In last week’s “Letter to the Editor,” Amy Wieliczka ’10 audaciously pinned the entirety of the Ratio-Induced Bitch Syndrome problem on men, which I personally think is laying the blame a little heavy. For one thing, I have never seen a date exchanged for homework, because a RIBS-infected bytch would never be seen on a date with her nerdy “homework buddy.” At most, she’s going to wear a low-cut top to her study group. And while the obliging men aren’t helping matters in their desperation, they are certainly not the “real problem.” For a more in-depth analysis of the problem, please see the current issue of Statler & Waldorf.

While I agree that women aren’t entirely respected on this campus—or for that matter in the world—spelling women as “womyn” isn’t going to help us earn this respect. And neither will complaining about a well-intentioned and harmless campaign that was meant to lift the spirits of depressed singles on Valentine’s Day. Additionally, asking the student body to “rethink how it interacts with the opposite gender” is both an unrealistic and useless request. RPI’s social scene is inherently awkward, and cannot magically change in one day. Ratio-induced situations should be dealt with through compassion and understanding, and not through anger and self-righteousness.

I, for one, demand to be treated with the respect and dignity that I personally deserve, which should be granted on merit and not on my standing as a female.

Kat’s Note: “Womon” and “womyn” are spelled incorrectly. The spelling of “bytch” is stylistic.

Kat Foley ’10

MECL/COMM