Rodin gears up to examine committees' findings

During her first three months in office, University President Judith Rodin has yet to establish one new University committee. But she does have to deal with many committees that were established during former interim President Claire Fagin's one-year tenure, and the policies and programs that they recommended. The Commission Though the Commission on Strengthening the Community submitted their final report last spring, the administration has not made final decisions on some of the Commission's recommendations and decisions. Recommendations which have not been acted on include the development of an ad-hoc committee to deal with faculty issues, as well as increased numbers of courses that are either taught in residences or centered around multiculturalism. In addition, the report made suggestions about public safety, residential living, student activities and communication within the University. It will be up to Rodin, Provost Stanley Chodorow and their staffs to complete their assessment and decisions regarding the Commission's report. The Judicial Reform Committee The Student Judicial Reform Committee was established last year to deal with the University's judicial system -- specifically formulating the Student Judicial Charter, the Code on Academic Integrity and the Code of Student Conduct. Though the Code of Student Conduct has been approved and instituted, the Code on Academic Integrity and the Student Judicial Charter are still up for discussion and debate. In the coming months, Rodin and Chodorow will attempt to finalize and approve of any changes to the reports in their current format, and develop an end result for both. The Charter advocates more student involvement in the judicial system, through mediation and the actual judicial process. Last year former interim Provost Marvin Lazerson lent his approval to the committee's recommendation. But, it still remains to be seen whether Rodin and Chodorow will do the same. "I am in favor of a system that is as uncomplicated as possible," Rodin said recently. "I look forward to continue working with the committee and to bring it to conclusion." The ROTC Committee The Committee to Review ROTC Arrangements at Penn was appointed last year to attempt to reconcile President Clinton's "don't ask, don't tell" policy with the University's non-discrimination policy. Its report is published in today's Almanac, and Rodin said she hopes to "consult broadly, take advice, be willing to make a decision, and be clear about my reasons." "I ought to see what other people's viewpoints are," she said recently. "Hard work and thinking have gone in to that report." Other Issues In the future, the administration will also confront issues ranging from academic to social. They will deal with student organizations, such as the Undergraduate Assembly and its policy paper, Project 2000, and the Student Committee on Undergraduate Education and its 1995 White Paper on undergraduate education. In addition, they will talk with administrative committees and faculty groups in order to receive consultation from a number of sources. Both Rodin and Chodorow have promised to talk with as many people as they can before making final decisions about any policy or program. And new and old committees will be an integral part of that process.