FOCUS: GLOOMY PROSPECT PART I

Anne Todd is so worried about the future of the Social Planning and Events Committee -- the organization into which she has invested her time for nearly four years -- that her platinum blond hair is darkening. Todd, a College senior and chairperson of SPEC, leaves office later this month without the comfort of knowing that SPEC, a three-year-old student government committee, will flourish in the future. SPEC, which is an almost autonomous body although technically still an Undergraduate Assembly committee, was formed in the spring of 1990 to be responsible for alternative -- that is, alcohol-free -- social programming for the University's undergraduate community. Since its formation, SPEC has been funded jointly by the Office of the Vice Provost for University Life and the UA. But the administration's agreement to financially support SPEC ends this year. Without University money, the UA will be the sole provider of funds for SPEC, forced to pick up where the administration left off. The question now is whether the UA has the initiative and funds to take on the financial responsibility for social programming. If not, Todd may leave the University knowing that SPEC is on its way out as well. · Before 1990, the Student Activities Council branch of the UA headed both the programming and funding areas of student programs on campus. But, believing that the two jobs were very different and needed special attention, several students, backed by the UA and Vice Provost for University Life Kim Morrisson, organized SPEC to be in charge of planning campus-wide events, administrators said last week. "Programmers knew what programmers needed, [and they would] give campus-wide programming more of a chance [with] more structure," said SPEC advisor Kathy Krautter, who is also assistant director for student life activities and facilities. Like Todd and most members of this year's SPEC board, however, Krautter was not at the University before SPEC existed. But, with 18 years at the University, Fran Walker, director of student life activities and facilities, has seen the evolution of campus social planning into the current SPEC body. "[SPEC was] formed because there was perceived to be a difference between a funding body, SAC, and a programming body, [which was] responsible to implement funding," Walker said. SPEC originally began by combining three SAC groups -- the Penn Union Council, previously in charge of concerts, the Spring Fling Committee and Rowbottom, the organization for Homecoming activities -- into a larger umbrella group. But Walker said that SAC was not consulted before SPEC was formed, and this is still a point of contention between the two groups. · The funding agreement for SPEC stated that, in addition to student activity funds allocated by the UA, the Vice Provost for University Life's office would partially fund SPEC for three years, during which time SPEC officials would seek a $3 million endowment to support future SPEC endeavors. But the three years are up in the spring, and there is no alumni endowment in sight, Todd said last week. Walker said that three years ago no one bothered to think about the future of SPEC funding. "I don't think anyone ever thought about how it was going to be funded in four years," she said. "A lot of people disliked this agreement." Krautter said that the expectation, which was shared by students and administrators, was "not a realistic move." SPEC officials said that SPEC has been actively seeking outside funding since it was created. Todd said SPEC filed a prospectus in 1990 with the University's Office of Planning and Development's "Campaign for Penn," to try to solicit donations, but has had no result. People who want to make donations to the University approach the Planning and Development office, which, in turn, makes them aware of the various gift opportunities at the University. Todd said she thinks that donors would rather contribute their money to a concrete object at the University than to campus-wide social events. "Student life is an intangible element," Todd said. "You can't put your fingers on good feelings of Penn." Todd said SPEC has received money from corporate sponsors during its existence, as it did for last year's Spring Fling for which three corporations gave over $9,000. She said SPEC also tries to hold events at no cost to the group, such as the CBS College Tour, Haagen Dazs' samplings and the Dennis Miller and Kevin Nealon shows, which were funded by Pontiac. "We try to get something for nothing," Todd said. SPEC has has had a budget of $430,000 over the three years since it began, but the majority has been from UA allocations, not from the administration. Last year, the UA distributed $687,000 of student activities money to the branches of student government, allocating $145,000 to SPEC, according to UA financial records. Morrisson's office has contributed $100,000 to SPEC over the past three years, almost one-third of its total funding. But without administration backing next year, the UA will have to supply SPEC with $20,000 more than this year if social programming is to maintain its budget, and even more if it continues to expand. UA Chairperson Jeff Lichtman said last week that, although Morrisson's office will not fund SPEC in the future, the office may fund alternative social programming through the Drug and Alcohol Task Force. "There is an option to create new programs that hopefully students will respond to that can be funded through the VPUL's office," said Lichtman, a College senior. "[Vice Provost Morrisson] is not closing the option of funding other things." But Lichtman said this does not change the fact that the administration expects students to fund too many alternative activities themselves. "It's unrealistic to feel that the student activities fee will cover the entire amount [of alternative social programming]," Lichtman said. "I think that it's unfair to think that $700,000 can cover every student activity." He said, however, that the UA is committed to funding SPEC and alternative social programming. "I feel very confident that people on the UA see it as a high priority," Lichtman said. "The UA realizes the importance of SPEC." Associate Vice Provost for University Life Larry Moneta said last week that social programming is "among the top priorities" for the administration also, but said 1990's agreement only allowed for "seed money" from his division. He said that, in allocating money, there is a "very complex formula in how much we can make available for students for programming." He said a lot of the money SPEC received from the administration went back into the University to pay overtime for maintenance staff and for spaces to hold the events. "The decentralized structure is that every [part of the University] does it's own revenue generating," Moneta said. "[SPEC should be able to spend] more [money] on the product than the infrastucture." Moneta said the University is demonstrating its commitment to social planning for students by supporting the proposed student center and by finding ways to make programming money go further. · SPEC has grown in size and breadth since it began. Since 1990 SPEC has had as many as 14 committees at one time, Todd said. It now has ten: Art Gallery, Technical, Homecoming, Jazz Festival, Spring Fling, Film Society, Crafts Fair, Special Events, Concerts and Minority Concerns. Todd said SPEC started out with a $43,000 debt to SAC it inherited from the former Spring Fling committee, a deficit which it is still paying off with the money its events generate. And although last year's Fling yielded a profit, Todd said "all SPEC revenues go to paying the debt." "SPEC never tries to make a profit," Todd said. "Everything is at cost." "If a committee does make money," she added, "that money goes right back into programming." Administrators said they think students want consistently programmed activities in addition to major events, but SPEC officials said they cannot count on student involvement and support. "[The University needs] simple, predictable, reliable things [to do] that you don't have to check an events board for," Moneta said. "Places to go without planning." Todd said there are not many minor activities because of a lack of funding, in addition to a lack of student participation. "We have continued pressure to do consistent programming, [but] the money needs to come from somewhere," Todd said. She said the Film Society sponsors bi-weekly movies which draw 60-100 people every two weeks, but that the same people are attracted to each showing. SPEC also provided free concerts on Superblock which featured up-and-coming bands this fall, but student turnout was not very large. Krautter said the best student turnouts are for big name performers like Kevin Nealon, the Indigo Girls and Dennis Miller, but these concerts are expensive to organize. SPEC leaders said that last year's Blues Traveler concert during Spring Fling, for instance, cost $70,000. But student leaders on campus said that they know from experience that big names don't mean everything. InterFraternity Council President Jeff Blount said his organization cosponsored a comedy show with SPEC during this year's Greek Week which featured three "big name" performers, and only 500 people attended, he said. "On one hand, it's a good turnout, but compared to other parties on campus that weekend [that had] only a DJ, [it's kind of disappointing]," said Blount, a Wharton senior. And even though many SPEC events might draw people away from Greek activities on campus, Blount said, the more SPEC can involve students, the better. "The more alternatives in regards to social activities [the] better," he said. "There is room on campus for a wide range of activities." "I encourage them to find any activity that would [attract students]," Blount said. But despite sometimes lacking student attendance at SPEC-sponsored activities, Todd said that she believes students recognize the importance of her organization. Last year SPEC began S.O.S. -- Save Our SPEC -- a petition-signing drive for undergraduates who want SPEC to remain on campus. Hundreds of students signed their names under the proclamation: "We, the undersigned students of the University of Pennsylvania, support the vital role that the Social Planning and Events Committee (SPEC) plays in enhancing Penn's social environment. This affirms our desire that SPEC should continue in future years to provide social prgramming for the university community in order to make the collegiate experience more complete." And other student leaders said that, although they too see a role for SPEC at the University, they do not believe that SPEC benfits the entire University community. United Minorities Council Chairperson Pam Urueta said that SPEC "targets and gets a certain group [of students that] isn't demonstrative of who's here." "SPEC could be very valuable," said Urueta, a College senior. "Right now it is to a select group of students." Urueta said that the SPEC's Minority Concerns Committee works hard, but there needs to be a "concerted effort" between SPEC and the minority community "to work together." · Administrators and campus leaders agree that SPEC plays a vital role at the University by providing students with non-alcohol-related oportunities to socialize and have fun. "I think SPEC will remain," Krautter said. "Where the money is going to come from, I don't know." She said she assumes the organization will receive all of next year's budget from student activities funds allocated by the UA. But, even when Todd leaves office at the semester's end, no one will know for sure. Todd said she'll just hope for the best. "We're a solid committee [that] meets people's needs," she said. "We do good programming to enhance people's lives at Penn." "It's that simple."