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(06/30/96 9:00am)
Valarie McCoullum, Vice Provost for University Life Valarie McCoullum, Vice Provost for University LifeIn her position as vice provost for university life, Valarie Swain-Cade McCoullum oversees all University offices, organizations and services that play a role in student life on and off campus. McCoullum has served as acting VPUL since January of 1994 and officially filled the permanent position last September. She is the first African American woman in the Ivy League to hold the position. As acting VPUL, McCoullum focused on the PENNCAP tutoring and Upward Bound programs. She also became very involved with the search for a new student center for students, which has evolved into the Perelman Quadrangle, currently in planning stages. Controversy ensued during her tenure when several residential security guards were found asleep at their posts. McCoullum took swift action by firing McGinn Security Service -- the firm through which the guards were employed. Since then, Allied Security has taken over those responsibilities. McCoullum is known for her enthusiastic and comforting nature and her constant interaction with students. She focuses much of her work on concerns of minorities and the need for diversity. McCoullum attended Pennsylvania State University and majored in liberal arts and social and behavioral science. She then briefly taught in the Philadelphia public schools and has since studied urban education, finance and secondary education. McCoullum's daughter, Ena, has just completed her second year at Penn's Medical School. She also has a son named David, who will begin his graduate education in engineering in the fall.
(06/20/96 9:00am)
James Prendergast, a 1980 graduate of the University, has been named the new editor or the Pennsylvania Gazette. The Gazette is the alumni magazine of the University of Pennsylvania. Prendergast said he is excited about the new appointment, though he was not completely surprised. "There was a very extensive interview process involved," he explained. Prendergast was chosen from a "huge number" of qualified applicants, both alumni and non-alumni, according to Director of Alumni Relations Martha Stachitas. "The University attracted much interest from people already involved in both in academic publications and commercial publications," she said. "Some read the publication regularly. Others are aware of the fine reputation of the Gazette." The Gazette has been hailed as one of the best alumni magazines in the country, capturing last year's Robert Sibley Award for best alumni magazine of the year. Stachitas said the final applicants were asked to submit a critique of the past year's Gazettes as apart of their interview process. "What I said in mine was, first, that the Gazette was obviously a quality publication produced with thought and care, for which all involved were to be heartily congratulated," Prendergast said. "Without compromising those strengths, I hope to find way the magazine can be made a bit more timely, inviting and relevant to readers." Stachitas said Prendergast's "very powerful assessment of the strengths [of the Gazette] and comments on how to enhance it" swung the search in his favor. "He understands the balance of reporting University news and news of other alumni to alumni," she said. Prendergast said he plans to tap into "the wealth of information" stemming from the research done at the University -- things such as various schools' research projects, articles published, awards received and facility upgrades. "I'm also interested in what it is like to be a student at Penn now, and I suspect other alumni are, too," he added. "So, I'd like to do more in that area." Prendergast also said he is considering some small design changes to help "get people into the magazine." "Long term, I hope we can make adjustments as necessary to meet readers' need as they change," he said. Prendergast said he is looking forward to returning to campus on July 8, when his new position will take effect. "The opportunity o be back on campus and participating in the University community again was a big incentive for me," he said. "It looks a lot different -- much nicer than when I was a student." Prendergast, who recently published his first novel, is currently the managing editor of Civil Engineering, a publication dedicated to the world of civil engineering. However, Prendergast was quick to point out that he is not an engineer himself. "I was an English major at Penn," he said. Prendergast takes the place of former editor Anthony Lyle who retired last year after 31 years of service to the University. Lyle's resignation, though reportedly to "pursue other interests" came amidst an alleged controversy over his work, spurring several other board members to resign after him. Prendergast said he has not yet met with University President Judith Rodin, but added he looked forward to doing so. He said he has no doubt that he will be able to work effectively with the administration. "Everyone I have talked to there has emphasized the university's commitment to the quality of the Gazette," he said.
(06/13/96 9:00am)
Goal is for all systemsGoal is for all systemsto run smothly According to University Executive Vice President John Fry, "everything will be considered" for out-sourcing possibilities at the University. Out-sourcing is the practice of contracting private companies to render their specialty services to the University community. Though this is only his first year in office, Fry is scrutinizing the inner-workings of the University. He said a fairly elaborate process is being used to determine what sections of the University could be handled more effectively by outside sources. Fry mentioned dining services and residential living as two possibilities. "The process is not reflective, we are gathering a lot of information before any decisions are made," he said. "I need to look into outsourcing everything because I need to know what all my options are." Several companies have expressed interest in out-sourcing various departments at the University. Aramark, a Philadelphia based company, currently serves 350 colleges and universities. The University of Pennsylvania seems to be their next goal. "I have visited Penn at least once a month for the last five or six years to discuss our involvement in the University's services," said Aramark's Vice President for Marketing Development, Bill Dillon. "We definitely have an ongoing dialogue, especially concerning dining." Aramark has 19 different services they offer to organizations throughout the United States. The company already controls the management aspect for large portions of the University's housekeeping services. "Nothing is definite, but we are definitely interested in further contracts with Penn," Dillon said. Marriott is also already involved in out-sourcing contracts with the University. It offers approximately 500 services to colleges and universities throughout the nation. "We already deal with Penn for concession services," said Marriott's Director of Human Resources Jim Chnect. "In the future our company would like to expand the food services deals and look into facilities management and residential living." Although Fry promises to analyze all the major divisions of the University, he does not believe that all sections could be efficiently out-sourced. Programs such as financial aid could not be handled by a private company because it is highly specialized to Penn. Fry said he is examining the "re-engineering" of departments like financial aid. The Barnes and Noble takeover of The Book Store is an example of further out-sourcing possibilities that lie in the future. Fry said he will continue to search for further ways to save money for the University. Currently, the University spends about $640 million on goods and services per year. "My first year I wanted to focus on The Book Store merger," Fry said. "Now I can move on to other possibilities. I'll know more about what directions we will be headed within the next two months." In the meantime, Fry said he will keep waiting for "the right deal" to save the University money.
(06/06/96 9:00am)
Most college graduates don't ever epect to hear the word 'unemployment.' But the fact of the matter is a growing number of graduates find themselves subject to fierce competition, corporate downsizing and a whole host of factors that college simply did not prepre them for. Unemployment is a word most college graduates thought they would never hear. According to author Brian Krueger, "many college students think that all they have to do is get through college and they will magically be given a job." But, as the recent graduates of the Class of 1996 are surely learning, it takes more than a diploma to find a good job in today's overly-competitive market. The Big U -- Unemployment Krueger, author of the book College Grad Job Hunter and Webmaster of the College Grad Job Hunter Web Site, recently conducted a college graduate unemployment survey. Krueger's survey includes numbers from more that 250 colleges and universities in the United States. It showed that a whopping 22 percent of the estimated 2 million new college graduates will enter the job market unemployed. "Since most of these students were never fully employed, the great majority will not be counted in national unemployment figures," Krueger said. United States unemployment figures are collected from individual state unemployment claims. Recent college graduates do not typically file these claims. But if college graduates are not getting jobs, then who is? Krueger speculates the high unemployment rates among recent college graduates are due to the fiercely competitive entry level job market. "Many of the best positions have already been filled," he writes. And, according to Krueger's book "while much of the U.S. economy is at near or full employment, the entry level job market remains in the middle of a five-year downturn. That spells bad news for college graduates with little or no experience." The survey identified an overall decline in on-campus interviewing by major companies. Krueger speculated that companies still doing fair amounts of on-campus interviewing typically concentrate on fewer, larger schools. Most of the positions opened in the 1996 hiring season were filled by May 1. "The competition for the best and brightest is high and leading employers know they must come to campus early in the year," Krueger said. "The by-product is that those that begin their job search late in the year have access to a much more limited pool of opportunities and a greater amount of competition." What About Penn Graduates? According to Patricia Rose, director of the undergraduate Career Planning and Placement Office, most University of Pennsylvania graduates are having no trouble finding jobs in their fields. Rose, in fact, speculated that corporate downsizing is bringing more companies to campus to interview students. Rose said the 2,300 University graduates had more than 14,000 job interviews, an increase of 500 from last year. A May article in The Philadelphia Daily News speculated that large corporations were cost-cutting while "snapping up college grads at entry-level salaries rather than hiring more-costly seasoned pros." Companies looking for college graduates will tend to travel to schools well-known for their excellence in certain areas. Rose said the liberal arts graduates at Penn, for example, are highly sought after, partially because "they're here at Penn, quite frankly." What's Your Major? Certain majors seem to be pulling more weight these days. Whether due to increased technology, or a computer-crazed society, the service sector is still the top provider of jobs for college graduates, according to the National Association of Colleges and Employers. Computer science engineering majors are the most in demand -- with spots opening every day for computer software developers and consultants and business equipment manufacturer representatives. Public accountants, engineers and management consultants are also in demand. The average starting salary for these graduates is $34,565 a year, a 2.5 percent jump from last year, according to the Association. The starting salary for engineers was a bit higher, with mechanical engineers receiving $38,907 a year, electrical engineers making $37,662 a year and computer engineers earning $36,591 a year. Business majors are also in demand at the moment. Management information systems majors have starting salaries of $32,476 a year. Accountants make about $28,971 a year and business-administration majors get $27,032. Allied health care graduates --- such as physical therapists and x-ray technicians -- have starting salaries of $34,061 this year. But nursing graduates don't seem to be in as great demand as in years past. Their starting salary was only $31,632, a significant drop from last year. Starting salaries for humanities majors dropped, with the starting salary for English majors falling slightly to $21,973 a year. The starting salary for sociology majors fell a whopping 7.5 percent -- averaging out at $20,041 a year. Despite their bad press, however, liberal arts majors seem to be faring well in the job market, especially in jobs that require good communication and interpretation skills. Many companies are willing to invest in the training needed to teach bright employees the special technical skills the job requires. However, liberal arts majors do have to market themselves a bit more that computer and business majors. "If you're an accounting student, firms are going to come here and say 'Who are the accounting majors?'" Rose said in an article in The Philadelphia Inquirer. "If you're an English or history major, you have to step out there and define yourself." Rose said liberal arts majors tend to have "excellent writing skills as well as good speaking and communication skills. The liberal arts degree allows students to take courses in many fields of study, but students must be sure to take advantage of the diverse offerings. The Inquirer article also suggests liberal arts students survey the market to figure out what is needed in a particular industry and then "showcase skills" with cover letter, resumes and interviews. A Few Tips No matter what a student majors in, finding a job in today's competitive market is not easy. Competition requires creativity -- and determination. "Make it your full-time job to find a job," he said. "I'm a firm believer that there is a right job for everyone. Your new job is out there. It's your job to find it." Students should also look into internships ahead of time. Many college undergraduates spend their summers doing mostly unpaid labor in order to earn the experience that will put them ahead when it is time to look for a permanent job. Students should also be familiar with the company they are hoping to work for. They can set up informational meetings before interviews to ask question and familiarize themselves with the companies inner-workings and procedures. Lisa Jane Bernard, career development director at Bryn Mawr and Haverford Colleges, told the Inquirer that networking was "critical." "It shows initiative [and] motivation," she said. "Young people don't understand how much an employers values a sense of industry." One recent Wharton school graduate gave a final piece of advice -- when being interviewed for a position, act "like this is the only job for you."
(05/01/96 9:00am)
To the Editor: I have worked with the Biology Department (on rhapidosomes and asbestos), the Electrical Engineering Department (on high-temperature sensors for geothermal wells) and I have had the privilege of being on advising committees for students in Regional Science, Computer and Information Science, Finance, Civil and Urban Engineering (now Systems), Economics and Social Systems Sciences (now disbanded). All these associations have been very stimulating and informative and I am sure I have gained much more from them than they ever gained from me. I have also served on many committees. The most memorable of these include the Committee on Committees (which I thought must be a joke 'til I experienced it!), the School of Arts and Science Personnel Committee, and the Faculty Senate Committee on Academic Freedom and Responsibility. These and others have given me a wealth of experiences and contacts among Penn's community of scholars. In short, I have greatly enjoyed my career at Penn and have taken the opportunity to explore and participate in a few of the many fields that are represented here. I strongly recommend undergraduates also explore fields that are new to them; they, too, will enjoy the resulting benefits as they join our community of scholars. R. Ian Harker Geology Professor LCE editorial on target To the Editor: The editorial "Spoiling our fun" (DP, 4/22/96), attacking the University administration for spurring the LCE's Spring Fling "crackdown," was the best I've seen in four years at Penn. And, as one would expect, some holier-than-thou buzzkill wrote a letter blasting the DP for publishing such a socially irresponsible editorial, condoning sins like underage drinking and parties ("Post-Spring Fling feedback," Letters to the Editor, DP, 4/25/96). Can you say "loser?" Try having fun for a change? it won't kill you. And isn't it ironic that the same University president who publicly told a student leader to "get a life" a few months ago is now overseeing and encouraging the downfall of Spring Fling? After all, Fling is one of the few weekends that still shows signs of life around here. Hey Judy, there's an old saying that goes, "Practice what you preach." Meanwhile, as far as the LCE, consider what I imagine to be a description of an LCE job opening: "Wanted -- person who wants to extend created authority, but isn't smart or tough enough to do important police work. Position includes opportunities to break up parties and rough up dangerous college kids." Hey LCE-man, isn't there a Dunkin' Donuts being robbed somewhere? Check it out. For four years, I've watched this school's once-renowned party reputation disintegrate. If I sound bitter, maybe its because four years ago I chose to go to the "party school of the Ivies." Scott Ross College '96 Chodorow 'unfit for office' To the Editor: Provost Stanley Chodorow is unfit for office. At last Wednesday's University Council meeting, he misrepresented the 1994 ROTC Committee report and the actions taken by University Council pursuant to it ("U. will not make changes to ROTC program," DP, 4/25/96). And Chodorow is personally responsible for violations of the University's non-discrimination policy. Chodorow told Council that the Committee to Review the Status of ROTC at Penn considered three options. That is categorically false. The ROTC committee considered five options. The committee found the first two, maintaining the status quo or changing the University's non-discrimination policy, completely unacceptable and rejected. Chodorow also told Council it had rejected the termination of ROTC at Penn as an option. This is also categorically false. Both the Almanac and the minutes of the Council meeting in question clearly indicate that Council chose simply to not endorse such an alternative. Instead, Council passed a motion to delete the termination option from the report, and endorsed the rest of the report and its recommendations by a vote of 25-1. Council thus endorsed the recommendation that the status quo was unacceptable, while leaving open the door to an end to ROTC and refusing to actively endorse such an alternative. It is through the provost's office that the ROTC program is run, and it is through the power of the provost that faculty appointments are given to ROTC instructors. The discrimination against lesbians and gays both within the ROTC program and in the appointment of faculty members is the provost's responsibility, and his willingness not simply to condone bigotry, but to actively participate in discrimination himself, is reprehensible. If University policy is to mean anything, it must be followed by all members of the community, including the provost. Actively participating in discrimination and then lying about the reasons for doing demonstrates that Chodorow is morally and ethically unsuitable for his position. Chodorow has shown himself to be unwilling and unfit to play a leadership role on this campus. He should resign and find a position better suited to his eagerness to kowtow to bigots in the name of expediency. Paul Lukasiak Administrative Assistant School of Social Work On being 'half-and-half' To the Editor: In response to Matthew Taff's guest column "Caught In The Middle" (DP, 4/18/96), we -- a group of multiracial individuals -- would like to address the issue of being "half-and-half." Although we find the term "half-and-half" abrasive, we appreciate the opportunity Taff has given us to approach the long-silent issue of multiracial and multicultural identity. First, we would like to clarify the misconception about the nonexistence of a group for people of mixed heritage. Check One, an organization of and for multiracial students, was founded in 1995. It takes its name from the fact that one is asked to literally check one race or ethnic group when filling out standardized forms. Our organization provides support and a forum for discussion of issues important to multiracial people. Multiracial people are distinct from one another, with different practices and different belief systems and ultimately a distinct concept of identity. Despite the different combinations the term "multiracial" includes, as individuals we share a hypersensitivity to racial and ethnic matters because we do, or are expected to, connect with our ethnic heritages. Taff's assertion that we "have already learned that race should not matter" is an oversimplified ideal. To debate whether race should or should not matter is irrelevant; for many of us, it does. We face racial issues daily -- such as pressure to fit into one or both of our ethnic groups, and to express pride in (and loyalties to) both ethnic groups and backgrounds. We are largely an ignored people, and segregation, which preserves and reinforces culture, can also serve to exclude us. Our aim is not to explore the positive or negative consequences of segregation, but rather to have our presence and our concerns recognized. We prefer not to use the term "half-and-half" because it implies that we are made up of segmented parts. These elements of ourselves are not distinct and separate pieces, but components of our collective identity. Again, we are grateful for the opportunity to be recognized and voice our opinions. The purpose of student organizations is not to perpetuate segregation, as Taff implies, but to give people a group with whom they feel comfortable, a safe haven for discussion and a structure where individuals can come together for a common goal. Check One provides this for students of mixed heritages. Kam Santos College '97 Check One President (5 signatures follow from the Check One Executive Board.) Alcohol and U. social life To the Editor: I question whether Mike Nadel should be permitted to graduate at all if his primary concern after four years studying at the University regards the role of alcohol as the cornerstone of the Penn social experience ("To what bright glory?," DP, 4/24/96). It is a shame that despite his two majors in the College, Nadel's intellectual curiosity does not extend beyond the circumference of his beer belly. Paul Levin College '97 Finding work on line To the Editor: I would like to clarify comments I made regarding Internet resume services ("On-line resume service receives mixed reviews," DP, 4/24/96). I stressed that these data banks were not employers' vehicles of choice in filling positions. I never said "looking on the Internet is not the way to find jobs." In fact, I said, and have been saying, just the opposite. Using the Internet in job hunting is fast becoming a necessity. We in Career Planning and Placement Service are working hard to ensure that Penn students are adept at navigating the Web to visit employer sites, search on-line job listings, participate in industry-specific newsgroups, and use search tools to do employment-related research. I encourage all students to visit our office homepage at "http://www.upenn.edu/cpps". Our job listings and internship listings are online, as is a great deal of other very useful career information. Patricia Rose CPPS Director Objectivity in question To the Editor: In "Penn has one last chance for Ivy win" (DP, 4/26/96), your reporter stated that the Ivy League is "the nation's top conference." Unfortunately, the current and past United States Interscholastic Lacrosse Association Men's Division 1 rankings do not support this statement. While Princeton currently holds the No. 1 position, three of the top five teams are from the Atlantic Coast Conference. Furthermore, ACC teams have consistently held four of the top 10 positions in this poll throughout the 1996 season. The Ivy League has not been so fortunate; last week, however, Ivy teams held three of the top 10 positions. Even with this effort, however, they fall short of the ACC teams' performance. I also question your source for NCAA Men's Division 1 rankings. While Face-Off magazine is an excellent publication, its poll has no impact on selections for the NCAA tournament. The NCAA uses the USILA poll (http://lacrosse.org/-lax/d1poll.html) to determine selections for the playoff tournament. Furthermore, your reporter would have better supported his statement regarding the Ivy League by citing the USILA poll, where Yale was ranked No. 17 last week. Such discrepancies in the DP's coverage of NCAA lacrosse have raised serious doubts in my mind regarding not only your objectivity but also your credibility. In the future, it would be to the DP's advantage to be more objective in its coverage of NCAA lacrosse, as past coverage has already damaged the paper's credibility with the informed reader. Robert Smyth, M.D. Post-Doctoral Fellow Department of Medicine Syracuse University Lacrosse Team, 1986-1990
(04/03/96 10:00am)
While the JIO only resolved 20 violations of academic integrity last year, many believe the number of students who cheat is actually much higher. and Doree Shafrir CHEATING from page 1 Another five cases were for falsifying grades or transcripts, misrepresenting academic records and other academic violations. These included students altering their transcripts and falsifying information on their resumes, contacting printing services and ordering falsified transcripts -- and one violation for attempting to break into a faculty member's office. Punishments for these offenses last year ranged from a two-year suspension to a psychiatric evaluation. Finally, seven students were sanctioned for plagiarism, including one student who stole another class member's paper, put his name on the cover and submitted it as his own. Students can also be brought to the JIO for "submitting, without prior permission, any work submitted to fulfill another academic requirement." In addition, knowingly helping someone violate any of the code's provisions is defined as facilitating academic dishonesty and is a violation of the code. But while only 20 violations of academic integrity were ultimately resolved by the JIO last year, some believe that the number of cheaters is actually much higher. "My belief is that there is a lot more academic dishonesty than gets discovered," Acting Judicial Inquiry Officer Michelle Goldfarb said. Goldfarb's assertion is supported by two recent studies, both of which assert that cheating -- especially at elite institutions -- is much more prevalent than might be expected, even at schools like Penn that have honor codes. Conducted by Rutgers University Professor Douglas McCabe, the survey nonetheless found that students at colleges without honor codes cheat at a higher rate than those at universities with the codes. McCabe discovered that 30 percent of students at schools with honor codes had cheated on a test, while at schools without the codes, 45 percent of students admitted to cheating. In addition, 54 percent of those at schools with academic integrity codes reported "serious" cheating on a test or written assignment, while 71 percent of other students reported such cheating. Another part of the survey showed that business majors admitted they cheated the most, followed by engineering students. At Penn, the Code of Academic Integrity is applicable to all undergraduates and most graduate schools. Some, like the schools of Dental Medicine and Law, have their own procedures for sanctioning academic dishonesty. "We as a University have a responsibility to educate our students about academic integrity," Goldfarb said. "There is a need for education -- the more students learn, the better off everyone will be." To help fulfill this goal, Provost Stanley Chodorow formed the University Honor Council last spring. According to UHC Chairperson and College junior Justin Shellaway, the council was formed for three purposes -- to educate people about academic integrity, to oversee students' hearings and to advise the provost. The Nominations and Elections Committee selects the group of 13 undergraduates each fall in an application process. As part of its educational programs, a book outlining the University's honor code will be distributed to freshmen and incoming freshmen. The group is also attempting to bring in a speaker for early next fall. Shellaway said the UHC's goal is for students always to consider academic integrity. He said he eventually would like to move the University toward the establishment of a "true honor code." "I think a lot of students don't mean to cheat, but pressure forces them to," he added. Ng echoed this sentiment, saying people most likely cheat because they are under a great deal of stress. "I think people cheat because it's competitive to have a high GPA and find a job," Ng explained. "If they go for a job interview, they will have a better number on their resume." But is pressure really an excuse for students to cheat? The answer to this question is an emphatic no, Goldfarb insisted. "I can sympathize with the pressure on students," she said. "But every student is under the same pressure and not all students cheat." Clearly, pressure to get good grades and competition among students is especially fierce among the top students in the country -- including those at the University. A survey of more than 3,000 "high achievers" by Who's Who Among American High School Students found that 76 percent admitted that they had cheated -- offenses ranging from copying someone else's homework to using Cliff's Notes in place of reading an assigned text. More importantly, 94 percent of those who said they had cheated also claimed they had never been caught -- and 66 percent of the high school students said that cheating "did not seem like a big deal." Studies like Who's Who and McCabe's, and testimony such as Goldfarb's, all point to a mostly silent epidemic that occurs every day -- yet rarely has consequences for offenders. "I think the more you look for it, the more you see it," Shellaway said. "There seems to be a lack of remorse [among students who cheat]." Indeed, it seems that students are unphased by the penalty for cheating, assuming if they are caught at all, they will most likely not be subjected to a judicial inquiry. For the most part, they are correct -- the cases that actually reach the JIO have already gone through an extensive procedure to reach the hearing stage. When an instructor suspects a student has cheated, the first step in the process is to confront the student privately, "before taking any other action," according to the Code of Academic Integrity. If the problem is not resolved, the professor and student have several courses of action. The instructor may choose to assign the student any grade he or she considers appropriate -- both for the work in question and for the entire course. However, the professor must notify the student about the reason for the grade, while also telling the JIO how the conflict was resolved. But if the teacher chooses the so-called "Non-Grading Option," she or he may choose to assign no grade to the student and instead make a formal complaint to the JIO. Again, the professor must also notify the student of his or her actions within a certain amount of time. A student may accept or reject his professor's proposals. If he accepts the settlement, then the case is closed and proceedings end. However, if a student chooses to reject a proposed settlement, then he may file a petition with the JIO requesting a judicial hearing. Once a judicial hearing has begun, a student may make an informal settlement with a judicial inquiry officer, in consultation with the professor, before proceeding to the actual hearing stage. In addition, a student may make a complaint to the JIO alleging that another student has violated the code. These cases result in hearings unless the JIO can settle the complaint informally. Goldfarb is currently compiling information about past hearings, including the number of cases, the types of cases and the ways in which they were resolved. She said she plans to search the JIO database to find that information -- but added that she will not identify anyone by name in her study. All files and testimony from JIO, Honor Council and Executive Committee cases, including students' identities, are kept confidential because the University abides by the confidentiality guidelines of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974. "When the report comes out, it will talk in examples and ranges of sanctions, but any one student will not be identified," Goldfarb explained.
(04/02/96 10:00am)
Singing, dancing, fashion and kung fu combined to create "Penn by Night '96," the 10th annual Vietnamese culture show, held Saturday night in Irvine Auditorium. More than 100 students attended the Vietnamese Students Association-sponsored event entitled "Que Huong Yeu Dau," or "My Loving Homeland," according to VSA President and College sophomore Muc Nguyen. She explained that the VSA hoped the event would promote Vietnamese culture to the entire University, with a specific emphasis on the many "Vietnamese students on this campus who have forgotten their culture." "We noticed [that] a lot of the young kids tend to grow up in the American society and lose touch with their identity and Vietnamese culture," Nguyen added. Nguyen noted that the VSA had been working on the show since mid-February. The performance included traditional modern songs and dances, a kung fu demonstration, a fashion show and the annual skit. The show was co-emceed by College junior Diem Nguyen, who presented the acts in Vietnamese and College junior Don Luong, who did the same in English. The show began with a group of Penn students singing "Viet Nam Hop Ca," a traditional song about remembering one's homeland wherever one goes. Members of this group also performed an "umbrella dance" called "Autumn Raindrop." Various love songs involving both universal and strictly Vietnamese themes were also performed in Vietnamese. The performances by Penn students were supplemented by two dances by the Song Hong River Dance Group, a local Philadelphia dance troupe made up of young women, who ranged in age from eight to 18. They performed a traditional flower dance and lantern dance. One of the high points of the evening was a two-part kung fu act. The first part was a weapons and forms demonstration by College junior Nguyen Nguyen and Engineering junior Taitan Nguyen. The second part was a planned duel between the two, which Luong called "our own little rumble in West Philly." The audience laughed often during the annual skit, which was written by members of VSA. The main character of the skit was a young bachelor trying to find a wife. In his search, he tried to find a balance between his Vietnamese upbringing and his current American life. Luong explained that this is "something we all face." But the main character chose to resolve these issues and find his wife through the unique technique of appearing on a humorous version of the Love Connection. A fashion show, during which students modeled traditional Vietnamese dress from different regions and time periods, concluded the event. As part of this, traditional wedding clothing and four modern dresses were displayed.
(03/04/96 10:00am)
The University is developing a debit card system that could make carrying cash a distant memory Using the PennCard for laundry, vending and copy machines may seem like a foreign concept for University students. But a "cashless campus" centered around the PennCard may become a reality in the near future. The idea of bringing a debit card system to campus especially appeals to those students with security concerns about carrying more than a few dollars in their pockets in the West Philadelphia area. This was part of the motivation for the initial idea behind the PennCard debit system, which was first proposed six years ago. The debit card would allow students to make purchases on and off campus using their PennCards. And after many recent negotiations, it looks as though the first phase of this project could begin in the fall. The debit card plan would allow students to put money on their PennCards at the beginning of the year and subtract purchases from the total. The University is slated to have at least six buildings hooked up to an on-line computer debit system by next fall, affording students access to vending and laundry machines, Penn Student Agencies commissaries and copy machines. This first step will include Steinberg-Dietrich Hall, Vance Hall, Graduate Towers A and B, Van Pelt Library and the Law Library. n A committee of 43 students and faculty members, headed by Vice President of Finance Frank Claus, initially explored the debit card idea in 1990 while discussing other improvements to University services and programs. In 1991, four Undergraduate Assembly leaders and three Penn administrators visited Duke University to examine its advanced debit and security card system. That system has been a major influence on the development of a debit card project at Penn. Duke's system is linked by computer to the dining facilities, residences, vending machines and off-campus merchants, freeing students from carrying virtually any cash on campus -- and boosting campus security. According to Duke junior Jason Goode, the Duke card has two different systems built into it, one for food services and another called the "Flex" account, which links laundry machines, copy machines, the Duke bookstore and on-campus retailers to the system. Using the Flex system also allows students to order from the local Subway, Domino's Pizza and Pizza Hut and put the purchase on their Duke cards, Goode said. He added that students may also purchase alcohol at on-campus restaurants on the system. Goode credits Duke's Flex debit system as being "the most flexible and easiest to use out of all the other systems I've seen at other universities." "It basically eliminates the need to carry any cash on campus," he said. But several obstacles have prevented Penn from proceeding more quickly on the installation of a similar system, including safety and cost issues. The University is working on measures to implement a debit card system at the lowest possible cost, according to Director of Student Financial Services Operations John De Long. Security measures must also be considered for the new cash card system. The University has decided to install an on-line computer debit system as opposed to an off-line system to ensure security. The on-line debit system will eventually include machines in buildings across campus, wiring them into a University computer system, which will enhance the security of the card. The PennCards themselves will have no real value and therefore should not be a target of theft, according to De Long. If a student loses his or her card, the money on the card will not be lost, as it would be with an off-line computer system. "It will cost a little more and take a bit longer to install, but the safety benefits are worth it," De Long said, adding that the Penn system will be more complex than Duke's. De Long's department is also in the process of recruiting vendors who will allow students to pay with their PennCards, and thus must be wired into the system. n According to Claus, the Dining Services meal plan set-up has caused other delays for the debit card system. Since Dining Services meals are not a la carte, students must purchase a set number of meals. Many other universities allow students to deposit an unlimited amount of money into their account so they can allocate their meals as they desire. But Claus says that this sort of system is beyond the University's abilities. Chats and The Book Store already employ a system that allows students to charge purchases to their bursar accounts using their PennCards. The Book Store recently lowered its minimum charge requirement from $25 to $10. And at Chats, students also have the option of placing money in a debit account each semester. The University is currently researching the possibility of working out contracts with off-campus retail companies and restaurants that would allow students to pay with their PennCards. But since the University is a non-profit corporation, it must find a financial institution to be the intermediary in the debit card proposal, according to De Long. Federal tax regulations prevent non-profit corporations from holding large deposits of money. The University of Pennsylvania Student Federal Credit Union has expressed interest in working with the University to implement the off-campus debit card system, according to UPSFCU Executive Vice President Jack Basavaiah, an Engineering and Wharton junior. And Engineering and Wharton junior Rajeev Shah, UPSFCU president and CEO, said he believes the credit union -- the largest and oldest student credit union in the country -- has the technology, resources and necessary manpower to implement a successful debit card program. "The only side of the coin we can't compete with in relation to a commercial bank is the advertising," he added. Claus credits UPSFCU as being a "very sound business," adding that he believes a University partnership with the credit union would be very beneficial to the debit card proposal. Three Wharton students have also launched their own project, called "CampusCa$h." Its main focus is the incorporation of local off-campus restaurants, photo-copying stores and retail outlets into a similar system as the one the University is proposing. "Right now, security is our biggest issue," said 1995 Wharton graduate and co-founder of the Creative Software Company Michael Agha. "The restaurants don't want to attract crime by staying open late and the system with which students will pay must also be secure." Keeping costs low is also a priority of the group, said Engineering and Wharton senior Raja Gupta. "Our goal is to find a program that would allocate the best benefits to students and would be as costless to the community as possible," he added. Wharton senior Scott Kurland said that in the interim, the group's development will depend on how quickly and inexpensively a debit card system can be installed. n Students have responded favorably to the debit card proposal so far, citing everything from the practicality of using PennCards for purchases to the safety in carrying less cash. College sophomore Melissa Freiling said she thought it was a great idea. "It'll be especially useful for photo-copy machines, since I often forget my copy card -- and we always have to carry our PennCards anyway," she said. Wharton freshman Bradley Coburn said he is familiar with many other colleges that used the system. "It's much more convenient and safe not having to carry a lot of money around," he added. And Wharton junior Terrance Mendez said the debit card is much better than dealing with the constant search for quarters, adding that it will also serve as a very convenient method of payment at the commissaries. Claus said that despite the fact the debit card has been discussed for more than five years, he believes the University's plan is moving "very fast." "Phase one is already in motion and students will be able to start reaping the benefits of the debit system by next fall," he said. And according to De Long, Student Financial Services will soon start planning for the next phase, which will wire another group of buildings into the system, including the dormitories and higher-volume buildings.
(02/28/96 10:00am)
To the Editor: Perhaps for a similar feat next week you can get petroleum groups to give you a paid supplement about how oil drilling is good for the environment. Then after we come back from spring break we could be greeted with a treatise on how the Holocaust never really happened. While the DP is not always a bastion of fine journalism, your standards are usually high enough not to include a thinly disguised propaganda piece filled with lies and half truths. For example, you did -- in the past -- reject a paid ad from a Holocaust revisionist group. Given this claptrap, I see no reason for you not to go and actively solicit that sort of "quality" material as advertising, if nothing else it could fill your letters columns with other missives like this. Erik Oliver Law '98 n To the Editor: I don't claim to be the voice of a generation -- in fact, I won't speak for anyone other than myself -- but I was personally offended by The Daily Pennsylvanian's inclusion of a Human Life Alliance advertising insert in the February 27 edition. With the free speech of Americans being eroded day by day through acts of Congress, I will defend to my death the right for people to express their opinions. I will also not sit by while an impartial student newspaper distributes one-sided propaganda on an issue which so violently divides the American people today. With the discussion of abortion made illegal over the Internet, what we need most now is an impartial forum for discussion. Having newsprint with a fetus on the cover does not in any way help matters. I may be overreacting but I don't think so, because while I may or may not agree abortion in principle, I believe that abortion, like religion, is something that must be decided upon individually. Far be it from me to tell some unfortunate woman what she should or shouldn't do with her body. Michael Gold College '99 n To the Editor: Though I am aware that DP inserts do not necessarily reflect any opinions of the staff, I find it interesting that that the Human Life Alliance insert has appeared each year I have attended Penn. However, there has been no balancing response to this insert at any point in the year. Therefore, I wish to respond. I have been confronted with the issue of abortion personally several times in my life. I have very close friends who have been forced to make this extremely difficult decision and I have watched their pain through these times. I have come to the conclusion that, rather than seeing fit to forbid everyone to decide what they wish to do with their bodies, I choose only to decide what I will do with mine. I cannot make another person prioritize things in the same way I do and I feel invaded when it is attempted on me. We are all surrounded by so much propaganda every day, attempts to win us over by tugging at our heartstrings and viscera. It seems to me that a belief will not be swayed this way. Only through personal experience and internal soul searching do we arrive at our beliefs. I understand why people try to enlighten others to their way of thinking, but the ethical means of going about this seem rather to present all sides of a dilemma, all consequences, and to allow others to reach a conclusion on their own. Tanya Witman College '97 Demanding to be heard To the Editor: Bravo to those students who attended the forum on the new judicial charter ("U. Council meeting focuses on judicial charter proposal," DP, 2/22/96)! I remember when I was one of only a handful of students who bothered to show up at last year's sessions to discuss proposed changes. Despite what the administration might think about the idea that they are there for the students and not simply to do research, they are. It is about time that the student body got off their collective hindquarters and demanded to be heard. Now, let's hope that the administration learns to listen. Also, I love being able to keep up with events at Penn through DP Online. Keep it up! Jeffrey Jenkins Engineering and College '95 Support Penn's athletes To the Editor: This is my fourth semester of reading the sports section of the DP, and it's beginning to get a little annoying. When athletic teams do well they are given credit. But if a team (or individual athlete) is not performing well or if there is doubt about how they will do, they are very likely to be ripped apart. As an athlete here at Penn, I know how much time and dedication it takes to perform as a student and an athlete. We work very hard to represent this school well, but oftentimes we get little to no support from the school newspaper. I'm not asking for anyone to hold the hands of athletic teams throughout their seasons. The DP needs to realize that we're all on the same side, instead of treating Penn teams like the competition. On a positive note, the women's track and field reporter deserves a pat on the back. He's done a good job of sticking by our side, and reporting the information given. But if he had asked any one of us about Heps, we would have told him we were going to win the championship! Dawn McGee Women's Track & Field member Engineering '98 A plea for cycling safety To the Editor: I feel compelled to write a letter asking bicyclists to wear helmets while commuting along Walnut Street before someone is killed or seriously hurt. I have thought about writing this letter since September, when I was surprised to observe that helmets were the rarity along this heavily trafficked route. Then I began to hear stories about students who had been involved in accidents on Walnut between 24th and 35th streets and became appalled at the likelihood that car and rider will collide once again with devastating results. Finally, I started driving to work to avoid the winter chill and learned how treacherous a road filled with speeding taxi drivers, people speeding to Penn and other assorted speeding commuters. This combination of cars, bikes and walkers along Walnut is bound to lead to disaster. If these disasters are both probable and preventable, why not where a helmet to seriously reduce the chances of head injury? The most likely explanations seem to be a lack of awareness of past incidents, a denial of the actual dangers of sharing the road along this stretch and the vanity of avoiding helmet hair. None of these comes close to compensating for the potential impact of serious injury or loss of life, and I for one would feel much more at ease seeing more bikers using basic precautions like helmets. So, please, wear a helmet. David Eldridge Social Work '97
(02/23/96 10:00am)
Coordinators of a semester abroad program in Japan for rising Engineering sophomores are almost prepared to end their search for applicants, according to Katherine Becht, assistant to the undergraduate associate dean for the School of Engineering and Applied Science. The program is offered for the fall of the applicant's sophomore year, according to David Pope, undergraduate associate dean for the Engineering School. "All applicants should be freshmen now," he explained. Students accepted into the program enroll in science and engineering courses much like those offered at the University. Though the classes are taught in English, students also take Japanese language courses, Pope said. "The summer before going to Japan, students go to a four- to six-week intensive language study at either the University of Pittsburgh or Ohio State University to learn Japanese," Becht said. After the intensive study, students head for Tokyo. The program, in which both Drexel and Temple universities participate, is housed at Temple University of Japan. "The wonderful thing about this program is that it is usually very difficult for Engineering students to study abroad," Becht said. And Pope said this particular program was specifically designed "to keep Engineering students on schedule." "It also provides the opportunity to learn about Japanese language and culture and all that means for future international interests, all for the cost of going to Penn," he said. According to Becht, subsidies are available for travel. "One student came back and was taking third-year Japanese," Pope added. "It was amazing how much [of the language] he learned." Engineering sophomore Jonathan Zilberstein, a member of the program last semester, became proficient in Japanese while he was there. "I knew nothing about Japanese culture or language before I applied," Zilberstein said. "I had an excellent experience." "We even had a lot of time to wander around and learn about the culture and the society," he added. The students have an option to return to Japan for a summer internship, according to Becht.
(02/14/96 10:00am)
Media spotlight shines on 50th anniversaryMedia spotlight shines on 50th anniversaryGore's speech on 'The Technology Challenge' With today's 50th birthday celebration of ENIAC, the international media will once again focus its cameras on the University. More than 50 members of the press will be covering the ENIAC celebration, which includes an address by Vice President Al Gore, according to University spokesperson Barbara Beck. Although the speeches will not be televised live, WPVI-TV will have a live shot of Gore arriving at the University and all three major networks -- NBC, CBS and ABC -- will tape the speech. With the nation's focus on Penn today, the University is receiving free positive publicity, Beck said. "Every time the University of Pennsylvania and ENIAC are mentioned, it helps enhance Penn's image," she added. Audiences across the country will be exposed to the media coverage of the ENIAC events. "I think that this celebration is just a way of showing how multifaceted Penn is," said Carol Scheman, vice president for government, community and public affairs."The long-term effects are that people who understood that Penn has a powerful Medical and Law school will now know more about the applied sciences." A large press platform has been set up in Irvine Auditorium to accommodate the various photographers and cameramen, Scheman added. She added that the scheduled protest against the new telecommunications law that will be staged by students outside of Irvine during Gore's speech is not expected to have a negative effect on the national publicity. "The demonstrators are raising some very legitimate concerns," Scheman said. Articles in the U.S. News and World Report and in The New York Times Magazine have highlighted ENIAC and more articles are expected in other national publications including Science Times, Beck said. Good Morning America also returned to Penn's campus to videotape a piece about ENIAC that was televised yesterday morning, she added. But the celebration is not simply confined to the U.S. Yesterday, School of Engineering and Applied Science Dean Gregory Farrington conducted an interview with a South African radio station, according to Beck. "I've spent part of this week searching for an Engineering professor to talk about ENIAC in French," Beck said. A television station in Madrid, Spain, has also requested video material from the University in regards to ENIAC, she added. The international spotlight is also bringing attention to other Penn accomplishments, according to College of Arts and Sciences Dean Rosemary Stevens. "It reminds audiences of alumni, prospective students and friends, that we are a great university in the world and in the revolution of technological communication," Stevens said.
(02/13/96 10:00am)
To the Editor: Let's face it: none of the arts at Penn enjoys unlimited access to modern, well-equipped facilities. The departments of Fine Arts and Music struggle daily with the challenges of maintaining degree-granting programs in buildings that -- as at many universities today -- are crumbling. Fortunately for Penn, the Annenberg School for Communication has space that makes it possible to accept an extraordinarily generous endowment for the purpose of enabling Ivy League graduates to aspire to the highest calling for which their privileged educations prepare them: the betterment of society through enlightened public policy. The first effort of the Annenberg Public Policy Center was a year-long (1994-95) series of conferences on "Women in the Public Sphere" -- not an irrelevant topic at a university where about half of the undergraduates are women. At the Graduate School of Fine Arts, the Annenberg funding was used to assemble 34 of the most prominent women in architecture, a field where women's contributions, as elsewhere, have long been overlooked. The GSFA conference not only gave students -- men and women -- the rare opportunity to design and construct an exciting environment for an event reported by all major publications in the field, but also exposed students (many for the first time) to role models for their own careers. The conference, which was attended by more than 400 people -- mostly students from Penn, Columbia, Harvard, Princeton and as far away as California, Canada and Australia -- also put this university in touch with peer institutions around the world. Moreover, it spawned a book on women's roles in shaping the built environment and a course open to qualifying students throughout the university. Multiply that experience by the number of Penn schools that participated in "Women in the Public Sphere" and you begin to see why the current trade-off, while not ideal, is far from unintelligent or "undeserving." Meanwhile, the Perelman Quad and Addams Fine Arts Hall will provide much improved space for everyone. Patricia Conway Architecture Professor Past Dean, Graduate School of Fine Arts ROTC far from simple To the Editor: I was sorry to read that Paul Lukasiak sees ROTC and its presence on campus as an "issue [that] is simple" ("End ROTC participation," DP, 2/7/96). Unfortunately the issue is not so simple, nor is any issue involving perceived discrimination. He should be intelligent enough to realize that grey areas do exist, otherwise life would be fairly simple, wouldn't it? The Reserve Officers' Training Corps provides far more benefits than any possible harms that may be a result of the federal government's policy regarding homosexuals. It does not in any way promote "the spread of prejudice and hatred." It unites young men and women who have a love of country and yearning to lead others who have that same love. In a day and age where patriotism is something to be snickered at and shunned, it is refreshing and encouraging to find those who are not afraid to serve their country, and do so proudly. Furthermore, since the issue of discrimination comes from government policy, should not the University stop accepting federal grants, Stafford loans and any other form of federal funding? Is this what Lukasiak proposes as well? His flawed logic would seem to lead to this conclusion. ROTC needs to stay on this campus and on other campuses throughout the country if we are to have well-educated and well-trained leaders in the future. Matt Beliveau Army ROTC Wharton '97 n To the Editor: In speaking out against ROTC, Darin Weeks ("ROTC discriminates," DP, 2/8/96) and Paul Lukasiak ("End ROTC participation," DP, 2/7/96) manage to restate the obvious while avoiding larger questions. Weeks and Lukasiak indignantly declare that ROTC, and the military in general, discriminate, but this obvious point is not disputed by Gregory Saybolt and Kevin Osborne ("ROTC students react," DP, 2/5/96), who really make no effort to defend the systemic bias. What is up for debate at Penn is therefore not the policy itself, but rather the most effective location for action against it. As Weeks notes, the military will follow orders: if ordered by the president or by legislation to cease legal discrimination against homosexuals, the military will do so. So far, this order has not been forthcoming from our elected officeholders. It is interesting that none of the anti-ROTC correspondence seems at all concerned with how to end our national policy of discrimination, but instead only with how we at Penn will resolve our local moral problem by pushing ROTC off campus -- out of sight and out of mind. The reason for this is, of course, that the expulsion of ROTC from Penn will do absolutely nothing for the larger agenda: the military and general public would hardly notice an action affecting only about 100 people. Even if all private universities barred ROTC, state schools could easily fill the gap, and at a cheaper price to the taxpayer. With ROTC off campus, all American citizens at Penn would still be complicit in the discrimination that the law of the land permits in our armed forces. The military is, after all, not some foreign group imported from an alternate reality but a reflection of both the good and bad traits of our society. Instead of focusing on the conveniently located ROTC units, which are unable in any case to alter the federal policy independently, we should use our vote and our voice with our representatives to push for a national change. George Podolin Political Science graduate student Nadel's perceptive analysis To the Editor: I just wanted to applaud the commentary Mike Nadel gave in the DP last week on Judith Rodin ("The greatest star of all," DP, 2/7/96). I always thought there was something wrong with her, but I couldn't quite put my finger on it. She always struck me as being rather insubstantial. Nadel's column elegantly articulated everything that's wrong with our current president. Penn students aren't so stupid to think that pretty smiles and waves are going to cut it for being a good president. Only recently has Rodin been trying to make contact with students, but in my opinion her attempts were dismally unsuccessful. You can't get any solid answers from her. Quite the politician. Thank you so much for pointing out all the things you did. Everything's not as bright and sunny as Rodin would lead us to believe from her appearance. Keep up the critical eye and the good work. Gilbert Pajela Engineering '96 Crime reports still available To the editor: The story about changes to the police log book ("U. Police will not log crimes out of territory," DP, 2/9/96) contains an error that may mislead the University community about the availability of crime reports for areas outside the jurisdiction of Penn Police. Contrary to what the article states, crimes that occur outside Penn Police's patrol boundaries have not been printed in Almanac since May 1994. Anyone can find this out through a quick search of Almanac archives on the Penn home page. These reports can be found elsewhere on the World Wide Web, however. Philadelphia Police issues its own crime report that details all major crimes against persons that occur between the Schuylkill River and 49th Street, between Market Street and Woodland Avenue. This report had not been available to the Penn community for a year and a half until Penn Watch began publishing it on our home page last semester. To see the most current Penn and Philadelphia crime reports (and an archive of them from the beginning of last semester), point your Web browser to "http://dolphin.upenn.edu/~pwatch/". Our page also has a robbery report that breaks down robberies on a weekly basis, showing where and when they happen. These services are intended not to scare the Penn community, but rather to help everyone become more informed of what happens in it. Stephen Sanford Penn Watch Vice Chair for Information Management College '96 Chant was light-hearted To the Editor: I am responding to the letter "Unsportsmanlike conduct" (DP, 2/8/96), written by one Jeffrey Greenhouse. In his brilliant composition, Greenhouse whines about the crowd's "cheesesteak" chants during the Penn-Lehigh basketball game last Tuesday night. Hey Greenhouse, don't be a tool! My friends and I sit in the front row, and I can assure you that despite our jocular appeals for free Abner's steaks during a laugher of a game, we (as well as the rest of the crowd) are some of the most loyal and devoted fans the Palestra has ever seen. I resent your naive comments. I know your courseload in the Wharton School has been wearing you down over the last several years, but I think you should lighten up a bit. You should complain about the lack of fan turnout at recent games rather than criticize the real fans for what you believe to be unsupportive behavior. Mike Weinberg Engineering '96 Bias shows in cult article To the Editor: I was very disappointed with the article that appeared in your paper concerning the Greater Philadelphia Church of Christ ("Cult or Personality?," DP, 2/7/96). I have been a member of the GPCC for over two years. I am also a member of the Drexel student newspaper, The Triangle, and have been there for five years. I have learned through working with The Triangle what it takes to write good objective articles. What most concerned me was not that you published negative comments about my church, because I've gotten used to hearing comments taken out of context or from people who really don't know what they are talking about. But for the DP to publish an article written like this one was a mistake. It was very poorly written and one-sided. The writer had enough time to talk to former members and administrators, but only one member of the GPCC was quoted once and referred to one other time. Two members were interviewed for the story, yet only one was mentioned and very little of what he said appeared. Are you trying to create a controversy? Articles written about a "touchy" subject like this should be very fair if the DP is going to print them as news articles. Would you write an article on race relations at Penn and quote only whites on campus? In the future, I hope you would be more fair and actually do research for the articles you print instead of printing opinions of a select few who happen to yell loudest. Francis Wisniewski Drexel University senior
(02/05/96 10:00am)
Classical Studies Professor James O'Donnell, co-chairperson of the Computer Restructuring Task Force at Penn, will assume the position of interim vice provost for Information Systems and Computing. This appointment will take effect on March 1, when current Vice Provost for ISC Peter Patton's five-year tenure is complete. In addition to O'Donnell's new appointment, the School of Arts and Sciences announced that Ira Winston, executive director of the School of Engineering and Applied Science computing, will also head up computing for SAS. Winston's appointment took effect Friday morning when former director Ben Goldstein left for a new position in California. Patton said he accepted the position of vice provost five years ago after the administration searched unsuccessfully for two years for a person to do the job. "No one would touch the job with a 10-foot pole," he said. Patton said the administration asked him to work specifically on the runaway cost of mainstream computing. "In the first two years I came here, we traded in our mainframe computers for one new computer system," he said. "Consequently, we saved the University a million dollars." He added that in the past five years, the University had engineered a massive computer restructuring which is still ongoing today. Patton said he enjoyed his job as vice provost, adding that he feels it is time to move on to a new challenge. Since his tenure is ending, he said he has been looking in to other job possibilities. "I've had offers from other schools, but I'm also looking into the possibility of getting a job in the industry and remaining here at Penn to teach," he said. "I've also thought about going back into the consulting business." Fry said Patton informed him that he was looking into other jobs, creating an imminent need to find a replacement. "The most important thing was to keep the momentum we've had so far," he explained. "Jim was the co-chair of the Task Force, so he knows where we are better than anybody." Gerry McCartney, director of Wharton School of Business computing, agreed that O'Donnell is an excellent choice for the job. "Given his academic background, he's in a position to move the entire University forward," he said. And O'Donnell himself said he is pleased and excited to have the chance to fill this position. Patton also said he has enjoyed working with the people in the computer systems here at Penn. "The people in our departments are some of the finest in the world," he said. "They're certainly the finest I've ever worked with." As executive director of Computing and Educational Technology Services in SEAS and SAS, Winston will be in charge of computer support for students and faculty in the schools, as well as computer labs and e-mail operations. Winston said he sees computers becoming more and more important to academic studies at the University. "I think the approach is to take mundane things out of the classroom and improve the overall quality of class time by putting things on the web," he explained. "Class time will be devoted to actual discussion." O'Donnell agreed, explaining that the Task Force has to deal with computing in a "new world." "Computers are strategic to everything everyone does," he said. "Computers aren't just for people with pocket protectors anymore."
(01/26/96 10:00am)
Engineering junior Chi Lai has never really made use of the Career Planning and Placement Service until this year. "It's not that I didn't want to, it's just that I never really have the time to come in," Lai said. But Jobtrak, an on-line job-listing database that is new to the University, may solve Lai's problem. In the past, students using CPPS have had to rummage through books, binders and folders to find the perfect job or internship. With Jobtrak, they can do the same research from any World Wide Web browser affiliated with the University. The University first started using Jobtrak in December. Students can look up Penn from a list of 350 colleges and universities. Employers select the schools' listings on which they want their advertisement to appear. Students have the opportunity to search for jobs by type of work, company name, or geographic location. "Jobtrak posts 600 new jobs a day," CPPS Associate Director Mary Heiberger said. "We are entirely confident that it will be a success." CPPS Director Patricia Rose noted that Jobtrak does not cost the University anything, adding that "job listings are on line immediately." According to Rose, Jobtrak will not replace the current binder system that CPPS uses because jobs in education and government, along with others, are not posted on the service. Many colleges on the West Coast, where Jobtrak was founded, have been using the system for several years. The University of Southern California became the first major university to sign on in 1988. In the last several months, Jobtrak spread to the east coast. Five of the eight Ivy League schools have signed on with Jobtrak. Harvard University and Dartmouth College are negotiating with the company and Princeton University has expressed interest. Jobtrak co-founder Ken Ramberg said he could not be happier with the service's success adding that he has received only positive feedback from both employers and universities. "Our service is accessible for 24 hours, so it is time saving for students and provides grater exposure to employers," he said, adding that Jobtrak's special partnership with employers and universities makes it unique. While few students have heard of, -- much less gotten the chance to use -- Jobtrak, most seem to think the service will prove to be invaluable to them. "This sounds like it will save you a lot of time, because you can do this from your room," Wharton freshman Julian Siaw said. "It's much easier then going to CPPS and looking through every binder." Some students, however, said they do not think an on-line service like Jobtrak will have a large impact on them. "I think a lot of people will use Jobtrak, but don't think I will," College junior Josephine Shih said. Jobtrak's URL is "http://www.jobtrak.com".
(12/14/95 10:00am)
'Tis the season to be jolly -- and to go crazy trying to purchase the perfect holiday gift for family and friends. "It is so hard finding the right gift, especially for people who you buy for every year," said College freshman Rosa Cheuk. But with the abundance of eccentric gift stores in the area, last-minute shoppers should not fret. Smiles Clothes, located on Walnut Street in the Shops at Penn, sells ornamental candleholders, ceramic teapots covered in ivy and unusual picture frames. And University of Cards carries everything from "Santa's Original Reindeer Droppings" and "PMS Crunch" to a beer mug that burps when it is placed on a table. "University of Cards is the place to come if you need a humorous holiday gift," said store employee Michael Robinson. Students echoed Robinson's sentiments, saying that University of Cards has a wide variety of choices. "Last year I gave my dad a sturgeon for Christmas, but I'm not sure what to get him this year," said College freshman Steve Magyera. Any student seeking an entire store full of eccentric gifts should try Black Cat. Shoppers can find rubber chickens, pet placemats and flying pig wall ornaments in this small row-house on Sansom Street. "One time I received a gift package of toilet paper and scotch towels from my aunt and uncle," said College freshman Lisa Sabre. "I'm still looking for the right gift to repay them for that one." Thrifty holiday shoppers should look at the wide variety of gifts on sale at Sam Goody. "For Christmas last year, my friend gave me a beautiful piece of coral from Australia," said College freshman Niharika Dvivedi while shopping at Sam Goody. "I have to get her something special this year." Two unique but expensive boutiques are located in Liberty Square. Fire and Ice displays fossils, African Art, internal gem carvings and a $47,000 intarsia gemstone inlay. Close by is The Franklin Mint, which sells papyrus pictures and "Monopoly -- The Collector's Edition." If a shopper is looking for a unique, yet slightly more traditional holiday treat, Godiva Chocolates is another option to consider. Godiva, also located in Liberty Place, displays hundreds of different chocolate candies, ranging from enormous solid dark chocolate Santas to elegant stars, snowmen and trees wrapped in gold foil. Another eccentric store on Chestnut Street is Foreign Bazaar, which sells beads, clothing from India and Bambara masks that were carved in Ghana. Interesting gifts can also be found at Brookstone and the Warner Brothers Store, both located in Liberty Square. During this holiday season, some of the most popular presents at Brookstone have been the "Massage Glove," the "High Performance Yo-Yo Fireball" and the "Swedish Neck Pillow." Shoppers can find clothes emblazoned with popular cartoon characters at Warner Brothers. While worrying about purchasing holiday gifts, students said they were careful not to forget their own needs. "The first present I'm buying is a blow-up doll for my own stocking," said Wharton freshman Greg Golkov. "Only then will I begin the crazy search for everyone else." But Engineering freshman Brad Edelman said his search has already begun. "Last year I gave my father an old pair of underwear as a joke," he said. "Now I have to get him a real present this year." Engineering freshman Dylan Landis said his parents had already surprised him with an early Hanukkah gift. "They airmail-expressed me Chinese food from Hawaii in dry ice last week," Landis said. "It tasted great."
(11/28/95 10:00am)
Outlines nine specific goals University President Judith Rodin and Provost Stanley Chodorow have released a five-year strategic plan for the University to community members for comment. The draft, entitled "Agenda for Excellence," seeks to position the University as one of the premier institutions of higher education by achieving nine specific goals, Rodin said. Much of the plan incorporates programs the administration has already started, such as the 21st Century Project on Undergraduate Education and administrative restructuring. It also includes proposals Rodin mentioned in her "State of the University" address to University Council earlier this month. Rodin said any good strategic plan builds on initiatives already in existence. The entire plan includes an emphasis on raising funds that would allow the University to continue its existing programs and to support its future initiatives. One of the goals calls for the University to "identify and secure" necessary financial resources. The plan begins with a statement of the mission of the University that provides a general focus for the rest of the draft. Each goal is intended to help the University achieve this mission. "Penn inspires, demands and thrives on excellence, and will measure itself against the best in every field of endeavor in which it participates," the statement reads. Rodin and Chodorow said they worked with the deans of the University's 12 schools and with the Academic Planning and Budget Committee to develop the draft. In the spring, the administration will ask the schools to devise strategic plans that use "Agenda for Excellence" as their underlying model. Chodorow said this method will strengthen the University because each school's plans will complement the University's overall goals. "Penn has much greater strength than the mere aggregate of its parts," he said. "This plan calls for action. It's not intended to be inspirational only." The plan's first goal calls for the University to be ranked among the top 10 undergraduate universities in the nation. This will require implementing the report of the Provost's Council on Undergraduate Education, Rodin said. Other goals seek to improve the University's research programs, examine its programs of continuing education, increase use of technology at the University and pursue ways of internationalizing the University's focus. In order to further these goals, the plan calls for new ways of raising revenues at the University, including seeking government funds from non-federal sources and streamlining the administration to cut costs. It also calls for a strategy to communicate the University's strengths to the public. Rodin said a search for a director of University communications is underway, but that no candidates have been interviewed yet. Specifically, Rodin's and Chodorow's nine goals are: ·The University will solidify and advance its position as one of the premier research and teaching universities in the nation and in the world. ·The University will aggressively seek greater research opportunities. ·The University will manage its human, financial and physical resources effectively and efficiently to achieve its strategic goals. ·The University will support strategic investments in master's programs and other programs of continuing education in the arts and sciences and in the professions. ·The University will plan, direct and integrate its government and community relations to enhance its missions of teaching, research and service. ·The University will vigorously pursue efforts to increase significantly the University's role as an international institution of higher education and research. ·The University will creatively deploy new technologies. ·The University will effectively communicate to its various constituencies the ways in which it contributes to the advancement of society. ·The University will identify and secure the funds required to support its strategic goals. School of Engineering and Applied Science Dean Gregory Farrington said he cannot imagine that any school would write a plan that conflicts with the "Agenda for Excellence." "The values of the University's strategic plan are good values for Penn and good values for our schools," he said. "They call for excellence in education and leadership in all aspects of the University. How could anyone be against that?"
(11/13/95 10:00am)
To the Editor: Justin Feil College '96 Cartoon in Bad Taste To the Editor: I am writing in response to the editorial cartoon in the DP dated 10/31/95 which depicted IAA members as rats. Considering the current situation and the fact that the IAA was exonerated of all wrong-doing by the SAC Finance Committee and the Student Activities Council itself, I find the cartoon to be of extremely bad taste. I fully understand the point of editorial cartoons and agree that at times the entire situation seemed somewhat farcical, but fail to see any humor in comparing all IAA members to rats. Compounded with the unsigned editorial on "Misuse and Abuse" (DP, 10/30/95) which was factually inaccurate, this cartoon has only served to hurt the reputation of the DP. I trust that in the future, the editorial board will take greater care in deciding what to print and where to draw the line, and thereby supply the Penn community with the professionalism it both expects and demands. Atul Sood Engineering '98 Read Before Signing To the Editor: After reading Brett Klein and Vivek Bantwal's column ("Tyranny Disguised As Residential Living Precautions," DP, 10/31/95) accusing Residential Living of being everything from brownshirts to despots, I was not sure whether they were really concerned about this "problem" or whether their article was a poor attempt at humor. I concluded it is supposed to be funny, but every joke is still 80 per cent true. I am ashamed that fellow students at the University waste their time and the DP's space complaining about this, especially doing so in such a foolish manner. With all the serious problems the University and the surrounding communities have to deal with, you are concerned about Residential Living making sure there are no fire hazards in your room? I don't care if you make yourselves look stupid, as you do in your article. But don't make my University look stupid, especially when it's so undeserved. If you were really concerned with this problem, rather than writing such guff perhaps you ought to do something about it and protest by moving out of your cozy quad rooms and commuting. Or at least read the lease before you sign it, or else you have only yourselves to blame. Steven Friedman College '98 Political Opportunism To The Editor: I write this letter in response to the recent informal poll which showed that six UA members have flipped-flopped on the issue of the UA audit of the IAA ("Undergraduate Assembly split on IAA audit," DP, 11/1/95). The political opportunism practiced by these six members is one of the most disgraceful acts propagated by members of that body in recent years. Their last minute switch after the SAC vote Monday, in spite of the unanimous support they voiced previously, is just another example of the wishy-washy, no principle politics that is already too widely practiced at Penn. The "leadership" demonstrated by these members is actually that which is farthest from. Whether or not the IAA has abused the use of SAC funds only they will ever know. However, these six UA members deserve our severest scorn for their pandering. If they "didn't support the audit from the start," as one of these six members has boldly trumpeted?now, then, they should have had the moral courage to state that then, not now. Those who have been around this campus for a number of years know the UA to be a body searching for acknowledgement and recognition form the "constituency" they represent. These six members should know that this type of petty politics will only help to ensure that the UA will never receive the respect they seek to truly represent this campus. Jonathan Brightbill Wharton '97 Don't Let GOP Plans Fool You To the Editor: Peter Morrison's essay ("Balancing Costs," DP, 11/1/95) clearly illustrates the GOP's deceptive strategy to pass a budget which will inevitably harm the working class of this country. I have read and watched the debates in Congress, and I can safely say that I am outraged with the Republican plan to cut spending to the elderly, poor, and disabled children. The GOP argues that this is what Americans want. Well, this is not what Americans want. Yes, we want to reform the system but to suffocate it is different story. We have been blinded by promises to cut the budget when in reality we are cutting social programs to give tax breaks to the rich. We want a system that is fair, not a system which gives a tax break to citizens in the $200,000 bracket while cutting tax incentives to the lower income working-class. This is ridiculous. I encourage every voter to seriously evaluate the GOP plan and to see for ourselves what is the present situation of our national budget and what this bill will do to the future of our American economy. Chris Anderson College '98
(11/09/95 10:00am)
Approximately 20 University employees have been fired as part of administrative restructuring, according to Executive Vice President John Fry. No replacements will be hired for their positions. Fry would not specify which jobs in particular are being cut. But he explained that the number of positions vacated over the past two years that will remain unfilled is significantly higher than the number of actual layoffs. Although Fry would not provide a specific number, he estimated that the total is "in the hundreds." Administrative restructuring efforts began last month after Fry revealed his reengineering plans to the University Council at its October meeting. Since then, Fry has reviewed several departments in the University administration to look for redundancy or inefficiency. The 20 positions that will be eliminated are being phased out because they are not crucial to the mission of the University, according to Fry. He said there will be more layoffs over the next three years as administrative restructuring continues. "We are just beginning the process," he said. "We don't want to do everything at once like AT&T; or IBM because that's sort of a corporate method. The number [of layoffs] will be growing over time." Clint Davidson, the new vice president for human resources who took office five days ago, also said the pace of restructuring will pick up once all the plans for reengineering are finalized. "I don't know that any decisions have been made," he said. "I don't know anything about numbers or positions. It's all still in the planning stage." Another part of restructuring will entail determining which vacated positions get filled, Fry said. "We're beginning to evaluate open positions more carefully," he said. "All new openings have to go through me personally. It's my way of slowing down the pace of hiring." By examining vacant positions before filling them, the administrative restructuring team may be able to eliminate many of the unnecessary jobs at the University, Fry said. He said future layoffs will be targeted at all levels of the University -- not just support staff or professional staff. "We're not targeting any particular class," he said. "We're just trying to eliminate work that doesn't add value. What really matters is to get the work out of the system." Fry said he expects to see layoffs distributed fairly evenly between grade A-1 professional workers and grade A-3 support staff. A-3 Assembly Chairperson Karen Wheeler, an administrative assistant for the Center for Community Partnerships, could not be reached for comment. And Penn Professional Staff Assembly Chairperson Ira Winston, who directs computing for the Engineering School, said he did not know how his constituents would be affected by the restructuring. Fry said he has tried to set up a system to ease fired University employees out of their jobs. He said he established a coordinator in his office to try to shift employees from one part of the University to another -- rather than firing them outright. "We have 30 days for in-placement," he said. "We are trying to find them positions within the institution for which they are qualified. If within 30 days that hasn't worked, we go to out-placement." Fry added that two workers have already been relocated to different sections of the University administration under the in-placement program. The University is also working with two outside firms specializing in placing laid-off workers in new jobs, Fry said. He added that the University is also providing resume consultants and performing job searches for former employees. "We care about our people and we're trying to do the right thing in a bad situation," he said.
(11/03/95 10:00am)
Zeta Phi Beta President Sheree Thompson was in the midst of celebrating her sorority's newest pledges Wednesday night when she heard loud noises and saw something falling from a High Rise North window. Although the College senior could not identify what had fallen, she realized that students were throwing items such as bottles and water balloons at the sorority sisters. And in a related incident, two residents of the 13th floor of HRN said a group of black men barged into their rooms, looking for signs that the residents were responsible for the thrown bottles. University Police Capt. John Richardson said he could only confirm that one bottle was thrown, and could not connect it to the sorority event. But Thompson said there was no doubt in her mind that the items were thrown at those celebrating. "They were throwing it directly at us," Thompson said. "We didn't want anyone to get hurt by anything coming out of the windows so it ended our celebration." University Police was aware that the event, slated to last about half an hour, was scheduled to take place in Superblock, according to Richardson. Sorority sisters and others who participated in the celebration denounced the high rise residents' actions, saying that the incident marked another example of campus racial problems. "I felt like I was in the 1960s trying to sit at a lunch counter," College sophomore Shelise Williams said. "A lot of people say black people are segregating themselves by living in DuBois, but we can hold cultural events at DuBois and not worry about anybody throwing anything at us." And Engineering junior Jerome Hairston, who attended the celebration, said the University community is "showing itself to be intolerant once again." College sophomore Alex Birnbaum, who lives on the 13th floor of HRN, said she heard a pounding on her door at around 11 p.m. Tuesday. When she opened the door, she found a group of black men standing outside her room. "This guy came into my room and went to the double and was looking around in the back," she said. "I stepped into the hall and saw 10 people at least -- they said there were people throwing glass and they were just checking it out to see what happened." Birnbaum's neighbor, who wished to remain anonymous, was also approached by the group of men. She said she had just come home and saw the group of students coming into HRN. According to the HRN resident, they approached the front desk and were allowed through without signing into the building. But Richardson said the men must have been University students since they could not have entered to the building without a PennCard. Birnbaum said after finishing the search of her room, one student knocked on and then opened Birnbaum's neighbor's unlocked door and searched her double room as well. "The guy sticks his head in, looking around, suspecting that one of us threw something out the window," the HRN resident said. Wharton junior Arthur James, who attended the celebration, said the reaction to the event was typical. "Stuff like this happens all the time whenever there's a small celebration and it happens to be a black organization," James said. "I was surprised that someone threw a bottle but I wasn't surprised people reacted." Daily Pennsylvanian reporter Julayne Austin contributed to this article.
(10/19/95 9:00am)
Twenty-one vehicles were broken into during the past week in the University-owned parking lot at 38th and Spruce streets. And nine of the incidents were reported on a single day, according to University Police. Cellular phones, computers and cash were stolen from the vehicles, Victim Support and Special Services Director Maureen Rush said. She added, though, that some of the cars with broken windows were not burglarized. The parking lot is reserved for students living in University residences. "It's a little unnerving," said College senior David Barclay, who has parked in the lot for the past four years. "The garage is supposed to be safe, considering we pay a hell of a lot of money to park there." College junior Jennifer Jaye said the rear passenger window of her new Chevy Blazer was smashed while her car was parked in the lot. Although nothing was stolen from the automobile, the window costs approximately $450 dollars to replace. Jaye said she was also upset because it appeared as though someone had searched the contents of the car. Engineering junior Shara Arnofsky said that she did not worry about parking her car in the garage until her friend had a car broken into. The friend's replacement car was also broken into, she said. "I don't feel safe there," Arnofsky said. "I would never walk there alone." Ellen Read, a College senior who transferred from Drexel University, said Drexel parking lots are equipped with video cameras and security guards who check ID for students entering and leaving past 11 p.m. Arnofsky said that without similar surveillance, she thinks there is very little students could do to prevent these crimes from happening. Even if a car alarm went off, there would be no one there to hear it, she said. Victim Support, University Police and Transportation and Parking are currently discussing electronic security options, Rush said. And the Department of Public Safety is sponsoring an outreach program today from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. in the garage to educate students on protecting themselves from auto-related crimes. Students should not leave any items visible in their cars, and should also report anyone who appears to be wandering around aimlessly in a lot to University Police, Rush said.
