event coordinators to look into alternative viewing options, such as closed circuit television or taping by UTV.