DiIulio's hiatus draws a mix of student reviews

As Political Science Professor John DiIulio officially announced his leave from the University yesterday, students expressed concerns about the state of Penn's embattled Political Science Department. At a press conference yesterday in Penn's Fels Center of Government, DiIulio announced that he had officially taken a one-year leave of absence from the University to head the White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives. The controversial new agency will work to increase federal funding given to faith-based charity groups. However, DiIulio hinted that the position could keep him in Washington and away from the University for up to two years. Political Science Chair Jack Nagel said that the University will work around the temporary loss of DiIulio, who arrived at Penn in 1999 after a 13-year stint at Princeton University. "Obviously, we'd like to have him back as soon as possible," Nagel said. "We'll adjust in the best way we can." But some students say that the University's adjustments won't be enough. College senior and Political Science major Meg Guliford said she was disappointed to hear that DiIulio would not be teaching at Penn during her final semester. "It hurts that the students will not be able to work with him," she said. "It hurts in the short run because [the University] has lost an amazing professor." Guliford's sentiments were echoed by many students who will not get the chance to work with Penn's heralded Political Science teacher. College junior and Political Science major Aaron Tidman said that he wanted DiIulio to be his adviser. Now, Tidman is forced to look elsewhere in what he considers to be a lackluster department. "One of the weaknesses of the department was the American Politics section," Tidman said. "It's a loss because he would have helped draw other professors to the department. "I think it's a big loss because he was the best professor that the department had," College junior Paul Yakulis added. "It's one less professor that the department can't afford to lose." Over the past several years, the Political Science department has decreased in size due to faculty departures and retirements, despite an effort to revitalize the faculty situation in Stiteler Hall. College junior Ashley Belin -- also a Political Science major -- said that she has heard nothing but praise of DiIulio since he first arrived at the University. "When he walked through the doors of Penn, everyone was buzzing about him," she said. Belin added that she has mixed feelings about what DiIulio's absence will mean for the department. "I think it hurts because the department is starving for staff," she said. "But on the other hand, it's a good thing because Penn gets press." But some students see this as a sign of the department's strength. "The loss of Professor DiIulio can only be seen as a credit to the department because they were able to recruit someone of such a high caliber," College senior Andrew Ribner said. "In the long run, it's a very good thing," Guliford added. "It'll help build because it shows that we have professors that go out and do this." At yesterday's press conference, DiIulio spoke about his major objectives for his time away from Penn. "The first set of objectives is increasing charitable giving, both human and financial," he said. "We need to build social capital by having outreach to our neighbors." DiIulio also spoke of "leveling the playing field" between secular and religious community groups. "No one ought to tell [religious groups] whether they're thirsty or not, and no one ought to keep them from drinking," DiIulio said. "We shouldn't have rules that arbitrarily bias or discriminate against [religious groups]," he added. DiIulio stressed that the aid being allocated for religious groups is well deserved. He credited non-secular groups for much of the country's daycare centers and food pantries. "[The work of faith-based groups] has been largely under-appreciated and largely unheralded." Although DiIulio said that his commitment to President Bush would be for at least six months, he expressed confidence that he would be back to teach before the Spring of 2003. "I intend to be back well before two years is out," he said. Many of DiIulio's students said they believe he is a perfect fit in his new position. "I think this is great for him," Tidman said. "Now he gets to implement what he's been teaching for all these years."