Fagin speaks on her role as U. president

Interim President Claire Fagin addressed a group of about 50 women from the Association of Women Faculty and Administrators yesterday in Houston Hall on the ups and downs of being a woman president. But Fagin downplayed that aspect of her term, focusing on changes over her tenure and difficulties she has experienced. "I don't think it's any different being a woman," Fagin said. "Although many people might look at me as a mentor, in reality, I have been a mentor to very few people." But everyone doesn't see it that way. Adelaide Delluva, a professor in the Biochemistry department, disagrees. She said Fagin has done a great job which will help in the advancement of women. "Claire is wonderful -- a top notch administrator ," Delluva said. "While I am disappointed to see her go, [University President-Elect Judith Rodin] is an important choice." According to Fagin, if she didn't do a good job as interim president, a woman would not have been picked to succeed her. But she added after her success this year she believed the Trustees were left with no choice than to pick another woman. She also said she feels the mood has changed all over campus for the better. And while she still gets negative mail, the biggest complaint is over something that happened last year -- the confiscation of The Daily Pennsylvanian. "It is old news and it is getting boring," Fagin said. "To these people, I say get a life." In her opinion, some of the biggest problems are in the bureaucracy that she faces. Although she has the reputation for being a quick acting, tough administrator, she cannot handle every problem on campus. "To steal a line from Harry Truman, I tell people what to do and nothing happens," Fagin said. Before the year is up, she said she has major plans in her agenda, including a trip to inner cities across the United States and the Caribbean to talk to parents. While she said her personal life has been reduced, she still continues because she said this is the job she wants in life. Fagin said she thinks Rodin is a more than competent successor, but she said she feels a little overlooked when it comes to her place in history. "I am chopped liver sandwiched between [Former University President Sheldon Hackney] and Rodin," she said. "All of the good stuff will be attributed to Judith's administration." She plans on going back to the Nursing School and is taking notes to perhaps write a book. In the opinion of the audience, made up of all women, Fagin has done a good job and they are thankful that another woman is taking over. "I don't really follow it that closely but she's done good," said Deb Aukee, who works in the End User Support Department. "But I'm real excited to see what Judith will do."