EDITORIAL: Priorities for a new semester

Areas for focus, discussion and improvement over the course of the spring semester. With Penn's next provost, Robert Barchi, due to assume the reins on February 1, the University should focus on producing an academic master plan to guide resource allocation decisions. Particular areas of need include new faculty hires in the Political Science Department and new facilities for the Graduate School of Fine Arts and the Psychology Department. We would also like to see increased seminar and preceptorial offerings -- the success of both programs has been diminished only by limited availability. We continue in our strong belief that the participation of the University community is an integral element of planning for Penn's future. For that reason, we call on administrators to present plans for the new Wharton School building as soon as possible. In a similar spirit, details of the financing package for the proposed dormitory and dining facilities overhaul should be announced, and the success of the college houses should be evaluated -- with student input -- at the end of the semester, as the program closes out its first year. New deans for the Law, Engineering and Wharton schools should also be pursued with all due diligence. As plans for a new public school for University City continue to unfold, we encourage Penn officials to involve the school's community-to-be -- neighborhood residents -- at all stages in the process. Some of our New Year's wishes have graced past lists as well: Penn's campus still lacks a 24-hour diner; the amount of space available to intramural and club sports teams has grown even more restricted; and athletic and recreational facilities remain inadequate for a campus of this size. The success of the Katz Fitness Center only highlights this need. Another old wish is for a Spring Fling band with a reputation to match the size of the festival. We hope that the University will follow through on its commitment to improvement in two critical areas: the availability of financial aid and a re-evaluation of the General Requirement. Prominent guest speakers have proved wildly popular, invariably selling out. We encourage the University to pursue opportunities for bringing greater numbers of high profile speakers to campus. Such programming is an important and enjoyable part of the Penn experience. The start of a new year is always an exciting time, a time for fresh starts and new ideas. As we enter 1999, we hope administrators seize the opportunity to focus their efforts on these areas.