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(03/25/98 10:00am)
The Daily Collegian STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (U-WIRE) Blue Jays, Orangemen and Tigers. Although they may seem unrelated, these mascots represent teams that have a stranglehold over the rest of men's college lacrosse: Johns Hopkins, Syracuse and the new kid on the block, Princeton. They are the powerhouses. Because of their tradition for being excellent lacrosse schools, they are able to recruit top-notch players and remain powerhouses. Virginia coach Dom Starsia said these schools have a lot of tradition because they make lacrosse a priority. Whereas other colleges may solely promote sports such as football or basketball, these schools set aside money for their lacrosse programs. "It's a commitment by the institution," he said. However, there are a number of other factors involved that influence recruiting. For instance, Princeton and Hopkins are able to recruit a lot of very talented players partly because of their strong academic rankings, said Princeton coach Bill Tierney. "Ivy League schools attract bright kids who want an education," he said. "That's what we sell kids when we recruit them." Loyola coach Dave Cottle also said a university's endowment plays a role in the recruitment of high-caliber athletes. Because these schools have huge endowments, they are able to offer their players tremendous financial aid packages, he said. But Tierney said a university's location and facilities also play a significant role in the recruitment of its players. For example, Syracuse is able to recruit a lot of talented high school lacrosse athletes because of the Carrier Dome, Cottle said. "It may be the finest place in the country to play lacrosse," he said. Yet, what may be the most important factor in terms of recruiting is that many colleges are located in areas where lacrosse is popular. Although lacrosse's popularity may be growing in other areas of the country, high school lacrosse programs primarily exist in the Northeast and mid-Atlantic states of the country such as New York and Maryland, as these suburban areas have enough money to support their lacrosse programs, Tierney said. "That's where the heart and soul of lacrosse comes from," Starsia said. Lacrosse is an expensive sport to play, said University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill coach Dave Klarmann. Not only is the equipment expensive to pay for, but lacrosse adds to the wear and tear on the football field, he said. "I think that one of the things about lacrosse is the socioeconomic climate in itself," Tierney said. Many private school athletes play lacrosse at the college level, Cottle said, which causes a tendency for them to play at the Ivy League schools. "We're not the first-call school," he said. "We have to find guys that people overlooked and develop a different niche." Because football is the more popular sport in many areas of the country, high schools do not sponsor varsity lacrosse teams, Klarmann said. Although this will be the first year since 1992 that the NCAA Lacrosse Champions hips takes place outside of the University of Maryland at College Park, the game encourages youth in that area to pick up the sport, Starsia said. In addition, the climate of these areas also plays a factor in where high school programs decide to play lacrosse. Cottle said some areas of the country are more favorable for lacrosse. "You can't play baseball in March in upstate New York."
(11/18/96 10:00am)
To the Editor: In recent years, several other student newspapers have adopted similar strategies. When I was an editor of The Chronicle, the daily student paper at Duke University, we developed a monthly "In this corner? In that corner" section that served the same function. Implicit in these types of editorial presentations, however, is a responsibility on the part of the editorial staff not normally present for regular columns. Regular columns merely represent the opinions of their authors, who are typically given the freedom to write on any topic they choose -- and, of course, to argue any side of a story. While Stephen Thompson's piece, "Always spare the chair," represented a thoughtful discussion of one side of the issue, the community was done little service by College sophomore John Mamoun's truly sophomoric judgements as to who is and is not a "high-quality human being." Hopefully future editions of "Both Sides" will be better paired in terms of the quality of insight. Scott Halpern Medicine '00 To the Editor: In his guest column "Execute Sled's murderers," John Mamoun claimed execution is the best punishment for those who kill someone of significantly more societal worth ("Execute Sled's murderers," DP, 11/14/96). Mamoun attached "worth to society" to "quality as a human being." In judging quality as a human being, he appears to disregard someone's willingness to kill another person, while considering level of education as definitively good. This view not only makes acceptable an educated person's murder of an uneducated person of high moral fiber, but seems to encourage it. Mamoun then asks "What if a high-quality human being destroys another high-quality human being?" A high-quality human being does not destroy another human being. Doesn't Mamoun know his commandments? Paul Smith College '99
(02/23/96 10:00am)
Arthur Tom StoppardArthur Tom Stoppardspeaks about his life,Arthur Tom Stoppardspeaks about his life,his works and hisArthur Tom Stoppardspeaks about his life,his works and his'fascination' with time During Tom Stoppard's visit from February 6 to 8, both students and faculty became enthusiastically involved with learning for the sole purpose of learning. The excitement Stoppard generated flowed into the surrounding Philadelphia community, as residents from the entire region came to hear him speak. The Stoppard visit took place within the context of this year's Penn Reading Project, thus affecting a large portion of the University community. "Stoppard could have visited without any connection to any year-long program and it would have been good, because he's good," explained English Undergraduate Chairperson Al Filreis. "But that at least a quarter of the undergraduate population and a great many members of the faculty had carefully read and discussed his most recent play --for the freshman Reading Project -- made the visit utterly extraordinary." According to Filreis, the entire program transcended the boundaries of what is normally considered curriculum and extended the idea of the "intellectual community" well beyond the classroom. The freshman Reading Project is just one example of the changes to undergraduate education which are the aims of the 21st Century Project for Undergraduate Education, Filreis said. During one of the playwright's sessions, which was held in Hill College House, 100 people crammed into a small room, approximately 50 of whom were freshmen. English Professor Robert Lucid, chairperson of both the Steinberg Symposium and the Residential Faculty Council -- two groups responsible for bringing Stoppard to the University -- commented that it "will be a real challenge" to find a text as all-encompassing as Arcadia next year. While many said Stoppard and his work inspired them during his visit, Stoppard himself noted that he was returning to London with several new ideas from the University imprinted in his mind. "During my session with him, Stoppard was a sponge for knowledge," Physics Professor Nigel Lockyer said. "Everyone enjoyed talking to him, and he left the room understanding fractals and collision detectors." Lockyer added that, in his opinion, "it was the best symposium ever." Lucid noted that the success of the symposium was reflected by a toast given to Stoppard on the evening of his departure. "When we picked Tom Stoppard up at the airport he joined us as our honored guest," Lucid said. "But now, after the pleasures of such a visit, he is leaving us as our friend." Although Stoppard was extremely busy during his three-day visit to the University, he took time out to speak with Daily Pennsylvanian reporters Jaclyn LaPlaca, Brett Levinson and Amy Lipman. The Daily Pennsylvanian: How do you feel the University has responded to Acardia and the entire Reading Project? As a gauge of student reaction, are you aware that all copies of Arcadia sold out of The Book Store and Campus Text and are currently checked out of the library? Stoppard: I never heard of such a project. I don't look for trips and talks and carrying on. I'm really sort of a homebody. I get asked to do a lot of university business and so forth -- so the first indication of my reaction is that I am here. Penn's Reading Project is the most enormous compliment, which I immediately valued. "Of course I'll go," was my initial reaction -- it was just hard to work out a time when I could do it. I have visited at least 10 American campuses, but I've especially loved being on this one. I haven't seen as much of the University as normally I would, because I've just been run ragged. I always feel at home on American universities. I never actually went to a university. I finished school when I was 17 and became what you are now, journalists. I always had quite a romantic feeling about campuses and American campuses are very congenial. Of course, I have met a lot of different groups and people here that are wonderful. I sometimes find the admiration hard to deal with. I can't live up to that degree of worship. DP: How did you make the transition from journalism to playwriting? Stoppard: I wrote about the theater, for the newspaper, you see -- and it wasn't a very sudden transition. I was a single man with much independence and I didn't need much money to live off of. Life was pretty simple. I wrote a play in 1960. Nothing happened for a year then, and I went on with my life. By the time I got involved with people who worked in the theater, I heard about some radio play and got involved. It was all quite slow. I made my professional play debut in London, seven years after I started writing plays. DP: Since the concept of time has been prevalent in your works since the short play If You're Glad I'll Be Frank, how has your idea of the subject changed throughout the years? Stoppard: I really don't go into my plays thinking about what time is. She's talking about a play about telephone operators and such.? I just liked the question whether it was a real person or not. Arcadia is a play about time. In some ways, the most important aspects of the play concern time. It's nothing new. I have always been fascinated with it. DP: I read how you usually avoid public appearances. In light of that, why did you plan such an extensive visit at the University? Stoppard: I thought it was so flattering to have one's book chosen. Usually I don't think it is worth my time to show up. Also, I'm shy partly. I'm a private fellow. I often don't see the purpose of many visits. Back home, I don't have time to do anything. I always get behind with my work. Even when I worked for a newspaper, I couldn't stand asking people questions. It is not the type of person I am. Why would I want to tell about myself? Why would I want to do that? I usually do to oblige the people that I owe favors to. The final answer is that it is just my temperament. Some people love it, I used to quite like it. DP: Do you feel that Bernard in Arcadia represents today's professors? Stoppard: No. I don't have first-hand experience with this anyway. But, no. When I think of academic books or semi-academic books that I read about other writers who are speaking, they are helpful, usually good reading. The unfair thing about it is that I fear writing serious plays. It's easy to make fun of somebody. It's much, much easier to keep the audience amused and interested while making fun of someone. DP: And you find the weight in plays really helps to move them forward? Stoppard: Yes. It is. I don't know why it should be so much. Yes, I've always had a certain momentum in my works. I can't say I've always liked it. I've always found myself doing that. Comedy -- it's what I do for a living.
(01/17/96 10:00am)
If Amtrak's creaky coaches, cranky conductors and laughable punctuality standards aren't warning enough, I'll take this opportunity to point out something obvious: The American taxpayer is being taken for a ride. And though Amtrak likes us to think this ride is smooth, speedy, and picturesque -- yes, nostalgic of the golden age of locomotion -- the "national railway" is on a collision course with disaster. This year, 1.2 million people boarded Amtrak to go home for the holidays. But if last year's numbers are any indication, travelers again faced aggravating delays, rode in decrepit cabins, and encountered crew members as cold as Scrooge himself. In 1994, Amtrak logged 70,000 passenger complaints. Today, public discontent with the carrier is so great that Congress will soon consider weaning Amtrak off subsidies and eventually putting the railway back into private hands. Complete privatization of Amtrak is not just the best option, it's the only option. Since 1990, the railway's ridership has shrunk by three percent per year. Accordingly, passenger revenues have plunged -- from $1 billion in 1990 to $880 million last year. No Amtrak passenger route is profitable. Amtrak's punctuality leaves much to be desired: 29 percent of trains are held up at the platform or in transit, and for most of 1995, trains were tardy more than in any other year this decade. Amtrak's equipment is also dangerously old. According to the U.S. General Accounting Office, many coaches are ready for the junkyard, and some cars have been squeaking down the rails for 40 years. Amtrak's locomotives, when they're running, are also a hazard: half are ready for retirement. Amtrak says it needs $4 billion to bring its equipment into a satisfactory state of repair, begging the question: What state is it in now? And Amtrak's labor practices are something Eugene Debs once dreamed about. Amtrak has one employee for ever four passengers. It pays four times more into pensions than most corporations. Half of Amtrak's operating costs are consumed by the salaries and benefits of its 23,000 unionized employees. And courtesy of a 1971 government mandate, Amtrak must maintain one of history's most generous unemployment packages: any laid-off employee gets salary and benefits for six years. In some countries, inter-city train travel is an efficient alternative to driving or flying. Nevertheless, comparing the 185 mph TGV or the German Ice Train to Amtrak's 90 mph Metroliner is like comparing the Concorde to a propeller plane. Some Amtrak trains can't even stack up to early 20th century standards. "Amtrak's performance has serious weaknesses," says Mark Reutter, a writer and railroad historian. Reutter cites the St. Paul and Chicago route which hosted three private railroads in 1935. Sixty years ago, six trains a day made the trip in six hours. Amtrak runs one train that takes eight hours. Compare, too, the Metroliner's top velocity of 125 mph with steam Engine #999 of the old New York Central Railroad, which hit 112.5 mph in the early 1890s. How fast do most Amtrak trains go? 79 mph. And there's no light at the end of Amtrak's tunnel. Unless Congress moves soon, Amtrak's future will be more painful than its present, for this year, the railway faces an onslaught of new costs. Freight railroads, not Amtrak, own 97 percent of the track the "national railway" uses. Currently, travel rights are leased to Amtrak for the meager sum of $90 million a year -- a number Washington ordered in 1971. "We now lose money every minute Amtrak is on our tracks," says Conrail's William Rich. So what to do with Amtrak's rusty fleet, inefficient operation and substandard service? One thing is certain: unless Congress takes decisive action, the "national railway" will crash. "Continuing the present course -- maintaining the same funding level and route system, even with proposed cuts -- is neither feasible nor realistic because Amtrak will continue to deteriorate," said the GAO in its most recent report. The GAO maintained that Amtrak's case is a double-or- nothing proposition. Congress faces a choice: it must either privatize or subsidize, but it better be brave and quick in selecting one or the other. This choice comes after five years of government subsidies, many of which exceeded $1 billion. Nonetheless, these subsidies didn't begin to cover the ever-widening gap between expenses and revenues. So what does Amtrak think? "We think privatization is a good idea, provided we're permitted to wean ourselves off of operating subsidies," Amtrak spokesman Clifford Black said. It's time Congress relinquishes the tracks. There's no reason why private railroads, like Conrail, CSX, and the Burlington Northern Santa Fe, can't do for passengers what they now do for oil, grain, iron and coal: move them efficiently for a profit. After 23 years of socialized failure under Amtrak, our most auspicious option is to cut losses, have faith in the free market, and let passengers, investors, and competent, non-bureaucratic managers call the shots. Only complete and unbridled privatization of our rails may someday free up our tracks for a new chapter in the once-romantic story of train travel.
(02/27/95 10:00am)
To the Student Activities Committee, we here at The Red and Blue have but one thing to say: Read your Constitution. No, we don't mean the SAC constitution (although that's at issue here too), we mean the Constitution -- as in U.S. "So why do they say this?" You ask. We're instructing SAC's members and administrators -- and everyone else too -- to read up on your rights in response to the censorship that SAC has recently committed against the oldest student-run magazine in the Ivy League. Moreover, as editor of The Red and Blue, I'm exercising my First Amendment rights here in the DP because thanks to the caliber of its editorial board and its $800,000 a year budget, unlike other forums on campus, the Constitution seems to stand strong. Secondly, (again, thanks entirely to SAC), my usual place of publication -- The Red and Blue -- is not immediately presenting itself as an option. I will elaborate. On the night of January 26, the Student Activities Council met to vote on the allocation of funding for the officially recognized campus student groups. In order to obtain SAC funding, an organization must go through a process with SAC's finance committee, which will, in turn, recommend an amount to the SAC assembly at the monthly meeting. Despite a strong thumbs-up for funding and effusive praise from a finance committee member who said ours was the best presentation in SAC history, the body voted to deny The Red and Blue money to publish. Allow me to expand upon what happened. That night I took no part in the proceedings but observed intently. Before The Red and Blue was voted on, Students Together Against Acquaintance Rape went up for funds. Their representative was permitted to spend almost 30 minutes answering questions on financial matters and had to go as far as drawing their planned budget on the board before gaining approval from the assembly for over $6,000 in block grants. There was much excitement -- almost too much, I feared -- as it was announced that The Red and Blue was next on the agenda. First to speak was a representative from Dessalines (Haitian Students' Organization) and then a member of Caribbean American Students Association. They began by suggesting that The Red and Blue receive no funding as it is a "racist" publication. What's more, at no time was our budget discussed and not once was our representative asked a single question about financial matters. Whereas the assembly demonstrated zeal with other groups when it came to finances, it seemed now solely a matter of politics. At one point the chairman of the Steering Committee, Rich Chow, noticing the body's ill-will, asked if anyone was willing to speak in favor of The Red and Blue. Sophomore Shane Lipson asked to speak. "How can you people vote to recognize the First Amendment Task Force and an hour later deny The Red and Blue funding?" said Lipson. "I don't care what is in that magazine, it is their right to publish, and it is blatant censorship if they are denied funding tonight because of views expressed," he said. Before he reached his concluding remarks someone interrupted: "Well wait! Not everyone in this room agrees with the First Amendment. In fact, some of us think that free speech is a bad thing." The last word before the final vote came from the UA Chairperson Dan Debicella. Debicella stood up and addressed the assembly from in front of the podium (everyone else did it from their seats). "I come before you tonight not as the head of the UA --your elected leader -- but as the head of the College Republicans and the roommate of one of The Red and Blue's old editors," he said (Justin Cook, a friend and roommate of Debicella's, was Editor-in-Chief of The Red and Blue until December 1993; currently he has no affiliation with the magazine). Our UA head continued solemnly: "They [the editors of The Red and Blue] have all failed to be responsible journalists; this (no direct reference) has happened before with The Red and Blue and it's a pattern which will happen again." After a few more minutes of such talk he closed with the kicker: "Let's not vote against them because they are racist, bigoted and sexist. Vote against them because they publish crap! I ask you, please, please vote this down." Minutes later, the assembly voted to give The Red and Blue nothing. This decision constitutes nothing but blatant censorship. Among those who voted, some disagreed with Jeremy Hildreth's "One Man's Vision of Haiti" article, some disagreed with the very concept of freedom of speech and to top things off our UA chairperson had some personal motivations. The fact is we are unable to publish because we do not have the financial means to do so. Before I close, I would like to make some things very clear. The Red and Blue has no political agenda whatsoever. Among our editors are people of various races, religions, nationalities and sexes. The Red and Blue is not just "One Man's Vision," as it has been alleged. SAC was biased and unfair because under their own guidelines the only justification for denying a group funding is if they are politically or religiously affiliated. Denying us the right to publish by taking our funding from us only endangers every student group from getting any funding in the future. Should a group fall short of the political standards of SAC's members, it faces bankruptcy and imminent termination. Meanwhile, on the same evening, SAC did fund a student group that does indeed have a defined political agenda. The self-proclaimed feminist publication Generation XX was not only recognized and funded, but also allotted more than the amount recommended. By doing this, we believe SAC has committed a great injustice. All is not lost, we shall soon come out with another issue and we intend to appeal the decision to SAC at tonight's meeting and elsewhere if necessary. Nonetheless, January 26 will live in infamy as a day of intolerance and genuine bigotry. By the way, Webster's Dictionary defines the word "bigot" as "a person obstinately or intolerantly devoted to his or her own opinions and prejudices." To my dismay, bigots seem to abound on this campus.
(06/30/94 9:00am)
The Calhoun School '92 New York, N.Y. As of this spring, students in the the four undergraduate schools can only obtain old exams that have been approved by the professor, Assistant Dean for Academic Affairs Kent Peterman said. Students who want access to old exams from the Tutoring Center that have not been approved must receive individual permission from their professor, College of Arts and Sciences Dean Matthew Santirocco said. The decision was made by a unanimous vote during a February meeting of the Council of Undergraduate Deans. "I've heard the legitimate concerns of the faculty and students," Santirocco said earlier this semester. "I'm bringing up questions of how best to help students prepare." The policy applies to students in the College, the Wharton School of Business, the School of Engineering and Applied Science and the Nursing School. The previous exam policy, which allowed students open access to all old exams, was called into question last semester. Several faculty members approached Santirocco and expressed concern that they were not notified that their exams were available at the Tutoring Center. Faculty members who do not release old exams for student use were requested by the deans to offer sample questions and other study aids. "The questions will be truly indicative of the types of questions that the professors will be using on their exams, to allow students to know what they should expect to see on their tests," Nursing Associate Dean for Undergraduate Education Mary Naylor said. Santirocco said he would allow faculty members another alternative of offering old exams in departmental files, such as those currently in the Economics and Chemistry Departments.
(04/19/94 9:00am)
An unidentified man entered the Beta Theta Pi fraternity house at 3900 Spruce Street yesterday morning and held up College sophomore Timothy Poulton in his bedroom. The man fled when University and Philadelphia Police arrived on the scene. Poulton escaped unhurt. At approximately 6:50 a.m., Poulton, a brother, returned to the Beta Theta Pi house and found a man sitting in his room. "There was a guy sitting in my roommate's chair," Poulton said. "I wasn't able to get out of my room. He said, 'Sit down. I'm not going to hurt you.' I wanted to just run but I had nowhere to run. I sat down as close to the door as I could." Poulton said the man did not immediately produce any weapons when he entered his room, adding that he could not tell if he had any. According to Poulton, the man was alternately agitated and calm. "It made me think this guy is on something," he said. "I wondered if he was a little mentally messed up." The man then spoke to Poulton for several minutes. "He said he was in debt," Poulton said. "He made me close the door, and made reference to people that were after him." Poulton said the man asked him for food. After he ate, the man asked Poulton for money, but considered taking property instead when Poulton showed him his nearly empty wallet. "He started going through my roommate's stuff," said Poulton. "He found a portable CD player, and tried to take it. I said that he couldn't take it. That was when he put his hand to [his jacket] pocket [where] it looked like he had a gun." Poulton said the man asked him for other items that he could take and sell, but rejected everything Poulton offered. According to Poulton, the man then considered taking him hostage. "At that point I decided that I would have to get out of there pretty quickly," he said. "I darted, locked myself in a [brother's] room, and called 911 and Penn Police." Poulton praised University Police for being at his door before he got off the phone with them. Despite this, the man escaped with a compact disc player, valued between $250 and $300. No arrests have been made yet, according to University Police Sergeant Keith Christian. Christian called the incident "isolated." Neither the police nor fraternity members were able to determine how the individual entered the house. "It could have been an open window, and fraternity houses occasionally leave their doors open," said Christian. Poulton said he is not aware of any other witnesses to the incident. Beta Theta Pi is planning on upgrading security in their house. Changes will include adding bars to the windows and replacing older doors, according to Poulton.
(04/07/94 9:00am)
Philadelphia Mayor Ed Rendell's Chief of Staff David L. Cohen said it was "unobtrusive," but Smokey Joe's owner Paul Ryan called it "devastating." The disagreement between the public servant and the small business owner is over legislation that was introduced by Rendell and City Council President John Street earlier this year, which, if passed, will raise Philadelphia liquor taxes by 10 percent. The tax will only affect liquor sold at bars, and will have no effect on prices at liquor stores. According to City Councilperson Happy Fernandez, the taxes will benefit the Philadelphia Public School System, which is badly underfunded. "Our schools were cut $98 million last year, in some very important services," she said. "The liquor tax would probably provide $10-25 million. That's a good start." Fernandez, a supporter of the tax, summed up the theory behind the legislation. "Do I want to provide more money for schools and children or do I want to protect the bar owners?" she said. According to Cohen, the tax will not have much effect on residents of Philadelphia. "The bulk will be paid by non-Philadelphians," Cohen said. "The vast majority of the drink sales occurs in downtown business. The vast majority of those will be consumed by conventioneers." Bar owners are not convinced. "This won't be any good," said Murphy's Tavern owner Joe Murphy. "It'll hurt. Instead of going out two nights a week more people will go out one. Instead of drinking [at a bar] they'll drink cases of beer." Other bar owners are ready and willing to take action. "It'll be devastating," Ryan said. "If 10 percent is going to the city, then [the tax will] sack my business 10 percent. We intend to let the councilpeople know that this will be very detrimental to the hospitality industry." City Councilperson David Cohen argued that the tax will set a bad example. "It singles out one industry to carry out the burden of the tax," Cohen said. "It is bad on moral grounds to let the liquor industry brag about what it has done for the school districts. It seems to be wrong for the liquor industry to be able to say 'drink for the kids.'" Others question whether the tax will raise anywhere near the estimated amount. "[The tax] is going to bring in $20 million?" said City Councilperson Joe Vignola. "That would mean that the city sells $200 million a year. I've never seen any study that says we've sold $200 million by the drink. That's a lot of sales." The legislation was originally voted on by Council in February, but did not garner enough votes to pass. Councilman Cohen said the vote was close, though. The tax is expected to be voted on again within the next month or two, he added.
(04/07/94 9:00am)
City Councilman David Cohen filed suit against the Philadelphia Charter Commission Tuesday, seeking an injunction against the May 10 referendum which will determine whether the new Home Rule Charter will go into effect. The Home Rule Charter is described by Commission member Hal Fichandler as "Philadelphia's Constitution." It is designed to outline how city government is run. The old charter, conceived of in 1951 and considered at least partially obsolete, was revised over the last 18 months by a 15-member commission appointed by the City Council and the mayor. This is the first time that legal action was taken against the 1994 version of the charter. "The action of the Charter Commission is in violation of state law," Cohen said. According to Cohen, the commission held hearings as early as 7:30 a.m. and as late as 6 p.m. to keep citizens from voicing any dissenting opinion. Cohen also said that while the commission did translate the final charter into Spanish, none of the previous drafts were translated. He said that this effectively cut off Philadelphia's large Spanish-speaking population from debate over the charter. Cohen also claims the mayor and City Council illegally constrained the commission from revising certain sections of the charter, including those involving the day-to-day political operation of city government. Philadelphia lawyer and Commission Vice Chairperson Robert Heim called the lawsuit "frivolous." "Part of the reason [we held early and late meetings] was so that people who had jobs could attend the meetings," Heim said. "I don't know if every thing we do has to be bilingual, but I doubt it. "It was widely announced that we would look at operations of government and not political operations. If somebody raises something, we'll vote on whatever it is that we want to vote on," Heim added. Fred Voigt, executive director of the Committee of Seventy, an independent Philadelphia political 'watchdog' group, agreed with Heim. "I think [the suit] is totally without merit," Voigt said. "It will be promptly disposed of by the court." The suit is scheduled to be heard in Common Pleas Court on April 19, less than one month before the charter is scheduled to appear on the ballot.
(04/06/94 9:00am)
Philadelphia Mayor Ed Rendell's Chief of Staff David L. Cohen said it was "unobtrusive," but Smokey Joe's owner Paul Ryan called it "devastating." The disagreement between the public servant and the small business owner is over legislation that was introduced by Rendell and City Council President John Street earlier this year, which, if passed, will raise Philadelphia liquor taxes by 10 percent. The tax will only affect liquor sold at bars, and will have no effect on prices at liquor stores. According to City Councilperson Happy Fernandez, the taxes will benefit the Philadelphia Public School System, which is badly underfunded. "Our schools were cut $98 million last year, in some very important services," she said. "The liquor tax would probably provide $10-25 million. That's a good start." Fernandez, a supporter of the tax, summed up the theory behind the legislation. "Do I want to provide more money for schools and children or do I want to protect the bar owners?" she said. According to Cohen, the tax will not have much effect on residents of Philadelphia. "The bulk will be paid by non-Philadelphians," Cohen said. "The vast majority of the drink sales occurs in downtown business. The vast majority of those will be consumed by conventioneers." Bar owners are not convinced. "This won't be any good," said Murphy's Tavern owner Joe Murphy. "It'll hurt. Instead of going out two nights a week more people will go out one. Instead of drinking [at a bar] they'll drink cases of beer." Other bar owners are ready and willing to take action. "It'll be devastating," Ryan said. "If 10 percent is going to the city, then [the tax will] sack my business 10 percent. We intend to let the councilpeople know that this will be very detrimental to the hospitality industry." City Councilperson David Cohen argued that the tax will set a bad example. "It singles out one industry to carry out the burden of the tax," Cohen said. "It is bad on moral grounds to let the liquor industry brag about what it has done for the school districts. It seems to be wrong for the liquor industry to be able to say 'drink for the kids.'" Others question whether the tax will raise anywhere near the estimated amount. "[The tax] is going to bring in $20 million?" said City Councilperson Joe Vignola. "That would mean that the city sells $200 million a year. I've never seen any study that says we've sold $200 million by the drink. That's a lot of sales." The legislation was originally voted on by Council in February, but did not garner enough votes to pass. Councilman Cohen said the vote was close, though. The tax is expected to be voted on again within the next month or two, he added.
(04/06/94 9:00am)
The 1994 Home Rule Charter was filed in City Hall last week, signaling possible change for Philadelphia's city government. The 15-member Charter Commission's filing was the final step in creating what could be the first new city charter in 43 years. "The Home Rule Charter is the framework for city government in Philadelphia," said Charter Commission Work Group member Hal Fichandler. The charter could redefine the responsibilities of Philadelphia's city government, Fichandler said. "It determines what city departments and other city agencies are supposed to do, how the budget is prepared, how employees are hired and how ordinances are enacted," Fichandler added. Fichandler described the Home Rule Charter as "Philadelphia's Constitution." The 1994 version is the first since 1951, when Philadelphia's original Home Rule Charter was enacted. The current city government operates under that charter. "The 1951 version is moderately outdated," Fichandler said. "The basic approach to government is being preserved." The 1994 Charter proposes changes in how the city government will run. These changes have been the subject of vehement debate since 1992, when the Charter Commission began accepting recommendations for change. One of the most controversial changes proposed by the new charter involves giving the executive branch more influence over daily governmental procedure than the office currently holds. "Although it gives City Council a strong role, it gives the mayor the power to get things done," Fichandler said. The Charter would give the mayor the power to create, dissolve and modify governmental departments. This power is not currently held by any branch of city government. "This would improve the service given to the citizens," said Deputy Mayor for Policy and Planning Greg Rost. With a more flexible departmental system, according to Fichandler, city government could cut down on unneeded bureaucracy and spending. Critics of the policy shift believe it would upset the delicate balance of power within city government. "[The charter] will enormously increase the power for the mayor, and take away from the city of Philadelphia," said City Councilperson David Cohen.
(03/28/94 10:00am)
The U.S. Justice Department has settled a lawsuit brought by a Philadelphia student that will provide sweeping AIDS reforms for the city, and possibly for the entire nation. The settlement between the city and the student, which occurred last week, requires that the city develop an AIDS awareness program, including AIDS/HIV care training for emergency personnel. The suit was based on an incident in January 1993, when rescue workers from the Philadelphia Fire Department refused assistance to an injured student when they discovered that he was taking AZT, a drug many people believe helps suppress the AIDS virus. The emergency medical technicians refused to place the student on a stretcher, the lawsuit alleged. Even though he had an erratic pulse and was complaining of severe chest pains, workers told him to get on the stretcher himself. A teacher later helped him on, according to the suit. As a result of the settlement between the city and the student, the city must train 2,300 Fire Department employees, including 900 emergency medical technicians, on how to prevent the transmission of HIV/AIDS. The employees will also be taught to respect victims' privacy while rendering medical care and be sensitive to the needs of HIV/AIDS victims. If fire fighters and EMTs do not abide by the new policies, they will face disciplinary action. The Fire Department must also pay the student $10,000 and provide him with a formal written apology. The Justice Department will not release the name of the student. "The city will be responsible for taking measures, including appropriate disciplinary action to enforce this policy," said U.S. Justice Department spokesperson Myron Marlin. "I think training will go a long way towards dispelling a lot of the myths, and enforceable disciplinary action will also go a long way." Representatives of the Philadelphia AIDS Law Project, the organization that represented the student, said they are satisfied with the outcome. "[The settlement] insures that the people of Philadelphia who have AIDS are treated," said attorney Ronda Goldfein. "I think they are great terms." The reforms are not expected to stay within the city limits. "[The reforms affect] Philadelphia, but we believe that the plan made by Philadelphia can be used as a model for the rest of the nation," Marlin said.
(03/25/94 10:00am)
When the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard closes in September 1995, the city is expected to lose more than $530 million and almost 30,000 jobs. The Shipyard, which has been a fixture in South Philadelphia for more than 200 years, will shut down as part of a $1.5 billion government savings plan. "We are working with the Navy diligently to minimize the effect of the closing, and creating a viable plan that will convert that extremely valuable land area," said Richard Maloney, vice president of comm- unications for the Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce. He added, however, that "[the closing will] have a definite negative effect on the region." The shipyard's 7,000 employees will be hardest hit by the closing -- most expect to be laid-off. But, it will also affect the 20,000 people who work for establishments which cater to the Shipyard. "We've given up the fight," said 11- year naval yard worker Terry Powell. "You just roll with the punches and live your life from there. I'm too young to retire and too old to learn a new trick." U.S. Senator Arlen Specter (D-Pa.) helped challenge the U.S. Defense Department Closure and Realignment Commission's 1991 decision earlier this month when he testified during a trial held before the U.S. Supreme Court, said his spokesperson Susan Lamontagne. "Senator Specter believes that the navy yard was not given a fair hearing by the Defense Closure and Realignment Commission," she said. The lawsuit stated that the Navy purposefully withheld information compiled by its own experts about the shipyard's value. A federal judge dismissed the suit, which was subsequently reinstated in the U.S. Court of Appeals. A decision on the case is not expected until this summer. Although the DCRC report admits "the impact [of the closing] on the city of Philadelphia would be severe," the Commission chose to include the naval base among 33 other military base closings nationwide. As of September 1995, the city will take over 70 percent of the yard's land space. The rest will remain U.S. Navy property, and will be reserved primarily for military crises. The city's newly acquired land -- approximately 1,000 acres -- may be used for anything from low rent housing to an amusement park. "Its a beautiful area down there, and its probably one of the most valuable areas in the regions," said Maloney. "There are probably a dozen different scenarios." The Associated Press contributed to this article.
(03/25/94 10:00am)
Writer 'shocked' by mayor's comments A Philadelphia Magazine article that will hit the stands Monday has sparked off a controversy between Mayor Ed Rendell and the article's author, who was "shocked and outraged," at sexual innuendos that the mayor allegedly directed at her. In a 24-hour period earlier this year, Philadelphia reporter Lisa DePaulo followed Rendell to New York City and back. During that time the mayor made several comments that have been interpreted as sexually offensive. "[DePaulo] was shocked and outraged by the remarks,"said Philadelphia Executive Editor Elliot Kaplan. The article, which repeatedly refers to Rendell as "America's Mayor", tells of one incident in which Rendell and DePaulo were passing through a metal detector in New York. After DePaulo kept setting the detector off, the mayor said, "Take it off, Lis! Take it all off!" Reflecting on the incident to his driver at the time, Rendell said, "Lis must have a spiked metal bra or something." Several hours later, DePaulo picked up a bag that the mayor had left behind, and Rendell said that he owed her one. He said he would be in the Plaza Hotel later, and told DePaulo that she could "get her favor there." The mayor also told DePaulo "in raw and alliterative terms" that he had heard how she was in bed. Kaplan said DePaulo told the mayor several times that she did not want to have to quote him in the article, and that they were not pertinent to the situation. "This is Ed being Ed," said Kaplan. "This is part of his personality." Rendell has admitted to saying what is quoted in the magazine. "[Rendell] will kid from time to time, with men and women alike," said his spokesperson Kevin Feeley. "He talks in an earthy and salty manner. He never does it with a person that he is not comfortable with. They were both laughing about it, and she was not offended." Feeley added that they have known each otherEfor some time, and that comments of a joking sexual nature were exchanged freely between the two. Feeley said the mayor called DePaulo as soon as he heard how she felt. Rendell asked her if she was offended, and she said no. DePaulo could not be reached for comment yesterday. The article praises Rendell for his ability to be "smooth and to be crude," and asks if it really matters that "America's Mayor is probably more like America than anyone wants to admit."
(03/23/94 10:00am)
With the primary looming less than two months away, Pennsylvania's 1994 gubernatorial race is heating up. And since incumbent Governor Bob Casey is not running for re-election, the front-runners for the top state office have narrowed to a group of four hopefuls. State Attorney General and University graduate Ernie Preate Jr. and State Senator Tom Ridge are currently the front-running Republican candidates. Current Lieutenant Governor Mark Singel and 1992 U.S. Senate candidate Lynn Yeakel are the leading Democrats for the post. The economy promises to be one of the main issues in this year's election, and all four leading candidates propose significant tax cuts. Republican Tom Ridge, the party's endorsed candidate, said he will cut taxes by $2 billion over the course of his four years in office. His economic plan proposes to pay for this primarily through budget cuts. Ernie Preate Jr. offers another plan, which would reduce state spending by $604 million by the end of the century. This would be accomplished partially by cutting back on state workers. Preate also proposes to reduce the corporate net income tax by 4 percent, which would mean $1.65 billion less in taxes for Pennsylvania business by 1999. Both leading Democratic hopefuls are proposing similar, but smaller, cuts in the corporate net income tax. Yeakel suggests a $100 million "New Skills Partnership" to create job-training programs for laid off workers. Crime -- specifically issues surrounding the death penalty and youth gangs -- is another significant issue in the gubernatorial race. Both Republican front-runners support the death penalty. Preate stresses a special juvenile offender system primarily for gang members, while Ridge proposes two new maximum security prisons for juvenile offenders. Singel supports the death penalty, as well as increased sentences for crimes committed by gang members. Yeakel opposes the death penalty, but says she will sign death warrants if need be. Three Republicans and five Democrats are running for the top state office in addition to the four top contenders.
(03/03/94 10:00am)
Students in the College of Arts and Sciences who wanted to read their electronic mail messages yesterday had to wait hours for them to arrive. Last night, administrators blamed the delays on a system overload. Everyone who logged onto the mail.sas system yesterday received a message saying, "Due to high overload yesterday evening and night, mail was not delivered over night." At one point yesterday, the system's load became so heavy that e-mail users could not log into their accounts at all. The message stated that the backlogged mail was not lost, and would be delivered throughout the course of the day. "It's a big [problem]," said College sophomore Susan Thompson. "I was getting directions for my trip to Florida and now I don't have them." The problem stems from the computer system, which currently has trouble handling the large number of users in SAS, network administrators said. "The system is configured to delay delivering mail when it is overloaded," said SAS Computing Assistant Administrator Shumon Huque. "It's just caused by a lot of people logging on. We had about 180 users yesterday." Huque said the system usually grows too crowded for mail to be delivered punctually by early afternoon. He added that by 6 p.m. the system is usually free, and by the middle of the night, all mail is delivered. "I'm a little bit annoyed," said College junior Jonathan Feldman. "Its preposterous for an e-mail message to take seven hours to be received." Several students also complained about messages which disappeared from their mailboxes within the last week. "Last night when I logged in, 20 of my messages were gone," said College sophomore Lawrence Kissko. Feldman said he faced a similar problem. "I had about 40 e-mail messages, and they just disappeared," he said. Feldman added that he called SAS Computing for help about a week ago, but has not heard from them since. Faculty members also complained about the speed of the system. "Yesterday [SAS e-mail] was extremely slow," said History Professor Drew Faust. "You would type a character and it would take about five seconds to come up on the screen." Shumon said a second system computer, which he hopes will eliminate the problems, is expected to be in place today. He cited several reasons for the overloaded system, including the large number of users and the amount of memory needed for the menu system to function. "Even [with the new computer] there could be delays during times of especially high capacity," Feldman said. Officials at SAS Computing say the e-mail system averages more than 20,000 pieces of mail per day.
(02/17/94 10:00am)
Pennsylvania's controversial abortion law was temporarily blocked yesterday, just two days after the law went into effect. Commonwealth Court Judge Dan Pellegrini ruled that the law, which requires women to receive informed consent before undergoing an abortion, cannot go into effect until after brochures explaining fetal development and procedural dangers are published. Then, the law can go into effect 10 days after the materials arrive at state abortion clinics, his ruling stated. These materials were sent out to abortion clinics Tuesday, state spokesperson Kathy Leiber said. The injunction was requested Tuesday by Philadelphia attorney Kathryn Kolbert because abortion clinics had not yet received the brochures which they are required to give to perspective patients, she said. Yesterday's injunction, the second leveled upon the legislation, came two days after the U.S. Supreme Court lifted the original ban, which had been in effect for nearly five years. The law calls for physicians to give women counseling and abortion literature at least 24 hours before operating. It also forces unmarried women under 18-years-old to seek permission from a parent or guardian. "The fact that Pennsylvania women are already calling reproductive health providers in New Jersey, Delaware and Maryland is very troubling," said Penn Pro Choice Co-Chairperson Scott Gallin. "I hope that the information booklets which were mailed earlier this week to Pennsylvania clinics will receive a careful and thorough review," said the College senior, former associate editor of The Daily Pennsylvanian. Anti-abortion officials see the legislation as a victory, albeit a minor one. "It's a small compromise that doesn't go very far," said Newman Council President and College junior Jeremy Chiappetta. "It certainly does not go far enough. [The legislation is] a victory insofar as it is a first step. It certainly does not solve the problem." State Attorney General Ernie Preate Jr. said he believes the legislation should take effect next week after the 10-day waiting period expires. Another hearing is scheduled for next Tuesday for the two sides to debate their interpretations of when the 10 day injunction will end. The Associated Press contributed to this article.
(02/16/94 10:00am)
An injunction against Pennsylvania's stringent abortion legislation has been lifted by a landmark U.S. Supreme Court decision, after five years of debate in court. U. S. District Court Judge Dan H. Huyett III enforced the Supreme Court's decision by lifting the ban Monday. The legislation requires anyone attempting to get an abortion within the state of Pennsylvania to be counseled by a physician at least 24 hours before beginning the procedure. It also mandates they be given a brochure explaining the dangers of and alternatives to the operation. In addition, the law states that women under 18 must obtain permission from a parent or guardian before undergoing the procedure. The legislation calls for the state to provide the brochures that clinics must give to their clients. But, those brochures have not yet been printed. "We are petitioning [the courts] to get an emergency injunction until the brochures are distributed," said Executive Director of CHOICE Lisa Schulock. "We expect to have a decision on the request by [this] morning." In the meantime, women must wait 24 hours before having an abortion, said Robert Gentzel, spokesperson for Pennsylvania Attorney General Ernie Preate Jr. "[The legislation] is another roadblock," said University Student Health Nurse Practitioner Cynthia Bayer. "It makes abortions more expensive and less convenient. We already have some students who have had to wait a little bit longer. "It's going to be a real problem for anyone under 18," Bayer added. "Students who are under 18 are already looking at some alternative sites in New Jersey." Anti-abortion officials hail the decision as a victory, but not a major one. "I don't think [the law] makes it more difficult for women to have an abortion," said Delaware County Pro- Life Coalition President Kathy Coll. "This is only a tiny little step." Coll said she believes private physicians may not follow the law because they profit from abortions. She did, however, add that the number of abortions will go down in the long run because of the legislation. Opponents of the law say that it will have dire consequences. "I think this is going to be a majorEobstacle," said Planned Parenthood Southeastern Pennsylvania Advocates' Executive Director Joan Coombs. "This law will do real harm to real people. Ernie Preate should be ashamed of himself." Coombs said while 24 hours does not seem like a long time, it can cause women to wait days, and possibly weeks, if a clinic's schedule is full. This can push the woman into her next trimester, which would make an abortion more dangerous and expensive. To decide this case, the Supreme Court used a new standard for defining freedom of choice, said Penn Women's Alliance member Debra Pickett. The "undue burden" standard states that a law cannot place an undue burden on a woman's right to choose. Pickett said the Supreme Court ruled that the provisions of this law did not constitute an undue burden. "Because of this law, getting an abortion becomes more than a major inconvenience," she said. "It becomes an undue burden." The Associated Press contributed to this article.
(02/14/94 10:00am)
When the Acme supermarket, located at 4314 Locust Street, closes next month, a bowling alley may take its place. While the bowling alley's organizer is excited about the project, students said the March 12 closing of Acme will make shopping more difficult. "It's just going to make Thriftway more crowded," said Wharton senior Ethan Falkove, referring to the supermarket at 43rd and Walnut streets. A manager of Thriftway would not comment on the issue last night. Campus Apartments shuttle driver Fred Fredricks, the main force behind the building of the new bowling alley, said planning for the center is still in the early stages. "I've been trying to set up something for students to do aside from going to the bars," Fredricks said. "It's not really to make a profit. My concern is just trying to help [the students]." Fredricks said the main idea behind the bowling alley is to create an alcohol-free environment for student recreation. Some University officials said that while they supported the idea, they did not know how feasible lending financial support for the project would be. "I think [a bowling alley] is a terrific idea, and I would encourage him to do it," said acting Vice Provost for University Life Valarie Swain-Cade McCoullum. She added, though, that "at this point I would rather devote VPUL resources to on-campus [groups,] student organizations, meeting rooms and performing arts spaces." Fredricks said he would still work towards gaining a bowling alley for the community, whether or not the University financially supported the endeavor. He added, however, that finding the funds to build the center is the only major obstacle preventing the bowling alley from becoming a reality. "I think that it could support itself if every person on campus went once," College sophomore Raphael Lee said. Most students said they think a bowling alley is a good idea. "I would totally go bowling over a [fraternity] party," said Lee. "Sit back, pound some beers, knock down pins."
(02/04/94 10:00am)
To the sheltered High Rise resident looking to move off campus, the prospects of living in West Philadelphia can be daunting. But for some, an easy alternative lies over the river and down the street. A small number of University undergraduates, and an even larger number of graduate students, have chosen to live in the land of Liberty Place and Independence Hall -- Center City. Living in Center City affords University students many opportunities which may not be available in West Philadelphia. But, most students just don't realize that they can afford it. "There are places in Center City that are cheaper than West Philadelphia because of the glut of students," said College senior Patrick Fitzsimmons. "I'm paying $390 a month for a really nice place. You have a lot of leverage with the landlord." Landlords seem to be another issue that are sending students across the Schuylkill. "They all seem to be better than the slumlords in West Philadelphia," said fourth year NeuroScience graduate student Reiko Maki. While most agree that affordability and Center City landlords are strengths of living downtown, there is some dispute over the level of crime and protection. "Center City is much safer than West Philadelphia," said Center City landlord William Kromboldt. "More than one applicant said that realtors in [West Philadelphia] tell them not to live there because of security. That stands out almost to a point of shocking me." The safety Kromboldt is referring to is often attributed to a Neighborhood Watch program that patrols the area. "[They] really have made a difference," said Center City Landlady Liz Trotman. Some students disagree. "Things can happen to you just as easily in Center City," said Ph.D candidate Dana Cummings. "The Neighborhood Watch once was held up at gunpoint." Living in Center City does have one distinct advantage -- it brings students closer to everything that downtown Philadelphia offers. "Many students prefer to be right here in the center," said Trotman. "They can turn one way and go to campus, and the other to the middle of Philadelphia."
