Letters to the Editor

WQHS ignored by Penn

To the Editor:

Could you imagine what Penn would be like if The Daily Pennsylvanian reporters had only typewriters and pencils to work with and their photographers had only Polaroid cameras that often broke? How would Penn be different if a few professional players were hired to help improve the quality of the football team, but as time went on, the team became entirely professional? I imagine that Penn would be a very different place -- less informed and certainly less focused on student life.

The preceding two scenarios are nothing compared to the sad state of affairs that Penn's student radio station, WQHS, is facing at this moment. Nick Spitzer's guest column ("Putting Penn back into WXPN radio," DP, 10/07/04) questioned the need for the University to continue its relationship with WXPN, since it hardly benefits or interests students. Spitzer lamented the sad transition of XPN from student-run to its present state of being entirely professionally run, and I could not agree more. However, what Mr. Spitzer failed to realize is that there is indeed a student-run radio station, WQHS. The station has been struggling for years to stay alive, severely underfunded and essentially forgotten by the University.

XPN's recent move from the building it has shared with WQHS for years has proven fruitful for XPN. But it has had some sad consequences for the student station. While WQHS will be moving out soon as well, in the interim University officials have completely forgotten that the student-run station exists in the building. They have shut off the phone line and the Internet connection, which is crucial to the station because we broadcast on the Internet.

QHS is scrambling to move into another building on 30th and South streets during winter break. As we attempt to continue to broadcast, tiptoeing around the demolition of the building, we have been told that soon we will have to use the back entrance of the building to stay out of the way of construction.

In short, these past few weeks have proven to us that the University underfunds us and doesn't realize the potential that WQHS has as a voice for the students. Now is a time for students, faculty and staff to decide if they believe that Penn would benefit from having a radio station centered on University life and community issues. If you believe that Penn would benefit, please contact us to find out about ways you can support our cause.

Kaelsie Saravia

College '06

The writer is the station manager of WQHS. The struggle for gay rights

To the Editor:

For many in the Penn community, National Coming Out Day is an open invitation to step forward and say for the first time who they are. While the words have turned into a bit of a cliche, the process of "coming out" is still a pivotal point in the life of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered individuals.

As recently as the 1950s, stating that you were gay could have legally landed you in an asylum or prison. In fact, it wasn't until the Supreme Court overturned Bowers v. Hardwick last summer that consenting adults could legally practice homosexual intercourse. This year, the president has proposed the Federal Marriage Amendment seeking to federally ban and annul marriages between same-sex couples, marking the first time that the U.S. Constitution would be used to deny liberties to a specific group. The state of being LGBT in American society is still an uncomfortable one at best.

The LGBT rights movement, which began in the late '60s, has continually struggled for equal rights -- a struggle that is far from over. Due to increased exposure in the media, it is easy to believe that LGBT individuals are fully accepted in our society. The fact remains that hate crimes persist, intolerance continues and "that's so gay" is still a widely used pejorative. In this environment, it is crucial for us all to "come out" in support of our friends, family, neighbors and classmates.

Prem Tumkosit

College '05

The writers are on the 2004-05 board of Allies.

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