Rodin leads discussion on minorities in the academic world

Yesterday at the ARCH, University President Judith Rodin hosted an informal meeting encouraging minority students to join her and her colleagues as members of the "academy," a career that Rodin described as "extraordinary."

"One of the challenges [all institutions] face is the number of students in the pipeline for academia," Rodin said. "Minority faculty are in the extraordinary position that if you're good, everyone wants you."

Rodin and several Penn professors spent yesterday's meeting, attended by about 60 interested students and faculty, trying to dispel some misconceptions about the academic arena without glossing over the negative aspects.

"Life as an academic may be more mysterious for you," Rodin said. "We're here to really give you straight talk on the good and bad of life as an academic."

Rodin claimed that academia offers unique opportunities for adults working full time.

"I think that academic life... gives an extraordinary freedom as an adult," Rodin said."We have friends and relationships literally throughout the world."

Minority professors who spoke at yesterday's session included Electrical Engineering Professor Jorge Juan Santiago, English Professor Herman Beavers and Communications Professor John Jemmott.

Rodin and her colleagues were quick to point out the intellectual influence an academic can have on students.

"I really like being in the presence of people grappling with intellectual problems," Beavers said.

Beavers claimed that an academic post is more than a 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. job, as it involves teaching, research and mentorship. However, Rodin said there are ways to lighten the schedule.

"It's as much as you want and as demanding as you let it be," Rodin said.

In addition to these abstract benefits of being an academic, Rodin said there are material ones, as well.

"There isn't the kind of financial disparity between academia and other professions that there once was," Rodin said. She added that the average Penn professor has a higher salary than most medical doctors.

Several professors said that for them, entering the academic sphere was a sudden decision that ran contrary to their original plans. But none of them have regrets.

"I would do this job for free," Beavers said.

"That wonderful experience of doing undergraduate research is something everyone should go through," Santiago added.

Students in attendance had mixed feelings about the usefulness of the forum.

"It's so fantastic that the professors are all so happy," said Asian Pacific Student Coalition Chairwoman Eugena Oh, a College junior. The event "reaffirmed and increased my interests."

But College senior Remona Gray said the dialogue did not "really do anything to sway me... My opinions didn't really change, maybe because I'm a senior."

"I disagree with how much better being in academia is than being a doctor or a lawyer," she added.

Some students said they believe there needs to be a closer relationship between students and faculty, and last night's forum may be a step in the right direction.

"Mentorship on all levels is extremely important," said United Minorities Council Chairman Papa Wassa Nduom, a College sophomore who did not attend the forum. "Faculty should reach out to students... [there should be] more social connections, more social ties between faculty and students."

"The issue of recruitment and retention is truly an important one to the vibrancy of an institution," said Undergraduate Assembly Chairwoman Dana Hork, a College senior. "I came to hear the concerns of students."

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