COLUMN: Hello? Anyone different out there?

From Todd Wise's, "Where Lovely Mermaids Flow," Fall '99 From Todd Wise's, "Where Lovely Mermaids Flow," Fall '99I'm a Caucasian student at Penn. And I often ask myself: How many African-American students am I friends with? Look, I'll be honest. With the exception of the guy I might run into every three weeks on my way to Stiteler -- NONE. Look, you can blame it on the fact that, in my hometown, synagogues outnumber African Americans. And you could count on one hand the number of African Americans at my high school. But despite my own provincial upbringing, I still feel Penn can do better. Take eating at 1920 Commons, for example. If you haven't eaten there lately, you're missing out on a social marvel. It's cut like a cake down the middle. About the only thing not separated are the lines at the water fountains. Dorm life isn't much better. As a freshman, I arrived at Penn with the hope that my Friday nights would be spent with a diverse crowd. But the fact that almost no African Americans lived with me in the Quad made that virtually impossible. I learned early on that African-American students lived in DuBois House. And that DuBois House wasn't a part of the Quad. After three years at Penn, my "separate but equal" lifestyle still bothers me. First of all, an integrated Penn might solve the common complaint that Penn is devoid of intellectuals. If the average conversation at Penn is feckless and dull, isn't that to be expected when the people doing the talking share common upbringings and similar experiences? Look, classrooms may be integrated, but most conversations happen outside of the classroom, where we spend most of our time. Outside of the classroom, I've talked sports till my throat dried up. I've learned more about the New York social scene than I ever dreamt possible. But I haven't learned a thing about what it's like to be an African American in the '90s. And I'd like to. Because the proverbial "real world" is waiting. And to be honest, I'm far from ready for it. Sure, the eight Career Service forwards a day help. So do the seminars I've attended on resume writing. But I still haven't learned much about backgrounds other than mine. I still wouldn't be able to relate to an African American in a work environment on anything but a superficial level. Look, I've only got a few years left here at Penn. And I want to take pride in this place. But I can't take pride in a school with the racial structure of Alabama in the '50s. And I can't lie to guests anymore. I'm tired of telling friends that Penn is just "so different" from the South Florida of my youth. The only difference I see is that it's not 80 degrees in January and there are fewer old people.