Letters to the Editor

Defending clubs

To the Editor:

Regarding Alex Weinstein's column about Penn club sports ("No experience necessary," 1/11/07) doing a disservice to the Penn community: As the coach of club baseball when Weinstein tried out, I do not understand what he is complaining about. Based on what Weinstein, who donned a ballpark giveaway Phillies' uniform throughout tryouts, showed to our coaches at the "half-assed" tryout, he did not deserve to make the team.

Weinstein goes on to claim that we are hurting ourselves by cutting players who perform poorly in tryouts. Since our roster was already too big, around 35 players, we were, for better or worse, willing to take the chance that we would not benefit from having him on the team.

As for us trying to "get this over with as fast as possible": Weinstein was cut after the first tryout, but there were at least three later tryouts from which more players were cut. 15 players tried out last year (down from the usual 40) and seven made the team. I actually think it is overkill to have three tryouts for 15 people, especially if they are as unappreciative as Weinstein.

Finally, due to varsity restrictions, we could not use Penn's field last fall. Regardless, in order to ensure walk-ons the chance to tryout, we held tryouts at a field in Northeast Philadelphia. While it was not the nicest field, or neighborhood, it gave everyone a chance. As for Weinstein, his walking around this neighborhood dressed like the Phillie Phanatic did not give the rest of us much chance of getting through tryouts alive.

Harry Crane C'06

The author was the club baseball coach from 2005 to 2006

Crime prevention

To the Editor:

I would like to express our deepest regrets over Mr. Boyd's experience detailed in his "Letter to the Editor" on 1/11/07. It is terribly unfortunate that Mr. Boyd and his roommates were victimized by crime over the winter break with a burglary of their residence.

The Division of Public Safety offers comprehensive safety and security services, however, and works vigilantly to ensure that the Penn community has the resources it needs both to prevent crime and to deal with the repercussions of crime.

Even with a 24/7 network of police, security and CCTV, the opportunity for crime will remain, if there is a motivated offender.

Safety and security is a shared responsibility, and neither DPS nor the Penn community can become complacent in our efforts to protect ourselves. Working together, in partnership, through education and increased awareness, will be much more effective in removing opportunities for crime, than police and security presence alone.

Please visit the DPS Web site at: www.publicsafety.upenn.edu for a complete list of services we offer, including registering off-campus residences for a Special Checks program, where police will make three checks of your property each day for any unusual or suspicious activity while you are away.

Maureen Rush

The author is vice president for public safety at Penn

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