News Briefs: June 30, 1996

Postal worker charged with theft Gerald Ricca, who was a postal clerk at the 30th Street Post Office, was arrested last February after he removed three greeting cards fromt he amil stream, two of which were placed there as a part of an investigation by the U.S. Postal Service. The two planted letters were addressed to 3700 Spruce Street, the Quadrangle's address, and contained over $100/ Since 1992, more than 1,400 complaints of lost or trampered mail were filed at Penn, according to Residential Services Director Nancy McCue. Since Ricca's arrest, the number of reported mail complaints at the University has "greatly diminished," Recchilongo said. -Monica Leas Rodin to teach in fall University President Judith Rodin will teach a fall freshman seminar in the Psychology Department called "Body Obsession: Where Biology and Culture Intersect." The class will be open to 17 members of the class of 2000. According to her course description, Rodin's class will concentrate on the cultural reasons why people have become more concerned about their bodies in recent years. The class will be held in Eisenlohr Hall, her on-campus residence at 3812 Walnut Street, Tuesday nights from 7:30-10 p.m. -Ben Hammer Rodin's driver fired University President Judith Rodin fired her staff assistant and driver, Donald Gaines, after University Police found marijuana and a loaded gun in his cr in February. The president's office had suspended Gaines and investigated how the items got into the car after The Daily Pennsylvanian obtained police reports of the incident. University Police officer John Washington discovered and seized a bag filled with a "green leafy-type substance" and a loaded .22 caliber revolver from GAines' car, which was parked in a University lot at 38th and Walnut Streets, on February 26. The incident never appeared in the official crime log maintained by police. The District Attorney's office did not bring charges against Gaines because police searched his car without probable cause or a warrant, according to D.A. spokesperson Bill Davall. But Managing Director of Pulbic Safety Thomas Seamon maintained that the search was legal and that the D.A. did not press charges because the drugs could not be tied to Gaines. -Ben Hammer Quad package room to close in fall The package room and trailer that currently serve Quadrangle residents will be closing at the end of this academic year. Package services will be consolidated in High Rise Wouth next year, according to Residential Living Director GiGi Simeone. Associate Vice Provost for University Life Larry Moneta explained that this decision was the result of a combination of funding and efficiency enhancements. "The current package room in the Quad is regularly overrun with daily deliveries," he said. -Jessica Boar IAST being built Construction of the Institute for Advanced Science and Technology is proceeding on schedule and will be completed by the fall of 1997, according to Vice President of Facilities Management Art Gravina. The building, which will be located at the corner of 34th Street and Smith Walk, will combine research opportunities for students in the schools of Engineering and Applied Science, Arts and Sciences and Medicine. -Jessica Boar Houston hall hits 100 Houston Hall, America's ldest student union celebrated its 100th birthday January 18. It has been called "the living room" or "hearthstone" of Penn, according to the Association of College Unions International.