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(01/17/00 10:00am)
From Ronald Kim's, "The Wretched of the Earth," Fall '00 From Ronald Kim's, "The Wretched of the Earth," Fall '00The birthday of Martin Luther King marks a familiar annual American ritual of remembrance and celebration. Millions of citizens of all racial and ethnic origins are encouraged to reflect upon the amazing achievements of King and the civil rights movement, and more broadly, what it means to be an American. Instead I'm going to talk about the kind of places where King's dream never comes close to being dreamt. A couple of months ago I met an old classmate who is now working on the Penn campus. I hadn't talked to him in almost two years and was surprised to find out that he was also teaching at a middle school in North Philadelphia. Though I didn't grow up in a neighborhood like the one around my friend's school, I thought I had a pretty good idea of what conditions there were like. Man, was I wrong. Kids coming to school high -- if at all -- or selling drugs you've never even heard of in the bathrooms and hallways. Twelve-year-old girls giving birth in the cafeteria. A majority of students can't even read at a fourth-grade level. Over three quarters of black males disappear from the Philadelphia public school system between the ages of 10 and 18, many literally lost from the records. One can debate endlessly who is to blame for allowing conditions to deteriorate to the point of desperate inhumanity. But there is no question that these children grow up on blocks where the only functioning traces of social organization are liquor stores and drug-dealing operations. This is probably the worst imaginable environment for fostering self-esteem, hope or academic performance. Imagine walking down the block to a school that hasn't seen repairs, new lab equipment or (in the worst cases) new books in decades, and seeing a banner proclaiming that "The American Dream is Alive and Well at 'Hood High." And for MLK's birthday, someone in your class is asked to read that famous "I have a dream" speech all over again. And nobody dares discuss the true meaning behind those words, to ask whether that dream will be realized anytime soon -- not to mention the struggle against segregation, in a school whose students' faces make a mockery of Brown v. Board of Education. As award-winning educator and writer Jonathan Kozol points out in the book Savage Inequalities, such empty slogans cause even more damage to children who desperately need real answers and hope, not worthless platitudes and political soundbites. Rarely in a suburban high school would you see a banner proclaiming the survival of the American Dream. It would seem not only unnecessary, but almost laughable. Why broadcast the obvious? Consider on the other hand what happened to Kozol in the 1960s, when he dared to have students in a poor grade school in Boston read Langston Hughes' almost equally famous words about "a dream deferred." He was promptly relieved of his teaching position for including "inappropriate material." Once again, Kozol points out, suburban schools place no such restrictions on their curricula. One poem by a great writer of the Harlem Renaissance poses no threat to the minds of young, well-off, mostly white children, who are more likely to reflect on how they might not grow up to be an astronaut than on the contradiction of being poor in the richest nation on earth. To be sure, as author Walter Mosley argues in his most recent book, this is beginning to change now that more and more white Americans are losing control of their lives and finding themselves victims of HMOs, corporate downsizing, globalization and other consequences of The System. But the racial and economic gap isn't going away anytime soon, not as long as we refuse to face the tragedy of inner-city neighborhoods. Children don't know much about politics or the workings of the outside world, but they are often more keenly observant of hypocrisy than adults. For the children of North Philadelphia and many other urban hellholes around the country, King's birthday -- meant to be a celebration of all the moral and social progress that has been made against racial oppression and inequality -- has become yet another painful reminder of a world beyond their reach. To those children, and to those who suspect that I have done a disservice to the name of the great Southern preacher, consider this. In 1964, a leader of a very different black civil rights movement angrily declared, "I don't see any American Dream. I see an American nightmare."
(12/05/97 10:00am)
The Associated Press HARRISBURG (AP) -- For years, Joe Moerder says he tried to warn adults from buying booze for underaged drinkers, to no avail. "I say, 'I know you're not drinking all this.' They say, 'Don't tell me -- you just have to sell to me'," said the owner of Big Jack's Brewers Outlet in Pottsville. But since May, with Moerder's cooperation, undercover agents have made two arrests at his business in a pilot sting operation in Schuylkill County. "Cops in Shops" uses $500,000 in federal grants to pay officers overtime and has been tested for the past six months in Schuylkill County, where reported successes are anecdotal. It will be expanded to 45 counties and municipalities by the end of 1998. The program, which began in Delaware in 1991, is intended to ultimately curb drunken-driving fatalities, said Stephen Schmidt, education director for the state Liquor Control Board. In 1996, state police arrested 2,548 minors for underage drinking and cited 318 businesses for sales to minors. That same year, there were 1,275 drinking drivers under age 21 involved in alcohol-related crashes, up 6 percent from 1995, according to the state Transportation Department. Cops in Shops -- coordinated by the Liquor Control Board and the Transportation Department -- allows beer distributors, bars and wine and spirit shops to voluntarily work with officers, who rotate to each business. Posters plastered on windows, coolers and cash registers also warn potential violators that undercover police could be on the premises. The program will officially kick off in Lancaster on Friday, where about 30 retailers will work with 15 police departments.
(03/26/97 10:00am)
This article appeared in the joke issue. This article appeared in the joke issue.To the Editor: With your reporters checking in to my hotels before I do, I've enjoyed having something more than just the usual mint on my pillow waiting for me to arrive. And I would particularly like to thank Dina Bass for letting United Airlines know what hotel I was staying in in West Palm Beach, Fla., after they lost my luggage. I understand some former DP staffers do not yet have a full-time job lined up for after graduation. If any of them would like to handle my travel reservations, that would be fine with me. I need to book a trip soon to Providence, R.I., so get in touch ASAP. Stanley Chodorow Provost Won't you be my neighbor To the Editor: I'm just write-diddily-iting to let all you happy folks know that I'm beginning a new campus crusade next month! That's right: I've bought that Fels shack at 39th and Walnut, and I'll be living and operating my new, upscale Leftorium there! How do ya diddily do, neighbor Judy? My two boys, Rod and Todd, just can't wait to sing Bible songs with your son Alex! And I'm sure you and Maude will get along just swell (just don't underline passages in her Bible -- she can't stand that). I'm even renovating a part of the building into a bomb shelter -- just in case another comet comes. And since I was a frat boy myself in college, the guys across the street will be more than welcome in my humble abode! Just remember: The handle's Flanders, but the friends call me Ned! Until next time, have an absitively posolutely terrific day! Ned Flanders Judy Rodin's New Neighbor More Women's Track! To the Editor: I would like to thank The Daily Pennsylvanian's sports department for its consistent and fair coverage of the Penn women's track team this past winter. Although our meets are all unscored and take place in every city on the East Coast but Philadelphia, the DP has never failed to make space for the accomplishments of these wonderful athletes. Keep up the good work, DP! Tony Tenisci Penn Asst. Women's Track Coach P.S. Great job on the Mr. and Ms. Penn contests, too. 'Get thee behind me' To the Editor: Imagine my surprise when I picked up today's Daily Pennsylvanian and saw the hidden message contained on the front page. "Satan is the true God. Surrender to his awful power. You will all rot in hell for eternity." Now, many have accused your paper of biases -- the Greek system, anti-Greeks, conservatives, liberals, members of minority groups, white supremacists, etc. -- but this takes the cake. Little do your myriad critics know that every editor at the DP is secretly pledged to serve Lucifer. In researching your demonic connections a little further, I discovered something everyone should know: Managing Editor Mike Madden has horns, cloven hoofs and a big red tail. If that doesn't prove the DP's evil, I don't know what does. So next time true Christian students go to read the paper, I hope they say, "Get thee behind me, Satan," and leave it on the newsstand. Rabbi Jeremy Brochin The conservative side Dear Sirs: What a relief it was to discover your magnificent publication during my latest visit to the Penn campus. It is encouraging to find such an articulate, thoughtful group of young conservatives on Penn's otherwise liberal wasteland. I was particularly smitten by Marc Leader's piece, "Marge Schott: Not Such a Bad Broad." I agree with the assessment that Ms. Schott's pro-Hitler comments were taken completely out of context. It is such a travesty when the liberal media abuses its ill-gotten power. I have enclosed a $500 donation in the hopes that your fine publication can continue bringing the truth to light amid so much darkness. F. Maxwell Sterling College '44 P.S. This is The Red and Blue, isn't it? 27-across, 5-down To the Editor: I just wanted to tell the DP how much I appreciate the great service they provide to all students every day of their publication. That service is: the crossword puzzle. Just think about it. Where would we all be if we actually had to participate in class or take notes if we didn't have a crossword puzzle to do? We might all get As! I especially enjoy the challenging aspect of the puzzles as they get harder as the week progresses. And that satisfied feeling I get when I've completed all of Monday's crossword cannot be compared to anything. This is just my small way of saying how much I appreciate the DP offering this valuable product that adds tremendously to student life. Valerie Swain Cade McCollum Vice Provost for University Life TA defends language skills To the Editor: Me write letter to tell how I teach good. Why students not like how me speak, I try hard. I come not from U.A.S. but go far from there. It nice country where I born, here everyone not so nice. I think me talk in good, clear English, but class my half don't up show each day. Class I teach called "English as Second Language," I think I do real good job doing it as teacher, and I learn much good way you all here at school speak. I feel I understand lot more now that I been here for two month, and I think other TAs like I can speak good language too. You all give us all chance to prove wrong you. Next semester I teach lots more and then become professor in Economics department. John Smith SAS doctoral student
(10/09/96 9:00am)
Of those 1.2 million, how many will be Penn students living on- or off-campus? None. If you still want to watch Quakers football in action, you're going to have to continue to wait one more day and hope UTV13 hasn't botched another videotape beyond all recognition. And even if they do get the lighting right, the players always seem to run up- or downhill thanks to a tilted camera. In theory, a new television contract could have solved the UTV problem of time-delay and poor production, and since Comcast is also airing a couple Quakers men's soccer games, Penn athletics could have enjoyed a little more attention than they are used to -- even if it is from the comfort of our dorm rooms. Yet for some reason, Athletic Director Steve Bilsky thought he was pretty smart when he signed the contract. Earlier this year, Bilsky cited Comcast as his preferential cable system because of its recent growth, including the purchases of the Phillies and Flyers as well as their venues. But this deal is about as crazy as Philadelphia's NFL television deal. If the Eagles don't sell out a game, the game is blacked out locally. By signing with Comcast, Bilsky has unintentionally blacked out every Penn game locally. Penn athletics will now be broadcast to the furthest reaches of the region, but not in West Philly, the site of the live action. So will anyone receiving Comcast Cablevision really care? The immediate Penn community -- the community that cares the most about Penn athletics will have to continue the backwards ways it has been doing things. Random people in the area will get a five-second glimpse of a Penn men's soccer game as they flip through the channels. But they will still be experiencing five seconds more than the average Penn student who doesn't go down to Rhodes Field for either lack of interest or ignorance of the field's location. A good television deal that envelopes everyone, from students to the surrounding community, would have helped Penn sports, like men's soccer, get a little more attention in the Penn community -- the place the attention needs to be brought first. In addition, a good television contract would also let an average Penn student watch an away basketball game on television, instead of waiting for the occasional ESPN broadcast. What makes matters worse is that this deal is not a money-maker for the University or the athletic department, which is facing a $200,000 debt. In other words, Bilsky has settled on a television package that provides only one benefit to the department and University -- to spread Penn athletics to those completely unaffiliated with Penn. In defense of Bilsky, actually landing a television deal is clearly a step in the right direction. Penn athletics has appeared on Prism, Wade Cablevision and SportsChannel-Philadelphia in the past, but now the Quakers have a multi-sport plan to call its own. Bilsky's choice in Comcast is also smart in that the cable network is also courting Princeton for another Ivy League television deal. The main difference is that Princeton students will able to watch what is aired on Comcast, while Penn students are stuck with Wade Cablevision or ResNet -- both unaffiliated with Comcast. At the very least, the University should have included in the deal the rights to air Comcast over ResNet. As for off-campus students, their best bet was for another deal altogether. But since all is said and done, commuters or people completely unaffiliated will be able to watch Penn sports. But would they want to? Certainly not as much as we do.
(11/18/91 10:00am)
Graduate students on meal plan will not have to share their dinner hour with undergraduates anymore. Graduate students lost their only grad-student-only dining commons when the Law School dormitory was demolished earlier this year. This year, graduate students said they had nowhere to eat without being bombarded by undergraduates. Second-year Fine Arts graduate student Heidi Tarshis said she has been eating dinner at Hill House and has had to deal with "freshmen throwing food." "For a grad student, you don't really want that while you're eating," Tarshis said. And Dining Services Director William Canney said he understands the need for graduate students to have their own dining facility. "It's much like you have the UA to represent the undergraduates and GAPSA to represent the graduate students," Canney said last week. "Likewise the graduate students would like their own area [to eat]." But Canney said the problem was not solved before the school year began because Dining Service lacks space this year due to the closing of the dining rooms in English House and the Law dorms. "I'm space-poor right now," he said. "I'm serving as many people this year in two less facilities." The English House dining room will reopen next fall, while the new Law School dining room will not open until 1993. The Mendelson Room seats 120 people and as many as 350 graduate students are eligible for dinner, Canney said. But Canney said that he is "looking at about 250 people" to eat at the T-House during the 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. dining hours. Some graduate students have cancelled their meal plans this year because of the lack of a dining facility, according to Tarshis, who spearheaded the drive for private dining space. While the problem may be solved for now, graduate students will again lack dining space next fall when the football team, which normally dines there, returns to the field. "Come the fall, I'm still in the same dilemma," Canney said. If the number of students who use the facility is low, there is a possibility that the program may not continue through next year, but Canney said he is "optimistic about the count." Yet many graduate students, and Canney himself, agree that the location may keep many students away. "I think it's a good idea, granted I would like it a little closer to Grad Towers," said third-year law student Eric Costello, who added that he would "try it on opening night." First-year Law student Valerie Kelly agreed that the location was one of the things that may keep her from dining at the facility. "To me, it seems a little remote," she said. "They do have to walk a couple of blocks to get to Training House," Canney said, but he added that he thinks it is worth it. The Mendelson Room will also continue the tradition of serving wine on Friday nights, which was started by the Law School dining room. Canney also said that Dining Services has found a way to solve the problem of long lines during the lunch hours at Hill House. A second cashier will be added during the peak times around noon to ease some of the traffic, Canney said. The extra line will be in place sometime this week, he said.
(10/25/91 9:00am)
They're ba-ack. These style-conscious masses will be buying up vast quantities of University-logoed paraphernalia, taking endless pictures of the Ben Franklin statue, and making local restaurants forget that the recession ever occurred. Yes, it's that special Parents Weekend time again. And as usual, the University community has gone all out to make sure that the folks feel they are getting their money's worth. From today until Sunday, the University will be abuzz with receptions, wine and cheese affairs, and cocktail parties, providing ample opportunity for the masses of mothers to show off what little University trivia they remember from the campus tour they took years ago, and for the flocks of fathers to munch on mounds of hors d'oeuvres. Engineering junior Ken MacFarlane's plans will be typically packed with many activities. MacFarlane said that he and his parents plan to attend Performing Arts Night, a reception with Engineering School Dean Gregory Farrington, a brunch for Band members and their parents, see the football game, and go out to dinner. For many, the highlight of the weekend will be the football game tomorrow afternoon. Hundreds of excited Mommies and Daddies will meet up with their groggy-eyed progeny to see the winless Quakers play the winless Brown University Bears. And much to the joy of local eateries, the "Proud Penn Parents" have brought their credit cards. Wayne Right, manager of Center City favorite Astral Plane, said that "our reservations are almost booked for the weekend," and seafood restaurant Bookbinder's 15th Street Seafood House owner Richard Bookbinder said Parents Weekend is "usually big for us." But while some fear the annual onslaught of the middle-aged, many students said they were looking forward to the occasion, or at least to the free meals. College freshman Becky Anderko said she is excited for her parents' impending arrival Saturday from Bethlehem. "We plan to go to the game and go out to dinner," Anderko said. "I guess I'm looking forward to it, but I just saw them over break." Anderko said she wasn't worried about her parents' embarrassing her, because "everybody else's parents will be there too, so it won't be a big deal." Some students, however, felt that Parents Weekend arrived too close to Fall Break. Wharton freshman Todd Hazelkorn said he is "kinda indifferent" to his parents' Long Island trek, adding "a lot of people just went home, [there's] no thrill in seeing your parents again . . . I had gone home for fall break." But Hazelkorn's disappointment was lessened by the prospect of free food. "It's good for a free meal, maybe two," Hazelkorn said. MacFarlane said he feels Parents Weekend is a good idea. "It gives parents a chance to see what they are paying for," MacFarlane said. High Rise North Desk Receptionist Stephanie Robinson said that she has already given out 12 weekend guest passes to parents, and that she expects to pass out "dozens more." "The students are excited and so are the parents," Robinson said.
(04/03/91 10:00am)
If you want to learn the lambada, don't rent The Forbidden Dance. And if you want Mexican food, hold off on going out to eat. At least until Saturday night. According to Festival Latino de Penn Planning Committee Co-Chairperson Isabella Casillas, the week is a chance for the University community to learn about its Latin American members. "The purpose of the festival is to spread the Latino culture to as many people as possible," Casillas said. The name of the week was changed into Spanish this year, after being called the "Latino Festival" since its inception in 1982. Zenaida Rosado, another co-chairperson of the Festival, said organizers felt the English title was contrary to the spirit of the awareness week. "The festival is based on culture," said Rosado. "A name in English defies everything, when the culture is based in Spanish." Rosado added all of the events are in English, "so everyone can attend." This year was also the first in which the group funded a supplement in The Daily Pennsylvanian. According to Casillas, the supplement gave Latino students a chance to express themselves through poetry and prose, as well as outlining the events of the week. The culmination of the week will be the "Fiesta Latina," which will take place Saturday night at the Christian Association. The event will feature two live bands, Minas and Orquestra Panama. In preparation for the event, Latin American dance lessons will be held tomorrow night at McClelland Hall at 8 p.m., where participants will be able to learn to dance the salsa, merengue, samba and lambada from a professional dance instructor. Organized by a number of different Latin American organizations on campus, the week begins tonight with "Literature, Language, and Destiny in Translation," a presentation given by Rosario Ferre, a renowned Puerto Rican writer who has taught Latin American literature at several universities. According to Casillas, Ferre will be speaking at Bodek Lounge at 8 p.m. about what is lost when literature is translated into another language. Casillas said organizers chose to concentrate this year on presenting as many regions and backgrounds of Latin America as possible. Organizers are also hoping the week will help dispel negative Latin American stereotypes. "Maybe some of the prejudice will be eliminated," said Rosado. With the exception of the Mexican Dinner, which is $7, all events are free of charge.
