Letters to the Editor

Successful event

To the Editor:

Last Saturday, Penn for Choice organized the second annual Sex Toy Box Social ("Students receive 'hands on' sex toy demo," DP, 1/30/06).

We wanted to have a fun, exciting and unique event that would raise significant funds for an important non-profit organization, the Women's Medical Fund, which provides funding to low-income women and girls who wish to terminate a pregnancy but lack the means to pay for an abortion.

We strongly stand by our event.

It was successful far beyond what we'd even planned: nearly 150 students attended, and we were able to raise twice as much money as last year's party. We understand that not everyone feels comfortable with the idea of discussing sex toys in public, and we respect their views.

However, we maintain that there is nothing wrong, inappropriate or even tasteless about a group of mature students over the age of 18 learning more about sex and pleasure.

Given the wonderful reception this event has had on campus for two years running, clearly many Penn students feel similarly.

We're lucky to attend a university where we feel free to talk about these issues, and we're proud of ourselves and the attendees of the party for making the Sex Toy Box Social such a successful event.

Leah Heifetz

College senior

The author is president of Penn for Choice

Non-compliance

To the Editor:

Normally relatively unaware of the outside world, I exist in the "Penn Bubble."

Either I'm cramming for a midterm, squeezing in another hour at Pottruck or getting ready to go out. Something I heard recently, however, has made me wake up (at least for the time being).

Pennsylvania's inability to comply with federal air quality standards for ozone is hurting the economy. Either ozone gets under control or Pennsylvania risks severe penalties, such as losing federal highway funds. Already, businesses are locating elsewhere to avoid stiff pollution taxes.

The Pennsylvania Clean Vehicles Program is part of the federally approved State Implementation Plan. A new SIP without the Clean Vehicles Program would likely strongly tax business and industry.

I urge legislators to keep the Pennsylvania Clean Vehicles Program as part of Pennsylvania's plan for clean air.

Kristen Sheaffer

College sophomore

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