LETTERS: A political edge for the United Minorities Council

To the Editor: Among the UMC's top priorities are effecting an increase in the presence of students of color at the University and working closely with the Undergraduate Assembly to make sure that the administration, admissions department and financial aid department make the necessary changes concerning financial aid. This is so that the University can not only be competitive, but a leader among the Ivies and other like institutions. The impetus for the recent changes in the UMC came, in part, from earlier criticisms that the organization was ineffectual and lacking in the area of political activism. Such inaction was cited as one of the reasons for last year's secession of the Latino groups from the UMC body. It is true that that these groups are no longer under the UMC umbrella, yet the UMC and the Latino Coalition are still working together. This will continue to be true because both groups realize that they must work together to increase the number of minorities here at Penn. These groups plan to work with Umoja and the Asian Pacific Student Coalition on this matter. The UMC plans to assist Umoja with its agenda of maintaining and increasing black presence on campus. The council also plans to work closely with APSC. It is important that Asian students do not get overlooked when we are examining minorities at the University. On the subject of recruitment, it is not fair to just generally say that "Asians are doing fine percentage-wise," because we need to realize that among the Asian community there are a number of different cultures and nationalities. And among those numerous groups are some that are not doing as well percentage-wise here and are not as well represented as they should be. There are other concerns of all minority groups that need to be addressed at the same time that we examine the numbers here such as faculty and staff representation. Not to be sidetracked by the new agenda, the UMC will continue in its efforts to promote diversity amongst unity across campus. Unity Week, which is planned for the week of November 16, is shaping up to be very enriching for all and we challenge the entire University to come out and learn about a new culture and learn how we can work together and live together. This year promises to be one of great change all around the university. This has already been demonstrated through some of our new facilities and programs. We hope that the UMC can contribute to this change and help make the university a better place for the whole university community at present time and of the future. Chaz Howard UMC Chairperson College '00 Russia not so simple To the Editor: In response to the "Ode to a Babushka," or, rather, an ode to a bowl of borsh, I would like to advise Lindsay Faber to become a more careful observer on her trip to Moscow. Yes, the adorable babushkas are an aspect of Russian reality. Not all is as simple as Faber pictures it. Maybe the language barrier or culture shock prevents her from accurately analyzing the situation. The bags filled with groceries are not so much a dinner for an immediate family in progress, but rather a remnant of the hungry days; the old ladies are used to buying in advance and continue doing so. Invincible babushkas? Not likely. Perhaps, behind the almighty greenback, Faber does not notice that most Russians don't have the means to support themselves. And did you ever notice how much an average American housewife buys every week? The Russian babushka, if she could, would also engage in the holy Thursday night shopping spree. Unfortunately, she ain't got no sedan to truck all the food home, hence the carts on wheels. And have you ever thought what an average pension is for a Russian who, let's say, has worked as a teacher for 35 years? To put it simply, it is what an average Penn student spends on J. Crew socks. Also, on your voyage to the exotic land, check out the subways, and particularly how many beggars there are. Did you ever analyze the social composition, so to speak, of this beggar class? Yes, you got it, it is made up mostly of the babushkas -- the babushkas who have lost their most recent meager savings in yet another reform and no longer have the goods acquired with ridiculously small savings over the years to sell at flea markets. And when you name the things that a babushka has experienced and suffered in the past -- the labor camps, the war -- perhaps it is not just the babushka you are talking about. Could it be the Russian woman? Or simply all Russians? As the semester continues, and you run out of topics to write about, take my advice: Don't succumb to the temptation for a shallow, stereotypical analysis and try to pick something truly interesting to babble about in your 900 words. Sasha Pugachevsky College '99 Workout choice To the Editor: In the Oct. 8 Daily Pennsylvanian ("Fitness ctr. draws crowds"), Recreation Director Mike Diorka argued that the unexpectedly large number of fitness center sign-ups means that "students want the amenities that make a difference." We realize that Diorka wants to justify the decisions he has made about recreational facilities -- especially the closure of the old Hutch free weight area. But his argument about sign-ups and what students "want" seems quite misguided. Before this semester, gym users could choose to purchase a membership in the original fitness center at Hutch, to use the weight room at Gimbel or to use the free-weight room at Hutch. Use of the latter two facilities did not require payment of any explicit fee. Currently, there is no choice. If one wants to use any of our lifting facilities, one must purchase a fitness center membership. The unexpectedly large number of sign-ups may simply indicate that many folks would rather sign up than have no opportunity to lift. This hardly constitutes a ringing endorsement of the new fitness center set-up. One of us would have signed up for a membership at the Katz Fitness Center even if he did have the option of using the old Hutch weight room (which is still fully equipped but completely idle). One of us would not have done so. Our conversations with other students and several letters to the DP suggest that others may not have done so either. Nicholas Gonedes Accounting and Finance Professor Russell Roenick Wharton '99