U. orders police to tow newsstand

At the administration's request, University Police towed a newsstand from the southwest corner of 34th and Walnut streets at approximately 10 a.m. Saturday. The newsstand's owner also set up a stand in front of Bennett Hall on the southeast corner of the streets in December, according to Vice President for Government, Community and Public Affairs Carol Scheman. Prior to the towing, a fistfight broke out between the owner and a Walnut Street vendor after the vendor refused to move his truck. University Police were called to the scene. The University has sued the newsstand's owner to remove him from his current position in front of Bennett Hall for failure to obtain proper city permits and for the danger the stand poses to students, Scheman said. She explained that although the newsstand's owner obtained licensing from the city to set up the newsstand, he did not obtain permits for electrical wiring at the location. "This vendor has not been respectful of the University, the campus and public safety," Scheman said, adding that the newsstand obstructs the view of students crossing the street. "We're not going to wait and see someone get hurt," she said. The Philadelphia Streets Department may decide to take the vendor's permit away, Scheman said, although she admitted that it is unlikely.