CAMPUS BRIEFS: Friday, October 9, 1998

Abraham rejects Phila. mayoral bid Polls indicate that Abraham, 57, the district attorney since 1991, would have been a strong front-runner had she entered the race. The mayoral election is scheduled for November 1999. Rendell, a two-term incumbent, is ineligible to run for a third four-year term. Abraham's decision, which is based on the fact that she says she is happy with her current job, is likely to open up the Democratic field for Marty Weinberg, previously a high-powered Center City attorney and political consultant to former Mayor Frank Rizzo. Weinberg's support base lies in the same white neighborhoods and business leadership that Abraham would have tapped. But for three potential candidates vying for the support of African-Americans, the announcement was seen as a blow. Although the city is nearly 50 percent black, the prospective African-American candidates -- City Council President John Street, State Representative Dwight Evans and former Housing Authority Director John White -- are likely to split the black vote. Her decision is also likely to benefit former City Councilwoman Happy Fernandez, the only declared Democratic candidate. Republican candidates George Bochetto and Sam Katz -- who has yet to formally announce his candidacy -- will also likely be helped by the announcement. GOP candidates face an uphill fight in Philadelphia, a heavily Democratic city that gave 70 percent of its votes to President Clinton in 1996. -- Binyamin Appelbaum Filreis receives honor as one of top U.S. profs English Professor Al Filreis was honored by a national program this week as the top professor in Pennsylvania for 1998-99. The U.S. Professor of the Year program -- conducted by the Council for Advancement and Support of Education in conjunction with the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching -- recognizes professors for "extraordinary dedication to teaching, commitment to students and innovative teaching methods," according to a statement from the Washington-based CASE. Filreis, 42, who took a leave of absence this semester to work on a book, has spearheaded several successful University academic programs since coming to Penn in 1984. He has served as the undergraduate English Department chairperson and faculty master of Van Pelt College House. Filreis, the faculty director of the Kelly Writers House, could not be reached for comment yesterday. Additionally, Filreis chaired the Residential Faculty Council, on which he helped develop the Wheel project -- an integral part of the college house program. The comprehensive Wheel system of peer assistance was designed to help students with matters that include computer malfunctions, math problems and term papers. "From what I've heard, this [award] should come as a surprise to no one," said Ron Ozio, a University spokesperson. "[Filreis] has an incredible reputation on campus." -- Jeremy Reiss