U. drops CUPID for online registration

The days of one-stop shopping for PennCards and email accounts are coming to a close. Administrators recently announced that they were cancelling the Center for University of Pennsylvania Identification -- also known as CUPID -- which allowed students to set up PennCards, e-mail accounts, and housing or Penntrex needs in one spot during New Student Orientation. Held at the start of the fall semester, CUPID traditionally allowed students to familiarize themselves with resources and student groups on campus. The decision, made by University administrators, was announced Sunday night at the Undergraduate Assembly meeting by Student Activities Council Chair Jay Haverty. Haverty received an e-mail from Assistant Registrar Janet Ansert early Friday morning containing the news. "CUPID is being terminated and... there will no longer be... any of those orientation programs," he said at the UA meeting. Haverty went on to say that New Student Orientation will still be held, but the CUPID portion of it has been canceled due to a "decrease in student attendance." But Haverty also said that student groups had complained that eliminating CUPID would put a halt to an opportunity to recruit freshman during NSO. Consequently, the Student Activities Council will look into sponsoring or co-sponsoring a "CUPID-like activities fair." "CUPID had outlived its purpose," Haverty said. "An awful lot of the information is there for students to gather online." Haverty announced at the meeting that administrators were exploring the possibility of moving CUPID services online to Campus Express, but administrators could not confirm this rumor. Campus Express, launched last summer, allows students to access housing, dining and other campus services through the Internet. "CUPID has indeed been canceled," said Amy Johnson, the director of external relations at the University's Office of Business Services. However, Johnson said she had not heard that services would be put online with Campus Express. Few administrative offices could specify how they will accommodate the cancellation. NSO Coordinator Sharon Smith said she was unsure of how the cancellation will affect orientation. "I'm not exactly sure how it will impact it yet," Smith said. "I'm thinking about what our needs are." Student Committee on Undergraduate Education Chairwoman Lindsey Mathews -- who recently helped revamp orientation programming -- said she supported the decision to cancel CUPID. "I think it's a good thing in that it will be a more efficient use of everyone's times and resources during New Student Orientation," she said. However, Penn student groups wish CUPID could remain a part of orientation. "I think it's a shame because I remember as a freshman, I learned a lot about many of the student groups on campus by attending CUPID," College sophomore and Circle K president Sherry Orbach said. "Many freshmen find out about us by going to CUPID." South Asia Society President Pooja Kapadia agreed. "I think in terms of getting familiar with opportunities on campus, I think there'll be a problem because it's one of the best places to learn about everything on campus," the Wharton senior said.