Open for debate

To the Editor:

Regarding yesterday's staff editorial ("Keep Fling in the Quad," DP, 11/29/05), I certainly hope that the question of "Penn's identity" being tied to hosting perhaps the largest drinking party in the mid-Atlantic is open to debate, and I imagine that most Penn students' aspirations for what they will take away from Penn exceed being drunk for three straight days.

What is not debatable, and where the editorial becomes irresponsible, is the question of whether the Quadrangle is a safe place for this event. It is not. There are literally hundreds of hallways, lounges, stairwells, closets, bathrooms and more in which people can collapse or engage in harmful behavior without detection. I cannot imagine a less safe place on campus in which to hold this event.

At some point someone may die during Fling; holding the event in the Quadrangle greatly increases that possibility. Hiding Fling behind Gothic walls does not make it safer, nor does it make it healthier. Penn has a fantastic president, provost and executive vice president; rather than asking them to tie their hands on this issue, perhaps we should ask the entire Penn community to envision a Fling of which we can all be proud.

Philip Nichols

The author is faculty director of College Houses and Academic Services

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