U. Council to hold open forum today

Members of the University community will get their 15 minutes of fame today as they argue issues ranging from the University's outsourcing trend to whether Penn should close its doors on Martin Luther King Jr. Day. As part of University Council's first meeting of the semester, the body's annual open forum is scheduled to begin at 5 p.m. in the Quadrangle's McClelland Hall, one hour after the regular monthly meeting starts. Ten speakers -- nine more than the last open forum, in December 1996 -- are scheduled to address issues such as the effects of Perelman Quadrangle on students, the University's investment policy, the lack of facilities for the Lesbian Gay Bisexual Alliance and the Wharton School's ties to the Chinese government. Potential speakers were asked to request time by January 21. All requests that were not submitted to the Office of the Secretary by last Wednesday will only be accommodated if time allows, according to Council Secretary Connie Goodman. Faculty Senate Chairperson Vivian Seltzer attributed this year's influx of requests to Council's heightened exposure following a rare special meeting in November. At the meeting, Council passed a resolution asking the Board of Trustees to reject the University's proposal to outsource facilities management to the Trammell Crow Co. The recommendations, however, failed to sway the Trustees, who voted unanimously to approve the deal. In adopting a new format, chairpersons of five Council committees will engage in discussions with Council members instead of presenting final status reports, Seltzer said. The committees include Admissions and Financial Aid, Communications, Community Relations, Personnel Benefits and Recreation and Intercollegiate Athletics. Last month, the Personnel Benefits Committee evaluated the first phase of the University's benefits redesign plan, analyzing the University's health and life insurance, part-time benefits and graduate-tuition packages. At today's meeting, the committee will issue recommendations on mental health, disability and vision-care benefits, according to Seltzer. The meeting is scheduled to adjourn at 6 p.m. Given the number of items on the agenda, "it won't end early," Seltzer said. Council, which serves as an advisory body to the president and provost, is comprised of administrators, faculty members, staff and students. Members meet monthly to discuss campus-wide issues in a public forum.