EDITORIAL: Not a unified institution

Administrators need to decide if Penn is adhering to the "One University,' concept. With the current "responsibility center budgeting" system, schools are competing with one another for students from other schools to fill their classes. The system also discourages schools from borrowing faculty since they must contribute to the professors' salaries. This hardly encourages the concept of "One University." The interdisciplinary programs that are being formed demonstrate the benefits that can be gained when schools collaborate. For example, the International Studies in Business is a successful program that also provides students with the educational opportunity to study abroad. But these programs are not as good as they can be. For example, the College of Arts and Sciences does not have a submatriculation program with the Law School because it simply can't afford to establish one. The Wharton School of Business does have the funds to create programs like this with Penn's graduate schools, and so we see new Wharton initiatives almost daily. If Penn were truly "One University," schools would create more cross-study majors and minors. School deans would concentrate on their educational value and wouldn't worry so much about those programs' financial pitfalls. School of Arts and Sciences Interim Dean Walter Wales is correct in saying that the budgetary system doesn't put enough emphasis on the University's "educational responsibility." School administrators also fundraise specifically for their schools -- knowing the school will keep all of whatever monetary donation is given. A "One University" concept would ideally have officials fundraise for Penn, the institution, not the individual school. University officials shouldn't claim Penn is "One University" if it really isn't true. And the way schools need to compete financially proves that Penn is not.