U. groups conduct survey

Approximately 380 University students were polled about their feelings concerning the proposed Penn Women's Center's move to the Theta Xi fraternity on Locust Walk in a phone survey conducted by five campus groups this weekend. Members of the Red and Blue, Penn Consumers Board, Connaissance, the Black Student League and the Penn Newman Center set out to "ascertain the will and view of the [University] community" about the Women's Center's relocation to Locust Walk, Red and Blue Editor-in-Chief Christopher Robbins said last night. The College sophomore said the poll was developed in part by Luntz Associates, a polling company headed by former Adjunct Assistant American Civilization Professor Frank Luntz. Although he would not state the Red and the Blue's or his personal stance about the Women's Center's move last night, Robbins said he will voice his opinions tonight in a panel discussion entitled "Where Do You Stand? The Women's Center Move to Locust Walk." According to organizers, Robbins is slated to speak against the proposed move during the forum which will take place in the Quadrangle's McClelland Hall. The responses to the poll had not been "fully tabulated" as of midnight today, Robbins said, adding that he did not know if he would use the results during the debate. Penn Political Union member and College junior Peter Spier said the 40 to 50 randomly selected students that he polled "almost unanimously" said they would prefer the Theta Xi house to be turned into a coffee house or cafe, instead of housing the Women's Center. The poll consisted of five questions which explored both the caller's personal contact with the Women's Center, and his or her attitude about its relocation to Locust Walk. The questions were: · Have you ever utilized the services of the Women's Center? · Do you personally know a member of the Women's Center? · Do you think the Women's Center represents all women on campus? · Are you familiar with any of the services which the Women's Center provides? Finally, before asking the last question, the student poll conductors stated, "The Commission on Strengthening the Community has proposed that a coffee house or cafe, serving all students, be established on Locust Walk. "[Interim President] Claire Fagin has proposed that the Theta Xi fraternity house become the Women's Center," it continued."Would you prefer having the Theta Xi fraternity become a coffee house or cafe or a Women's Center?" Newman Center member Clare McAnany, a Nursing senior who helped organize the poll, said the questions were "as unbiased as possible." But College junior Daren Lockwood, who was polled yesterday, said he thinks the questions were "loaded." "It was hard not to answer 'no' to a lot of them," he said. "There was definitely an agenda."