LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: The facts about outsourcing

To the Editor: As I have told the DP numerous times, we have made no decision to outsource Dining Services. Rather, we are conducting a comprehensive market study to determine how well Penn's Dining Services meets the needs of our campus constituencies, with the goal of identifying opportunities to improve the quality and selection of food, enhance the service environment and contain or reduce the cost of the dining program. The outcome of this analysis will not necessarily be a decision to outsource, although contracting with an external provider of food services will certainly be examined as one potential option. The consultative committee I have appointed to guide this analysis will be composed of students, faculty and administrators, and will be supported by an external food service market consultant who has no ties to any of the major food services providers. As to Residential Living, our primary focus is on developing a facilities reinvestment plan to improve the physical quality of the buildings, in order to make them more contemporary, attractive and safer places to live and work. We are simultaneously seeking to stabilize the management structure in the Department of Housing and Residence Life, given the recent resignations in that department. At this time, there are no plans to outsource the operations of Residential Living, although we will continue to seek ways to better manage and maintain the residence halls. While selective outsourcing will continue to be pursued as one restructuring strategy, many of Penn's administrative operations will never be outsourced. They will, however, be scrutinized regularly to make sure they are serving the campus community well and managing Penn's costs aggressively. John Fry Executive Vice President A note on MAC fees To the Editor: I am writing in response to "Banks add $1 fee for MAC use" (DP, 8/30/96). I am responsible for banking relationships, including the negotiations with PNC Bank on automatic teller machines (ATMs). Currently, as a result of our negotiations with the bank, there is no additional non-customer fee for anyone using an on-campus, University-licensed PNC ATM. The ATMs affected by this agreement are located in the dorms, Steinberg-Dietrich Hall, Johnson Pavilion, the Book Store, Houston Hall and the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. Due to changing rules and regulations (and possible legislation), this might change. If there is a major change, I'll keep you informed. If you need information about any aspect of our relationship with banks, please contact me at 898-7256. Diane-Louise Wormley Associate Treasurer ROTC still an issue To the Editor: I would like to congratulate all new students at Penn, but I hasten to express my concern to all incoming Penn students (and current ones) who may be gay, lesbian, bisexual or questioning their sexual orientation, and who, due to interest in the military or financial need, have opted to join the Reserve Officers' Training Corps. Although we have an anti-discrimination policy on campus, ROTC does not follow it. At this point, the Penn administration has not found a satisfactory nor a compassionate resolution for this situation. It appears Penn would prefer students stay in the closet. Staying invisible makes it easier for Penn to pay its bills with the unrestricted, steady flow of money that comes from Defense Department contracts. In the meantime, lesbian, gay, bisexual and questioning students will have to make some hard choices: Stay in the closet and hope they can still maintain some personal integrity without stifling their spirits or sinking into depression, or quit ROTC and hope Penn will replace the financial assistance they will lose. While Provost Stanley Chodorow has stated he wants to know if any discrimination or harassment occurs for Penn ROTC students, to seek his assistance will automatically "out" these students, at which point ROTC will kick them out and their choice regarding its programs will be made. As you lesbian, gay, bisexual and questioning students participating in ROTC think through your options, remember that although much of the pain around this struggle is couched in "God said so" rhetoric and condemnation from the radical religious right, not all religious folks are anti-gay. Furthermore, recognize that there are gay and straight faculty and staff at Penn who can offer support and encouragement for whatever you decide. I am all too aware that those who would silence the members of the gay community, either through invisibility or by force, almost always will to silence women as well. I hope you will consider me a sister in your struggle. Rev. Beverly Dale Executive Director Christian AssociationEDITORIAL: Quality and efficiency Conducting a thorough market analysis before proceeding with further outsourcing makes sense. ________________________ Since last April, when the deal to turn Book Store operations over to Barnes & Noble was publicized, there's been a lot of talk about outsourcing to improve the quality and efficiency of student and administrative services. There's been a lot of confusion, too, with employees dreading sudden pink slips in the name of "streamlining," "restructuring" and "process reengineering." Student consumers, too, have been wary of new companies and vendors whose operations might disrupt operations of necessary departments. So it's heartening to hear that Executive Vice President John Fry is engaging in a thorough market analysis before proceeding with further outsourcing decisions. Blindly farming out operations across the University would be foolish and disruptive for students and employees alike, accomplishing little but utter chaos (precisely the opposite of outsourcing's stated goals). But with requisite care and attention during this preliminary study, and follow-up with employees and student consumers, additional outsourcing could be a very smart move. Over the next few months, while Fry's study is underway, it will be more important than ever for employees to speak out about their work environments. Students must also consider which of their University-related needs -- including recreation, dorm life, dining services and campus transit -- could be met more completely or more quickly than they are now. The group must then draw up a priority list with which everyone is comfortable. Finally, everyone involved in the outsourcing process -- from the current consideration stage through the eventual decision-making and implementation stage -- must work together to ensure that, in Fry's words, the University gets "a real bang for its buck." Outsourcing has the potential to improve student life immensely, through a combination of outright cost savings and the provision of higher-grade products and services. But the process will involve sensitive, difficult decisions, and the conversation that leads to these decisions must include a diversity of voices.