Shakeup hits new residential dep't

Simeone, Airall leave U. as housing epartments merge Though the Department of Housing and Residence Life was just established this summer, major shakeups have already hit its offices. Gigi Simeone, who served as Residential Living director for almost 10 years, and Zoila Airall, associate director of staff and programming, have both left the University. At the end of last semester, Simeone was selected to serve as interim director of the newly created department, which merged Residential Living and Residential Maintenance. Associate Director of University Life Larry Moneta said both Simeone and Airall understood the changing direction of the department and decided to leave when the opportunity arose. Simeone has chosen to take a position at Swarthmore College while Airall will be working at Bryn Mawr College. As a result of the latest personnel changes and department combinations, "major, detailed" formal reviews of all residential operations will orient the next steps for the department. The consulting firm Biddison Hier has been retained to conduct that review. Prior to the upcoming study, neither Simeone nor Airall's positions will be filled. A director for the newly combined entity will also not be chosen until the review is completed. The search will most likely not begin until next semester at the earliest. Instead, the holes in the department will be filled by several employees still there, including Director of Academic Programs in Residence Chris Dennis and former Residential Maintenance Director Lynn Horner. Dennis will supervise residential living and programming while Horner will oversee all operational services. "The two experienced people will be governing the new department with [Vice Provost of University Life Valarie Swain-Cade McCoullum] and I as consulting executive sponsors," Moneta said. "The goal is not to continue this operation for long, but rather to have the review results by the end of the fall semester." According to Moneta, the future of college houses has nothing to do with this residential department review. But the study may focus on devoting future funds to major maintenance projects. "We have an aging physical plant and that is why the president and the provost are so committed to capital enhancements to make student facilities as exemplary as the distinguished quality of Penn faculty and students," McCoullum said. "After years of limited institutional deferred maintenance funds, they have made a very important commitment to turn the corner on facilities issues during a time of real fiscal challenges at Penn." Moneta explained that when working with 100-year-old structures like the Quadrangle, investing key money in the residences is crucial. He added that brick and stone buildings are, in particular, very difficult to maintain. The repair of Hill College House's roof is just one example of projects on tap for this year. Many of the residences are now in disarray, though maintenance employees have had the summer months to do repairs. Many maintenance and other residential workers said they are frustrated by the confusion within the department. "Residential Maintenance right now is simply a chaotic bureaucracy," said a maintenance employee who works daily in University residences but asked to remain anonymous. "Laziness is prevalent in every aspect of the department, as is procrastination." Moneta described most current residences as "terrible." But McCoullum defended the maintenance employees who she said have committed themselves to their department and the University. "The entire residential community -- including faculty members, advisors and the vast majority of staff members have been putting in countless overtime hours to get the facilities in as good of shape as possible for the students," McCoullum said. "But a problem that is decades in the making cannot be solved overnight." Biddison Hier is conducting interviews with focus groups to evaluate the student market. The firm plans to continue to gauge student satisfaction throughout the semester. The consultants will focus on utilizing current buildings, capital needs, current market conditions and student preferences. Provost Stanley Chodorow is leading the surveys that will ultimately decide the future of University residences for the next 20 years. And Executive Vice President John Fry will determine the financing of whatever decision is made by the provost. Both Moneta and McCoullum said they are highly committed to working with students through the entire process.