LETTERS: Friday, December 10, 1999

Out of bounds Out of boundsTo the Editor: Little's assertion that Penn's courts are "nearly deserted" is based on anecdotal data. Obviously, since nobody played basketball last Wednesday night at Hutch, where Little works, we should believe that there is no demand. In fact, Hutch's facilities are not underutilized. Intramural basketball games are held at Hutch every night from 5-11 p.m. starting in January, at which time nobody unaffiliated with a team can get a court. The Undergraduate Assembly's proposal for outdoor basketball courts is not based on "a complete lack of information" about basketball court usage at Penn, as Little claims. The 1998 Brailsford & Dunlavey external consulting report stated that Penn was eight basketball courts short of demand. And while Little may not have signed the basketball courts petition the UA circulated last week, 1,121 other students did. Little claims also to be an expert on the "geographic realities of West Philadelphia." As such, he points out that "unsecure" outdoor courts at the "edge of campus" would compromise student safety. This is strange, because our proposed location at the 38th and Spruce parking garage is centrally located between the Quad and Hamilton Village -- not exactly the frontier of campus. Little feels that $100,000 would be better spent "in the weight or cardio rooms" when, in fact, the University has invested $10 million in the new Pottruck Center, which will have new cardio machines and weight equipment. Considering that Little presumably works for the Department of Recreation, it is surprising that he is so misinformed about the UA's proposal for outdoor basketball courts. Michael Silver College '00 The writer is chairperson of the Undergraduate Assembly. Mayer: 'A touch of home' To the Editor: As an undergraduate living in Mayer Hall, I believe the graduate students in Mayer have been poorly treated by the University administration. When I moved in, I was under the impression that part of the building would still be open to graduates for the next few years, as no specific timeline had been set to change the house to undergraduate housing. However, the graduate students harshly received a letter this past week, right before their final papers, saying they were no longer welcome in this college house. I personally enjoy living with graduate students, as they make the building more interesting. Coming back from classes to see children in a playroom definitely adds a touch of home to a concrete dormitory. Mayer Hall, with its graduate students, undergraduates and families, is a very unique housing situation. Destroying this mixture, in such an abrupt way, is a very sad thing. Elizabeth Rode College '01 Restroom alarms To The Editor: I think it is important to clarify the DP's report on my remarks to University Council ("Penn students air complaints," 12/9/99). The University has not refused to install duress alarms in all restrooms throughout the campus. In fact, that process is ongoing. After careful study, the Division of Public Safety has determined that it will not install a device in every stall in every restroom. This would be counterproductive to the most effective security system. Public Safety has chosen one type of device that is being installed near the door and in handicapped stalls in each restroom. These devices are being installed in new buildings and in older buildings during renovation projects. Thomas Seamon Vice President for Public Safety