EDITORIAL: A Year of Potential

We enter the 1995-96We enter the 1995-96academic school year withWe enter the 1995-96academic school year withan optimistic outlook.We enter the 1995-96academic school year withan optimistic outlook.____________________________ We have been encouraged by the safety initiatives implemented under President Judith Rodin and hope that the University experiences less crime in the coming months, especially now that Tom Seamon has been named managing director of the Division of Public Safety. Seamon has a proven track record as deputy Philadelphia police commissioner and has improved safety in Center City. We anxiously await discussions of ideas set forth by the Provost's Committee on Undergraduate Education including the 21st Century Initiative. Undergraduate teaching is paramount to the University's success and we ask the administration to consider any suggestions that would improve the undergraduate experience. It is important that students be included in this process at each stage so they can voice their opinions about initiatives affecting their experiences. Furthermore, once these proposals have been formalized, wide ranging publicity is crucial so students can offer informed feedback. The Perelman Quadrangle has generated excitement among students who have waited years for an adequate student center. We hope the administration will continue its fund-raising efforts and not allow the project to slip behind schedule. The building should create new spaces for campus groups and not simply renovate already existing areas for millions of dollars. Possibly the most important element this semester is the University's relationship with the city. The end of the Payment In Lieu Of Taxes saga illustrates a mended relationship between the two parties. We encourage Vice President for Government, Community, and Public Affairs Carol Scheman to continue this trend as the University negotiates a deal for the Civic Center. This must step beyond the political realm into community relations. Finally, we await the start of another stellar football season in which a team that has won 21 straight games -- the longest streak in the country -- seeks its third consecutive Ivy League championship. We look forward to watching the University mature over the coming semesters and we hope to find answers to a number of these pressing questions.