COLUMN: Sansom Common does not solve existing problems

From Jeffrey Snyder's, "Snyde Remarks," Fall '98 From Jeffrey Snyder's, "Snyde Remarks," Fall '98 When University President Judith Rodin announced back in fall 1996 plans to lure "funky" shops and businesses to what was then a parking lot on 36th and Walnut streets, most everyone agreed that it was a step in the right direction. Wait a minute? we are forgetting something here. We pay a very high tuition plus a couple thousand dollars in the form of the General Fee to attend this University. No one seems to be able to get a straight answer as to exactly where the $28 million in General Fee revenue goes, but I know that it isn't so that I could pay more to shop at "funky" shops near campus. My point is that Sansom Common, although a good idea, is essentially another lame excuse not to provide undergraduates with a real student union. With all that we are investing in the University, we are entitled to a center that provides pool tables, table-tennis, foosball, study space, office space for student groups, a bowling alley, adequate performing arts space and a real bank, among other things. More importantly, the student union should not charge students more than a nominal fee to make use of the facilities at all hours of the day or night. Houston Hall, which officials love to point out is the oldest student union in the country, is completely inadequate. There is insufficient office space and performing arts space and virtually no recreational facilities. Instead, it is yet another rent-collecting revenue producer for the University, the corporation. Half of the building isn't even dedicated to students. Does the Faculty Senate/Mediation/whatever that second floor suite is this week really have to be in the so-called student union? Even those areas actually dedicated to students are not available 24 hours a day. Perelman Quad, unlike the scrapped Revlon Center plan, does nothing to solve these problems. In fact, it makes them significantly worse in the short-run by closing down Houston Hall for 18 months. Then, instead of an insufficient student union, we will have nothing at all. Even when completed, it may beautify that end of the campus, but it will not provide the bowling alley or the pool hall. One must question whether the University even wants to solve the problems, or would they rather just collect high rent from businesses that will in turn overcharge the students? This lack of a student union, to an extent, seems unique to Penn's campus. Many schools, some of which charge their students far less, provide far better facilities. Georgia Tech, for instance, has an extensive student union with a black-light bowling alley and pool tables, among other amenitites. Northwestern University charges 50 cents an hour for students to use pool and ping-pong tables. And Brown University even provides a bar in its student union. The list goes on and on. Someone needs to remind Rodin that the University's business is education and not retail. Penn's customers are its students and a significant portion of the price we pay is for campus life. We should not have to pay even more to shop and eat at inflated prices because the University is collecting high rents for access to its "captive" market. Sansom Common is a great idea and will do a great deal to bring businesses to a sparse West Philadelphia economy. At the same time, we cannot allow University officials to appease us with profit centers when they are failing to meet basic obligations. I have no problem with Penn administrators dabbling in real estate, retail or anything else that floats their boat, so long as they do not neglect their primary business: education. Dr. Rodin, honor your end of the bargain. Take a building in your precious Sansom Common and absorb the rent. Write-off the costs of some pool tables and build a bowling alley. Throw in gym equipment, a few computers and a big-screen television. And allow PennCard holders to play for free or for just enough to cover staffing costs. Maybe we'll even frequent a "funky" shop or two on the way, and we will actually feel like we are getting something for our fee. Imagine that, if students -- particularly freshmen who rarely venture into Center City -- actually have a legitimate alternative, maybe they will even shoot some pool instead of passing the time by binge drinking. Maybe they will stay on campus where they won't get mugged. Try it. See what a little responsiveness to student demands does for your popularity.