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This Issue 12/07/2006

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• Give me 5
• Meryl Street is a Fucking Genius

University President Amy Gutmann was hoping for more Treats than tricks at her annual Halloween party at her mansion on 39th and Walnut Streets. But leave it to surprise guest Meryl Street, in her most provocative turn yet, to spark a national (and, arguably, international) frenzy. Meryl Street Magazine sifts through the controversy, the blogs, the rumors and the espionage to tell the true story behind the Meryl Street - Amy Gutmann Halloween photo scandal and looks for an answer to the question on everyone's mind:Is Meryl Street a terrorist?

The theme of the October 31 bash was The Wizard of Oz, with Penn's favorite sprite, Gutmann, dressed as Glinda the Good Witch. Over 700 unoffensively costumed students attended, along with dozens of faculty, staff and other guests. How could anyone expect what was to happen next?

Meryl Street, Academy Award winning actress and member of an alleged terrorist organization, was photographed standing next to Gutmann. After the media got hold of these photos, Gutmann, Penn, and Street herself were faced with a firestorm of criticism from blogs, lobbyists and student revolutionaries.

"The truth is that Meryl Street is a member of a known terrorist organization," Jenna McCarthy says. "Her actions have been documented in plain sight. She has been a member for 29 years."

McCarthy is the leader of a newly founded coalition of Internet bloggers leading an outspoken campaign in reaction to the photos of Gutmann and Street. The name of the coalition - Mitigating Terrorism Voraciously (MTV) - underscores its primary goal of cutting off terrorist thought at its source: the University. Some of MTV's main goals include the firing of Gutmann, divestment of funds and endowments from Penn, and finally a dissolution of the university.

"It is an outrage that Gutmann would pose in a photo with [Street]. This goes beyond an error of judgment. This reflects a deep-seeded mindset held by the University of Pennsylvania. This university supports terrorism indirectly, by harboring and giving them awards and funding. MTV is a call to arms against Penn and terrorist organizations like the one to which Street belongs."

The organization in question is the AMPAS, or the Academy of Motion Picture of Arts and Sciences. Known to many as the honorary and governing organization of the film industry, AMPAS has aroused suspicion of terrorism. Critics, like McCarthy believe that the organization exists merely as a front to conceal a complex terrorist network with international ties that range from Los Angeles to Bollywood. However, the specific type of "terrorism" that AMPAS engages in has been called into question.