Penn cannot continue to enforce laws selectively
To the Editor:
I'd like to point out the irony and sheer hypocrisy of the two cover stories in Friday's The Daily Pennsylvanian ("U. calls off frat poker event due to Pa. law," and "Penn employs no set guidelines in response to student violations," DP, 11/19/04).
Here we have the University banning charity poker tournaments while issuing a "no set guidelines" policy for alcohol violations. Gambling and underage drinking are both illegal under commonwealth law, so could the University please clarify its decision to enforce some Pennsylvania laws while taking a lax approach to others?
Not to mention the fact that charity poker events raise money for and contribute to the community, while underage drinking, quite simply, does not.
As the co-director of fundraising for one of Penn's community service organizations, I have spent the past month planning a charity poker tournament. On behalf of myself, Colin McDonald of Phi Kappa Sigma and the countless other individuals planning similar events on Penn's campus, I would like to declare that we have a right to fundraise for student clubs and activities, that it's not fair for the University to selectively enforce Pennsylvania law and that it's especially unacceptable for administrators to make decisions that have such widespread effects without asking for any student input.
In my view, poker tournaments that offer prizes, which have been donated from local businesses, and in which the organization hosting the event is not reaping a profit, are no different from raffles and should therefore be permitted as legitimate fundraising events. I sincerely hope that the Penn administration and the Office of General Counsel will engage in open and respectful discourse with the Penn student community and that a clear and consistent policy will be agreed upon as a result.
Chloe Frankel College '06
The writer is co-director of fundraising for National Student Partnerships.
Spirit may be lacking, but don't blame Coach Lake
To the Editor:
On Friday, Craig Cohen ("Football and our lack of school spirit," DP 11/19/04) correctly identified a lack of school spirit as a factor contributing to low attendance at football games. However, his attempt to place the blame for this problem on the administration, the football team and the mascot is off the mark.
For the past four years, as the mascot, I have toured campus with Dan "Coach Lake" Staffieri every Friday before home football games, drumming up support. Lake calls out to everyone on campus through his megaphone while I share high fives and hugs with passersby. Lake has been supporting and promoting Penn football with this kind of enthusiasm and energy for over 25 years, with no plans of stopping anytime soon.
Since my freshman year, the Quaker has been at every home and away football game, while no other mascot in the Ivy League has appeared at Franklin Field.
I've poured my energy and sweat into every game I've mascoted, cheering the team on to continued success. The administration, the team and all the fans of Penn athletics have always been tremendously supportive of my efforts.
On the coldest of afternoons, anyone who comes in contact with Lake is warmed by his love for Penn and for football. Thanks to Lake's efforts, school spirit is still alive at Penn. The spirit was strong enough to inspire me to be the mascot, and it's strong enough to inspire anyone else who seeks it out to cheer our teams on to victory.
For years to come, Lake and the Quaker will continue to promote Penn athletics. In the meantime, Lake would appreciate not being called an old man. As he says, "You're only an old man if your back goes out more than you do. You're only an old man if your knees buckle more than your belt does."
Gabe Di Clerico
Wharton '05
