I would first like to send my deepest sympathies to the family of Stephanie Yau in this time of her tragic death.

It is important to not assign blame to those commonly referred to as "ravers" for the horrible event . The use of drugs is so often linked to the scene that those not involved commonly make the mistake of defining it just as that: a drug scene. I have discovered a sub-culture of people so accepting of each other that questions of race and sexuality are never raised.

The culture accepts you for who you are with no questions asked. We are simply human. We gather together in the name of music and dance as members of a community who support each other. I would do anything for those I have become friends with.

Although I do not deny the use of drugs by some of those who frequent raves, I have met many who do not take Ecstasy or other drugs and do not even drink alcohol. Those drug and alcohol free ravers come to parties to gather with people similar to themselves, drawn by the music they love so much.

Those who produce the "raves" here at Penn Sate take extra precautions when holding a party. Unlike any bars downtown, partygoers are frisked and their bags are searched in attempt to keep drugs out of the State College rave scene.

Those found to be in possession of drugs are turned away at the door and those caught using within a party are expelled. However, dealers have obviously found ways to sneak drugs in. We do not have the ability to have airport scale security at these functions and even that is obviously fallible.

Since the use of drugs by some party-goers is almost unpreventible, education about Ecstasy is a key element.

Finally, I thank those who produce these parties for revealing to me a community where I feel safe when I am among you and accepted for who I am -- a community of friendship and understanding where I am never judged.