Officials implementing Commission report

In their first official response to the recommendations of the Commission on Strengthening the Community, the University's top administrators released a seven-page document last week detailing their point-by-point reaction. The document, which appeared in the May 3 issue of Almanac, was signed by Interim President Claire Fagin, Interim Provost Marvin Lazerson and Executive Vice President Janet Hale. Fagin said this week that she is "quite pleased" with the document, adding that "there is a tremendous commitment" on the part of the administration to implement as many of the Commission's suggestions as possible. In response to the Commission's recommendation that "student speech, as such, should not be the basis of disciplinary action," the document details a three-pronged effort which includes a new Code of Student Conduct, a new Code of Academic Integrity and the implementation of a new student judicial system. The Commission also suggested that a coffeehouse or gathering place be established on Locust Walk for "all members of the University community." Fagin, Lazerson and Hale agreed, promising to build an extension of The Book Store which will house an extended hours coffee shop that will be accessible directly from Locust Walk. The coffee shop, which will co-owned by The Book Store and a concession company, is scheduled to open for business in September. "I think it's exciting and it will add another venue and we'll see how it works," Fagin said. "It's pretty and it will add to the flavor of the Walk." The decision once again raises the question of what will become of the remaining space in the former Theta Xi fraternity house on Locust Walk. Currently, part of the house is allocated to the Penn Women's Center. The document states that the Women's Center and "at least one other tenant will occupy the property." Fagin said she has a "program" to further diversify the house. "The Women's Center will be part of it, but the other part will be quite different from the Women's Center so the house will be quite diversified in its usage," she said. "It's a very wonderful location on the Walk for a multi-use house." Fagin would not give any more detail about her plans. The administrators also agreed with the Commission's suggestion to place all campus public safety issues -- including dormitory security -- under the supervision of the Division of Public Safety. Currently, issues concerning McGinn Services -- the company which provides security guards for all campus dormitories -- are handled by the Office of the Vice Provost for University Life. According to the document, the shift will take place in December, giving Public Safety a chance to plan its resources accordingly. "We're moving things where we think they belong," Fagin said. "When we had trouble [with sleeping McGinn guards] we turned to [Public Safety], we had them monitoring?and making rounds, so clearly they will be better off if they have the entire authority as well as the responsibility. Fagin said that while some of the programs can be implemented immediately, others will not take place for a year. For instance, the administrators recommend delaying the implementation of a second semester Greek rush until 1995-1996. But, Fagin added, she is confident that President-elect Judith Rodin and Provost-elect Stanley Chodorow will have no problem implementing the plan. "The actual implementation [of some of the programs] isn't until a year from now, but the decision is made and the planning process will take place next year," she said. "There's no reason for the next president and provost to do anything except monitor it -- nothing is going to fall through the cracks."