To the Editor:
I normally love Melody Joy Kramer's columns, but in "Traditions in Jeopardy," (DP, 11/9/05) she couldn't be more off-base. Perhaps she meant to be funny, but comparing the protests of Penn students to protect their drunken "traditions" that result in needless vandalism and injuries with the riots in France, which stem from systematic racial, ethnic, class and religious discrimination, is just plain silly.
Additionally, her description of the "tradition" of pelting juniors with condiments and cat urine on Hey Day represents an all-too-common and erroneous perception. Until four years ago, that was not part of the Hey Day celebration, and it shouldn't be now.
I do agree with Kramer's suggestion that students attend the Nov. 30 University Council meeting to discuss the matter. Students should to come to the meeting with suggestions about how they would maintain the celebratory aspect of these spring traditions without them becoming the dangerous and destructive events witnessed in the last few years.
Kate Ward-Gaus
Associate director of the Office of Health Education
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