Campus preps for Clinton address

Stephanopolous saidStephanopolous saidthe speech will highightStephanopolous saidthe speech will highightdifferences between theStephanopolous saidthe speech will highightdifferences between thepresident and Bob Dole. President Clinton will stress education and voter participation in his speech at today's rally, senior advisor George Stephanopolous said during a preparatory visit to campus yesterday. Also yesterday, members of the presidential advance team coordinating the event announced that passes will not be required to enter the rally. The event is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. today on Hill Field. The gates will open at 11 a.m., although Clinton will speak only after a program of speeches and entertainment. Students who have already received blue or red passes, however, will be able to view the event from a reserved area close to the stage. Security preparations for the president's visit intensified yesterday, with University Police officers assigned to supplement Philadelphia Police and Secret Service personnel, according to Director of Police Operations Maureen Rush. She explained that the entire University Police force -- including officers with scheduled vacation days -- will work today, with many officers working overtime because of the event. Rush added that the University will ask Clinton's campaign to pay for the "expensive" extra security. But she declined to comment on whether the campaign had made any prior commitment to defray the costs. During the press conference, Stephanopolous -- joined by Mayor Ed Rendell, Drexel University President Constantine Papadakis and University spokesperson Ken Wildes -- confirmed Rendell is in the running for a cabinet post if Clinton is re-elected. "The president has the greatest respect for Ed Rendell and Rendell has been a constant source of support and intellectual energy for the White House," Stephanopolous said. "If he's willing, I'm sure the president is thinking about it." But Rendell said he wants to complete his second term as mayor, which ends in 1999. City law bars him from seeking a third term. "Let me say resolutely and without question that although I have the highest regard for the president? it is my intention to serve out my term here as mayor of Philadelphia," Rendell said. "When you run for office, there's an implied promise to serve out your term, and I intend to do so." Rendell added that despite his decision to remain as mayor, he still wants to help "the Clinton team" solve the economic problems plaguing the nation's cities. "We've had a remarkable economic recovery in America, but it hasn't touched certain segments, most of which happen to be in big cities," he explained. "I look forward to working with George, the president and vice president, and hopefully [Secretary of Housing and Urban Development] Henry Cisneros to deal with those problems." Stephanopolous said in an exclusive Daily Pennsylvanian interview yesterday that Clinton chose to hold today's rally at Penn to "highlight and illustrate" the differences in the candidates' positions on education. "There's a clear choice on education here, between a president who's proposing a comprehensive education program? and Senator Dole and Speaker [Newt] Gingrich, who proposed a $30 billion cut in education, $10 billion of cuts to student loans and now want to eliminate the Department of Education," Stephanopolous said. He said the differences between the two candidates over issues such as environmental regulation make the election "of particular importance" to students. "People of college age are going to be the workforce of the next generation and the base of our community," he said. "Whether or not we have a sound educational system in this country or a sound environment will affect them and their children more than anyone else." In the interview, Stephanopolous also emphasized that Clinton holds University President Judith Rodin in high regard but refused to confirm or deny rumors that she is being considered for a governmental position. "The president thinks she's done a terrific job here at Penn and valued her advice on affirmative action and other educational issues, but we're worrying about first things first," he said. "We'll spend next week getting elected, and then we'll worry about the cabinet." And Wildes denied that Rodin had any plans to leave the university. "She still has a lot of plans for what she wants to do during her time at Penn," he said. "Implementing things like the Agenda for Excellence will require a huge amount of time."