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(05/14/93 9:00am)
A Jewish University freshman may file private criminal charges against four Asian males who allegedly choked and beat him in his Kings Court room two weeks ago in what appears to have been an anti-semitic attack. According to University Police Lieutenant Gerald Leddy, the police report chronicling the event details a series of incidents which began early on the morning of May 1. Police arrived at the corner of 36th and Chestnut streets at about 2 a.m., Leddy said, where a group of Asian males was "causing a disturbance and breaking windows" in front of the Sheraton Hotel. When they were stopped by the officers, the Asian males claimed that a resident from the Kings Court dormitory had thrown a bottle at them and shouted racial slurs at them, Leddy said. When they identified a room, police officers went up to the room in the dormitory, where residents "gave a different account," he said. According to the police report, the two students said they had yelled out the window for the students to be quiet. A half hour later, the students said, four Asian males were in the dorm room "threatening to kill one of the guys who had yelled out the window." "There were visible signs of one of the guys in the dorm room being grabbed around the neck -- welts, bruises, various signs of assault," Leddy said, referring to the police report. "There are allegations that the Asian males were yelling ethnic slurs to the white males in [the dorm]," Leddy said. "The slurs centered around the assumption that the white males were Jewish." The student, who wished to remain anonymous, said he was in serious danger that night. "They grabbed me and choked me on my bed, and were saying things like 'You fucking Jew, we're going to kill you,' " he said. The other students involved could not be reached for comment because University Police would not release their names. Leddy did say that one of the students was a resident of the dorm. The scenario, the police report said, could be corroborated by several Kings Court and English House residents. At 2 a.m., Leddy said, the same group of Asian males were allegedly seen assaulting an elderly man in front of the Sheraton, and residents of the dorm yelled out their windows for them to stop. According to University Police, the elderly man has not filed a complaint. Because the event was labeled a "simple assault," Leddy said that the student was advised to file a private criminal complaint which, the student said, he is currently considering. "The welts on his neck were probably not indicative of full proof in the officer's view," Leddy said. "Regardless of which is the true story, [a private criminal complaint] is the way to go." In the meantime, Sergeant Ivan Kimble said the event has been classified as a disturbance rather than a crime, and that the incident was referred to the Judicial Inquiry Office. Representatives of the JIO's office said last week, however, that they had not received any information on this case and that their office was not handling the complaint.
(04/06/93 9:00am)
Students across campus popped open champagne bottles Thursday night. Kosher for Passover champagne bottles, that is. Along with the champagne, the Tau Epsilon Phi house was stocked with all the necessary goodies for a proper seder: matzah, gefilte fish and bitter herbs. The Alpha Epsilon Pi and Zeta Beta Tau fraternities and groups in High Rise East and the Quadrangle's Community House also gathered the necessary items for a model seder. The Steinhardt Jewish Heritage Program sponsored the seders Thursday night in order to increase Jewish awareness on campus. "The whole point of doing this is to include Jews and non-Jews alike in understanding the holiday of Passover and why we continue to celebrate it every year," explained Steinhardt intern Jillian Posner, a December 1992 College graduate. "The philosophy of the program that's sponsoring it is to raise Jewish awareness on Penn's campus," said College senior Josh Perelman, who led the seder at the TEP house. Although the seder was not completely authentic, all who attended said they enjoyed its relaxed nature. College freshman Aaron Shapiro, a TEP brother, said, "The highlight was when the Rabbi [Menachem Schmidt, executive director of the Lubavitch House] donned the TEP hat." Wharton freshman Robert Friedman, who is also a TEP brother, said he found the whole experience to be a positive one. "I'm learning a lot about my heritage, plus I get good food free," Friedman said. "I'm proud that my fraternity did something like this." Wharton sophomore Ira Koyner, another TEP brother, said he came "because my grandmother would be proud." "I think it was a fun way to learn and supplement my knowledge about the Passover seder," said TEP brother Dan Stein, a Wharton junior. Not all of the students present, however, were interested in learning about Passover. "I'm not really concerned about the Jewish aspect, but the food is much better than Stouffer," said TEP brother and College freshman Seth Rosenberg. The event was publicized with over 1,000 flyers, in addition to articles, advertisements and invitations. Despite the efforts of the Steinhardt Program, the TEP seder was attended by approximately 25 people, and the majority were TEP brothers. "I don't know if Thursday is a bad night for people," Posner said. "It's not supposed to be a religious-type thing. It's supposed to draw people, not detract people."
(04/02/93 10:00am)
A male Engineering freshman received a stiff penalty from the judicial inquiry office in February for several violations of the University's Code of Conduct, Acting JIO Catherine Schifter said in a statement yesterday. The student -- who is the only student to be accused of vandalism this year -- was found guilty of putting graffiti in a Quadrangle hallway, underage drinking, throwing firecrackers and burning objects from his Quad window and smashing bottles in the Quad. His JIO sentence included a relocation from his Quad room, residential probation and a fine. He was also ordered to have a meeting with Fire and Occupational Safety Director Jim Miller and drug and psychiatric evaluations. The JIO also settled two harassment cases. In one, a male College freshman was sentenced to undergo an alcohol evaluation and write an apology to a residential advisor he harassed while his companion was being written up for underage alcohol possession in the Quad. Among the seven other cases settled by the JIO in February were another fire safety violation, one excessive noise violation, one security violation and two charges of harrassment. Twenty-one cases were reported to the JIO in February, including the only charge of drug violation to date this year, one charge of sexual harassment -- adding to two already reported this year -- and one reported case of plagiarism. None have yet been settled, according to Schifter. There are 41 cases still pending in Schifter's office.
(02/11/93 10:00am)
"Mike" appeared to be living the American dream. He had a wife and kids, a big suburban house with a white picket fence and a swimming pool and a comfortable corporate job. He was in the best financial and physical shape of his life. He even ran marathons. But beneath all this Mike hid a terrible secret. He was addicted to sex. "I was a compulsive masturbator," he said. "I was very heavy into pornography and casual sex, having some kind of sex contact 3 or 4 times a day." The Institute of Pennsylvania Hospital at 49th and Market streets treats people like Mike, who asked that his real name not be used, and helps them overcome their sexual problems. Mary Jo Porreca, coordinator of Sex and Love Addicts Anonymous, said that addiction to compulsive sexual behavior is a serious and often underestimated problem afflicting many people today. Porreca said that people who are addicted to sex need their daily fix, much like heroin addicts. Anyone, she said, can be afflicted by this condition. "We treat all kinds of people from businessmen to college students," she said. For many addicts, alcoholism and sexual abuse played a large part in their lives. Mike, for example, came from an alcoholic family and spent his teen years on street corners "hustling men and women." He said he would often trade sex for drugs and alcohol and said he was "caught in a triangle of drugs, sex and violence." At 17 he joined the Marine Corps and went to Vietnam. His sexual addiction continued through it all, he said, and his alcoholism worsened. When he returned, he was finally able to kick his alcohol habit, but his sexual addiction escalated. Things degenerated until he finally realized his problem and began dealing with it. "I realized I had no idea about feelings and emotions," he said. "The only things I knew were lust and anger -- everything was sexual." "Jen" had to deal with an incestuous upbringing which marred her life in many ways. She is a former alcoholic who was sexually abused by her father and by her mother's lesbian friend, she said. Since the age of four, she said, she has engaged in compulsive sexual behavior, including heavy use of pornography, excessive masturbation and promiscuous sexual activity. Jen said that at the height of her addiction she would "cruise the bars looking for one-night stands." "I would dance in seedy bars," she said. "I would basically do anything to get my sexual fix." "Sex was about power and intrigue," she added. "I would hook people into the illusion of being desired by having sex with them." At the time she was also involved with Alcoholics Anonymous to deal with the drinking problem that paralleled her sex obsession. It was during an AA session that she first heard of sexual addiction from a man who was sharing his compulsive sexual behavior with the group. She said she believed that once she conquered her alcoholism she would be free of the problems and fears afflicting her. However, once her alcohol addiction ended, she said, her sexual addiction grew to the point where it dominated her life. She cited a quote from Looking for Mr. Goodbar that describes what her condition was like. " 'One drink was too many, 1,000 drinks weren't enough,' " she said. "It was like that with me for sex." At the height of her addiction she went on a business trip where she went on a "sexual binge" and had sex with a married co-worker. After the man left, she said, she began to feel suicidal. "I was going to order a bottle of scotch, go into the bath and either slit my wrists or drown myself," she said. In a last ditch effort she called the man whom years before she had first heard speak of his sexual addiction at the AA group meeting. He helped her admit what she actually was: a sex addict. "At that point I realized that it came down to choosing between death and recovery," she said. Both Mike and Jen said they are now fully recovered and help Mary Jo Porreca run her program.
(02/04/93 10:00am)
The Judicial Inquiry Office has settled a dispute between the Onyx Society, a black senior honor club, and two Quadrangle residents over a December incident in which water was thrown at club members from a Quad window. The two Quad residents were found to have thrown water out of their dorm windows at club members who were standing between the Quad and Stouffer College House. The two, both male College freshmen, were charged with propulsion of an object and recklessly endangering another, interim JIO Catherine Schifter said. The men admitted to throwing three quarts of water, and Schifter said each was forced to move out of the Quad to a High Rise, to perform 15 hours of community service and to write a letter of apology to the Onyx Society. Schifter added that the case was originally listed as a racial harassment complaint, but the charge could not be confirmed. Schifter said she thinks the Onyx Society is satisfied with the sanctions because the club wanted the two expelled from the Quad. Another propulsion of an object case was settled in December, and the accused had to move from High Rise South to Van Pelt College House and pay a $50 fine. The male College sophomore threw two glass bottles from the 13th floor of his dorm. Schifter said he did not hit anyone, "but he didn't hit a dumpster either." The case which yielded the most severe sanctions involved a male College freshman charged with possession of fake identification and disorderly conduct. The student will be on probation until graduation, receive an evaluation for an eight-week educational program on alcohol abuse, pay a $100 fine and perform 10 hours of community service at the Drug and Alcohol Resource Center. Schifter said the extent of the incident was "pretty bad." In another settled case, a female College sophomore was found guilty of possessing a fake ID card which stated she was 21. The student is on drug and alcohol probation and received a formal reprimand in a letter form the JIO. Schifter, who said she knows many University students own fake IDs, admitted that the problem "is difficult to control and difficult to find out." Another settled case involved a male College senior who indecently exposed himself on campus and has been placed on probation until graduation. Of the cases settled in December, eight were alcohol violations, four were reports of theft and 10 were for breaking fire safety regulations. The JIO, which is investigating 24 new cases reported in December, settled 36 cases of first-time offenders that month, according to the office's most recent incidence report.
(02/01/93 10:00am)
A man was robbed at gunpoint Friday night at 43rd and Spruce streets, University Police Sergeant Larry Salotti said yesterday. The man, who is not affiliated with the University, was not injured in the robbery, but a bag and $3 were taken from him, Salotti said. The robber is described as a male, about six feet two inches with a thin build, Salotti said. The robber is in his mid 20s and wore a long blue ski cap, a black and red flannel jacket and workboots at the time of the robbery. Salotti said that the robber was armed with a .357-caliber revolver. Salotti said the police have made no arrests at this time. In another incident, a man reported being hit with a beer bottle early Friday morning, Salotti said. It is unclear if the victim was a student. The suspect was arrested by police and the case was turned over to the Judicial Inquiry Office, because the suspect is a University student. Salotti said the victim filed a private complaint with University Police following the incident. In an unrelated incident, three scalpers were arrested Saturday night trying to sell tickets to the Penn-Princeton game, Salotti said. According to Salotti, plain-clothes University Police officers arrested three men who approached them with tickets to the game. Scalping tickets, Salotti said, is a violation of a city ordinance, and the scalpers were reportedly asking anywhere from $40 to $100 per ticket. "We arrested only three of several out there last night," Salotti said. The men were arrested and taken into custody, Salotti said. In another unrelated incident, a man stole clothing from Urban Outfitters yesterday. A man was in the store for some time and grabbed a "bunch" of pants before fleeing yesterday afternoon, Salotti said. He added that the man entered a vehicle after leaving the store, which was later discovered to be stolen. Salotti said nine pairs of jeans were taken from the store, with a retail value of $513. He added that police have no suspects and have made no arrests.
(12/03/92 10:00am)
From David Chun's "The World According to Dave," Fall '92 -- Alan Rickman, paraphrased from Plutarch · Thanks to my past six columns, I have been labeled a sexist, sarcastic, stereotyping, shallow, cynical, clich -ish, pessimistic, materialistic, aristocratic-yet-"a romantic" writer. Damn that was tough to type! I have focused my columns primarily on humanity and social commentary, but as a finale to my long semester of sarcasm, I will now taint the only sacred, pure, and holy topic left on Earth: Christmas. As a young child growing up, the Christmas season was viewed as a month-long celebration filled with joy, music, presents, decorations, snow -- well, the snow didn't apply in Miami but you get the point. Most importantly, Christmas was viewed as two weeks vacation from school. Then as we reach that critical drinking age, Christmas loses its mystique. It is no longer filled with gaieties, but with responsibilities. What was started by Saint Nicholas to motivate young children to behave and listen to their parents throughout the year -- or at least for the month of December -- has now turned into a multi-billion dollar enterprise. As we sit near the fireplace every December doing the cost-benefit analysis for the endless list of worthy gift recipients versus naughty-but-nice Christmas card recipients, you suddenly realize that Christmas ain't Christmas anymore. We are all grown up! I know some of you are now saying to yourself, "I'm not grown up. I'm still innocent!" Before you claim to be Peter Pan, take this simple "I Don't Want To Grow Up, I'm a Toys 'R Us Brat" test. · If you know that Viscum album is the scientific name for mistletoe, it's too late. · If you realize that cutting down millions of Christmas trees every year depletes the ozone layer, Christmas has lost its meaning for you. · If you think Santa Claus is a little on the hefty side and should enroll at the Jenny Craig Weight Loss Center, you are a definite product of the '90s childhood. · If you realize snow melts in the sun and the abominable snowman should be now renamed the pathetic aquaman, welcome to adulthood. · If you know that Norman Rockwell was hired by Coca-Cola to create the first image of Santa Claus -- the reason why all the paintings of the first Santa Claus have Coke bottles -- reality has taken its toll on you. · If you think Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer should have gotten a nose job, skip Christmas and go straight to New Year's. · If you fax your "Season's Greetings" instead of buying Hallmarks' pretty little over-priced cards, you are too Yuppie for Christmas. · Finally, if you realize Santa Claus doesn't really exist, you should start singing Don Henley's "End of the Innocence." I do apologize for all those who were just now forced to face the harsh reality of Santa Claus' nonexistence. But while I'm in the mood of dispelling myths, let me just tell you that Cupid will not make you fall in love with that perfect person, the Easter Bunny doesn't lay Easter Eggs, storks don't bring babies airborne, the tooth-fairy will not leave money for your stupid tooth, there is no gold at the end of the rainbow, Elvis is dead and teaching assistants never spoke English. Let's face it, if you told your psychologist that you believe in little green midgets making useless toys for you near the polar regions and one faithful day an overweight man in red tights flying on a sled will climb down the chimney to stuff your gift in an old sock, you would most likely be locked up in a white room with no friends. But in all seriousness, the 24-hour marathons of "It's a Wonderful Life" reinforce a good point. Christmas is a very special day that comes only once every 365 days. It is probably the only time when mankind actually thinks less about oneself and more about others. It is the personification of 364 days of guilt for being so preoccupied with self-preservation. Christmas is the ideal time to contact old friends, locate lost loves, mend relationships, start new ones, help others, appreciate family, and celebrate life. Maybe if we treated all 365 days like Christmas, then mankind would spend less time pursuing mass accumulation of wealth, power and influence, and the world might finally be able to say farewell to arms. Before I bid my final farewell, I would like to thank all those who have contributed to my articles and convey my eterna gratitudine to: · William Shakespeare for helping me find humor in everyday life. · Theodor "Dr. Seuss" Geisel for teaching me the subtleties of humanity. · Guiseppe Verdi for all the passion and romance. · Marcel Duchamp for helping me see the everyday world in a new perspective. · John Bartlett for adding conviction to my words. · Ralph Waldo Emerson for helping me define "true success." · Il mio palpito dell'universo intero for inspiring and captivating my life for the past two years. · Paola Frascari for my Italiano. And finally to all the faithful readers of my small contribution to society on Thursdays, you have filled my life with una gioia cos straordinaria -- such immense joy. Now, I will bid my farewell with this celebrated excerpt from Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet: "Good night, good night! Parting is such sweet sorrow, That I shall say good night till it be & 'morrow." Con molto affetto, David Chun David Chun is a junior Political Science and Psychology major from Miami, Florida. "The World According to Dave" appeared alternate Thursdays.
(11/19/92 10:00am)
University graduate Louise Postal sells rubbers. But it wasn't anything she learned at the University. In fact, when she graduated in 1972, the art history major had no idea where her ambitions would lead her. After receiving her college degree, Postal studied art history at the University of Chicago and Columbia University and participated in several architectural restoration projects. Two years later, Postal became an executive at Judy Bond Inc., a clothing manufacturer and continued to work in the manufacturing business for 18 years. Postal said she left her job after becoming frustrated by the heterosexual population's ambivalence toward the increasing number of AIDS-related deaths. She decided to sell safe sex products. "I didn't think the heterosexual community was taking [AIDS] seriously," she said. "The heterosexuals in this country are in denial. They're denying the extent to which the disease is spreading, and how fast it's spreading." "Everyone who's sexually active is at risk," she added. Postal said she also thinks that many Americans are unaware of safe sex practices. "The best message of safe sex is just not getting out to the community," she said. "A lot of schools around the country cannot teach safe sex. Teachers can't bring condoms into class. And parents are still embarrassed to talk about safe sex. The government hasn't been explicit enough in its education." Postal joined forces with Marcia Bisgyer, an old friend and interior designer, to form Safety Works, Inc. The duo "embarked on a crusade" to provide the public with clear information about safe sex. "We felt giving people the crib notes to safe sex and the products made it easier to have safe sex," Postal said. After gathering information and advice from health experts and administrators, Postal and Bisgyer began selling "The Safer Sex Kit." The kit provides all the high-quality, brand-name products needed to perform safe sex. The contents of the kit include: four condoms, one bottle of lubricant with nonoxynol-9, two latex dental dams, 10 latex finger cots, 10 special wipes, three spermicidal films and 10 latex gloves. The kit also includes a 13-page booklet which is a simply worded "how-to" guide to safer sex. It offers sensible safe sex advice and has special sections about tricky subjects like removing a condom. Safety Works sells its "Safer Sex Kit" to the public, as well as to colleges, health services and clinics.
(11/02/92 10:00am)
Two students and three other men were assaulted by members of the Zeta Psi fraternity outside the fraternity house at 3337 Walnut Street early Sunday morning, University Police said yesterday. According to police, one man, who is unaffiliated with the University, and his two friends were beaten after being escorted out of the party by Zetes brothers. Two student witnesses were also injured, University Police Lieutenant Susan Holmes said. One of the three men told police that the fraternity brothers did not give him a reason for removing him from the party, Holmes added. An officer of Zetes, who wishes to remain anonymous, said last night that the three men were causing "problems" inside the house by "bumping into people and knocking over bottles." He said that several people had complained to him about the men's behavior. He added that one of the men, who looked like another college student, got into a verbal fight with a friend of a fraternity brother. He said that the fraternity brothers did not tell the man and his friends why they were being forced to leave. "They should have known -- by their behavior -- why they were escorted out," the Zetes officer said. He said that "three or four" fraternity brothers escorted the man and his friends outside. He added that the man was resisting the brothers, both verbally and physically. "You could tell by the way he was walking that he didn't want to leave," he said. "He kept turning around and trying to go the other way." The Zetes officer said that he did not know what happened outside the fraternity house. He added that he saw police cars pull up outside, but did not know anything else about the incident. He added that he does not know anyone in the house who knows about the incident. According to police, one of the men was cut above his right eye, supposedly by a Zetes brother. Holmes added that the two students, who were described in the police report as "witnesses," also received injuries from fraternity brothers. "One student was struck and received a fat lip," Holmes said. "The other student was also punched, but had no visible injuries." Holmes added that the Zetes brothers involved in the fight were wearing Halloween costumes. Holmes did not know the names of the brothers involved in the incident. University police did not know last night if the complainant was going to press charges against the fraternity or if the detective division had any suspects in the case.
(10/08/92 9:00am)
From David Chun's "The World According To Dave," Fall '92 John Masefield · Like the captain of a ship, Resident Advisors in the Quadrangle have difficult roles to play, navigating in the sea of freshmen. These fifty brave captains are hired to operate in "gray areas" that no university administrators dare venture. They are trained and prepared to walk the tightrope between disciplinarian and peer counselor. As RAs, they must build a community, make lasting friendships and inspire confidence. But at the same time, they must also discipline troublemakers and enforce university policies. And like all captains, they are ultimately responsible for the social and physical well-being of their 30-plus shipmates. Unfortunately, most of the RA's time is monopolized by immature freshmen who create problems for the Quad Community. Instead of using the RA as a valuable resource to enhance their experience at Penn, these immature freshmen often force these captains to take a permanent disciplinarian role. But instead of describing the duality of the RAs function in intricate detail, here is an excerpt from the Community House Duty Log of a typical Saturday. Incidentally, these are actual, unembellished, just-slightly-edited log entries. RAs are required to read all previous entries made by other RAs in their house. So we often lace the actual events with sarcasm and humor to break the monotony. Resident Advisor On Duty's Log Stardate 9.27.92 Saturday, 9:00 a.m. -- Relieve the RA on duty (RAOD) from Friday's shift. A simple greeting and a gentle smile. 9:30 a.m. -- Surprised to discover that the fire extinguishers are mysteriously stockpiling on the 4th floor of McIlhenny. Inform the RA on the 4th floor that they are now fire-proof. 10:26 a.m. -- Beeped by the Quad desk to locate a missing cart. Refrain from laughing and comply. Make a note to complain to the Assistant Dean about the RA job description. 11:03 a.m. -- Beeped by the Quad desk again to check for a bathroom flood on the 3rd floor of Thomas Penn. Rushed to discover that the 3rd floor should be renamed Atlantis. 12:00 p.m. -- Brunch/"Personal Access Code" Program. Wake up all the lemmings on the floor and feed them. Explain to them that there are two PAC codes. The birthday PAC is used for PARIS, and the unrelated six digits PAC is used for Penntrex. 12:42 p.m. -- Console a student on the tragic loss of her pet hamster by Residential Maintenance mouse trap. 5:00 p.m. -- Transfer keys, beeper, and duty log to the RA in 135 Rodney of Spruce Street for a dinner break. Discover that it is heavily raining outside and cancel the break. 7:20 p.m. -- Explain to a freshman that Quaker Notes is an all-female a cappella group, not a recycled breakfast cereal at Stouffer. 8:00 p.m. -- Develop floor bonding by playing cards with the boys of McIlhenny 252. Realize that they have no mercy for their friendly RA. 8:45 p.m. -- Explain to the Sam Malone of McIlhenny's second floor that if you pollute the pond, you kill all the fish. 9:00 p.m. -- Manhunt begins for the vandals that ripped down all the signs. The vandals safely escape to the unrenovated Quad, which is beyond our jurisdiction. 10:00 p.m. -- Discover a freshman redecorating the halls with the fire extinguisher. Explain to him that Physical Plant is the only licensed interior decorator in the Quad. 11:45 p.m. -- Discover a local Anheuser-Busch Bottling and Distribution Site in 246 McIlhenny. Explain to the residents/agents of Anheuser-Busch that they need a liquor license to operate in Pennsylvania Sunday, 12:25 AM -- Stop a heavy metal concert in 269 Warwick. Explain to the residents the concept of "Quiet Hours." Elaborate that quiet hours does not mean that everyone quiets down just for you to have a concert. 3:00 a.m. -- Like clockwork, a nudist colony again forms on the 2nd floor of McIlhenny. Walked out of the door and screamed with my hands up, "Cease and disperse!" Amazingly, it worked. 9:00 a.m. -- After surviving the Wrath of Quad, I am relieved by the Sunday RAOD. We gently smile and walk by like two ships that pass in the night. End of Log. · The point here is not that some of the freshmen are immature, Residential Maintenance is slow and inefficient, and Resident Advisors are overworked and underpaid. The lesson to be learned here is that the Resident Advisors are valuable resources for the freshman experience. As Dr. Matthew Santirocco, the Senior Faculty Resident in Butcher/Speakman/Class of '28, is often quoted saying, "Use me! Use me! Use me!" These captains are chosen from a large pool of very qualified applicants. They all share one very important quality -- the altruistic desire to help others. So the freshmen should get to know their RAs. They are trained and eager to help you in every human way possible. A simple "hello" in the morning is a good place to start. But at the same time, respect your RAs and their rules. No RAs like to play the disciplinarian. And always remember: "Damnit, Jim! I'm an RA, not a babysitter!" David Chun is a junior Political Science and Psychology major from Miami, Florida. "The World According To Dave" appears alternate Thursdays.
(10/07/92 9:00am)
To the Editor: Their blanket statement of "even though you can smell the alcohol on their breath" labels every homeless person as a drunk. I refuse to even go into the reference to Thunderbird. They even go so far as to say, "We know they are street smart and we can safely conclude that they have the potential to contribute what they know to our society." As happy as the Fogels' approval must have made the homeless, I have some news: It's their society, too. If the Blonde Ones themselves were suddenly to become homeless, I'd bet that street smarts would avoid them like they avoid the real world. Let's broaden this scenario: When people are left suddenly without jobs, homes or meals, they most likely are in search of a) a job to get money for food and shelter, b) money for food in the meantime, c) shelter in the meantime, or d) a bottle of a certain alcoholic beverage which will remain nameless? First off, before the Fogels pass judgment on those they stereotype, why don't they try getting a job when they have no permanent residence to fill in on the form? Second, if they wouldn't seek out a bottle of a alcoholic beverage, what makes them so positive that anyone else would? Homeless people are people without homes, and that is their only distinction. Third, the statement that "giving handouts allows these people to manipulate our good nature" sickens me, if only for the pretense of any good nature on their part. Asking a simply yes-or-no question of you hardly constitutes manipulation of you. Think of how many rejections they get a day -- they, if anyone, are fully aware of the lack of "good nature" in our society, and on this campus. Finally, they mention that people can't give away all they have, because of their own self-interest. They are absolute right -- in fact, they refuse to give a thing, including any benefit of the doubt. What if that homeless woman uses her change to buy milk for her two children? Sometimes it is worth it just to give, and then to hope. Maybe it's time the Fogels started thinking about other people as people but then, they are too busy sweating over who got the bigger room. I am glad they have their priorities. NICOLE MALOY Wharton '95
(10/07/92 9:00am)
From Andra Fogel and Darren Fogel's "Sympathy and Spare Change," Fall '92 Do you get annoyed when, in the course of walking one block on Spruce Street, three different homeless people ask for spare change? Does it frighten you when you are walking home late at night and the only person between you and your destination is a man who appears to be playing charades with himself? Even though you can smell the alcohol on their breath, you are still convinced that you can give homeless people your money, and they will invest it in a wholesome meal. You are conned to believe that you are making an intelligent decision. Deep down, you know the truth. There is no way in hell that a man with a bottle of Thunderbird is looking for bus fare to get to the Philadelphia Museum of Art, or for a meal with food from the four basic food groups. We often wonder about the rights of the homeless. We lean towards liberal social programs when we see how bad life can be. We wonder how we can help the homeless. Penn community organizations such as Kite and Key, Penn Musicians Against Homelessness and Circle K have created numerous programs to aid the people who are less fortunate than ourselves. People at Penn are interested in helping others. Whether it is due to a genuine interest in cleaning Philadelphia's streets, or a desire to make a resum look good, Penn's manpower has had a significant impact on the surrounding community. Tutoring programs have done a remarkable job investing in the future generation of West Philly, and University students are responsible for creating, developing, organizing and completing numerous projects to help those around us. Our generation is putting forth a great effort to prepare tomorrow's adult population for the rocky road ahead. But didn't our parents do the same thing when they were our age? And aren't there still street dwellers hanging out in front of Chili's, at the Quad entrance and next to 7-Eleven? These people are the ones that make us wonder if our efforts will pay off. In any large city, one can find many homeless people. However, even people from New York City comment on how frequently they are approached by street people asking for money in West Philadelphia. But what can we do about the masses of people who insist on harassing us? Every once in a while, a police officer will come along and provide a temporary solution to this problem. However, as soon as the policeman leaves the area, the man asking for your pocket change will return. Maybe strategically placing a scarecrow dressed as a law enforcement agent outside of all campus convenience stores and campus residences would permanently solve our troubles. But then the homeless would probably flock to areas of off-campus housing. Transferring the problem is not a viable solution. Where does the solution lie? And is it our problem to solve? Perhaps the existence of street dwellers is inevitable in such a populous society. Maybe such a problem would never exist if we did not insist on creating a welfare state. It is time to separate our hearts from our wallets. How can our situation possibly improve if we continue to allow our less fortunate neighbors to be dependent on us? Isn't that how our problem started? What claim do these people have to our money? Why don't we give our money away to everyone? Of course we can spare a few dimes a week, but giving handouts allows these people to manipulate our good nature. Instead of using our generosity to give the homeless our cash, we should use it to help them in the long run. Most Penn students have spoken to a street person at one point in time. We know that they are street smart and we can safely conclude that they have the potential to contribute what they know to our society. Many big cities have programs that give the homeless the opportunity to work in exchange for three well-balanced meals each day. This work does not include making the underprivileged do ten push-ups on the sidewalk in exchange for 23 cents. A basically simple, stress-free task that takes more time than energy serves as the foundation for the type of work involved in such a program. Of course, there is no guarantee that people would participate. Before we can help the hungry, they have to want to help themselves. We cannot improve the current standard of living for the homeless by ourselves. However, handouts do not seem to be an effective solution. Our sympathy often overpowers our initial reaction to ignore those who are less fortunate. When it comes down to it, we can not approach this problem from either extreme. We can't give away all that we have, because of our own self-interest. At the same time, our hearts won't allow us to say no to the pleading homeless person all the time. Things would be much easier if we remained ignorant. Unfortunately, we are human. Darren Fogel and Andra Fogel are siblings from Rydal, Pennsylvania. She is a College freshman; he is a senior Entrepreneurial Management major. "He Got the Bigger Room" appears alternate Wednesdays.
(10/07/92 9:00am)
Citing academic reasons, College junior William Gray resigned Monday night as president of the University's chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, which he helped found last fall. College senior Mia Pittman, formerly vice-president of the organization, will take over as president. Wharton senior Monee Kid, previously treasurer, will be the new vice-president. College junior Erica Armstrong will retain her spot as secretary, and the treasurer position is now vacant. Gray cited his heavy workload and his graduate school ambitions as his main reasons for stepping down from the position. "A president must commit a significant quantity of his time so he can lead and generate the kind of results that those who put him in power expect and deserve," he said. He added that he felt he could not adequately fulfill those obligations. Pittman said that Gray's decision was something the executive board anticipated and was prepared for. She added that they had waited until Monday night's meeting to announce the decision because they did not want members to think that the NAACP chapter was in any way unstable because of the change in leadership. Pittman went on to say that while the chapter would continue to pursue its four basic goals of academic excellence, voter education, cultural enrichment and economic viability, the chapter would re-focus its efforts on self-empowerment under her leadership. She said they would be "interested in tapping into the talents existing within the minority community." In resigning, Gray emphasized the importance of the NAACP chapter, not only as a student organization, but also as a "representative of the University on a local, state, regional and national level." "The chapter often gets bottled down in the University," he said. "Instead this chapter has the power and ability to show the nation the good things about Penn." The University's NAACP chapter received its charter last year. Since then, its membership has grown to over 100 members. Pittman said that the NAACP is open to anyone with an interest in issues affecting people of color. "This chapter is interested in serving the interests of the minority community, not necessarily to the exclusion of the majority population but, by constitution, we're here to serve people of color," she said.
(09/28/92 9:00am)
Three male University students were apprehended by University police for underaged drinking late Saturday night, Lieutenant Susan Holmes said last night. Staff members from the WaWa on 36th and Chestnut streets and King's Court residents called the police and complained about the students' disorderly conduct, Holmes said. The intoxicated students smashed bottles and jumped on a car in a parking lot at 36th and Walnut streets, Holmes said. When the police arrived at the scene, they asked the students to show identification. The three refused at first, then one showed false identification, Holmes added. The students were questioned at the police station then the case was sent to the Judicial Inquiry Office for disciplinary action. In an unrelated incident early Saturday morning, a female University student, whom University Police Commissioner John Kuprevich said was distraught due to alcohol consumption, called University police for assistance. Police arrived at her residence in the 4300 block of Pine Street and sent her to the emergency room of the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Holmes said. Police listed the incident as an attempted suicide, but Kuprevich said that is not an accurate description of the case. "She was just someone who needed someone to talk to," Commisioner John Kuprevich said. "Someone who just needed a friend." The commissioner added that he wants the listing to be changed. In another unrelated incident early Friday morning, a graduate student on the fourth floor of Williams Hall was robbed at knife point by two males, Holmes said. The assailants demanded cash and pulled out a kitchen knife, and the student gave them $2.50. The two men fled the scene after they got the money, Holmes said. No arrests were made.
(09/17/92 9:00am)
Before the fraternityBefore the fraternitysystem can governBefore the fraternitysystem can governitself, it must find itsBefore the fraternitysystem can governitself, it must find itsown faults andBefore the fraternitysystem can governitself, it must find itsown faults andcorrect them.Before the fraternitysystem can governitself, it must find itsown faults andcorrect them.__________________________ Rather than go quietly, though, he decided to resign in noisy protest, hoping to make a point about the treatment of fraternities at the University. Unfortunately, it wasn't a good point. "At other schools, the IFC runs the system," he said in a statement. "The students here are supposed to be smarter and more responsible than students at other schools. Yet, we are not allowed to govern our own fraternity system." But contrary to Doft's logic, students in fraternities here haven't proven that they are more responsible than students at other schools. Fraternities continue to be suspended, disciplined or put on probation far too often. Acacia, Psi Upsilon, Tau Epsilon Phi and Zeta Beta Tau, to name a few. The behavior of Doft's house, Pi Kappa Alpha, has been particularly distressing. PiKA originally ran afoul of the University two years ago after they allegedly brought a sick horse to their house as a prank, and staged a mock hold-up in a subway stop that brought police to the scene. In Doft's words, brothers were then "forced" to sign an agreement that said they would be suspended for any further violations. We strongly suspect that the brothers were "forced" to make a decision between being suspended immediately, or getting a second chance -- a fairly merciful choice, under the circumstances. Doft shows little gratitude. But according to the findings of fact used to justify PiKA's suspension this summer, the house's recent behavior has been far from innocent. In mid-January, chapter leaders discovered several pledges were frequently using marijuana, the findings said. Soon after, brothers sent pledges on a poorly organized trip to Massachusettes without notifying the University. During the trip, Massachusettes police allegedly caught the pledges, all under 21, with stolen road signs, a bottle of vodka, a fake ID and drug paraphernalia. Later in the spring, after pledges were initiated, old members and new members reportedly covered each other with paint. All of which leads us to one important question: If some Greek leaders can't seem to govern their own houses, how do they expect to be given the authority over the whole system of 32 IFC fraternities? Despite its transgressions, PiKA has also done many positive things for the community in the last year. But even if Mother Theresa were caught stealing road signs and using illicit drugs, chances are she would be disciplined. When you do the crime, don't expect sympathy if you're "forced" to do the time. This is what makes Doft's comments disturbing, and we sincerely hope they do not represent the opinion of the entire IFC. But whether they do or not, many on campus will take them that way. The IFC as a whole should distance itself from fraternities that cause trouble, and should not be satisfied to let the University alone sanction fraternities for poor behavior. While the IFC should support its members, it must also be willing to criticize troublemakers if it ever hopes to win the administration's respect. When the IFC remains silent, it not only appears to support the wayward house, but the house's behavior as well. Furthermore, it's simply not enough that a house does good deeds -- it must also take responsibility and make sure its members uphold community standards. The same goes for the IFC. In short, if you want to be treated like an adult, start acting like one.
(08/06/92 9:00am)
A man was robbed early Monday morning on the 4000 block of Spruce Street by three to four men armed with a shotgun. But police said they do not believe the crime is related to the robbery of Boccie Pizzeria Saturday night, in which two men wielding shotguns stole about $750 and ordered those in the restaurant to lie on the floor. The incident was reported at 1:55 a.m. Monday night. The victim, who lives in the 4200 block of Osage Street and is not affiliated with the University, said the men fled in a red Toyota. University Police Sergeant Keith Christian said police stopped a car fitting that description later that night, but found that the males involved were not those who committed the robbery. A female University student was the victim of an aggravated assault early Saturday morning when she was struck in the face by a broken bottle near Campus Apartments at 4042 Walnut Street, police said. The student refused medical attention, but described the man as a black male, 25 to 30 years old, 6 feet 3 inches tall, between 180 and 200 pounds and wearing a scruffy beard and moustache. A man attempted to rob the Roy Rogers restaurant at 3901 Chestnut Street yesterday morning. The man later robbed a 7-11 in South Philadelphia and got into a struggle with a police officer who jumped into the man's car as he was fleeing. Police said the man attempted to rob the Roy Rogers at about 6:40 a.m. When the robbery failed, the man fled and at 7:15 a.m., robbed the 7-11 at 2301 Passyunk Avenue of $150, just as a police officer was entering the store. The officer pursued the man to his car and tried to arrest him as he drove away, police said. The man drove onto Passyunk, hitting several parked cars until slamming into a van at a nearby gas station. Police in the area then arrested him. The man was taken to the Hosptial of the University of Pennsylvania, where he was listed in critical condition Wednesday. The officer, who sustained a broken nose and other injuries during the incident, was also taken to HUP for observation. In an unrelated incident, Eisenlohr Hall, President Sheldon Hackney's residence, was burglarized Sunday evening, police said. The unidentified burglar stole a cable box and escaped. There were no signs of forced entry, police said.
(05/21/92 9:00am)
Graduation is a time for students to celebrate their accomplishments, but it is also a time of anxiety and trepidation about what the outside world will hold. Sitting under the ominous gray skies at Monday morning's Franklin Field Commencement ceremony, family and friends might have been envisioning the assembled seniors' introduction into the harsh, cruel world . . . each graduate voyaging out into the restless seas of reality only to be tossed about like an errant beach ball. But at this year's ceremony, seniors turned such gloomy metaphors on their heads. Out on Franklin Field, a lone beach ball was tossed from senior to senior while, as a group, the restless graduates performed "the Wave." Seniors spontaneously performed the Wave at several points during the Commencement exercises, with each row of students sequentially rising and falling to create an undulating effect for their friends and relatives watching from the stands. They performed the stunt over and over again, until it became so well coordinated that spectators interrupted the official ceremony just to clap. But behind the lighthearted highjinks was plenty of the requisite pomp and circumstance. In the span of two hours, the University conferred thousands of degrees on undergraduate, graduate and doctoral students, and handed out honorary degrees to nine other distinguished guests. In addition, hundreds of students and faculty members were singled out for special recognition. Ismail Mahomed, the first non-white South African Supreme Court justice, delivered the commencement address, charging students to use both the power and privilege of their educations to fight the on-going battle toward equality for all. He also criticized the current progress of the United States toward achieving this goal. "Let us be brutally frank," Mahomed said. "What you have done . . . is just not good enough." Performing "the Wave" was far from the only antic that took place as raucous seniors refused to go quietly into the real world. As President Sheldon Hackney conferred degrees on students, many graduates tossed their mortarboards into the air, released baloons or uncorked bottles of champagne previously hidden under their robes. At one point, a student launched a firecracker that whistled off, leaving a wispy trail of smoke. Although graduates had trouble containing themselves, Mother Nature did demonstrate some restraint. The gray skies held and graduation ceremonies were not marred by rain. This year's nine honorary degree recipients were Jon Barwise, Candice Bergen, Rupert Billingham, John Casani, James Comer, Natalie Davis, Chen Fu Koo, Ismail Mahomed and Arno Penzias.
(04/21/92 9:00am)
From Bill Madison's "Crackers In My Soup," Spring '92.From Bill Madison's "Crackers In My Soup," Spring '92.· Yeah, my Buppy fantasy. Nothing elaborate, just my piece of the pie. I remember when I met Chris freshman year -- he had a discernible limp in one of his legs. In the time he was here, that limp never went away. Whenever he was asked about it, Chris would say that it was a football injury from high school. I jokingly would say that it looked as if he had been shot. I found out later on that he was. Sometime during the summer before his freshman year, Chris had been shot in the leg, and it had never been treated properly. But Chris reflected more on the fact that he had not been killed. For that, he was happy. But Chris never dwelled on the incident, so I didn't press him. Chris had seen other people shot, people who would gladly have traded his bum leg for their mortuary body tray. As different as we were, we could still identify many ways in which we were the same. Ironically, though, we became friends during an episode that I would rather forget. One evening during freshman year, Chris, Keith -- my roommate -- and I decided we were going to watch the "Faces of Death" trilogy on the VCR in the Van Pelt Lounge. I decided this gory endeavor required a strong drink to settle my stomach -- you know, freshman logic -- so I went about making one. Taking a squeeze bottle, I filled it half with grain alcohol and half with Coke. When I arrived, I was definitely feeling no pain, or anything else. Somewhere between the end of the first movie and the beginning of the second, I told Keith and Chris that I was going to lay down on the couch behind us. You can guess what happened next. As I drifted in and out of consciousness between vomiting, someone decided to call HUP. The paramedics came, saw that I somewhat coherent and determined that I wouldn't have to spend a night in the hospital if someone volunteered to watch me through the night. So Chris became my nursemaid, for which I am forever grateful. Yes, we were different, but we were still able to connect. In the spring of 1990, I found out that Chris had been arrested for crack cocaine possession in a Bronx apartment. As soon as I heard the story, something about it didn't ring true. First of all, Chris didn't have an apartment in his name in New York. Secondly, Chris objected to drugs in general and said that my ambivalence toward drugs was the result of never having seen anyone killed over them. People on campus felt that if Chris were dealing drugs, shouldn't his friends have known about it? Well, I know Chris did not deal drugs. That's something that's relatively hard to keep away from close friends. Hell, I know of at least ten people here now who would technically classify as dealers, and we aren't more than acquaintances. Also, when's the last time you saw someone use crack at Penn? The DP published a picture that showed Chris with an array of weapons. Chris had shown me that same picture the previous semester, and I inquired about its authenticity. Chris said they were toys -- but he knew I didn't believe him. Chris did say who they belonged to, and it wasn't him. He also said whose apartment it was, and it wasn't his either. Now if I knew all this, I would assume the New York Police Department would also be able to find out. But somehow, I get the feeling it didn't matter. Chris was immediately expelled from the University essentially because of the negative publicity they received in The New York Post. Then there were protests on campus, civil rights attorney William Kunstler took his case and the University eventually allowed him to return. The last time I saw Chris was at his preliminary hearing in New York City during our sophomore year. He was brought out in handcuffs, and he appeared to have lost about twenty pounds. Kunstler, although he pledged to handle Chris' case personally, relegated it to a lawyer on his staff. The attorney was unprepared, and the judge's anger clearly reflected this. I found out later that while he was in jail, Chris was stabbed sixteen times by another inmate for refusing to get off the phone. Now Chris must serve sixteen years in jail before he can begin to get his life together. People ask me why I talk so much about societal concerns. People ask me why I am so critical. People tell me that tolerance begets tolerance. People tell me that racism is definitely a residual blemish from our nation's shameful past. People need to look around and see the world they are about to enter, instead of choosing to simply ignore reality. When the war on drugs targets someone like Christopher Clemente as a threat to our society, there is something wrong. When one out of every two black males passes through the criminal justice system sometime during their lives, there is something wrong. When a school expels a student prior to any court decision determining his innocence or guilt, there is something wrong. When students assume another student is guilty based on a picture and a news report in a student paper, there is something wrong. I know of a student who was arrested this year trying to sell five sheets of LSD at a Grateful Dead concert. When someone asked him what his chances were of getting off, he replied, "Well, I don't know, but I have good lawyer." When this student went to court, he refused to shave or cut his shoulder-length hair, looking every bit the dealer. But he was acquited -- the judge cited the incident as a first offense and said there was no need to put him in jail. I listened to this while Chris continued to rot away in jail, trying to keep hold of his sanity. I too hope to live in a color-blind society, where one's race is not the key factor in evaluating another human being, but we do not. As long as certain people in our society are considered expendable or unimportant, we cannot pretend that we do. · Bill Madison is a senior International Relations major from Alexandria, Virginia. Crackers in My Soup appeared alternate Tuesdays.
(04/21/92 9:00am)
Many have recited the phrase, "The more things change the more they stay the same," but this year's senior class may be the first University group to test it. The Alumni Relations Student Advisory Committee has begun soliciting seniors across the Unversity to donate photographs, documents and virtually anything else that represents their tenure at the University for a time capsule. "By putting them in a time capsule they are being saved," said Jennifer Goodman, ARSAC chairperson. "We'll see how things change and how they stay the same." The cubic foot box of momentos will be stored in the University's archives for 25 years and will be opened at their reunion, according to Gay Lacy, assistant director of alumni relations. College senior Goodman said the idea for the time capsule began last year, but there was not sufficient time to organize the event for the class of 1991. "The students [on ARSAC] decided they wanted to create a project that would be something which would bring the class together," Lacy said. "We hope this will be a new tradition." Lacy and Goodman said several items have already been pledged for the box including a Hey Day t-shirt, a video tape of the upcoming Commencement ceremonies and a copy of this year's yearbook. They said they also want to include memorable copies of The Daily Pennsylvanian -- probably the annual joke issue and a random issue that will give "a slice of life" -- as well as programs from performing groups. "I think it will be a neat thing. I think it should be cool," ARSAC member Whitney Stroutz said. "We're looking for items that are somewhat personable but give a real feeling for what it was like to go to school here." Goodman said the time-capsule project's slogan, "The year 2017 may seem far away, but so did 1992," may be "a little depressing" but hopes that people will remember to submit their momentos. "We'll take anything," Lacy said, noting they plan to accept the first 92 items "within reason." Lacy said for space reasons she would prefer that submissions be paper so they are flat and take up less space. She noted, however, that they do not want to limit seniors' creativity. Donations can be brought to the rear of the first floor of the Sweeten Alumni Center during regular business hours through then end of Senior Week, May 15.
(04/17/92 9:00am)
Philadelphia Department of Public Health Commissioner Robert Ross spoke last night on the turning point of the health care crisis in the coming years. A 1976 University graduate, Ross is mainly involved with projects on teen health, cancer prevention, injury prevention and lead poisoning. Ross acknowledged the financial difficulty that Philadelphia as a city faces in regards to health care issues, but he said that this crisis can be viewed as a turning point for change. "Crisis is an opportunity or a turning point," he said. "I don't care what we've been doing for the past five or 15 years. That doesn't matter anymore. We've got to do things differently now." Currently, 80 percent of the Health Department's funds comes from state and federal grants, while the remaining 20 percent comes from the city itself, Ross said. "I want taxpayers to know that from every buck they spend, we're getting four or five from federal and state funding," he said. "We are really at the mercy of what is happening to the state and federal deficit." Ross pointed to the rising use of cocaine as a major cause of the problem. He said that in the '90s, the rise in diseases such as syphilis, AIDS, hepatitis type B and tuberculosis can be explained partly through a rapid increment in the use of cocaine. He said that the number of admissions for cocaine treatment rose from 87 in 1979 to 10,450 cases in 1989. "Our number one health problem is drug use," he said. "Crack cocaine has became readily available and viable." In addition, Ross said that he thinks crack cocaine alters economic cultures, especially among young children. As an example, he mentioned children who recycle crack bottles to dealers for money. Ross also said he thinks the increase of infant mortality in the past few years is related to a wider range of drug use, especially by the black population. "Crack cocaine is something that makes a mother forget to be a mother," he said. "It impacts on nutrition as well as make them forget about things such as an appointment." Seeking to alter the situation, Ross, on behalf of the Philadelphia Department of Public Health suggested ways to improve health care for the city. He said that the health department needs to expand programs that have been proven effective, and to improve long-range planning as well as grants coordination and management. The department also need to focus on community based health promotion programs such as parental care, he said. Ross further advocated that prevention is the most important way to improve health care. "I think this society and this generation is perhaps the most violent and addictive," he said. "We should not give up those who are lost, but if we are going to learn at all, we've got to learn early." Audience members said Ross' talk was informative and wish to see his ideas carried out. "It was a very good presentation, very interesting and lots of ideas are very sound," Wharton senior Tadashi Egami said. "Hopefully, they can be implemented." The talk was sponsored by the Health Care Management Department and the Center for Health Policy in the Wharton School, as well as Physicians for a National Health Program.
