CAMPUS BRIEFS: Monday, January 11, 1999

Wharton bldg. assault suspect to be arraigned Steven Woodson, of the 4300 block of West Pennsgrove Street, was arrested within days of the alleged November 8 knifepoint assault. The victim managed to fight off her attacker without sustaining any serious physical injuries. Because he is over the age of 14 and is accused of several violent crimes state law requires that the University City High School sophomore be charged, at least initially, as an adult. But according to Assistant District Attorney Steve Collier, who was assigned to prosecute the case, a judge can still decide to try Woodson as a juvenile. Philadelphia Common Pleas Judge Legrome Davis will rule on that at a yet-to-be-scheduled hearing. The decision will be based on the "severity of the crime alleged as well as the defendant's background," Collier said. Woodson has been in custody on $150,000 bail since his arrest. -- Sabrina Gleizer Incoming provost hopes to ease into new office Interim Provost Michael Wachter stepped down from office December 31 and returned to work as a member of the Law School faculty. But Provost-designate Robert Barchi will officially take office February 1, leaving the provost's office in a state of transition throughout the month of January. Barchi said he has been working daily in the provost's office since January 4 and has been "staffing all of the usual committees? and carrying out all the critical activities of the office." "The University community will not experience any disruption in support from the provost's office," he added According to Linda Koons, executive assistant to the provost, Barchi is currently easing into his new job as provost, dividing his days between his position as chairperson of the Neurology and Neuroscience departments in Penn's Medical School and his post as the University's incoming chief academic officer. "[Barchi] decided to spend a month learning the ropes," Koons said. Provost's Office Director of External Affairs Nancy Nowicki said Barchi will be meeting with faculty, students, deans and vice provosts to discuss University issues over the next month. She added that she thinks the transition from one provost to the next will be smooth, because both Wachter and Barchi are hard-working individuals with "high energy levels." "What will remain the same is the warp speed at which the provost works," Nowicki said. Barchi was appointed on December 3. The post had been vacant since former Provost Stanley Chodorow stepped down at the end of 1997. -- Catherine Lucey