Letters to the Editor

Fundraising issues To the editor: Your coverage of the fundraising needs of the School of Arts and Sciences ("Staff editorial: Spreading the wealth," The Daily Pennsylvanian, 2/4/03) raises an important issue. We would like to take this opportunity to clarify some misconceptions. SAS fundraising efforts bring in approximately $40 million per year, primarily in support of priorities such as undergraduate education and faculty development. During most years, SAS ranks third among Penn's schools in total dollars raised behind the School of Medicine and Wharton. We agree wholeheartedly that there is a pressing need to address the condition of critical facilities such as Bennett Hall. For this reason, the School of Arts and Sciences has made it a fundraising priority. We are actively engaged in the process of educating our alumni, parents and friends to the need for this renovation. The school has developed a funding plan for this project that relies on both the generosity of our donors and internal resources. We expect to announce within the next six months a timetable for the completion of this project. Not everyone wants to support bricks and mortar; many donors find it more rewarding to support the faculty and students who make Penn great. We applaud their generosity and remind ourselves, and the Penn community, that these gifts free up other resources and help make it possible for the school to embark on the facilities projects that are so greatly needed. Samuel PrestonDean, School of Arts and Sciences Jean-Marie KneeleyVice dean for external affairs,School of Arts and Sciences Invasion without proof To the editor: Well, at least I know David Copley is a Republican ("A fight against the inevitable," DP, 2/3/03) because he's significantly forgetting a few elements of history and national trends at the moment. I enjoyed, "This makes him the only world leader in history to view the nuclear bomb as an offensive weapon rather than a deterrent." This obviously in reference to Saddam Hussein, who obviously is not someone we would view as a role model. However, it would make him the second considering the only country ever to use the nuclear bomb as a weapon is our country. We should not forget the horror that we caused in Japan through the use of the bomb. As much as I do agree that outward division among the parties is and unfortunately always will be a weakness of our government in foreign policy, the simple truth is that as a nation, we are growing disenchanted with the idea of an invasion without solid proof, as is told by the polling numbers which have dropped consistently over time concerning a possible war with Iraq. Our stance for whatever reason is much stronger against Iraq than North Korea, and it is questionable which is more of a danger to U.S. interests throughout the world. Not to mention that we cross a very dangerous line once we as a nation start to decide who is good enough to rule another nation. Perhaps the next time we have an election fiasco, England will decide we got it wrong and step in. Chris GoldingEngineering '03

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