Letters to the Editor

Look beyond numbers To the Editor:

The front page article on minority recruitment ("Ivy League Melting Pot," The Daily Pennsylvanian, 10/1/01) left me rather bewildered. I'm from India and the main reason I looked to U.S. for my higher education was because of the meritocratic foundation its society and it universities are built on.

Whether or not a student is admitted to Penn should be a question of qualifications, potential and merit -- not race or cultural background or anything along those lines.

To suggest that, say, Latinos should be more heavily recruited simply because other Ivy League schools have overtaken us on this prospect seems quite absurd. If the admissions office has set aside quotas for different groups -- then yes -- that is wrong. But to actively go out and recruit a certain group, ignorant of the prospective students' qualifications to simply boost numbers is even worse.

If the administration was to concentrate solely on the numbers of"diversity," they would in fact be fostering segragation and highlighting differences, when in fact their goals should be the exact opposite.

Merit and quality must not be compromised by an issue such as diversity. To me -- as a student at Penn -- the thrill of knowing that every person I talk to is an achiever and is headed somewhere is very refreshing and encouraging.

Dimitri Dube's comment that "If you look at faculty, you have one black faculty member in natural science. You have many black students who are pre-med, so when they look to find role models they just don't see the opportunity," also rings hollow. Why should African Americans only look to other African Americans for inspiration?

Aren't role model exemplary people who stand apart by virtue and not by race, gender or culture?

Saloni Mira Rai

Engineering '05

A plea for dignity

To the Editor:

On Sept. 14 -- in an attempt to heal at and the same time arouse the United States citizenry -- the "Battle Hymn of the Republic" rang out in the National Cathedral. In a rare lead editorial on a piece of music, The Wall Street Journal later opined, "A majestic hymn that has fortified American spirits throughout its bloodiest conflicts."

The famous example of music genius has served this country and our university since the Civil War, when it was the principle campfire song of the Union. The University preempted this song and it served us as "Hang Jeff Davis," or "The Field Cry of Penn." The anthem was a celebratory song sung after each Penn touchdown.

About 15 years ago, the undergraduates -- in celebration of their freedom to express bad taste publicly -- added the taunting epitaph "Fuck You!" to the last notes. University administrators, embarrassed by this sophomoric behavior, discouraged them unsuccessfully by having tubas attempt to drown out the insults to our guests as well as our own fans. Every attempt failed and eventually this historical piece was dropped from our formal repetoire.

In light of the events of Sept. 11, and to honor those who have died to enable us to publicly exhibit such bad taste, let us on Saturday, Penn football's opening day 2001, restore this song to Franklin Field with the honor, respect and dignity it deserves.

Clarence McGowan

Wharton '58

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