Letters to the Editor

Hairy-legged feminists

To the Editor:

Thank you for your coverage of the "Strength in Our Voices" event organized by STAAR earlier in the week. As the keynote speaker for the event, I would like to put into context a quote that was (correctly) attributed to me.

In noting that to challenge the campus sexual culture can get a student labeled a "troublemaker, or worse, a feminist," I hope readers understand the humor behind the remark. Personally, I wear the badge of feminism with pride and I believe that no progress would have been made in the movement to stop campus sexual violence, if it not for the dedication of committed feminists: students, staff and faculty. They have taken the brunt of the scorn from those who think rape and harassment somehow don't happen in the Ivy League.

Of course, feminism comes in 31 flavors, and anyone who has enrolled in a women's studies class knows that there is a multiplicity of views about what feminism encompasses. After all, some argue that it is not possible to be both male and feminist (of course I disagree).

You need not be a feminist to make a meaningful contribution to stopping sexual violence. Many STAAR members over the years would not call themselves feminists. But as for those hairy-legged radical feminists you've heard about over the years... well, count me among them.

Kurt Conklin

Center for Community Partnerships

The writer is a former staff member of the Office of Health Education. Support Penn, buy tickets

To the Editor:

I know I am biased when it comes to attendance matters at a Penn Basketball games -- whether women's or a men's. That said, I was disappointed to read that the number of students participating in "The Line" for men's basketball season tickets was so small this year.

While I realize that the men didn't have a perfect season last year, the team has been and is working hard to have a much better season. The team isn't going to just stop playing because they had an off year any more than you should stop supporting them.

Anyone who has ever been to a Penn-Princeton game knows how important the fans are to the game. As a former Penn basketball player, I can tell you that even just 100 more spectators in the Palestra can make all the difference.

It is possible to be a "fair-weather" fan, or to go jumping on and off the bandwagons of professional teams when they get to the playoffs, but the idea makes no sense in college as Penn is the only team we "have." You cannot claim disownership of one of our sports teams if they do badly and say "That's my team!" when they win. Either way, you are still going to graduate, teach or work at Penn.

So to all those people who aren't planning to buy tickets this year, or who are unsure because they don't know how the team will do, it's not too late -- go get them! Penn basketball is a fairly inexpensive and very fun way to spend an evening, let off steam and support your school. And who knows, if you make some noise, you might be part of the reason we have a winning team -- that'll make it that much more important to you when they are.

Diana Caramanico

College '01

The writer was a member of the Penn women's basketball team from 1997-2001 and was Ivy League player of the year in 1999, 2000 and 2001.

Please note All comments are eligible for publication in The Daily Pennsylvanian.