LETERS: Stop charging volunteers

To the Editor: Wishing to help return this favor, I volunteered to move in early to help out with orientation for this year's transfers. By moving in early, I had to quit my job early, so I didn't make as much money as I might have this summer. But I was willing to do this. What I was unwilling to do, was be billed for early move-in, since I was volunteering to help out. I was outraged to find out that Housing was charging all of the volunteers for this. Since everyone was moving in three days early, the charge was around $60 depending on the housing assignment. As a result of this unexpected charge I was unable to move in early for transfer orientation, as were several other would-be volunteers. For the returning transfers that still came, they found orientation was a bit shorthanded and might have ran a little more smoothly if more volunteers had come. This is the first time that Housing has ever charged transfer volunteers for early move-in. Is it really that important to exploit students who are trying to do volunteer work for the University? Rob Eggleston Wharton '01 Where's the shame? To the Editor: A person discards a cigarette butt on the steps as they enter Steinberg-Dietrich Hall. Is it their right to do so?A person rides a bicycle on Locust Walk during the hours when -- for good reason -- riding is banned. Is it their right to do so? Do the rest of us have a responsibility to object or at least to reflect disapproval of this anti-social conduct? Isn't being passive about attacks on our community lowering our own level of civility? Last semester, a post-retirement age gentleman entered my classroom daily for the sole purpose of picking up empty bottles, nearly empty food containers and newspapers that littered the room. I asked him what he thought of the members of our community who left this mess. He was direct in his response. I believe his succinct conclusion reflects what many visitors think of our community. I was, and continue to be, embarrassed by the lack of civility this type of behavior reflects. I am disappointed that so few in our community express disapproval. Now is the time for each of us to face the responsibility of being part of Penn's community. Leigh Bauer Professor of Legal Studies