LETTERS: Lucky to have Bower Field

To the Editor: Does the Sports Club Council not realize that the University is on their side? This past fall, Penn's baseball team was evicted from Bower Field so that intramural and club teams could use the area for recreation space. While it is true that we will be getting a new field in the spring, it is also true that the University gave priority to the intramural and club teams in regards to fall activity. Lights were placed on Bower Field, fences were removed and an entire area was resodded. Yet the Sports Club Council is unhappy. "It's not been the improvement that we thought it would be," Jason Miller of the men's ultimate frisbee team said. I really don't know what Jason had in mind. Perhaps the University should bulldoze the Schuylkill so that frisbee and rugby touchdowns can be lengthened. The Sports Club Council must remember that we live in a city, and that some activities are not conducive to urban living. And yet the University continues to cater to intramural needs, looking into purchasing a postal lot next to Bower. The Council should be thrilled. Instead, we get an article saying Bower renovations aren't enough. The fact is, Jason Miller and Council President Rachel Tanner are unhappy because the renovations are not enough for them. Both seniors, they will not be able to enjoy any of the benefits that future Penn club athletes will. I understand their disappointment. However, to complain to the DP is galling. Instead of complaining that the sod isn't ready, these club teams should look into using other fields around Philadelphia this semester. Penn's baseball team has played its entire fall season at the Richie Ashburn Complex in FDR Park (outside of Veterans Stadium), a good 15 to 20 minutes away from campus. FDR has tons of space, enough space to throw a frisbee about 400 yards. Can't get there? Ask the University for use of Penn transportation -- I'm sure they'd be more than happy to accommodate. Maybe somebody can actually use those Penn buses and escort vans. Kevin McCabe College '00 Need-blind revisited To the Editor: Generally, I am pleasantly surprised to find a guest column on the editorial page of The Daily Pennsylvanian. The contributor often has an interesting perspective on an issue pertinent to those in the Penn community. Well, Lee Drutman did provide an interesting, albeit extraordinarily misguided, view of how the world "ought to work" ("Brown's endless need-blind quest," DP, 10/14/99). Drutman aptly summarizes the pitfalls of financial aid and recognizes the skill of Brown University's Corporation in doing an effective job of managing its endowment. He insists that a need-blind admissions policy "affects only a handful of students." In other words, the rights of only a small minority are at stake, so they should be disregarded. Hmmm. Lest we should respect the time-honored traditions of equality and opportunity, Drutman also points out for our convenience that a need-blind admissions policy is simply "one of those lovely symbolic issues." I'm sorry, but Drutman is sadly mistaken. Need-blind admissions are a necessity in ensuring a fair college admissions process. Drutman says that if need-blind admissions made financial sense, the Corporation would adopt them. They need not make financial sense -- it is an issue of basic fairness. This is not simply a matter of financial aid distribution to accepted students; rather, it actually determines who earns a hallowed spot in a prestigious school. All people, regardless of economic background, are ostensibly guaranteed an equal opportunity. Yet Drutman seems to believe that not only is this not the case, but that it really doesn't matter because these competitive students will "get in somewhere." But what if every institution thought like that? The Ivy League is no longer just a stomping ground for the nation's elite; rather, it is a place of intellectual inquiry and growth. Drutman doesn't seem to think that every qualified student should have a fair chance to experience this environment. I truly hope few share his opinion. Melinda Gordon College '03 Bicycling courtesy To the Editor: I wholeheartedly applaud campus support of the Philadelphia Bicycle Network's attempt to create more and safer bike lanes throughout the city ("Bike accident victim dies; new lanes planned," The Daily Pennsylvanian, 10/14/99). I support those individuals who opt to travel by bike (or even by skates or skateboards -- no sense in being discriminatory) rather than by car. However, I am also hoping that these riders and skaters will be equally mindful of pedestrians who, at least at this time, share the sidewalks with them -- on Locust Walk and the 38th Street footbridge in particular. There is no reason why anyone needs to ride over the 38th Street footbridge at even 15 miles per hour. The last I heard, bikes were supposed to be walked over the bridge from the hours of 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., when the footbridge probably sees the most traffic. I realize that the bridge is convenient for everyone but many riders asking for respect from drivers need to give equal respect to pedestrians. Mayumi Hirtzel Project Assistant Office of College Houses and Academic Services