Letters to the Editor

Building a fence

To the Editor:

Generations of my family attended Penn but future generations may not. I hope the Penn administration is listening. Penn is an institution. It is not a political candidate or party. Its president and trustees are given the job of protecting only the University -- not the city, not its residents, not West Philly. Penn cannot solve the world's problems. It cannot attempt to "blend" with the "community" and hope its various residents will come along for the ride. Leave that to the Philadelphia politicians. Instead, Penn needs to protect itself, its faculty, its students and its alumni who have so much invested in it.

Many other similar institutions draw the line by installing a decorative iron fence around its property lines. Harvard Yard has one -- why not Penn? The Quad is protected, right? Why not have a fence, like other colleges do, around the University grounds through which you can only enter with valid ID? That way, Penn students will feel secure that Penn's core campus is protected. Political correctness must take a back seat when it comes to the risk of being murdered. Don't we all lock our doors at night? Penn is our house. Do what has to be done to keep it safe.

Laurie Kazenoff

College '82 Ulterior motives?

To the Editor:

Allow me, please, to comment on Mark Littmann's recent column about the Church of Scientology (Daily Pennsylvanian, 11/21/05). To answer the question, "Is Scientology all about faith or making money?" -- it is neither. What, then? One glance at Scientology's own "Code of Honor" should say enough: "Never fear to hurt another in a just cause" (Scientology Code of Honor, Rule #12).

It's okay to hurt people when you think you're right? Isn't that what Adolf Hitler did? And why would any church even mention in a code of honor that "to hurt another" is acceptable, much less honorable, conduct?

The Church of Scientology is in the business of bending minds. To what greater end, I shudder to think.

Bob Blake

College '72

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