UA starts rec. facility petition

The Undergraduate Assembly continued its push for new recreation facilities Sunday night and helped the Panhellenic Council move closer to holding a major fall concert. At the UA's last regular meeting before elections scheduled for the end of March, UA Student Life Committee Chairperson Dan Kryzanowski passed out petitions to all UA members urging Penn administrators to follow through on their promises to improve recreation facilities. The UA also voted 20-1 to approve Panhel's budget request for $2,500 to help fund an October concert. Panhel is seeking about $39,500 from a variety of groups to fund the event, which the group hopes to sponsor jointly with the InterFraternity Council and UA. Next Sunday, UA members will get a final chance before elections to influence next year's agenda at the body's annual budget meeting. The top issue at this week's meeting was following up on a recreation resolution the UA approved on January 26 based on what it said was a leaked copy of a report by a Washington, D.C.-based consulting firm hired by the University in 1996 to study how Penn's "inadequate" student athletic facilities could be improved. UA members, who claim the report recommends expanding Gimbel Gymnasium, passed the resolution in an effort to step up the pressure on the administration to go through with the expansion, in what the UA said was a $40 million, 1 1/2-year project. Kryzanowski said that with enough signatures, the petition will induce the administration's efforts to significantly improve recreation facilities. He said he would ideally want 1,000 signatures, which is roughly 10 percent of the undergraduate population. "It seems sometimes that we pass a lot of resolutions and nothing happens," said Kryzanowski, a Wharton sophomore. "I think it will be hard for the administration to blow off something that such a large percentage of the student body is in favor of. It's not just the 30 or so members of the UA." But Recreation Director Mike Diorka, who expressed some reservations about the UA's resolution last month, said he believes the administration is following through on its promises. "The students have a right to do what they want to do, but I do feel that the administration is actively pursuing the issue," Diorka said. "I've been involved with [facility improvement] at Tulane [University in New Orleans], and it takes a while to unfold." Kryzanowski said he and the other UA members plan to solicit signatures at various campus locations over the next few weeks, including Gimbel and the Quadrangle. Greek UA members will also seek support from the IFC and Panhel. Also at Sunday's meeting, the UA showed its support for Panhel's drive for a fall concert. Several groups and departments -- including the Residential Advisory Board, the Social Planning and Events Committee, the Trustees Council of Penn Women and the Vice Provost for University Life -- have already committed funds. The IFC has contributed $5,000 and Panhel $8,000. UA Chairperson Noah Bilenker said the body tried to spearhead a similar concert effort last year, but it fell through due to a lack of sufficient planning and funds. "Besides [Spring] Fling, there aren't many big concerts for students to get excited about," the College junior said. "This is a non-alcoholic, large-scale event that could be really positive." Panhel President Janelle Brodsky, a College and Engineering junior, explained that "different groups have been trying to do this for a few years now, but this year it's becoming a reality."