To the Editor:

A few days ago, I had the misfortune of witnessing a Yale tour guide showing his visitors the Women’s Table while standing on it and indicating the rings of 0’s with his shoe. I took deep offense to this act.

The Women’s Table is a monument, a memorial, a work of art given in honor of more than half of our current student body and, more importantly, to the brave minority of women who came before us. One simply should not stand on something that is meant to pay respect to others. Keep in mind that the sculpture was designed for water — a symbol of cleansing, purification, renewal — to run over its surface, not feet.

This is a central part of its meaning, and, if anything, one should observe the monument in quiet reverence, not with unruly trampling.

Yvonne Wu ’03

February 6, 2002