Room for the Castle

If Psi Upsilon returns to the Castle, the U. needs to find a home for the community service program on Locust Walk. With members of Psi Upsilon wanting to move back into the Castle -- which they own -- these events students have come to associate with the Castle may come to an end. The University should continue trying to negotiate with Psi Upsilon in order to keep the Community Service Living and Learning Program in its present home. But if negotiations come to a standstill and Psi Upsilon moves back into its former home, the University should ensure the continuation of CSLLP by finding it a new home -- preferably on Locust Walk. The current central location of the program draws students to CSLLP in addition to making the program more visible to the community. The program may be hurt if the University moved it into the high rises or off of the Walk. CSLLP needs to be located in a place where they are accessible to the community. There are several buildings on Locust Walk that could become the new home of CSLLP. The Vice Provost of University Life and the Management and Technology program offices are located on the Walk and don't necessarily need to be there. These two offices could be moved to space in the Perelman Quadrangle. The Penn Colonial Center may also be a viable option for CSLLP since the Insurance Department located there could be housed in either Steinberg-Dietrich or in the new Wharton building that will replace The Book Store at 38th and Walnut streets. CSLLP represents something that is unique at Penn. It is a residence full of students dedicated to community service -- something Penn should show off. Other Ivy League schools have and are modeling similar programs after CSLLP, such as Dartmouth. If a fraternity is going to displace this wonderful program, then administrators need to find CSLLP a suitable home on Locust Walk.