1994: The Year in Review: february

February was another month of bitter cold weather, but the pace of events at the University was far from frozen. A sexual harassment charge against former Assistant English Professor Malcolm Woodfield became publicized over the course of the month. University graduate Lisa Topol claimed Woodfield had sexual relations with her for three months during the spring semester of 1993 and accused him of sexual harassment. She said he "assigned" her sexual acts as "homework." Woodfield admitted that he had sex with Topol, although he did not confirm allegations of sexual harassment. He resigned in April. School of Arts and Sciences Dean Rosemary Stevens had begun proceedings to suspend or terminate Woodfield during the preceding summer. The Commission on Strengthening the Community released its preliminary report in the Almanac after six months of information gathering. The 22-member Commission was appointed by former Interim University President Claire Fagin and former University President Sheldon Hackney in the wake of the 'water buffalo' incident and the confiscation of 14,200 copies of The Daily Pennsylvanian. The Commission recommended the immediate elimination of the University speech code and reforms including the University's judicial and academic advising systems, off-campus living, student group funding, University Police and staffing issues. Because of its broad-based and extensive recommendations, the report raised widespread controversy. After being suspended the previous spring on charges of using unnecessary force in detaining a student involved with The Daily Pennsylvanian confiscation, University Police Officer John Washington announced he would appeal the three-day suspension to a federal arbitrator. The University's four undergraduate deans voted unanimously to require that students receive faculty permission before being allowed to obtain copies of old exams. February was also a high crime month. The community was plagued by robberies, thefts, a car jacking, an attempted car jacking and an attempted abduction. Acting Vice Provost for University Life Valarie Swain-Cade McCoullum announced the Penn Women's Center's relocation to the former Theta Xi fraternity house at 3643 Locust Walk. This was an unwelcome move for some students, who felt the Center "only represents a few radical women on campus." In contrast to previous state budget proposals, Pennsylvania Governor Robert Casey recommended that the state legislature appropriate more than $35 million in state funds to the University for the 1994-95 fiscal year. Finally, despite three University closings during one of the worst winters ever, administrators chose not to lengthen the semester.

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