Athletic Dept. ready for NCAA

National Collegiate Athletic Association officials will sweep through campus in two months -- and the Athletic Department is ready. A steering committee presented a bullet-point review of the athletics program to Trustees yesterday, highlighting a "self-study" it will send to the NCAA this week. The NCAA requires the year-long examination of academic integrity, finances and racial and gender balance as part of its periodic "recertification" program. The program reaches a climax from April 1 to 4, when three administrators and one faculty member from neighboring universities visit campus on behalf of the NCAA. While the report as a whole did not generate much controversy at the meeting, several members of the Board of Trustees began a spirited discussion about student-athletics during the ensuing question-and-answer session. Trustee Edwin Krawitz remarked that student-athletes were "special" students whose hours of practice often required reducing study time in order to get enough sleep. "I don't want to burden them with the same requirements non-student-athletes have," he said. Trustee Adele Schaeffer pointed out that many students participate in demanding extra-curriculars activities not related to sports. The conversation then turned to the hassle involved in what looks to be a near-certain recertification. "What would happen if we just ignored the NCAA?? If [the NCAA] imposed [Penn's standards] on other schools, they'd have to close down their programs," Trustee Gloria Chisum said. Susan Shaman, assistant vice president for planning and analysis, noted that if "the highest-standard institutions shunned scrutiny" they would set a poor example for other schools. Focusing on the "high standards" theme, Trustee Charles Heimbold faulted the University for what he described as hyper-competitive athletes who train year-round for a single sport. Vice President for Finance Stephen Golding, chairperson of the committee that produced the NCAA report, said students learn such single-mindedness before arriving at the University. The conversation also focused on athletic eligibility. During the presentation of the self-study, Associate Vice Provost for University Life Larry Moneta said that while most students had no eligibility problems, "the 30 [or so] who are on the border" should not be allowed to "fall through the cracks." After the presentation, Provost Stanley Chodorow explained how non-academic "talents" increase a student's chance of admission. "Athletic ability may be one of those talents, but so is playing the viola? We look at a whole package" when judging a prospective student.