Letters to the Editor

Unfair portrayal To the Editor:

This past Wednesday, the Black Student League held a discussion ("Alumni Forum Discusses the State of U. Black Communities," The Daily Pennsylvanian, 3/29/02), the purpose of which was to begin a series of dialogues in which students can learn and grow from the insights and experiences of former black Penn students. The event drew over 50 students and successfully achieved its purpose.

Unfortunately, the success of this event was marred by a poorly written Daily Pennsylvanian article. Errors within the brief article misrepresented the speakers and seemingly attempted to downplay the event's attendance and effectiveness.

A picture of speaker Kevin Johnson was accompanied by the caption identifying him to be Rasool Berry. The speakers' identities were clearly stated during the event, and if there existed any confusion, a competent reporter or photographer would have asked for clarification.

The article also claimed that one of our distinguished speakers, Ayinde Stewart, spoke to a "modest audience of roughly 25." This misrepresents the actual attendance by half.

What was most offensive was that this misrepresentation was complemented with the word "modest." This choice of words gave the appearance of an attempt to diminish the effects of the speaker's words and the overall success of the event.

The article was very disappointing in light of the fact that Daily Pennsylvanian staff members have recently met with leaders of the Black Student League to end the misrepresentation of black students in your publication. This article sheds doubt as to the seriousness of your dedication to the previously mentioned goal.

We demand that you cover all future events with thoroughness, accuracy, respect, objectivity and fairness.

Brian Larkin

Wharton '03

The writer is president of the Black Student League.

A man of little virtue To the Editor:

Last week, Brad Olson wrote column about a naive girl and Brother Steve ("Recognizing the virtues of Brother Stephen," DP, 3/29/02). I am that naive girl, who simply said that Jesus did not teach fear or hate, but love and acceptance.

Several weeks ago on College Green, I stopped to watch the spectacle. Listening to Brother Steve screaming at a young man, "You are going to hell for smoking your reefer... for being a homo... for this... for that...," I could feel my heart pound. I was so amazed how a man could lie to himself so much that he believes his goal justifies his actions.

Brad Olson says he recognizes the virtue of Brother Steve. Initially, I, too, saw some virtue in his actions. However, I now realize that Brother Steve's goals are virtuous. Brother Steve thinks he is doing God's work. He thinks he is bringing people to the righteous path.

The problem is that what Brother Steve thinks he is doing is at odds with what he is actually doing.

Short-sighted as I was, I fed him the questions for which he had ready answers. I did not wish to elicit a Jerry Springer-like response. I wanted to see if he could answer my question. He did so by throwing the Koran on the ground and calling me the Anti-Christ.

I am the Anti-Christ because I asked him about tolerance.

Now, Brother Steve, do you really believe that by mocking questions like mine, people will be drawn to your truth? Yes, you are drawing a crowd. Yes, you are getting attention. Yes, people are writing about you.

But you are offending more people than you are saving. You are closing the door to more people than you are converting. You have lost sight of your goal.

That goal, that is so admirable, yet you have managed to skew and twist it to make ugly.

So, I was short-sighted, but neither you nor I can make Brother Steve more tolerant of other religions.

Michelle McMaster

Nursing '03

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