Continuing construction -- This past summer, the old Katz Fitness Center at Gimbel Gymnasium was demolished to make way for the new $23 million Pottruck Fitness Center. Construction of Pottruck will continue throughout the year, with the University currently targeting 2003 as the date of completion.
Heading west down Walnut Street from Gimbel, the $148 million Huntsman Hall -- which according to the original schedule is to be completed next year -- is continuing construction. When finished, Huntsman will provide a new 320,000 square feet of space for the Wharton school.
Philadelphia public schools -- Since Gov. Mark Schweiker announced his plan to privatize many parts of the school district -- including the central administration -- in November, he has been in constant tension with Mayor John Street, who flatly opposes privatization of the central management of the district. While the original December deadline for an agreement has been postponed, both the state and city are under pressure to finalize a plan as quickly as possible.
War on Terror -- With Afghanistan's Taliban regime on the brink of total collapse, the United States and its allies are beginning to turn their attention to other terrorist-supporting countries, including Iraq.
The provisional Afghan government is to take power on Dec. 22, but it remains to be seen whether the new governing body will be able to keep a lid on tribal tensions. Meanwhile, in the Middle East, tensions are building between the Israelis and Palestinians.
Dining Services -- Although Dining Services somewhat caved to student outrage over a mandatory 17-meal-per-week meal plan for all incoming freshmen, the University is still requiring a 14-meal-per-week plan for the freshman class.
But while the requirement may be bolstering the uncertain finances of Dining Services, Stouffer Dining Commons had to be closed nevertheless earlier this year. As campus retail options provide more and more places for students to eat off-campus, the University will have to find new ways of reviving its struggling dining program, which is integral to Penn's plan for its college house system.
Health System -- For the first time since 1997, the University of Pennsylvania Health System had a positive fiscal year, with Moody Investor Services upgrading the UPHS bond rating from negative to stable.
But work continues on the process of establishing the Health System as a separate non-profit organization under the control of Penn, which is to be finalized next year.
