Chodorow's quotes anger group leaders

Students want voices heard Student leaders expressed anger over comments made by University Provost Stanley Chodorow earlier this week regarding student representation on undergraduate education committees. "The problem with student participation is that many of them don't have much time," Chodorow said in Monday's Daily Pennsylvanian. "It's not as if students are the best organized people in the world." At the time, Chodorow added that issues of who is best to represent the undergraduate population and how many representatives should be involved have to be resolved as well. Student leaders objected to Chodorow's statements this week, saying their constituents should play an active role in the evaluation and eventual reform of undergraduate education. Engineering senior Matthew Kratter, chairperson of the Student Committee on Undergraduate Education, said "certain quotations of [Chodorow's] were unfortunate." "As chair of SCUE, I have concerns with his expressed concern over student involvement in curriculum," Kratter said. "His later comments concern me as an involved student at the University and should concern all students who care about their education and seek to implement change at the University." Kratter added that some of Chodorow's statements were "broad generalizations about students which are really unfounded." Engineering senior Ha Nguyen, vice president of the Social Planning and Events Committee and chairperson of the Senior Class Gift Drive, said the provost's statements were not "valid at all." "He may have spoken to students that aren't involved," Nguyen said. "If he had spoken to those who were involved, he would see that we are organized and more then a willing to give up our time to meet with him and the committees that he forms." Nominations and Elections Committee Chairperson Rick Gresh said Chodorow's remarks directly affect the NEC because the provost mentioned specific issues over which the NEC has jurisdiction. "The only people who know what students generally think for sure are other students," the College senior said. "That's the whole concept of the NEC -- the whole process is student related." Chodorow made the controversial comments while discussing his ideas to revamp undergraduate education. His central plan is to integrate curriculum with the vice provost for University Life's offices and divisions. Chodorow said student involvement with VPUL issues should be "active and substantial," although their role in curriculum is less defined. But Wharton senior and Student Activities Chairperson Richard Chow said he disagrees with Chodorow's plan and with the provost's views on student representation. "As I understand VPUL, it's supposed to be for student activities outside of academics," Chow said. "But, unquestionably there is a responsibility, whether your dealing with the VPUL side or curriculum side, to seek out student representation." Chodorow responded to student concerns last night by clarifying his statements. "Students should have different roles in different issues and governance bodies," he said. "For example, the faculty control curricular matters, but it is useful and important for them to hear how students perceive the curriculum. "As another example, students may play an advisory role in committees concerned with the organization and deliverance of student services," Chodorow added. The provost stated last night that student involvement depends on the issue, ranging from "no role" in tenure decisions to "complete control" on financing student activities. Undergraduate Assembly Chairperson and Wharton junior Dan Debicella said the provost's use of the word 'advisory' "scares me a little." "We want to be an integral part in deciding what the curriculum is and what student life is like at the University," he said. And some student leaders objected to Chodorow's other comments as well, especially those regarding students' lack of organization or time. "We have an enormous budget and incredible events that require planning we couldn't do if we weren't organized," said SPEC Chairperson Lissette Monge, a College senior. And Debicella said Chodorow's statements "run against the grain of everything I've seen that he stands for." "It is ridiculous to suppose that students are not organized enough, don't care enough or don't have enough time to commit to improving both undergraduate education and student life at the University," he said. And some said this incident is an example of a much broader issue. Many student groups have not met with University President Judith Rodin or Chodorow yet, although most leaders said they understood that the new administrators have busy schedules. Some leaders said they are worried about the role students will have on other issues in the future. "If [Chodorow] is going to make generalizations about students, he has to begin to give more attention to his dealings with students," Kratter said. And Gresh said "the structure of committees needs to be looked at." "I would always want more student input in anything," he said. Nguyen said Chodorow should view meetings with student leaders in the near future as "very important." "Through them, he can get a feel of what the students in general want," she said. Student leaders said they are considering several possible responses to Chodorow's comments, including requests for clarification, letter writing and individual or group meetings. "I think that initially we're going to try to communicate to him our feelings about what he said," Nguyen said. "And we'll go from there and see what happens."