NEWS ANALYSIS: Students question Rodin's sincerity

After nearly 18 months in office, it appears that University President Judith Rodin is finally making a concerted effort to dialogue with students about their concerns. Last Monday night, Rodin held a town meeting at Chats, where she gave a brief, prepared speech about several key projects and answered questions from students for over an hour. While most students in attendance Monday night said they were pleased that Rodin held the forum, some were also skeptical of her intentions. Undergraduate Assembly Vice Chairperson Gil Beverly, a Wharton senior, said he thought Rodin was trying to improve her image on Monday night rather than give solid answers to students' questions. But while Beverly criticized Rodin for giving "fluffy" answers and deflecting questions on Monday night, he gave her credit for holding the meeting. "Let's not start declaring her Saint Judy yet," he said. "[But] it's somewhat admirable for her to come down from the ivory tower of Eisenlohr and rub elbows with us commoners." Alan Danzig, a Wharton sophomore and UA member, said Rodin "skirted the issues" Monday night, adding that he hopes she pays more attention to students' concerns in the future. Vice President and Chief of Staff Steve Schutt said Rodin will hold two more town meetings this spring, one sometime in March and another before the end of the semester in April. "She hopes this term to spend time with as many students as possible," Schutt said. And according to College sophomore Christine Albanese, who attended last Monday's meeting, Rodin told Albanese she would be teaching a freshman seminar next fall and an upper level course in the spring on health psychology. Rodin joined the Psychology Department as a faculty member in October 1994, and some have criticized her for not teaching yet. Last week, Rodin said she decided over the summer to stop giving speeches to large audiences because she wants to meet with students in more intimate and varied settings this semester. Rodin kicked off her quest for closer contacts with students Monday night. Before the town meeting, she discussed the use of technology at the University with about a dozen students in Van Pelt College House and toured the Writing House with English Undergraduate Chairperson Al Filreis and student coordinator Shawn Walker, a College senior. Last Wednesday, Rodin had dinner with students at the Stouffer College House. And this Friday, Rodin will be attending Hillel's Friday night dinner at the Faculty Club, and giving a prepared speech afterward. Penn Hillel Director Jeremy Brochin said he asked Rodin to speak at Hillel last year, trying to get her to continue a tradition started by former University President Sheldon Hackney, who spoke at Hillel every year. Rodin explained that she was forced to decline invitations from many groups this fall because of her busy schedule. This could explain why Rodin has a number of events scheduled with students this spring. "Tell the students not to be so shy," Rodin said last week. "I do respond to invitations." Early in December, a Daily Pennsylvanian editorial criticized Rodin for being out of touch with students. Later that night, the DP received a letter from Rodin, saying she agreed that she has to meet with students more. "Penn's wonderful students are very much on my mind and in my heart, and I will do my best to show that clearly in the days and months ahead," Rodin wrote. In her letter, Rodin said her contact with students had been limited by a "heavy" development schedule that had kept her away from campus. By contrast, Rodin said last week that her travel schedule this spring includes a "quick in and out" weekend trip to California in February, a two week trip to Asia in the middle of March and a two-day trip to Chicago. At the beginning of the semester, Rodin hired staff assistant and writer Jennifer Baldino, filling a position left vacant with the departure of Jeff Hartman. Hartman served as Rodin's liaison to students and resigned this summer after just six months in office. Baldino said in addition to writing speeches and correspondence for the president's office, she will also be "assisting with student issues." "My job will be gathering statistics on similar issues for her, keeping her apprised of student issues I might hear about and making sure she has all the factual information," Baldino said. Baldino added that she helped Rodin prepare for the Chats presentation, compiling information for her about fraternity and sorority rush, for example. Rodin cited the figures Monday night while answering a student's question about Greek life.