Hackney mended city ties

Over the past 12 years, President Sheldon Hackney has used his position to improve the University's declining relations with both the city and the neighboring community. Local leaders credit Hackney with reinvigorating the University's commitment to Philadelphia, demonstrated by actions ranging from the prepayment of city taxes to the establishment of community service programs. But they point to the University's position in the Mayor's Scholarship case -- in which a class-action suit claimed the University was falling short of its scholarship obligation to graduates of Philadelphia schools -- as a sign that all was not well. Under Hackney, the University's relations with the city have improved, especially since Mayor Ed Rendell came into office two years ago. "I think Rendell is a sort of hands-on person and that his style is open and I think our relationship [with the University] has improved since Rendell has come in," said Councilmember Jannie Blackwell, whose district includes the University. "We have been working very closely with the city administration, even more with the Rendell administration than the Goode administration," Hackney said. However, Hackney maintained strong ties with Philadelphia even while Wilson Goode was mayor. "[Hackney has] always been responsible to the city of Philadelphia as the chief executive of the largest non-governmental employer in the city," Councilmember Joseph Vignola said. Vignola pointed to the University's decision in 1990 to pay taxes early to help the city through a period of financial instability. The move gave the city a much needed infusion of tax money. Blackwell also spoke highly of Hackney. "Well, I think that we've had an excellent relationship. We have had our battles, but we've accomplished a lot under his leadership," Blackwell said. "When he leaves, he will be missed by West Philadelphians and Philadelphians at large." Blackwell said she thinks the University does a good job of incorporating its service into the urban fabric, although some in the community have criticized the University for not doing more. "I think that people kind of accept that universities are kind of a city within a city," she said. "Right now we have a special services district [in University City], and I think that Penn does a great job with Escort [Service]." Hackney said he tried to coordinate services the University provides with those the city already supplies. "Our police force has very close working relationships with the 18th police district," Hackney said. "The city has been good with lighting and the [Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority] has been very good with security." Blackwell thought one of Hackney's principal legacies would be his work in the West Philadelphia community. "The WEPIC program is great, in fact it's outstanding and a model for the country," she said, referring to the West Philadelphia Improvement Corps. "Penn has a lot of positive programs that help the needy and the neighborhood, and of course they're the largest employer and that doesn't hurt either." "We try to be a good citizen because its in our best interest to do so," Hackney said. "In the Dental School clinic, when it was funded and running, we did a huge amount of free cleaning and care for people in the community." And Hackney noted that the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania gives "multi-millions in indigent care." But Councilmember David Cohen, a College and Law School alumnus, did not think that Hackney had promoted positive Philadelphia-University relations. He cited the Mayor's Scholarhsip as an example. "I think that President Hackney's relationship with the City Council, [which] was largely based on the Mayor's Scholarships, was not a good one," Cohen said. "And that issue is not closed at all. We think he did a disservice to both the University and the city." Cohen added that, in his opinion, the University is not a proactive resident of the city. "I think the University of Pennsylvania could become a great urban University if it realizes its relationship and responsibility to the city," he said.