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(12/15/94 10:00am)
February was another month of bitter cold weather, but the pace of events at the University was far from frozen. A sexual harassment charge against former Assistant English Professor Malcolm Woodfield became publicized over the course of the month. University graduate Lisa Topol claimed Woodfield had sexual relations with her for three months during the spring semester of 1993 and accused him of sexual harassment. She said he "assigned" her sexual acts as "homework." Woodfield admitted that he had sex with Topol, although he did not confirm allegations of sexual harassment. He resigned in April. School of Arts and Sciences Dean Rosemary Stevens had begun proceedings to suspend or terminate Woodfield during the preceding summer. The Commission on Strengthening the Community released its preliminary report in the Almanac after six months of information gathering. The 22-member Commission was appointed by former Interim University President Claire Fagin and former University President Sheldon Hackney in the wake of the 'water buffalo' incident and the confiscation of 14,200 copies of The Daily Pennsylvanian. The Commission recommended the immediate elimination of the University speech code and reforms including the University's judicial and academic advising systems, off-campus living, student group funding, University Police and staffing issues. Because of its broad-based and extensive recommendations, the report raised widespread controversy. After being suspended the previous spring on charges of using unnecessary force in detaining a student involved with The Daily Pennsylvanian confiscation, University Police Officer John Washington announced he would appeal the three-day suspension to a federal arbitrator. The University's four undergraduate deans voted unanimously to require that students receive faculty permission before being allowed to obtain copies of old exams. February was also a high crime month. The community was plagued by robberies, thefts, a car jacking, an attempted car jacking and an attempted abduction. Acting Vice Provost for University Life Valarie Swain-Cade McCoullum announced the Penn Women's Center's relocation to the former Theta Xi fraternity house at 3643 Locust Walk. This was an unwelcome move for some students, who felt the Center "only represents a few radical women on campus." In contrast to previous state budget proposals, Pennsylvania Governor Robert Casey recommended that the state legislature appropriate more than $35 million in state funds to the University for the 1994-95 fiscal year. Finally, despite three University closings during one of the worst winters ever, administrators chose not to lengthen the semester.
(12/15/94 10:00am)
Can we talk? Law Professor Lani Guinier thinks so, and to further this goal on a national level with respect to the issue of race, she has created a new non-profit center called Commonplace. One of Commonplace's first projects will be a "National Conversation on Race" to be held on campus in October 1995, Guinier said. Funding for this symposium -- which will bring together "media decision-makers, civil rights advocates and public policy experts" -- will be provided in part by an Annenberg Public Policy Grant. Additional resources may be contributed by the National Endowment for the Humanities, headed by former University President Sheldon Hackney. Guinier said she welcomes topic suggestions for the National Conversation. "It's going to be experiential and experimental," she said."We are struggling to find out what makes a successful conversation." Guinier, who was nominated by President Clinton to serve as assistant U.S. attorney general for civil rights in 1993, was removed from consideration after questions surfaced about her position on minority voting rights and affirmative action. She said the idea of Commonplace grew out of her experience both as a litigator for the NAACP Legal Defense Fund and during the period of her nomination in Washington. "The experience as a litigator basically suggested to me that much of the conversation about civil rights and racial justice -- which had been taking place in the context of legal cases -- was either too technical, too abstract or too complicated for most people to understand," Guinier said. She added that because political discourse has become more polarized in recent years, American voters are now "angry and alienated," making the creation of an alternative space for learning about and engaging in conversations a necessity. "[Commonplace] is an effort to bring academics and journalists together so that academics can learn how to be more clear, and journalists can learn to appreciate the nuance in complex arguments?to learn how to paraphrase accurately what someone else is saying rather than just parody it," Guinier said. English graduate student Cheryl Butler said she will be working on the video component of the National Conversation, entitled "Different Voices, Common Talk." This segment of the project will involve a multi-racial group of community members brought together to talk about a salient race issue, she added. "All of us, no matter what racial or cultural groups we belong to, are always internalizing the dominant belief system," Butler said, adding that this process is ultimately harmful and needs to be addressed. Psychology graduate student Esteban Cardemil said the National Conversation should be a "first step" in changing the way Americans approach the subject of race and race issues. Andrew ShattZ, also a Psychology graduate student, agreed. "Basically, what the conference is about is to try and look at new ways to talk about racial issues, because it is clear that the old ways have not worked so well," he said."It's very possible that members of different races have different ways of explaining the same event, [and these] different histories are a stumbling block to successful communication."
(12/15/94 10:00am)
Much like the unusually mild weather, December has been marked by relatively tame end-of-the-year activity at the University. School of Arts and Sciences Dean Rosemary Stevens appointed History Professor Walter Licht to the position of associate dean of graduate studies, replacing Chemistry Professor Donald Fitts. Fitts plans to return to his department to focus on teaching and research. The Commonwealth Court ruled in favor of the University and the city in the long-standing Mayor's Scholarship suit, but the Public Interest Law Center of Philadelphia has vowed to appeal the decision to the state Supreme Court. Rodin was accused of misallocating a $20-million dollar grant intended to fund a Western Civilization program at Yale University. She claimed that the decision was based on solely financial reasons. Earlier this month, University President Judith Rodin moved into her new home at Eisenlohr, ending her brief stay at 21st and Delancey streets. She was unable to move into the 3812 Walnut Street president's mansion when she took office this summer because it was undergoing renovations. Adam Zion, a post-baccalaureate student, was struck by two cars at 33rd and Walnut last week, and is currently listed in "serious" condition at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. Zion is the fourth student to be struck by a car this semester. Also last week, Murphy's Tavern was charged by the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board with allowing underage drinking. If he loses his case, the bar may have to shut down entirely. According to Admissions Dean Lee Stetson, the University accepted 52 percent of its 1,625 applicants for early decision. The 845 admitted students will fill approximately 36 percent of the incoming class of 1999.
(12/15/94 10:00am)
After over a week of delays, Executive Assistant to the Provost Linda Koons released the names of those selected to serve on the expanded Provost's Committee on Undergraduate Education this week. But Koons refused to announce the final two members of the expanded PCUE because she had not contacted them yet. The expanded PCUE will develop ideas and models for the 21st Century Undergraduate Education initiative announced by the administration in October. PCUE in its original form includes the deans and associate deans of each undergraduate school. Acting Vice Provost for University Life Valarie Swain-Cade McCoullum and College senior Matthew Kratter, the chairperson of the Student Committee on Undergraduate Education, also serve on the committee. PCUE is lead by Provost Stanley Chodorow. English Professor Robert Lucid and Vice Provost Kim Morrisson will co-direct the expanded PCUE. Besides Lucid and Morrisson, the expanded PCUE includes four other students, three undergraduate and two professional school faculty members. The Nominations and Elections Committee chose the student representatives on the expanded committee. Engineering junior Jeremy Morrison, Nursing junior Cedar Lalime and College senior Jordana Horn will form the committee, along with a Wharton student yet to be announced. Horn said she will not work on the committee until her term as Executive Editor of The Daily Pennsylvanian ends in January. The Faculty Senate appointed Chemical Engineering Professor Warren Seider, Operations and Information Management Professor James Laing and Medical School Professor Harvey Rubin to the extended PCUE. Koons also appointed Communications Professor Oscar Gandy to the group. Lucid will serve as the faculty representative for the College of Arts and Sciences. Koons said she has not finalized appointments for a Nursing School professor. She added that staff members and administrators are forming a library of all past recommendations, reports and ideas dealing with the issues involved. "We are almost finished going through all the reports we have but we need to find any additional reports as well," Koons said. Administrators and committee members said they were looking forward to working on the new initiative. "I am excited because there's a lot of stuff going on," Koons said. The extended PCUE's first meeting is set for next week, Koons said. Koons added that the administration will eventually go back to the NEC and Faculty Senate to choose members of the various subcommittees that will work on individual issues.
(12/15/94 10:00am)
When finals draw to a close, many students will be eager to shed their number two pencils and pages of notes. And most are eagerly anticipating a relaxing holiday vacation of tanning on the beach, skiing in fresh powder or cuddling in warm flannel sheets at home. But no matter where students plan to spend the winter break, their common goal seems to be relaxation. "I can't wait to get home," said College sophomore Jeffrey Kroop. "I'm just going to hang out, relax, see a couple of Phish shows and drink lots of eggnog." Many said they are upset that finals end so late in the season -- only two days before Christmas --Eand are heading straight to the airport after their last exam. "Lady Liberty will be picking me up at 10:30 a.m. [on] Thursday the 23rd as soon as I answer the last question on my Psych exam," said College junior Karen Berkman. "I'm off to Acapulco to enjoy the sun, take it easy and just hang out with my family. "I've been there before and I love it," she added. Wharton sophomore David Schechter said he hopes to be spontaneous and leave his plans a little less structured. "I'm just going to pack a bag, get a few friends together and hitchhike down to Florida," he said. "It's the holiday season -- someone's bound to be going in that direction." "And [I'm going to do] some medical school stuff like writing my personal statement," added Morgenthau. Engineering senior John Pollard said he does not plan to relax over break. "I'm mostly just working a little bit," he said. "I'm going to a few medical school interviews. And I'm going to New York for New Year's with a bunch of friends."
(12/15/94 10:00am)
A coalition of public and private sector sponsors gathered at City Hall Monday night to kick off the Pedestrian Safety Education Campaign for the city of Philadelphia. At the event, Mayor Ed Rendell read a proclamation declaring this week Pedestrian Safety Week. The campaign will continue with a year-long effort to make the streets safer for pedestrians by educating the walking public on its rights and responsibilities. The campaign's theme, "Streets Are For Everyone" -- S.A.F.E. -- highlights the effort to create a multimedia drive organized by City Councilwoman Happy Fernandez. Fernandez discussed her plan to organize a meeting of local universities to discuss safety issues on their campuses. Referring specifically to the four recent cases in which University students were hit by cars, she said Philadelphia's other college students "are also at high risk in this city." To get the "S.A.F.E." message across, area companies will purchase television and radio spots as well as newspaper advertisements. The campaign will also host a poetry contest for middle school students and provide a toll-free number for citizens to voice their safety concerns. About 10,000 posters will be scattered throughout the city as well, Fernandez said. In addition, the city has passed legislation to remark crosswalks and issue warning tickets for jaywalking. This year, there have been more than 2,400 pedestrian injuries and 58 deaths -- a 33 percent increase over last year's figures. As a result, Philadelphia, long ranked as one of America's most "walkable" cities by the National Transportation Safety Community, has lost its ranking in the top 10 safest U.S. cities for pedestrians. Rendell said he thinks the campaign will help Philadelphia regain the honor. "It will make Philadelphia known as a walkable city -- the most pedestrian-friendly city in the East Coast," he said. Rendell said he believes S.A.F.E. will be key in the effort to educate everyone who uses Philadelphia streets. Transportation Projects Coordinator Brad Johnson agreed. "Motorists need to be aware of pedestrians," he said. "And pedestrians will need to be aware of motorists."
(12/12/94 10:00am)
Although it takes place during the Christmas season, Kwanzaa may seem more like Thanksgiving. Kwanzaa, the African-American holiday of self-determinism, lasts from December 26 to 31 and is celebrated by more than 300 University students annually. The holiday gained national prominence with the civil rights movement of the 1960s and was brought into popularity primarily by its creator Maulana Karenga, an activist and black studies professor at California State University at Long Beach. Kwanzaa was created in order to "link the continent of Africa to the experience of African-Americans," College junior Salamisha Tillet said. Although the holiday coincides with Christmas, it is completely unrelated. According to Phyllis Dennis, assistant director of Greenfield Intercultural Center, it is "non-religious and non-heroic." In fact, celebrants emphasize completely different themes while partaking in Kwanzaa festivities. "Christmas makes us get too much into gift giving and getting, while Kwanzaa helps us look into how we can help others," said College freshman Tiffany Robinson. To perpetuate the spirit of giving, gifts are handmade rather than store-bought, Tillet said. Dennis said the holiday rituals include lighting candles in a kinora --not unlike the menorah of the Jewish Chanukah -- and the recitation and discussion of the seven principles of Kwanzaa. These include umoja, kuumba and imani -- or unity, creativity and faith respectively. GIC is holding Kwanzaa festivities entitled "Gathering the African Diaspora" tonight. The ceremony will commence at 7 p.m. in Irvine Auditorium and a dinner will follow at 8 p.m. in the Hall of Flags in Houston Hall. The ceremony will feature speeches by College senior and Black Student League President Robyn Kent and Communications graduate student Rhea Lewis, a member of the Black Graduate and Professional Student Assembly. Kent and Lewis will repeat each of the principles of Kwanzaa and "speak about how we can implement that principle in our lives," Dennis said. She added that the University's celebration of Kwanzaa in recent years has repeatedly been a spiritual as well as an educational experience. "Students have been so excited about [Kwanzaa] that they want to take this celebration home and introduce it to their families," she said. Although it is not presently practiced in all African-American homes, the celebration of Kwanzaa is increasing, Tillet said. "It's catching on," she said. "It's becoming more and more popular in African-American families. It's a growing trend." Dennis said celebrants of Kwanzaa at the University and worldwide appreciate its emphasis on the African-American experience, both spiritually and historically. "We want to affirm our history--not become subject to other people's definition of who we are as African-Americans," she added.
(12/12/94 10:00am)
Annenberg School for Communication Dean Kathleen Hall Jamieson likened them to Wylie Coyote and the Road Runner. But instead of employing oversized slingshots and rocket-propelled roller-skates, husband-and-wife political strategists Mary Matalin and James Carville amused a full house with their rhetorical antics Friday night in Harrison Auditorium. In 1992, Matalin -- who currently co-hosts CNBC's Equal Time -- served as deputy campaign manager for former President George Bush, while Carville, now a partner in the consulting firm of Carville & Begala, engineered Bill Clinton's electoral triumph. The pair, who were married shortly after the campaign concluded, were brought to campus by Connaissance. Wearing a leopard-print dress, with suede platform shoes adding a few inches to her petite frame, Matalin established the evening's raucous tone as soon as she took the podium. She launched into a critique of the prevailing American political climate with a discussion of how she and Carville "cemented" their relationship during Harris Wofford's 1992 Pennsylvania Senate race. "We're still in the goo-goo stage," she said. But her affection for her husband did not stop Matalin from hurling criticisms of every type at Carville, winning hearty laughter from the audience. "I didn't know what he would wear, but I knew it would be at least six inches too short," she said, characterizing Carville's staid khaki pants as "clamdiggers." Citing Jamieson's books and scholarship repeatedly, Matalin said that the connection between political coverage by the press and public cynicism has been strengthened in recent years by changes in the media's role. "The media is presumed in a democracy to be an unbiased source," she said. "The way the media gives us information is widely responsible for giving us cynicism. "The media today is serving as a political institution -- elections revolve around it," Matalin added. "[But] what makes a good story and good copy is antithetical to what makes democracy and good government." Matalin also said she thinks the "mainstream press" will be obsolete in 1996 if it does not correct trends such as a "bad-news" bias and a tendency to focus on strategy rather than substantive issues. "The nature of politics, the very nature of democracy, is about conflict," she said. "The press today is focusing on the clash and not the ideas." Carville spoke from a separate podium, sending the approximately 800 students in attendance into hysterics again with descriptions of his hometown. "The place I came from was so far in the sticks we had to pipe sunshine in," he said in a characteristic Louisiana drawl, instructing the crowd on how to identify "country bumpkins" like himself. Carville also lampooned United States Surgeon General Jocelyn Elders, who resigned her post last week after her position on teaching masturbation in schools became controversial. "That's one subject I could've gotten an A in," he said, alluding to the fact that he received 56 hours of F's as an undergraduate at Louisiana State University. Following their prepared remarks, Matalin and Carville entertained questions from audience members. Connaissance Chairperson Jesus Guerrero, a College senior, said he "couldn't have been happier" about the turnout for and reaction to Matalin and Carville, despite their $26,500 price tag. "We just felt we needed some more time with them, but otherwise it was great," he said.
(12/12/94 10:00am)
Tuition will not go up next year as much as in previous years -- if a proposal put forward by the Undergraduate Assembly last night is adopted by the University administration. A tuition increase could feasibly be limited to five percent while maintaining need-blind admissions and most University services, according to the proposal. The UA arrived at the five percent figure as a goal because it is one percent greater than the inflation rate over the past 10 years,UA Chairperson and Wharton junior Dan Debicella said. A five percent increase would represent the smallest tuition hike in over three years. Last year, tuition increased by 6.1 percent, and in 1992-93, by 6.9 percent, according to figures provided by the UA. "We're saying you should keep tuition increases to five percent because it's possible," Debicella said. The proposal would require slight modifications of the University's budgetary system, said Wharton junior Vincent Scafaria, also a member of the UA budget committee. Scafaria said at last night's UA meeting that budgeting at the University is done using a system of "responsibility centers." He said each of the University's 12 schools -- along with divisions like the University Museum, the Book Store, Dining Services, and Residential Living -- makes up a responsibility center, creating its own revenue and spending its own money. At the end of a fiscal year, leftover funding from centers that profited is allocated to centers recording a loss -- so that no division of the University comes up short. Scafaria criticized the current system because there is no incentive to cut costs. "The profiting [centers] know their profit is going to leave, so why bother saving money," he said. In order to ensure that expenses drop enough to meet the lowered increase in revenue, the proposal calls for Provost Stanley Chodorow, acting Executive Vice President Jack Freeman and University President Judith Rodin to set limits on certain non-essential spending. "The whole idea is, you identify what matters to students," Scafaria said. "And anything else that's just dead weight, you cut." In what he described as "re-engineering," Scafaria said the University must "take out steps that lead to time delays and extra money." Using figures provided by Interim Budget Director Ben Hoyle, the UA argued that current services can be maintained if next year's tuition increase is limited to five percent. In even the worst possible scenario, expected revenues are greater than expenses by at least $24 million. However, the UA figures did not allocate specific funds to areas such as faculty salaries, employee benefits, or maintenance projects -- because the authors of the proposal did not want to tell the administration how to write next year's budget, Debicella said. But in the expected case scenario, $63 million remain to be spent on these areas. This year's budget only allocates $47 million to them, he said. "The purpose of [the proposal] is a show-me thing so the president can't say, 'oh, this is impossible,'" Debicella said.
(12/12/94 10:00am)
U.S. Senator Arlen Specter, U.S. Representative-elect Chaka Fattah, State Senator Vincent Fumo, Mayor Ed Rendell and City Councilman Joseph Vignola are all scheduled to speak in Houston Hall's Bodek Lounge Wednesday, at a symposium sponsored by the Red and Blue Society. The forum is entitled: "Why Go Into Government?" Wharton freshman and Red and Blue Society member Kyle Duarte said the symposium is aimed at students with political ambitions. "I think a lot of people are interested in going into politics and joining the public sector," he said. "We wanted to discuss the roots of political disillusionment." Duarte said all the members of the Society are "very excited" to have the dignitaries visit campus at their invitation. Duarte said that the Society, which is independent of the Red and Blue magazine, also has plans to bring Vice President Al Gore to campus in the near future. "If everything works out, we should be able to bring him here," he said. "As far as I know, we plan on doing a lot of stuff like this in the future." The moderator of the symposium will be Stephen Gale, an associate professor of regional science and the senior faculty-in-residence in Community House. Duarte said the symposium will represent a diversity of political views. "This isn't just a conservative forum," he said. "All sides are represented, and three of the four panelists that confirmed are Democrats." Wharton freshman and Society member Arif Joshi said it is "amazing that we have been able to put together the caliber of speakers that we have." "We are extremely excited to have the symposium at the University of Pennsylvania," he added. "It's a great honor to have Arlen Specter speak to us, and I think the University can benefit from having him and the other four politicians speak to us." The symposium will begin at 1:55 p.m. There are a total of 300 seats, and tickets are free for students. Reserved tickets, however, are $5.
(12/12/94 10:00am)
Since 1989, John Gould has had offices in College Hall, the Mellon Bank building and at 3401 Walnut Street while holding various positions at the University. In every office, Gould has enjoyed being out of the spotlight and behind the scenes, often serving in only an interim capacity. Despite this, he has witnessed and taken part in many changes at the University. Currently, Gould serves as interim vice president for human resources -- and does not know what will come next. Gould, who began his career as a history professor, first became involved in administrative duties at Haverford and continued in this capacity when he arrived at the University five years ago. "Penn was exciting because it was a tremendous learning opportunity for me," he said. "What I expected to find was a big place, anonymous, and therefore no one really cares. "I was really surprised to find the degree to which people were really devoted to the University," he added. Gould said he was particularly struck by the differences in emphasis between the University and Haverford. Constituencies are dealt with more than the individual, and "sometimes confrontation occurs before conversation." "We're working on that," he added. "Because of its size, there are more things going wrong and more things going right all the time here." Gould first served as former President Sheldon Hackney's chief of staff, taking on responsibilities ranging from budgetary decisions and planning to coordinating issues and agendas and troubleshooting. "Sheldon's office was really set up like a congressperson's office," he said. "We responded to issues as they came up and a lot of issues came to seek resolution." In 1992, Hackney asked Gould to take over the Interim Executive Vice President's office, left vacant by Marna Whittington's departure. "Marna set a very strong framework so I could step in and keep things moving," he said, adding that when former Executive Vice President Janet Hale took over the office, he stayed on for three months to support her in the beginning of her term. Hale faced a troubled 16 months in the office before she left last August. "Janet came in and began to raise a different kind of question so everything changed a bit," Gould said. "It was extremely unfortunate that her tenure was so short, because one would really like to have continuity." During his time in the executive vice presidency, and while aiding Hale in her new position, Gould watched the University deal with the "water buffalo" incident and The Daily Pennsylvanian confiscation. "I felt very sorry for us," he said. "The press got a hold of a set of issues that became interrelated in their minds, and people took advantage of Penn's difficulties to make their own point." But Gould said the University was not harmed on a long-term basis by the incidents. "Given our engagement with the issues, it is very interesting how quickly we moved on, how long ago it seems now, and by every measurable index, the University was not harmed," he added. "We have had a stunning recovery." After Gould completed his time aiding Hale, he returned to the President's Office as vice president and director of University planning. He served in that capacity as a senior advisor to former Interim President Claire Fagin and carried on many of the responsibilities he had while serving under Hackney. "I had experience with lots of issues so we worked together on where she wanted to go," he said. "In addition, I worked on the planning side with [former Interim Provost] Marvin Lazerson." Gould said he began to develop an approach to the University's relationship with West Philadelphia, a project which Vice President for Government and Community Relations Carol Scheman has taken over. In addition, he studied student services. "Students have a number of bureaucracies that they have to navigate," Gould said. "Students lose out potentially because? students need a unitary response to a whole range of issues and problems they have."
(12/12/94 10:00am)
Post-baccalaureate student Adam Zion was still listed in critical condition last night after being struck by two cars last Wednesday, according to Hospital of University of Pennsylvania Administrator Kathleen Beer. However, the other three students involved in recent accidents with moving vehicles are rapidly recovering. College freshman Jae Lee -- who was struck by a car on November 6 at the intersection of 34th and Walnut streets -- was transferred from HUP to the Bryn Mawr Hospital for rehabilitation last Friday morning, according to his friend, College freshman Jung Kang. Lee began eating solid foods again last week after a decrease in the swelling. This swelling associated with the respirator that assisted him during the first days following the accident, Kang said. "A couple days before he left he did eat some food," she said. "He's not talking with his normal voice -- he's still whispering." Kang added that because Lee's speech has also been affected by the swelling, he worked with a speech therapist at HUP to regain his normal voice. Wharton sophomore Sang Kim said that Lee is hoping to come back to the University next semester. He said Lee is expected to go to his home in Lansdale after one or two weeks of rehabilitation. He added that Lee's progress is amazing everyone. "Everything is healing faster than they expected," Kim said. "They didn't expect him to do this well this soon. Everything is moving at a fast rate." College senior Thomas Heller -- who fractured his pelvis when he was struck by a taxicab on Sansom Street early on the morning of November 10 -- said he is healing quickly. "I'm hoping I'll be off crutches in about two weeks," he said yesterday. Heller added that he is able to walk extremely short distances without the aid of his crutches. Heller's parents are pursuing the driver of the taxicab involved in the accident, he added. "I was able to get the name of the cab driver from someone who was at the scene of the accident," Heller said. "My parents are looking into it." Heller said that on weekdays he is able to get around fairly easily with the assistance of the Handy Van. However, he said that weekends are difficult without the services of the van. "The Handy Van doesn't run on the weekends," he said. "To get on campus on the weekends I've had to call Campus Police." Heller said he feels the University -- in lieu of the recent increase in accidents involving students -- must look into options for improving traffic problems on campus. "The University has got to figure out some way to regulate the traffic on Walnut Street," he said. "There has to be some way. "I think that it is a big problem," Heller added. "The last month has definitely illustrated that." Wharton senior and men's track team hurdler Mark Pan was struck by a University truck on the sidewalk in front of Bennett Hall on November 21. He said he is also recovering from his injuries. "I got off crutches a few days ago," Pan said late last week. "I've been wearing a knee brace and going to therapy like mad." He said an orthopedic specialist and an athletic trainer are aiding his recovery. Pan said that he is not yet sure as to the extent of the injuries to his knee. "There are no ligament tears but there was a pretty bad sprain in one of my ligaments and another ligament had been aggravated," he said. "I won't know about cartilage damage until next Tuesday." If there is cartilage damage, Pan said that he will need to undergo surgery to correct the damage. He added that he has been receiving some legal advice but has not made any decisions regarding pursuing the parties involved in the accident. Pan said he recognizes the importance of greater safety awareness for both pedestrians and drivers. "There is a degree of recklessness in the way that some people drive in the city and I think that a lot of pedestrians don't always take that fully into account," he said. "I think that it is definitely a mutual responsibility between motorists and pedestrians." Pan is making progress in his recovery, he said. "Two or three days ago I was able to get on a bike," Pan said. "Biking might be a way for me to keep myself in shape." The all-Ivy hurdler is hoping that he will be able to return to the track soon. "I am itching to get back into competition and so is the team," he said. "I want to get back for myself and I want to get back for the team."
(12/12/94 10:00am)
The Performing Arts Council submitted its evaluation of Eric 3 Campus Theater to President Judith Rodin, Provost Stanley Chodorow, and the Vice Provost of University Life's office last week. The proposal outlines both the cost and construction necessary for transforming the former Eric 3 Theater, located at 40th and Walnut streets, to performing arts space. College junior and UA member Eric Tienou said PAC hired Artec, a consulting group, early last month. At the same time, the Theater Committee --Ecomprised of representatives from PAC, the Undergraduate Assembly, the Social Planning and Events Committee, the Student Activities Council and the office of student life -- submitted a preliminary proposal to Rodin, Chodorow, and the VPUL. But the administration did not respond to the committee because they needed more specifics from other groups involved in the process, Tienou said. According to Coordinator of Student Performing Arts Kathryn Helene, the purpose of the consulting group was to "find out if the space is usable and?how much money it will take." The result of their efforts was this proposal, which she said is "a good jumping off point" for the committee. The proposal recommends that the theater be converted into a flexible space theater, a recital hall and performance support spaces. The proposal projects that the cost will range between $2.2 million and $3.3 million. But, Helene said, the proposed the theater in the Revlon Center would have cost $22 million. "So this is about 15 percent of that," she said. "And we would be getting two performing spaces and a rehearsal space, which is more than Revlon would have provided." Several committee members agreed that the biggest goal of the project is to get more space on campus. "It is important that a maximum amount of groups get access to this space because the original idea in coming up with this plan was to give latitude to everybody," said College senior Lissette Monge, president of SPEC. PAC Chairperson and College senior Rosalie Will said she wants the area to "turn into a sort of Houston Hall on the other side of campus." "Every single night of the week there could be students rehearsing there," she said. "It is a really good way to get the area populated." Will said she hopes to hear from Chodorow by the end of the week, adding that she is very hopeful. "I am optimistic, but I am also prepared to fight a lot if this doesn't happen," she said. "This is good for all students all around, and I think he would be blind not to jump at this."
(12/12/94 10:00am)
and Paula Feldman Provost Stanley Chodorow announced more details of his plans for the 21st Century Undergraduate Education Initiative at the meeting of the Executive Committee of the Board of Trustees Friday. Chodorow named English Professor Robert Lucid and former Vice Provost for University Life Kim Morrison as co-executive directors for the committee on that initiative. During his report, Chodorow said work is continuing on capital planning projects. He also gave a report on faculty appointments. University President Judith Rodin's husband, Paul Verkuil, was named as a visiting professor of law. The Trustees also appointed Alan Kelly as dean of the Veterinary School and Vice President and Director of Planning John Gould as acting vice president of human resources. In addition, the committee approved several resolutions discussed at a Budget and Finance Committee meeting held earlier Friday. At that meeting, University Treasurer Scott Lederman updated a report from last January on a fraternity and sorority renovation program, which helps defray the costs of maintaining Greek housing. Lederman reported that the program recently contributed $600,000 to the Sigma Delta Tau sorority for renovations to its new house. Some controversy occurred during the meeting when interim Executive Vice President Jack Freeman asked for approval on a resolution to spend $2,131,600 on equipment for and renovations to the University Laboratory Animal Resources Facilities in the School of Medicine. The money is expected to come from research grants and Medical School funds. The Trustees discussed issues involving animal testing and research. They were assured, however, that the researchers report directly to the vice provost for research and abide by federal guidelines. University Comptroller Alfred Beers discussed the financial reports for the fiscal year 1995. He announced that three schools -- the Nursing School, the Graduate School of Education and the Graduate School of Social Work -- have projected surpluses in their budgets. In his report on Contingent Liabilities, Lederman said the University's goal is to keep the number of bank accounts it opens down, as nine out of the 55 accounts currently open were added in the last year. In order to facilitate student loan programs, the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Association recently became one of the University's accounts, Lederman said. But, he added that five accounts were closed, including the Presidential Search account "for obvious reasons." An account that funded a program with the Physics Department at the University of Tokyo was also closed.
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The Junior Class Board wants to sponsor a Phish concert at the Palestra this spring. Although the Social Planning and Events Committee is not against bringing the alternative band to campus, SPEC President and College senior Lissette Monge said she is disturbed by the way the Junior Class is planning the concert. The Office of Student Life would not allow the Junior Class to continue with the concert plans without SPEC's and the Undergraduate Assembly's support, according to College junior Michael Nadel, the Junior Class vice president for corporate sponsorship. At a UA meeting last night, he urged the body to support the Junior Class in its efforts to bring the band Phish to campus. Nadel said later the Junior Class did not approach SPEC with their plans to bring Phish to the University until last night's meeting. When asked why he by-passed the SPEC Concert Committee when initiating the concert plans, Nadel said the Junior Board did not want to deal with the "territoriality issue" between the two organizations. "The Class Boards had a window of opportunity to get Phish," Nadel said. "And [we're] not inclined to worry about bureaucracy or structure in order to do so." UA representative and College junior Eric Tienou said he disagreed with how the Junior Board proceeded with planning the concert. "In coming up with this idea, the Class Boards knew they would have to go through the Office of Student Life or the Office of the Vice Provost for University Life," Tienou said. "At that point, they should have tried to work with SPEC –– not after they went to the two offices." Monge said she was concerned that members of the Junior Class took the wrong approach in trying to obtain their goal. "They went about it the wrong way –– they didn't follow procedures," Monge said. "They should have spoken to us about it, but instead, went straight to VPUL." But, she said the biggest question is whether Phish will come to the Palestra at all. Monge said the first step towards securing a band has not even been dealt with –– sending out the bids. "This band has not confirmed they will come yet," said Monge. "The band is not close to coming to town." Junior Class President and Wharton junior Lenny Chang agreed with Monge on the status of the band. "I don't want to burst anyone's bubble, but it's not a good possibility of this happening anyway," Chang said. "It really is not a done deal –– not by a long shot." But Nadel said he remains certain that the Junior Class can bring Phish to students. "If people would put territoriality concerns aside, I'm sure we will bring Phish," Nadel said. He added that the band's request for $100,000 to play at the Palestra is not an issue. "We don't need money to bring Phish," Nadel said. But Chang said he disagrees. "There is no money for it yet," he said. "We have a contact, and that's it." Monge said if the Junior Class had gone to SPEC's Concert committee for money, they would have sufficient funds. "We have the budget for this kind of thing," Monge said.
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If you sent University President Judith Rodin a letter this semester and have not gotten a response, you are not alone. Rodin said last week she receives "hundreds" of letters per day and is very behind in responding. "We try to get to them in a timely matter," she added. "I will respond but they can't always expect it will come immediately." Rodin attributed part of the problem to an understaffed Office of the President, especially since the departure of Linda Hyatt, former executive director of her office. "With so few staff, this is not unusual," she added. Rodin said Hyatt was the central administrator with regard to correspondences. Now, Rodin added, several different staff members open, read and respond to the mail. "Hopefully, we'll be able to accommodate everyone's needs," she said. "But they're putting in more hours probably than anybody should." She said she hopes a replacement for Hyatt will be appointed by next month. Rodin added that acting Vice President for Human Resources John Gould, who also serves as vice president for planning, used to work in the President's Office before he took over for William Holland, who left the University this summer. Gould and Hyatt were the two most senior personnel in the Office of the President. The issue of correspondence has come to the forefront recently after members of Dessalines, the Haitian Students' Association, wrote to Rodin regarding an article in The Red and Blue about Haiti. The students wrote the letter before Thanksgiving break. Since then, they have been in contact with the office many times. Rodin said she was unaware of the issue until The Daily Pennsylvanian brought it to her attention. Dessalines received a letter of response from Rodin last week. And some said they were still not satisfied with the reply. "I expected some kind of personal expression from her -- this letter is garbage," said Dessalines member Danielle Jean-Guillaume. The College senior said Rodin wrote that she supported dialogue and discussion on the issue more than "condemnations from on high." Rodin said there are alternatives to writing the President's Office that students should consider. "People can't always think that the president should solve the problem," she said, adding that contacting "local levels," such as the vice provost for University life, may be a better first step than coming to her. "Then, if there's no satisfactory response, come to the president," Rodin said. "That doesn't mean stop writing [to me]." Rodin said many constituencies believe the issues affecting them are the most important. "Anytime somebody writes, there's a certain issue in their mind and its very salient," she said. "They cannot imagine why that issue is not salient on someone else's mind. "But there are a number of critical issues that come across the Office of the President's desk," Rodin added. The difficulties with correspondence relates to broader issues in the internal workings of the office and its relationship to the University community. "I know how bogged down she must be, but if it's urgent, it makes students feel that she doesn't care when she doesn't deal with their concerns," said Black Student League President Robyn Kent, a College senior. But Rodin said she goes from appointment to appointment all day and is extremely busy. Besides her daily rigorous schedule, Rodin also finds herself fundraising for the school by meeting with donors in the area, throughout the country and even abroad. "I did very little traveling away from the University this semester, but I plan more next semester," she added, noting that she has gone to New York several times and took a "quick hop to Europe" over the last few months. She said she is planning trips to Texas, California, Europe and the Far East in the upcoming months. "Donors are eager to meet the new president," Rodin said. "I am getting to know people and beginning to make new friends." Rodin added that her schedule is packed every day, even requiring her to miss the first meeting of the White House security panel in which she is a participant.
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Admission rate up by 2% Nearly 52 percent of early decision applicants will receive acceptance letters from the University this week, according to Admissions Dean Lee Stetson. Though nearly two percent more students were accepted early than last year, Stetson attributes the difference to an increase of more than 100 applications. "We were able to accept a larger class while still maintaining quality," he said. "We've seen an increasing number of students choosing Penn as their first choice." The 835 accepted students will make up 36 percent of the incoming class of 1999, with an additional four percent coming from deferred applicants. Women make up 49 percent of the accepted students, an all-time University high. The College of Arts and Sciences accepted 540 students from their 1,088 applications, with only one student admitted early to the International Studies Program. The School of Engineering and Applied Science admitted 85, nearly 48 percent of their applicants, with 24 accepted to the Management and Technology program. "We've been doing a lot to acquaint people to the fact that Penn Engineering is a pretty exciting place to be," said Engineering Dean Gregory Farrington. "And in general, our application pool has been rising over the last four or five years. "Since about five years ago, our applications have been up between 20 and 25 percent -- that's my rough estimate," he added. The School of Nursing accepted 27 students early out of 32 applications, and the Wharton School admitted 193 students out of 329 applicants. Of the total number of accepted students, 33 percent are international students, representing 20 countries from around the world including Australia, China, Egypt, Ireland, Malaysia and Singapore. Minorities make up 21 percent of the accepted pool with 184 students -- 21 more than last year. Of these minorities, Asians account for 131 students, blacks for 24 students and Hispanics for 28. Only one Native American student was accepted early. The number of black students is down five from last year, but Stetson said this total "tends to go back and forth." The pool of accepted students is also geographically diverse, with only 10 states still unrepresented. The South Atlantic and West both saw increases in applications, with the Middle Atlantic -- New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania -- accounting for 55 percent of accepted students. Stetson said that many states reached all-time high numbers of applications, including California, Arizona, Georgia, Maryland, Virginia, New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. In Philadelphia, 31 students were admitted -- 11 more than last year -- with 28 from public schools. There was a 59 percent admit rate for children of alumni, since "a measure of preference is given to alumni kids in the early decision period," Stetson said. He added that the quality of SAT scores, achievement test scores and class rank is "approximately the same as last year." Accepted students on average ranked in the top five percent of their class, with SATs in the 60th percentile for the verbal section and 69th for math. Achievement scores averaged in the 63rd percentile. "Our applicant pool was just as strong as last year," Stetson said. "It has allowed us to be very selective. "There's been a rising tide of interest in Penn," he added. "It's a testament to how well Penn is perceived." Stetson said that the regular admissions applications are "running ahead of last year," with estimated total number of applications at nearly 14,000. "Early applications are significant in the sense that they represent people who have really made up their minds about Penn," Farrington said. "We have an increasing number of people who have excellent judgement."
(12/09/94 10:00am)
The Executive Committee of the University Board of Trustees is expected to approve Alan Kelly as the permanent dean of the School of Veterinary Medicine today in its final meeting of the semester, University Secretary Barbara Stevens said last night. This meeting marks the first time newly-elected Board of Trustees Chairperson Roy Vagelos will preside over an entire Executive Committee meeting. The Trustees were last on campus during University President Judith Rodin's two-day inaugural ceremony in October. At that time, they elected Vagelos as their new chairperson. At today's meeting, Rodin will brief the Trustees on the events and issues confronting the University. In addition, she is expected to ask for the approval of Kelly and acting Vice President for Human Resources John Gould, who has served in the position since William Holland left it this summer. The Trustees are expected to approve both appointments. Provost Stanley Chodorow will give an academic report and acting Executive Vice President Jack Freeman will give a financial report at the meeting. The meeting will also include an investment report and health systems report. The Trustees' Budget and Finance Committee will meet this morning to approve renovations, computer purchases, "routine" budget items for the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania and primary care practice acquisitions. The Trustees are also expected to approve resolutions on appointments to the Cancer Center Advisory Board, the Board of Overseers of the University Libraries and the Board of Overseers of the Graduate School of Education. The Executive Committee will meet at 2 p.m. today in the Tea Room of the Faculty Club. The Budget and Finance Committee will meet at 11 a.m. in the Club Room of the Faculty Club. Both meetings are open to the public.
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For 34 years, Murphy's Tavern has been University City's answer to "Cheers" -- a low key, neighborhood bar frequented by students, locals and alumni. But now the social hotspot may be shut down by the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board by the end of the year for charges of underage drinking. Located at 44th and Spruce streets, Murph's is one of 15 establishments in Philadelphia that had its liquor license renewal challenged by the LCB on October 31. Murph's co-owner Joe Murphy will appear at a hearing before the LCB in the near future. Murphy said he has not yet been notified when the hearing will take place, but refused to comment further on the proceedings. If he loses his case, Murphy will either be forced to stop selling alcoholic beverages -- or shut down the tavern entirely. Murphy said this move by the LCB has taken him by surprise because the LCB has not caught any underage drinkers in the bar since last January. "They've been in here, but they haven't caught anybody, [so] evidently we've done a pretty good job," he said. "I've chased out lots and lots of people trying to come in." Now Murph's, notorious among underage students as the "freshman drinking hangout," requires two forms of identification of anyone who "looks under 50," Murphy said. He said bouncers are requesting driver's licenses and social security cards. A third form of identification or a signed affidavit stating that the patron in question is over 21 may be requested if the patron does not appear to be of legal drinking age to the bouncer. The affidavits may only be used as a bar owner's defense if they are in fact signed by patrons who are of age, according to Bill Pawliczeck, former president of the Licensed Beverage Association and the owner of Cavanaugh's Restaurant at 39th and Sansom streets. Murph's has seen a decline in customers since bouncers began requiring more identification, Murphy said. Pawliczeck said the best safeguard against underage drinking may be in an establishment's reputation. He said Murph's is known as a place that lets in underage drinkers, whereas Cavanaugh's and Smokey Joe's at 40th and Walnut streets attract an "older crowd." Murphy said, though, that he wonders how a college bar could possibly attract such a group. "I don't think there's a bar in University City that attracts an older crowd," he said. Murphy added that although he realizes that LCB officials are "just doing their job," he does not understand why they do not focus on more serious problems, like drinking and driving. "When people leave my bar, I always ask them if they're driving," Murphy said.
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It seems as if the health care debate is not dead yet. In an informative and frequently humorous speech yesterday, Robert Reischauer, the director of the U.S. Congressional Budget Office (CBO), said "the political leaders of tomorrow will have to deal with [health care reform]. It will come back?within the next decade." Thursday's lecture, entitled "What Have We Learned From the Health Care Reform Effort?" was part of the Wharton School's Public Policy Forum Series. In his speech, Reischauer reflected on the faults of President Clinton's attempt to pass systemic health care reform. He also discussed the role of the CBO in government. He said there were five major lessons to be learned from the health care effort. "[These lessons] apply to any large scale effort to shift domestic policy," he added. First, Reischauer said he disagreed with Clinton's attempt to pass health care reform and the Deficit Reduction Package simultaneously. "No administration?should attempt to advance two king-sized issues at the same time," he said. Secondly, Reischauer said Congress and the public need to be well-informed about a proposed issue. He detailed many of the public's misconceptions concerning health care. "Large and complex changes need to be introduced to Congress and the public gradually," Reischauer said. He added that the public was overwhelmed by the large number of changes to the system. The CBO director also said Clinton mistook the temporary public focus on health care for long-term dissatisfaction. According to Reischauer, by the time the plan died in Congress, only 10 percent of the public felt health care was an important issue. Reischauer's final suggestion for future proposals was that the executive branch should take the lead in systemic policy changes, but Congress should be informed of all the facts as soon as possible. Following Reischauer's lecture, there was a question-and-answer period. Reischauer fielded questions ranging from the structure of the CBO to his feelings on the future of health care in this country. The Public Policy Forum Series is organized by Janet Rothenberg Pack, chairperson and professor of Public Policy and Management. The series is funded by a $1 million grant from Martin Gruss, a 1964 Wharton graduate.
