Letters to the editor

Thoughts on 'Real World'

To the Editor:

The reasons for the upset at the loss of The Real World happen to be a little bit deeper than the letdown of not having a television show filmed in our city and not being "cool." Whether or not the producers pulled out as a ploy to reduce the picketing and resistance of the union workers, it will have a huge impact on the city and is extremely important that the decision to return has been made.

Firstly and most importantly, there is a brain drain in Philadelphia. It is a huge problem that cannot be ignored. With over 80 colleges and universities, you would think Philadelphia would be able to retain at least a decent percentage of its graduates.

On the contrary, there is a dearth of young professionals in the city who run off to New York, Washington D.C. or anywhere but here as soon as they graduate, who consequently are also necessary in order to increase the tax base, fund public services, help with desperately needed repairs to a poorly run subway system which only leads those who live in the suburbs to work in the suburbs because the transportation system does not go anywhere, further drawing jobs away from the city, sending it further into the spiral of decline.

What does this have to do with The Real World? Well, other than being "cool" for the sake of feeling socially superior, promoting Philadelphia as "cool" in the eyes of young professionals -- and future young professionals, let's say roughly 14 to 24 -- could give the city the boost it needs to recover from economic decline, debt and over 60,000 abandoned lots within its boundaries.

Call me crazy, but if the general public had a positive view of the city, maybe more young workers would want to live here, and then -- it's nuts, I know -- but maybe we could boost the young population, improve the job market, increase the tax base, help to redevelop the core of the city which in turn will spread to all of its struggling suburbs.

Lastly, I would like to make a statement in defense of Young Involved Philadelphia, who has been presented as an aid to MTV's ploy to screw the city. Many of the members happen to show a great concern for the future of the city, hoping to keep the show in order to raise interest in and enthusiasm about Philadelphia. One member happens to be writing an extensive thesis on the brain drain and has spent much of the past year trying to figure out exactly what drives graduates away.

Whether or not we have discovered what keeps young people out, we do know that The Real World will certainly help draw more young people in. Maybe it's all about the notoriety, but I think the impact of economic development, increase in employment, and urban redevelopment aided by a growing youthful population on the future are a little bit more important.

Jamie Berg

College '04

Importance of Vegan menu

To the Editor:

We at People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals applaud the King's Court/English House dining hall for offering students vegan fare for the Great American Meatout ("KC/EH to offer vegan menu today," The Daily Pennsylvanian, 3/24/04)

A vegan diet not only helps students fight the dreaded "Freshman 15" and other health problems -- such as heart disease, diabetes and cancer -- it saves countless animals from suffering. During his or her lifetime, the average American meat-eater is responsible for the abuse and deaths of some 2,618 factory-farmed animals, including approximately 2,494 chickens, 82 turkeys, 31 pigs, 11 steers and calves, and thousands of fish. Every vegan at the University is personally helping to save these animals.

Students at the University of California at Berkeley also convinced their school officials to offer more vegan options in the cafeteria. For more information and great tips on how they veganized their school cafeteria, check out GoVeg.com and PETA2.com.

Heather Moore

Staff Writer, PETA

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