Governor-elect cancels classes

Most professors are able to fit time into their schedules to teach a class or two. Most professors can even do this on top of their own academic agendas and personal lives. But then again, most professors are not the governor of Pennsylvania. With Governor-elect Ed Rendell's Jan. 21 inauguration rapidly approaching, he has recently decided to cancel the two classes he had listed in the University's spring course timetable. He was scheduled to teach the cross-listed Urban Studies and Political Science course "Who Gets Elected and Why: The Science of Politics" and another Urban Studies course entitled "Can Cities Survive?" He taught both of these courses at Penn in 2001. Rendell spokesman Tom Hickey said that despite the governor-elect's unfortunate detachment from the University, he will continue to play an active role in Penn's community. "You can bet," Hickey wagered, "that he'll attend as many basketball games as he has." After advanced registration, both of Rendell's courses were relatively full, leaving holes in many students' schedules. Urban Studies Department Undergraduate Major Co-director Elaine Simon has not made any attempt to fill Rendell's spot, as part of the attraction of the courses is Rendell himself. "I don't really think there is a replacement for Rendell," Simon said. Although Rendell originally intended to teach these courses while serving as governor, his innumerable upcoming duties have since changed his mind. Hickey as well as Simon seem hopeful that Rendell will resume teaching at Penn in the fall. Director of Academic Affairs in the College Kent Peterman seemed more wary of the number of responsibilities that Rendell would need to juggle during his governorship. However, "once [Rendell] serves his term as governor," Peterman hopes that "there might be an opportunity for him to come back and teach." Simon was not shocked by Rendell's decision to take the semester off. She remarked that he must have come "to the realization that he had quite a bit on his plate." The Associated Press reported on Dec. 14 that Ken Snyder, the spokesman of Rendell's transition team said, "The governor-elect has decided to curtail many of his outside obligations to focus primarily on creating jobs and economic growth and improving education." Rendell has already begun clearing his schedule by resigning from a partnership at the Ballard, Spahr, Andrews & Ingersoll law firm and from positions on three corporate boards. Although Rendell might be abandoning his specific role in the education of Penn students, Hickey said that he is dealing with larger and more fundamental issues of Pennsylvania education as a whole. Hickey called Rendell's plans for state education "ambitious." He specified that some of the items on the top of Rendell's agenda for education are "reforms for early childhood education while increasing accountability." In addition, Rendell has already called together a team of university presidents from across the state to hold a conference for higher education sometime next week. The conference will be led by University President Judith Rodin and the president of Temple University.