News Briefs: Friday, October 25, 1996

University Police to hold bike auction Police auction off recovered bikes each year after trying unsuccessfully to locate their owners. Most were found abandoned on campus, unlocked or dropped by criminals during a police chase, Chief of Police Operations Maureen Rush said. Auction proceeds, less the over-time pay for officers staffing the event, will be returned to the University's general fund, Rush said. "We would hope that more people would register their bikes so we have less bikes to auction off next year," she said. University members can register their bikes at the Special Services unit near 40th and Walnut streets. Registering makes it easy for police to locate the owners of recovered bikes, Rush said. The bikes up for auction will be available for inspection at 9:30 a.m. and the auction will take place rain or shine. Except for bike dealers, anyone is allowed to participate in the auction. For more information, call 573-9292. – Ben Hammer Penn Relays dir. named Dave Johnson, who was appointed interim director of the Penn Relays Carnival last semester when Tim Baker resigned, was handed the full-time position on Wednesday. Prior to Baker's resignation, Johnson held the position of associate director of the Relays, a post he held for seven years. Baker had complained that the Athletic Department didn't give the Relays the financial support and respect it deserved. "I will not officiate over the diminuation of the Penn Relays so that the bloated administration of the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics, who understand and care little about the importance of this dynamic community institution, can cover the massive amount of red ink which has been caused by their ineptitude," Baker wrote in a letter to University President Judith Rodin after his resignation. -- Eric Goldstein