U. Council approves three measures

Included were resolutions about a security camera policy and changes in how employees give to charity. University Council overwhelmingly passed three resolutions yesterday at its monthly meeting, including one that implements a cohesive policy for how Penn will use security video cameras. The other two resolutions dealt with a policy on how the administration will consult with faculty on academic issues and on trying a new way of processing employees' charitable donations. Approximately 38 of the 92 Council members -- two more than are required for a vote to be held -- attended the meeting in McClelland Hall. All three votes were nearly unanimous. Faculty Senate Chairperson John Keene said he was pleased that enough people attended the meeting to ensure a quorum. "We did not succeed in getting a quorum last spring," the City and Regional Planning professor noted. Council spent more half of its two-hour meeting times discussing video monitoring. Safety and Security Committee Chairperson Sean Kennedy, an Anesthesia professor, presented the policy, which sets regulations regarding security usage of closed circuit video cameras on campus. According to the policy, cameras can be used for surveillance in public facilities on campus -- such as buildings, dorms or outdoor parking lots. It cannot be used in so-called "sensitive" areas, like bathrooms and the Penn Women's Center. Council's Open Expression Committee examined the proposal for privacy concerns, according to its chairperson, Social Work Professor Dennis Culhane. He noted that certain areas, such as the Women's Center, need to be treated sensitively because people often go there to discuss confidential problems. Council members discussed the make-up of a proposed committee to oversee closed-circuit television usage. They agreed to an amendment that will allow student and faculty participation on the committee. "We offer a unique perspective that's not there from the administration," said Undergraduate Assembly representative Dave Burd, a Wharton freshman who proposed the amendment. Council then approved the Faculty Senate Committee Faculty Consultation Resolution. Law Professor Howard Lesnick explained that the policies say the administration should consult with the faculty about campus issues that may affect them. Keene called the resolution "a major step; it sets the framework for consultation on major issues among administrators, faculty, students and staff." Finally, in discussing the charitable giving resolution, Council noted the significant drop in donations over the past 10 years and decided to remedy that by cutting ties with the United Way organization. The key debate between the two proposals was the use of the charity group, which currently processes the University's charitable contributions but favors specific charities, meaning that donors do not have full control over where the money goes. Dental School Biochemistry Professor Phoebe Leboy submitted the resolution proposing that Penn stop using United Way -- a move it also took in 1991, only to return four years later. The University will now use charitable agencies that enable employees to give money to charities of their choice.