A starting point
To the Editor:
I wanted to thank all of those who participated in last Friday's town hall sponsored by The Daily Pennsylvanian and several minority coalitions. For those who witnessed the event, it was clear that a true dialogue between these groups is possible despite their recent and historical rifts. A wide array of opinions were voiced at this town hall, and judging from the nature of the interaction that took place, a lot of listening went on as well.
As someone with allegiances to both the DP and the various coalitional causes (and as an organizer of the event), I feel like Friday's discussion was a constructive step in making up for prior difficulties in communication between the parties involved. There may be no way to actually undo the injustices or misunderstandings of the past, but by keeping focused on creating a space for open and honest dialogue, the leaders from either side, as well as members of their communities, demonstrated that they want to see a change. And while there is still more work to be done on bringing these groups together, I hope Friday can serve as a true starting point for resolution.
Paul Farber SAS '05
