Commission holds second open forum

For the second time this year, the Commission on Strengthening the Community held an open forum Monday night to discuss the problems of the University community and to propose solutions. Six non-Commission members attended to discuss a variety of issues. "The real way to improve the community at Penn is to improve the social life," College junior Dan Schorr said. "I understand why they're there, but the enormous restrictions interfere with the sense of community here." Schorr, who is an Undergraduate Assembly representative, said fraternity parties have become somewhat exclusive since the new alcohol policy went into effect and invitation lists became the norm. "We could create an alternative," said English Professor Rebecca Bushnell, the Commission's director. The forum also discussed the College's core curriculum. "Many people think that the core curriculum...is Euro-centric," College senior and Commission member Mita Sanghavi said, adding that the Commission is looking at various solutions to this problem, Sanghavi said. College sophomore Jesse Goldstine discussed examining the role of college houses, especially DuBois House. "DuBois seems very mysterious to me," he said. "I think there should be open houses to invite people to come and learn." College sophomore and Commission member Mike Nadel added that the Castle, which houses a community service program, could be used as a model. "They go out of their way to publicize and have open houses," he said. The group also discussed the future of the Racial Harassment Policy. After several students voiced objections to Interim President Claire Fagin's decision to keep the policy until a new one is implemented next June, Commission Chairperson Gloria Chisum said that she supported Fagin. "She found a majority of opinions for the policy and so ? she made the right decision," she said. "We believe in First Amendment rights because they're a given." "Then why is there a debate?" Schorr asked. "Is it a creation of people's minds that freedom of speech is an issue on campus?" "Yes," Chisum said. The June 30 deadline also posed a problem for several students because school will not be in session then. "Students think that the decision should be made by April 1, not June 30," Schorr said, citing a unanimous UA vote which recommended the earlier deadline to Fagin. "That's an unreasonable time constraint on the committee," Chisum replied. The most controversy came during a conversation about the Commission itself. Chisum explained that 10 students were involved with the Commission, with two on the main 17-member committee. College freshman Jared Minsk voiced strong objections to this arrangement. "I feel that there should be larger student representation," he said. "It feels like the Commission is a group of outsiders without student input." "Students are ready to make good decisions," Schorr added. "We've heard that before, many times," Chisum said. "But students are sometimes too close to the issues." The Commission has talked with many student groups and will be presenting a report with recommendations in mid-January, Chisum said.