UMC criticizes Walk decision in letter to Hackney

The United Minorities Council voted last night to send a letter to President Sheldon Hackney stating they are dissatisfied with his decision to accept the Committee to Diversify Locust Walk's report. A first draft of the letter stresses the UMC's disappointment with the committee's failure to recommend removal of fraternities from the Walk. It emphasizes, however, that it is not the fraternity's fault that they are in the center of campus. "The letter is not anti-fraternity," UMC chairperson You-Lee Kim said last night. "It's not fair to them. They did not plan to dominate." The preliminary letter, which was reviewed by representatives of all nine groups in the UMC, stresses that the UMC finds the report unacceptable because it does not create space for other groups. But it also says, "Both those currently on Locust Walk and those excluded from it are victims of circumstances." Kim, who wrote the first draft, said she expects a response from Hackney. In addition, Kim has met with Vice Provost for University Life Kim Morrisson about the report. "I met with her to express concerns of the lack of strength of the report," Kim said. "Morrisson said she will look into having more minorities on committees that address specific problems in the future." Kim also said she has already scheduled a meeting with Hackney. The preliminary letter also said ethnic minorities, as well as women, gays, lesbians and bisexuals, do not want to be asked to become part of the Walk, but rather have their right to be there asserted. "In other words, we do not want to be invited as guests by a benevolent host," the letter said. "We want to be recognized in our rightful place as full and equal members of the family." The UMC made no specific recommendations about how to reach this goal. The UMC voted not to change the basic content of the letter, but to revise it to clarify points. Representatives from each group in the UMC will sign the letter, which is to be printed on UMC letter-head stationary. But according to Penn Women's Alliance member Wai-Sum Lee, who was invited to last night's UMC meeting but did not attend, the alliance is not planning on signing the letter. "We decided this is not the appropriate time for us to make a statement," Lee said.

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