LETTERS: Grad students support alcohol policy

To the Editor: Questions have been raised concerning the graduate student commitment to and approval of the University's new alcohol policy. As members of the University community, graduate and professional students are concerned with and committed to the health and safety of all students. Therefore, we take a strong interest in the new policy: we support it. We hope to motivate other students and organizations, graduate and undergraduate alike, to similarly uphold this important new initiative. Specifically, we pledge to act in a way that is responsible and helpful. We will continue to monitor our social functions in order to assure that underage persons are not admitted if alcohol is being served. To this end, we will employ a stricter identification system that checks both Penn ID for graduate or professional student status and another form of identification for proof of age. Moreover, we will keep all of our on-campus functions within enclosed areas, whether inside or outside. Beer from kegs and hard liquor will not be served at our social functions in outdoor or public areas. In maintaining these strictures, we hope to act as role models by doing our part to keep the University safe and healthy, as well as socially vibrant. Signed by the boards of GAPSA, BGAPSA and GSAC Embarrassing Penn? To the Editor: The following quote appeared in your story on football recruits: "I could have went to Princeton or other Ivy League [schools]," incoming freshman Ryan Strahlendorff said ("Ivy title results in top-notch recruiting class for Football," The Daily Pennsylvanian, 9/3/99). "But I figured if I was going to go to the Ivy League, I'm gonna go to the best football [school]." I would have hoped that even our football recruits would know that the proper form of the verb "go" that follows "have" is "gone," not "went." I truly doubt that Mr. Strahlendorff could have gone to Princeton. You should not publish quotes like this. They are embarrassing and portray the University in a bad light. Stanley Lane College '78 High cost of parking To the Editor: I am an employee at the Graduate School of Education. I park my car in the University-owned Garage #30 across from the GSE building on the corner of 38th and Walnut streets. Until recently, I was paying $7 per day to park there for my usual eight- to nine-hour workday. I was shocked to learn that as of September 7, 1999, the rate has been increased from $7 to $12 per day. To add insult to injury, Department of Transportation and Parking has posted signs proclaiming its belief that the increases are both "minimal and fair." I would use different adjectives to describe a 58 percent increase in fee. While it is true that a "special rate" of $9 per day is offered to Penn employees, this applies only to those employees who are "in by 9 and out by 6." My hours are from 10 to 6, so I am you-know-where without a paddle! It is an outrage that I should have to pay $3,120 a year for the privilege of coming to work! Add this to the burden of the excessive Philadelphia city wage tax and you have an excellent strategy for driving otherwise-dedicated employees away from Penn. Is this the best our multi-billion dollar university can do for its employees? Say it ain't so! Donald Kaufmann Graduate School of Education