LETTERS: Wednesday, April 12, 2000

One computer at a time One computer at a timeTo the Editor: As students who have formed the group Cyber Outreach to examine the consequences of a lack of access to technology in communities plagued by poverty, we have committed ourselves to bridging the digital divide. Clinton has described the digital divide as the gap that separates those who have access and those who don't, along the lines of education, income and race. Because we understand Septimus' ambivalence toward bridging the digital divide, our group has focused our efforts locally in West Philadelphia where we believe we can overcome the problem of poverty through technology. Currently, Cyber Outreach is engaged in two projects to further our goal of providing West Philadelphia residents with computer skills. First, we want to ensure that the computer resources which currently exist in schools and faith-based organizations are adequately utilized. Specifically, we are assisting in the implementation of several computer courses at University City High School. Second, we are developing a proposal to create a Community Technology Center that will offer low-cost Internet access and computer training. Recognizing that our goal of bridging the digital divide in West Philadelphia is still ambitious, we hope to be able to take advantage of the talents that other Penn students can provide. Kristina Rencic College '01 Alexis Sherman College '02 The writers are two of the founders of Cyber Outreach. To the Editor: In response to Cila Warncke's column ("The certainty of death and taxes, DP, 4/3/00) on recent anti-smoking "propaganda," I would like to offer a different point of view. When I visited London last March, I had the opportunity of watching a 9-year-old smoking cigarettes in lieu of eating. Unfortunately, the propaganda around smoking is overwhelmingly in the other direction. Cigarettes are the largest and most successful corporate scam ever. Big Tobacco lures vulnerable adolescents to try cigarettes and the overwhelming majority become customers for life. Smoking is a negative-sum game -- everyone loses. And while I believe that people should have the right to kill themselves if they so desire, I do not believe that my lungs and my taxes should have to pay for their choice. The amount of money spent by the U.S. government on treating tobacco-related illnesses is such that they could actually pay all of the tobacco company employees to stop making cigarettes and still come out ahead. Smoking kills more people annually than AIDS, auto accidents, murder, suicide, illegal drugs and alcohol -- combined. Dylan Brooks Wharton '00 To the Editor: In a very Hugh Grant-esque manner of protecting a leading lady from malicious comments, I find the need now to beg for mercy on behalf of Christina Ricci. Ariel Horn has a penchant for picking on people and practices. Most times she does it quite well and exposes hypocrisy in our daily lives. However, she has gone over board in her column entitled "Celebrating the worst that Hollywood has to offer" (DP, 4/5/00). Devoting two whole columns to Ricci's forehead is unfunny and tasteless. Granted "Crappy" Hollow deserved to be panned, but the actress did not -- especially for something that is beyond her control. There is enough insecurity on this campus without columns reinforcing the ideal. Ariel should be kinder to those who do not look so perfect. Lindsay Villani College '02