Campus leaders, groups fight Hey Day sexism

There will be styrofoam hats and walking canes aplenty, as juniors continue the traditions of Hey Day today, including a procession from Hill Field to Junior Balcony, all while chanting, "Hey! Hey!"

But in past Hey Day celebrations, juniors have chanted more than that.

Last year, during an address from University President Judith Rodin, a group of students shouted, "Show us your tits."

"I have never heard it, so this came as a significant surprise to me," Rodin said. "It is loud and raucous, so it is hard to hear anything up there."

Still, Rodin said, "Students ought to be responsible for Penn's image -- it has nothing to do [with] my image or their image -- but we all represent an incredible university and have a responsibility."

Taking at least the first steps of responsibility, student organizations and leaders -- including Senior Class President Billy Moore and Junior Class President Meredith Seidel -- have condemned the demeaning chants in written statements.

In an effort supported by the Penn Women's Center, campus women's organizations are working to encourage juniors to refrain from making inappropriate comments.

"Students are talking to other students and establishing the way we ought to relate to each other on this campus," Women's Center Director Elena DiLapi said.

"A very concrete and visible way to interrupt sexism in practice," she continued, "is by engaging in dialogue and making choices about how we want to behave."

Rodin echoed DiLapi in praising the student discourse.

"Students' response to one another on this issue has been laudable," Rodin said. "They will make one another see that behavior that is disrespectful to anyone on this campus poorly represents Penn and our student body will not appreciate it."

Undergraduate Assembly Chairman Jason Levy agreed that the remarks should be denounced, but emphasized that drawing attention to the past may not be so effective.

"I can see how the effect of publicizing an incident that happened last year may backfire in that before this was publicized, few, if any, juniors knew about it," Levy said.

But, Levy added, "Hey Day is abut class unity and when a segment of a class or a group of people in our class feels uncomfortable or marginalized, I think it's important for student leaders to make it clear that hurtful drunken comments should not be tolerated."

College junior Penelope Thomas, who will take part in today's procession, said she hopes that students choose not to repeat last year.

"I think most people are drunk, that's why they say it," Thomas said. "I disagree with it because she's our president and she should be respected."

"There are other ways of celebrating Hey Day than making fun of her," she added.

College junior Robby Sikka will not be in the procession, but he echoed Thomas.

"I hope everyone is quiet so I can study for the MCATs," the College junior said. "In general, I don't think it's appropriate."

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