UA members meet with Fry

If the Undergraduate Assembly has its way, students may be seeing more retail openings on campus in the future besides Izzy and Zoe's and the Sundance Cinemas complex. Yesterday, five members of the UA met with Executive Vice President John Fry and Vice President for Facilities Services Omar Blaik to discuss various student life issues -- including bringing more restaurants to campus and getting extended dining hours for the Class of 1920 Commons. "It was a very productive meeting," said UA Chairman Mike Silver, a College senior. "Fry was extremely responsive to our concerns -- [especially] to lighting and campus retail." UA members meet regularly with Fry to discuss concerns regarding student life. Fry and Blaik were unavailable to comment on the meeting. The two sides discussed possible retail options to fill up vacant areas on 39th and 40th streets in response to demands that Penn have more student-friendly priced restaurants on campus. A recent UA survey on 40th Street retail revealed students' desires for a bagel shop -- which they will see with the opening of Izzy and Zoe's next week -- as well as a moderately priced Italian bistro and a breakfast locale, such as the International House of Pancakes. Both Silver and Engineering junior Theo LeCompte, who also attended the meeting, said Fry seemed very enthusiastic about these suggestions. College and Wharton sophomore Dave Burd brought up the need for extended hours at the 1920 Commons Dining Hall. He updated Fry on the results of a dining survey the UA conducted with Dining Services last November, which were presented at the University Council meeting last month. After UA member and College sophomore Carrie Zaslow conducted a walking tour last semester with Blaik and University Police Chief Maureen Rush, the UA cited several poorly lit areas around campus -- including the regions behind Steinberg-Dietrich Hall, Stiteler Hall and Civic House. These areas were fixed by Facilities Services last semester. The UA also brought to Fry's attention dangerous places on campus due to the recent snow storms, which included the corner of 34th and Walnut streets and Samson Street. Wharton freshman Ethan Kay discussed his concern over the lack of paper towels in the bathrooms of the Quadrangle, Hill College House and Kings Court/English College House. Blaik told him that after renovations are completed in the Quad, which is expected to happen in 2002, the bathrooms in the Quad will be supplied with paper towel dispensers and garbage cans. Kay was also told by Blaik that Kings Court/English House will shortly have paper towels installed in their bathrooms for a brief trial period.