HERE TO SERVE: U. opens gyms to local children

Growing up in West Philadelphia, Glenn Bryan snuck into the University's gyms to play basketball. Today, as Director of the University's Office of Community Relations, Bryan coordinates a Saturday morning program that opens up Hutchinson Gymnasium to neighborhood students. "It's an exposure to Penn they normally would not have, which is the reality," Bryan said. Local youth groups take advantage of the Community Sports Saturday program to play basketball and volleyball games on Hutchinson's open courts. "They were really surprised the University opened up the gym for us," said Patricia Little, a member of Young Life Urban Philadelphia. "The kids seemed to be really excited about it." Young Life, a Christian group of West Philadelphia high school students, took part in the program last weekend. Community Sports Saturday began last year and picked up again when classes started in September. According to Bryan, the University intends "to continue the program and maybe expand it." Bryan and community leaders have discussed adding an educational component to the program. "We want them to get more of an exposure to the resources and activities of the University," he said. The program is supposed to inspire area students to graduate high school and go to college. An expanded program might involve recruiting University students to tutor participants and talk with them about college life, Bryan explained. Bryan said he will involve some future Community Sports Saturday participants in the Communiversity Days on campus. These days, currently being planned, will bring local teens to campus to experience a day at the University. The University last week also entered into a "developing partnership" with area community centers and Philadelphia's Office of Recreation to work together on the upcoming Communiversity Days program.