U. taking steps to fix mail service

University administrators said last night that they are taking steps to improve mail service across campus, with a special focus on recent problems with Quadrangle mail service. Vice Provost for University Life Kim Morrisson said that University Police and U.S. Postal Service investigators are currently looking into reported problems with University mail service. "The [Daily Pennsylvanian] articles before break began to highlight the severity of the complaints, which were coming in and going out of different places," Morrisson said. "It wasn't until we began putting it together that it looked quite serious." Residential Living Director Gigi Simeone said University Police officers will be in McClelland Hall from 6 to 10 p.m. today through Friday to take students' complaints about current problems or problems that happened earlier on this year. In a letter to The DP, Morrisson, along with Simeone and University Police Commissioner John Kuprevich, detailed the steps the University is taking. The University plans to install glass panels to doors of private mail sorting areas to increase visibility, Simeone said. Locks to each mailroom door have been changed so that each door is individually keyed, allowing fewer people to have access to them, Simeone said. The letter also states that each mailroom worker will be assigned to sort a specific Quad house in order to ensure clear accountability. Simeone said this change has already been made. Manager for Residential Services Rodney Robinson has also been relocated to the Quad mailroom as an on-site supervisor until the problem is resolved, Simeone said. Finally, the University will be sending letters to all parents advising them not to send cash to students through the mail. The letter states that anything of value should be sent by certified mail or registered mail, with a return receipt. Morrisson said the University is trying very hard to get all students to come forward with problems. "What we're trying to do is get students to come forward and speak to members of the University Police staff so we can document the scope of the problem," Morrisson said. "I don't know [if this is solely a Quad problem]." Morrisson described the mail problems as a "high priority issue" and said the investigators are going to do everything they can. Both Simeone and Morrisson said they do not want to point fingers until investigators make a report, but Morrisson said the problem is not confined to one area. Simeone said complaints about slow mail delivery have dropped off since the University was able to arrange early morning mail pickup from the 30th Street U.S. Post Office. "We have done everything that we can and we are in a constant system of reviewing our systems," Simeone said. "We are very encouraged with the early pick-up of mail from 30th Street Station and we are happy with the work of the retired postal workers [brought in earlier this semester]." Simeone said this problem is one of her department's main focuses this semester and one they want solved as soon as possible. She added that it is important for students to report complaints, even if their mail problems have ended.