Probation ordered for a cappella group Penn Six

Two umbrella student groups put Penn Six on probation for a number of rule infractions. Just days after being thrown in the hot seat for an alleged disrespectful display during a concert with a Princeton University singing ensemble, the popular a cappella group Pennsylvania Six-5000 was placed on probation last night by two student administrative bodies for a number of independent rule infractions. The A Cappella Council and the Performing Arts Council -- umbrella organizations for Penn performing arts groups -- both decided at meetings held over the last two days to place the group on administrative probation for activities which, group leaders say, had nothing to do with the Princeton Wildcats debacle on April 6. "Currently, [Penn Six] is on probation from the performing arts community due to previous attendance and postering issues," ACC Chairman and College sophomore Abraham Lo said. "The issues that were dealt with today will be in effect for the entire year." According to PAC Chairwoman and College junior Cassandra Georges, the punishment was handed down to deal with what were considered long-standing differences between the performing arts community and Penn Six. "Basically, the concerns were regarding their membership being conducive to a PAC community," Georges said. "That's what we were there to discuss -- how to make them better members." Under the terms of the probation, the group will lose voting rights and other privileges of organizational membership until they successfully re-petition for membership by completing community service. The group will retain their performance privileges. "[Penn Six is] still a part of both organizations -- a very vital part of the a cappella and the performing arts communityƒ and it would be detrimental to that community and to the University if they were prevented from performing on campus as a singing group," Lo said. Penn Six members reacted with anger to the news of probation. "I am completely outraged by what has transpired over the past week in the PAC community," Penn Six Business Manager and Engineering junior Jake Peters said. "I have been completely disrespected by other students who should be there to support other members of the performing arts community but have taken part in a biased and unprofessional proceeding which should have been handled differently from day one," he said. At the next meeting of the Student Activities Council -- the body which ultimately governs both PAC and ACC -- next Wednesday, the two groups will recommend that SAC enact further probation upon the group. Such probation, if approved by a majority of SAC representatives, could result in Penn Six losing its SAC funding. "A representative of PAC will be addressing the SAC community and will suggest that the body address the same concerns," Georges said. "From there, a final decision will be made." Revelations of these separate rule infractions were uncovered as PAC and ACC leaders began investigations into alleged acts of sexual harassment during a Penn Six concert with the Princeton Wildcats a cappella group about two weeks ago. Daily Pennsylvanian staff writer Stacy Humes-Schulz contributed to this article.

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