U. Trustees give final OK to cut Am Civ, Reg. Sci.

Also revoke divestment policy The University Board of Trustees unanimously voted to eliminate the American Civilization and Regional Science Departments and officially removed restrictions on investment in South Africa at its Stated Meeting Friday. The decision to eliminate the Am Civ and Regional Science departments was proposed by School of Arts and Sciences Dean Rosemary Stevens and approved by the Trustees' Academic Policy Committee Thursday. The closings will take effect June 30. Before the vote, Trustee Donald Langenberg, who chairs the Academic Policy Committee, called attention to part of the resolution requesting that "every effort" be made to enhance the University's research and education in American studies and regional development. The resolution also asked that "special attention" be paid to the circumstances of faculty and students affected by the cuts. In the same vote, the Trustees approved the consolidation of the Physics Department and the Astronomy and Astrophysics Department into a new Physics and Astronomy Department. The decision to remove the restrictions on investment -- imposed in 1987 after a firestorm of student protest -- clears the way for University reinvestment in South Africa, a nation which previously endorsed a system of apartheid. In voting, the full Board of Trustees followed the recommendations of both its own University Responsibility Committee and the University Council. It was also responding to recent calls by officials, ranging from African National Congress Leader Nelson Mandela to U.S. President Bill Clinton, to end all sanctions -- both governmental and private -- against South Africa. In lifting its restrictions, the University joins Columbia University, Dartmouth, Swarthmore, the University of Rochester and Howard University, all of which have already removed similar restrictions. In their Stated Meeting, the Trustees also passed resolutions promoting University Budget Director Stephen Golding to Vice President for Finance. And they amended the budget for the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania for the current fiscal year. In her report to the Trustees, Interim President Claire Fagin identified the three main themes of her administration as conflict resolution, building confidence and strengthening the community. Fagin also spoke of her goals for the six months remaining in her term. She said these would include: implementing the recommendations of the Commission on Strengthening the Community, strengthening the code of student conduct and developing a new judicial process. Fagin said she planned to design a new code of academic integrity, strengthen undergraduate education, reach a decision on the Reserve Officers' Training Corps' status on campus and redesign the Revlon Center. The Trustees also heard reports from Interim Provost Marvin Lazerson, who announced three new initiatives between the University's schools. These include an international studies dual-degree program sponsored by the Wharton School and the College of Arts and Sciences, a joint program between the Law School and SAS's Philosophy Department, and a Center for Bioethics in the Medical School. Executive Vice President Janet Hale briefed the Trustees on the progress of the University's 12 schools in meeting their budgets. The University is currently running a $2 million deficit because of a loan made by the University to support the Veterinary School, Hale said. The Trustees passed three resolutions in memory of Trustees John Eckman and Otto Haas, and former University Treasurer William Gordon, all of whom recently died. Due to freezing temperatures which closed the University Friday, the Trustees Stated Meeting had to be moved from Vance Hall to the Faculty Club.