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(12/07/94 10:00am)
"Penn's $25,000 tuition is worse than putting up a sign that says 'No Blacks Allowed.'" The Oct. 27 Podberesky v. Kirwan decision, which found race-based scholarships to be unconstitutional in Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina, leaves the future of minority scholarships in question. And the pending appeal of this court decision further clouds the race-based scholarship issue. In 1990, Daniel Podberesky, a Hispanic student, requested consideration for a four-year, full-tuition, non-need-based scholarship under the University of Maryland's Benjamin Banneker Scholarship Program. Although the school admitted Podberesky was qualified for the scholarship, University of Maryland officials said the scholarship was only open to black students. In wake of the October decision, some institutions have already begun to look for alternative methods to attract minority students to college. In states presently affected by the Podberesky decision, it is too soon to predict its impact on universities. "I need [legal] interpretation of the decision, but we will comply with the law," said James Belvin, the director of Undergraduate Financial Aid at Duke University. The state of Maryland along with the University of Maryland at College Park has requested an en banc hearing of the case. If granted, it would mean that a panel of all 13 justices of the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals would hear the case rather than just the three judges who issued the October decision. The request will most likely be denied. "[The defendants] have a virtually zero chance of being reheard," said Richard Samp, lead council for the plaintiff, who submitted his rejection of the en banc hearing on Nov. 25. If denied, Maryland will request a U.S. Supreme Court hearing of the case, which will most probably be granted because of the federal and state governments' stake in the case -- they promote minority scholarships through affirmative action directives. "If the government asks, the Supreme Court will hear it," Samp said. If the Podberesky case is heard by the U.S. Supreme Court, which would not happen until after the 1994-1995 term, race-based scholarships may be abolished nationwide. "This decision, if affirmed in the Supreme Court, would be the death knell for all minority scholarships," Samp said. Some university officials across the country say the threat of losing minority scholarships is frightening. Officials at the University of Florida at Gainesville, the 1994 winner of the National Association of Graduates Admissions Professionals Award for Graduate Admissions of Minority Students, find themselves asking how the school would function without race-based grants. "It's very interesting," said Jane Burman-Holton, director of Programs and Information for Graduate and Minority Programs. "If you wanted to recruit minorities, what would you use?" To combat this very real question, several scholarship programs have started to consider alternatives to race-based grants. In order to target the students that were formerly distinguished by race requirements, the Department of Education, in awarding its Ronald E. McNair Post-Baccalaureate Achievement Program limits eligibility to first generation college students whose income does not exceed 150 percent of the poverty level and who are members of an ethnic group that is underrepresented in graduate education. Some experts don't think that lack of money is the main problem impeding minority students. The problem is the lack of college preparation. "You can get the money from the government if you have the academic ability to stay in school," said Sam Evans, chairperson of the American Foundation for Negro Affairs (AFNA). Evans said professors often discriminate against minorities in the classroom. "When black students are put on scholarship, they can't succeed academically," he said. "[Discrimination] is no further than the tip of the teacher's marking pen." Evans added that in addition to discrimination, other obstacles many African American students face is inadequate preparation for college. To better prepare black students for college, AFNA created an alternative to scholarships that lower standards for minority student recipients by creating special programs which enable these students to compete with the mainstream. AFNA's summer program, which has held classes on the University's campus, allows Philadelphia African-American students to attend courses designed to give them extra help in areas that will facilitate their success in college. "When we set up the program, minorities were three percent of all professionals, but were 12 to 14 percent of the population," Evans said. "In order to increase professions among minorities, we set up the program to aid students in meeting the academic requirements of the school he or she attends." Since its birth in 1968, Evans boasts that AFNA's program has had 7,000 graduates, with 370 doctors and 250 lawyers and doctorate degrees. He added that it has been selected by the government as a model for the nation. Evans said he supports the abolition of all minority scholarships. Instead, he says, college should be affordable for everyone. "Penn's $25,000 tuition is worse than putting up a sign that says 'No Blacks Allowed'," Evans said. "Blacks were kept out of universities for 100 years and as soon as they were let in, tuition was raised four times as much." Evans said this trend is like restaurants raising prices to maintain their caucasian clientele. The phenomenon of increasing tuition has been held responsible by many for the discrepancy in minority enrollment at universities, regardless of financial programs present at these schools. This statistic is difficult to measure, however, because often students who do not think they can afford a school will not apply, according to Bill Schilling, director of Undergraduate Student Financial Aid. While some think lowering tuition is the answer, others think the number of minority scholarships should be increased. Pat Walton, assistant director of Undergraduate Admissions at the University of Maryland would like to see a larger number of race-based grant programs. She believes that they improve conditions of discrimination. "I would like to see programs for every minority," she said. "Change comes gradually, whatever is popular gets noticed first." By 2004, 68 percent of high school graduates will be minorities, according to Jane Burman-Holton, director of programs and information for Graduate and Minority Programs at Maryland. "In the long run we will switch to recruiting caucasians and simply recruiting the ethnic group that is underrepresented," Burman-Holton said. Because of the relatively small scholarship fund held by the University and the current controversy surrounding minority scholarships, the financial aid offices are weary of any change at all. "We want to continue to be able to overcome the financial obstacles for our students," Schilling said. "With federal programs not increasing, we're faced with a challenge that we'll have to deal with over the next five to ten years." Graduate program administrators expressed similar sentiments. "I hate to see anything to happen to financial aid which might jeopardize it," said Vice-Provost for Graduate Education Janice Madden. "Anything that happens to financial aid is disturbing." The debate over minority scholarships is a multi-faceted issue with as many different viewpoints as recipients. Policy makers are being faced with compelling arguments on both sides of the issue and the solution does not seem close at hand. "You could probably write two or three books on why we are in the situation we are in today," said Jean Girves, associate director of the Committee on Institutional Cooperation. "It is not simple how we got here and it is not simple how we get out of it."
(12/06/94 10:00am)
Many see minority scholarshipsMany see minority scholarshipscreating much-needed opportunities.Many see minority scholarshipscreating much-needed opportunities.But others feel these scholarships areMany see minority scholarshipscreating much-needed opportunities.But others feel these scholarships arelowering standards and insulting theMany see minority scholarshipscreating much-needed opportunities.But others feel these scholarships arelowering standards and insulting theintelligence of minority students These days, it's not always the thought that counts. Minority scholarships, although implemented to meet a wide variety of well-intended goals, are encountering increasing resistance from students and society alike. Some students said last week minority scholarships are degrading because they assume minorities cannot compete with the mainstream. And other critics wonder how a scholarship committee can determine the race of a student who has a mixed background. Some have said students try to manipulate the system for their own personal gain. Academics have also said these types of scholarships further divide the races rather than diversify student bodies. Sam Evans, chairman of the American Foundation for Negro Affairs, said although institutions establish these scholarships as compensation for past discrimination, the harm that comes from further separating the races far outweighs any financial advantage. "Schools should not have special scholarships for minority students," Evans said. "Minorities aren't asking for special treatment, they're asking for equal treatment." Students with mixed ethnicities also pose a problem for the system of minority scholarships. Angela Todd, a Committee on Institutional Cooperation staff member, said multiethnic students sometimes cause confusion for scholarship selection. She said eligibility for certain scholarships "depends on the situation." "Every now and then someone will call if they're half and half," she said. "Some are Asian and Mexican, but Asian isn't covered. To be considered, you have to consider yourself Mexican." She added that mulatto students also have difficulties applying for minority scholarships. "Mulatto is not covered," she said. "It is better to say that you feel black." Graduate School of Education Associate Dean Nancy Streim said federal guidelines exist to categorize minorities, but they are not distributed to those applying for the Foster Fellowship, GSE's minority scholarship. She added GSE uses self-report data to determine races. "It is one's experience in life where you find your real identity," she said. Streim said students who are only one-sixteenth black, for example, are not abusing the system if they apply for scholarship money. "It is more important that [applicants'] goals be consistent with Dr. Foster's," she said. Foster was a University alumnus who was assassinated while working in a high school in Oakland, Calif. But she does admit that "there is a fuzzy area between your lineage and your race." Administrators of various colleges also said students may try to manipulate the system to their own advantage, although it is unlikely. "There is a possibility of abuse of the system, but I haven't seen it come up," said Robin Gabriel, Assistant Director of Admissions and Coordinator of Multiethnic Recruitment at College of Wooster. "If the student wanted to play games, they'd be putting their reputation on the line," Gabriel said. Still, advocates cite many justifications for the establishment of these grants. Minority scholarship programs in Florida were created to compensate for traditional discrimination that plagued the public school systems since their foundations. In 1969, the University of Maryland at College Park established its program in an effort to diversify its 99 percent white student body. One consistent claim is that standardized tests, like the Scholastic Aptitude Test, which are commonly used as criteria for the awarding of scholarships, are biased. Congresswoman Cardiss Collins (D – Ill.) endorsed the Black Coaches Association on Sept. 23, 1995 in recommending the abandonment of the Scholastic Aptitude Test for college entrance requirements. She also supported the elimination of SAT scores for athletic eligibility in the National Collegiate Athletic Association. The Illinois Democrat said the test is racially and culturally biased. At the University of Maryland-College Park, standardized test bias was one reason minority students were not winning the Francis Scott Key Scholarship, the university's race-neutral scholarship, according to Pat Walton, the assistant director of undergraduate admissions. "The [Key] scholarships are based on SAT scores and they discriminate against minority students," Walton said. "Academic criteria is different across cultural lines and the SAT is a better indicator for white students." Walton said many minority students are not raised in comparable environments to white students and therefore should not have to compete with them for scholarships. "Caucasian students may have more opportunity to take SAT prep courses and may better use the type of analytical thinking necessary for the test," she added. College junior Lisa Foreman agreed, adding that minority students in public high schools often cannot prepare for standardized testing as well as other students. "I don't see anything wrong with lowering standards because blacks score lower on the SAT," she said. "I believe they are biased. I didn't have books that prepared me for the SAT. Public schools are just different from private schools." But other minority students find the lowering of standards for minority scholarships unacceptable and insulting. "[A minority scholarship] disadvantages the person and it's an insult," said College junior Samantha Ching. "It's insulting because they're saying you can't get in on your own. It's saying they're just dumber, they don't meet up to par." College junior Cynthia Lam agreed, adding that minority scholarships "breed suspicion." "People feel you're inferior because it's questionable how you got where you are," Lam said. "You don't see the real person, you only see that they were given all these opportunities." "It may lead you to question your own self," Lam added. Janice Gams, associate for Public Affairs at The College Board said that all standardized tests report discrepancies in the scores of minority groups as compared with overall averages. But no valid research has produced evidence for cultural bias on the SAT, she said. Gams reiterated many of the same factors as Walton in accounting for the differences in scores across ethnic groups. "Minority students may not take the same academic courses [as white students]," Gams said. "[They] may come from poorer families, and their families may have less education." But opponents of minority scholarships do not think it appropriate to allot money solely on the basis of skin color. Currently, the biggest obstacle for race-based scholarships is the Fourth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals, which on Oct. 27, decided that minority scholarships are unconstitutional in Podberesky v. Kirwan. The three-judge panel in the case held that University of Maryland at College Park failed to present sufficient evidence that a race-based scholarship is necessary and legal on its campus. "It thus remains our constitutional premise that race is an impermissible arbiter of human fortunes," the judgment stated. "The injustice of judging human beings by the color of their skin is so apparent that racial classifications cannot be rationalized by the casual invocation of benign remedial aims." In 1990, Daniel Podberesky, a Hispanic student requested consideration for a four-year, full-tuition, non-need-based scholarship under Maryland's Benjamin Banneker Scholarship Program. Although the school admitted Podberesky was qualified for the scholarship, University of Maryland officials said the scholarship was only open to black students. The panel of judges said in their decision that the Maryland's Banneker Scholarship Program does not meet the constitutional criteria for race-conscious measures because discrimination is not currently prevalent on Maryland's campus. The Court of Appeals went on to say that although the program is used to attract high-achieving African American students to the University of Maryland, "High-achievers, whether African-American or not, are not the groups against which the University discriminated in the past."
(12/05/94 10:00am)
On Oct. 27, the Fourth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals rendered an unprecedented decision, shocking university administrators nationwide -- minority scholarships are unconstitutional. Although the judgement in Podberesky v. Kirwan only affects the states under the jurisdiction of the Fourth Circuit -- Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia and North and South Carolina -- it raises questions about minority scholarships across the country. The three-judge panel for the case held that the University of Maryland at College Park failed to present sufficient evidence that a race-based scholarship is necessary and legal on its campus. In 1990, Daniel Podberesky, a Hispanic student with a 4.0 high school GPA and a 1340 SAT score, requested to be considered for a four-year, full-tuition, non-need-based scholarship under the school's Benjamin Banneker Scholarship Program. Although the school admitted Podberesky was qualified for the scholarship, University of Maryland said the scholarship was only open to black students, not Hispanic students. Podberesky then filed suit in 1990 in U.S. District Court in Maryland. A minority, or race-based, scholarship is one which considers only those students of minority ethnicities such as African American, Mexican American, Native American, Puerto Rican and Pacific Islander, said Angela Todd, who works on the Committee on Institutional Cooperation, a joint effort of the Big Ten universities to increase opportunities for minority graduate students. In recent years, the number of programs designed specifically for these groups has vastly increased, bringing with it increased controversy. College administrators' motives for implementing these programs are as varied as the ethnic groups they target. Many schools hope race-based scholarships will help diversify their student bodies. Others say these scholarships compensate minorities for past discrimination. And some offer scholarships to try and train minorities to work in fields where ethnic professionals are under represented. "I think that [minority scholarships] are a vital aspect of a lot of students' attaining an education," said College senior Liz Melendez, United Minority Council chairperson. "It is a tool or mechanism that has been implemented to help minority students come up to par or reach the same playing field as majority students." But some groups have said the problems surrounding these scholarships outweigh their benefits. One court has already said these scholarships are unconstitutional. Others ask how a college or scholarship committee can determine an applicant's race, if he or she has a mixed background. And some minority students said they consider race-based scholarships an insult because these scholarships assume minority students need extra help. "In theory it's slightly insulting to create a black scholarship with lower standards," said Undergraduate Assembly member and College junior Eric Tienou. "Once other students see that I'm an African American, they would think that I got here on lower standards, when I have worked as hard as they have." Colleges and universities continue to offer these scholarships despite the controversy surrounding them. And the University itself is not immune from this trend toward minority scholarships, despite its policy not to give merit or sports scholarships. Every year the University's Undergraduate Office of Financial Aid receives endowments from private corporations which express a preference for minority recipients, said Bill Schilling, director of Undergraduate Aid. He said because of University policy, he simply distributes this money to the best-qualified, needy recipient. "Our policy is to meet the needs of any needy students, regardless of race," he explained. The Wharton Graduate Office of Financial Aid also reports distributing corporate minority scholarships, said Michelle Palmer, associate director of admissions at Wharton Graduate Division. When establishing such a scholarship, corporations such as General Electric request the financial aid office to pick the minority recipient or to select several students to be considered by the corporation, Palmer said. The Graduate Office of Financial Aid, however, established its own Fontaine Fellowship in 1968 in honor of the University's first fully affiliated black faculty member, Professor William Fontaine, said Janice Madden, the vice provost for Graduate Education. Madden said the full-tuition and full-support fellowship was founded for minorities because establishing such a scholarship was the best way to honor the late Professor Fontaine. College officials across the country say minority scholarships are the most effective means to attract minority students to attend their schools. Catholic University of America in Washington D.C. established its scholarship program to attract minority students to the school. The scholarship the school offers, the Geno Baroni Scholarship, is a $5,000 per year minority grant based on financial need. "It was created for recruitment reasons, we wanted to increase minority enrollment," said Paul Patelunas, the director of Financial Aid for Catholic University. Similarly, the Clarence B. Allen Scholarship, a $12,000, non-need based grant began the College of Wooster's minority enrollment drive. "We want to continue the Afro-American presence on campus and encourage enrollment," explained Robin Gabriel, Wooster assistant director of admissions and coordinator of multiethnic recruitment. Gabriel said minority students feel their only chances to receive scholarships are through sports. Therefore, she said she feels a need to create scholarships to keep up Wooster's present rate of minority enrollment -- 30 students a semester. "We have to show that we are dedicated to enrolling [minority students]," she continued. "There are other incentives for them to come besides sports." And, colleges with historically single race enrollment hope that offering money to minority students will make up for past biases. University systems such as those of Maryland and Florida started race-based scholarship programs to compensate for years of discrimination against minority groups, especially African Americans. "The whole state had discriminated against minority students and we wanted to address that with affirmative action," said Frank Valines, associate director of Client Services at UMCP. In 1978, the Florida Board of Regents determined that the public educational system had to start programs which would redress the systemic discrimination that had been practiced for the majority of Florida's history, according to Regina Sofer, associate vice chancellor and director of Equal Opportunity Programs of the Florida Boards of Regents. Accordingly, the University of Florida-Gainesville, along with the rest of the Florida schools, started its Graduate Minority Fellowship and its McKnight Doctoral Fellowship, which are full-tuition minority scholarships, said Jane Burman-Holton, the director of Programs and Information for Graduate and Minority Programs at the University of Florida. "The federal government almost revoked funding," Sofer said. "[The federal government] said, 'If you choose to be federal government contractors, start these programs with state money.' " The University of Maryland at College Park created its Benjamin Banneker Scholarship Program, the program named in last month's court decision, to "recruit a talented pool to the state," said Maryland Assistant Director of Undergraduate Admissions Pat Walton. "These students are [sought] after across the country," she said. "We want the leaders and minority scholarships are the best way to recruit the best and the brightest." "There is a need for more money for American minority students," said Director of Undergraduate Financial Aid at Thunderbird University John Skillings. "In order to maintain the caliber of our students we had to establish these fellowships." Minority scholarships remain a debated issue. Universities and colleges continue to have them and offer minority students money and incentives to attend their school. At the same time, these scholarships will always have critics. But until the appeal of the Podberesky v. Kirwan decision is heard, administrators and students nationwide will be playing a waiting game.
(12/02/94 10:00am)
The Philomathean Society's lecture series entitled "Whither the University: Then, Now and Tomorrow," continued yesterday with a speech by University History Professor Thomas Childers. His lecture, "The University and the Third Reich," examined Germany's universities and their relations with the Nazi party in Germany in the early 1930s. The series, which began in September, has studied the evolution of the university throughout history. "We wanted to explore how the university and society interact, from the Sophists to Medieval times to present," said Arthur Kamya, College senior and moderator of the Philomathean Society. "I'd like people to get a conceptual understanding of what has been the mission of the university." More than 30 students attended the lecture which was held at 4:30 p.m. in College Hall. Childers' lecture began with statistical background on the academia of pre-Nazi Germany. "Twelve percent of college professors were Jewish while only one-half of one percent of the total population was Jewish," Childers said. He then elaborated on the state's increasing control over universities during this time period. This evolution included mandatory six-week physical training and drill programs for professors, compulsory National Socialism classes for university students, restricted enrollment of Jewish students, and the complete elimination of Jewish professors. Childers explained that most German university students initially supported the movement -- perhaps out of a desire for a stronger national identity. Throughout the lecture, Childers highlighted the failure of the university academia to take a stand against the increasing control of the National Socialist or Nazi movement. "When opposition was voiced in the academy, it was at [individual policies], not the regime's movement," Childers said. "There was a lot of grumbling, but not complaints about the regime itself." His final and most alarming message was his warning to today's university academia. He said the failure of the university to rally against opposition was not a result of political ideology, but rather of apathy and individual self-interest. The audience seemed very receptive to Childers' message. "I enjoyed learning about state interaction with academia, which I feel is one of the major problems with American academia today," said College junior Brendan Cahill. "I found some of the statistics very interesting." Childers said he thinks it is imperative for students to continue the study of Nazi Germany. "It has been 50 years since the end of the Third Reich and I find it an intellectual imperative -- and moral too -- that we talk about this," he said. "We can't afford not to be concerned."
(11/21/94 10:00am)
In Japan, bowing one's head is considered a sign of respect. In West Philadelphia, it is a sign of vulnerability. These and other safety issues were discussed Wednesday night at the 9th Annual Meera Memorial lecture, held in the Red Room of Graduate Tower A. At the lecture, 15 University international women learned how to overcome cultural barriers in order to protect themselves. The Meera lecture series was started as a memorial for Meera Ananthakrishnan, an Indian graduate student brutally stabbed in her apartment in Graduate Tower A over Thanksgiving break in 1985. The physics graduate student's death served as a wake-up call for the University. "The women's community made a commitment not to forget about her," said Elena DiLapi, the director of Penn Women's Center. "We're trying to remember her and take lessons from her death -- in the safety needs of international students." In order to address safety concerns pertaining to international students, Maureen Rush, director of Victim Support and Special Services, spoke about cultural norms that can be barriers to safety. "In countries where the police are connected with the military, students will do anything rather than calling the police," Rush said. "Promise me tonight, if you ever feel unsafe, you're going to trust your instincts." Other obstacles to safety for international students were language barriers, the desire to make friends and the discomfort with making eye contact, she said. These conditions make international students, especially Asian women, more vulnerable to crime, including scams or "confidence games." DiLapi said Ananthakrishnan was especially vulnerable because she was an isolated student in a male-dominated department and a foreign country. "If she weren't so isolated, maybe she wouldn't have been by herself over Thanksgiving," DiLapi said. "Maybe someone would have said, 'Come home with me.'" DiLapi said such circumstances are easy for the University community to overlook. "We don't think about it," DiLapi explained. "We go home and deal with our families." To combat the problems, presenters recommended a variety of campus resources, such as a "special check" by University Police for students on campus over Thanksgiving. They also recommend the under-utilized Penn Walking Escort Service. According to Josh Gesell, manager of Walking Escort, many international students feel guilty asking for a ride or walk on campus. "This is your service for you to use and feel safe," Gesell said. "Don't feel embarrassed, because you might be the next victim." To feel more confident on the street, Rush recommended the Rape Aggressive Defense course given by the Division of Public Safety. Students were receptive to the speakers' recommendations. "I'm really curious to find out about safety issues, especially for women, not because I'm scared, but because I prefer to be knowledgeable," said Fine Arts graduate student Beverly Brereton. Education graduate student Ya Ting said the lecture taught her a great deal about the safety issues concerning international students. "If I walk on the street in my country, I won't make eye contact," Ting said. "Here, it's a rule you have to walk confidently."
(10/28/94 9:00am)
The Federal Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit ruled yesterday afternoon that the University of Maryland's racially-based scholarships are unconstitutional and violate students' civil rights. The three-judge panel based in Richmond, Va., rendered its decision in Podberesky v. Kirwan and held that the University of Maryland at College Park failed to present sufficient evidence that a race-based scholarship is necessary and legal on its campus. In 1990, Daniel J. Podberesky, a Hispanic student, applied to the University of Maryland as a freshman. While applying, he requested to be considered for a four year, full-tuition, non-need-based scholarship under the school's Benjamin Banneker Scholarship Program. Podberesky's academic qualifications, which included a 4.0 high school GPA and 1340 SAT score, would, by the school's own admission, have qualified him for a Banneker Scholarship. But, according to the University of Maryland officials, the Banneker Program is for black students, not Hispanic students. Podberesky filed a lawsuit naming the University of Maryland and its President, William E. Kirwan as the defendants. The suit accused the Banneker Scholarship Program of violating his Fourteenth Amendment rights as well as infringing upon his civil rights under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 -- the federal statute prohibiting racial discrimination in any federally funded program. University of Maryland's lead attorney, Dennis Bloomer, argued the Banneker Program was created as compensation for former policies that discriminated against black students. The school did not allow black students to attend before 1958. "The university created the program as a desegregation program mandated by the Office for Civil Rights," said University of Maryland Counsel Andrea Levy. "The university almost had its funding revoked from the state [because of insufficient desegregation programs]." The original suit was filed in 1990 in U.S. District Court, which decided in favor of the university. The plaintiff immediately appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. This court, however, remanded the case back to the district court level for further action. The appeals court stated that in order for the program to be considered appropriate, the University of Maryland would have to present evidence that discrimination exists on its campus and that the Banneker Program could remedy it. The school launched an investigation which found several vestiges of discrimination still existent at the university, such as a hostile campus climate and low enrollment, retention and graduation rates for University of Maryland African American students. Following the published results of this research, the U.S. District Court once again ruled in favor of the defense. Podberesky appealed this decision for the second time. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit decided yesterday that the contents of the university's report were unconvincing and insufficient. It stated that giving scholarships to black students who do not qualify for need-based financial aid is not appropriate compensation because these students are not the group of African Americans that have been traditionally discriminated against, according to court records. The University of Maryland can now appeal the case to the Supreme Court. "This decision, if affirmed in the Supreme Court, would be the death knell for all minority scholarships," said Richard Samp, counsel for the plaintiff. "[The decision] will help move us toward a color-blind society." The defense would not comment except to say they are "tremendously disappointed," and that they are still reviewing the decision. The decision does not explicitly say what actions need to be taken, but according to Samp, Podberesky will probably receive $35,000 compensation for his undergraduate tuition. Samp added that because most colleges offer racially-based scholarships, the court's directives will be difficult to implement. This decision will affect all schools under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit including Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina.
(10/14/94 9:00am)
Sixty years ago the small spunky red-headed bully began terrorizing Spanky and Alfalfa. And although Tommy Bond doesn't sport the curly locks or scowl that were once his trademark, he still brought back memories for University students and faculty alike during his visit to campus yesterday. Bond, who played "Butch" in The Little Rascals features of the 1930s and '40s signed his autobiography, Darn Right It's Butch, in front of The Book Store from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. For students and staff, Bond's visit was a hit. "I grew up watching The Little Rascals," said College and Wharton senior Omar Amanat. "It's part of my childhood?It's very nostalgic." Lucy Madler, a University Book Store employee, said Bond's features "were something worth seeing rather than that stuff they put out today." "They don't make anything like that anymore," she said. But for some, the memories were not as light-hearted. "When I originally saw the show, Butch was the scariest person I'd ever seen," said College freshman Peter Young. Bond's 192-page book recounts his star-studded childhood and behind-the-scenes adult life, while outlining the 64 features Bond performed -- starting at age five. Bond said it was not easy to record his almost 70 years of show business into his autobiography, which took five years to write. "At my age it's difficult to remember what you did when you were five," he said. "Especially when you can't remember what you did yesterday." Bond's wife Polly -- who was Miss California in 1945 and was one of the two country western singing Darling Sisters -- said reading her husband's book is just like having a conversation with him. "We tell stories all the time," she said. "We never shut up. [Reading the book] is like hearing a story." She also said she felt that writing the book was one way to move on in life. "In addition to living for today, we need what was," she said. "When we decide what we want to take from the past, we can move forward." Even today, people recognize Bond as "Butch," although the reactions are sometimes mixed. "One day a kid in the market came up and kicked Tommy in the shin," Bond's wife recalled. "He said, 'That's what you did to Alfalfa yesterday.'" Nostalgic sentiments flowed yesterday during Bond's two brief hours on campus. "We're bringing back a beautiful time," Bond's wife said. "There were no worries, no cares, no cholesterol counts and no taxes -- just fun and games." Rascals enthusiasts said they missed the show that was once a part of their childhood. "There's a little rascal in everyone -- especially me," Amanat said.
(10/14/94 9:00am)
In an effort to provide more opportunities to pre-medical school students, the University's pre-med chapter of the American Medical Student Association met Wednesday night to discuss local volunteer efforts and the establishment of a series of AMSA task forces. The meeting, which was held in the Smith-Penniman room of Houston Hall, began with medical students from area medical schools describing their volunteer community out-reach programs. The medical students from the University, Thomas Jefferson University and Temple University said they needed help from pre-med volunteers in areas such as health clinics at Philadelphia soup kitchens, teaching AIDS awareness and "Adopt-a-Grandparent" programs. Students said they welcome these types of opportunities. "The medical students have so much energy and enthusiasm about getting pre-meds involved in activities," said Engineering senior Judy Chou. "[There were] a lot of opportunities I never would of thought about," said College junior Priti Bhansali. The other program beginning this year creates 12 "task forces," each coordinated by University students, to promote awareness of health related issues. The task forces will work toward bringing speakers to campus, setting up booths for the homeless and developing position papers for use in congressional lobbying. These two programs were designed to give opportunities to University undergraduates not previously offered, AMSA officials said. "[The programs] give people the opportunity to learn more about health care issues rather than just volunteering at HUP," Chou said. Coordinator of Community Health Task Force Christine Boulos, a College freshman, said she likes how the new programs focus on community involvement. "[The programs] are good because I can mix community service and the medical association." The University's 260 member pre-med AMSA chapter was created just last year by College of General Studies student Anu Sharma. "I went to the AMSA conference in Boston and it was very inspiring," she said. "I basically said, 'Gosh, as a pre-med you can really learn a lot,' So I started this chapter." Sharma said she is very excited because the Student Activities Council has recently decided to fund the chapter. "It gives pre-med students the chance to get to know medical students, get involved in projects and learn about things going on across the country," she added.
(10/10/94 9:00am)
The rise in coffee prices did not seem to affect Community Service Living and Learning Program students Friday night when they transformed the Castle into a coffee house. In an effort to expand weekend on-campus social options, the Castle, which houses 20 undergraduate students, set up tables, baked desserts, brewed coffee and decorated their lobby to create the look and mood of a coffee house. The event, which included live entertainment, took place from 8:30 p.m. to midnight. Admission was free, but sponsors asked for a $2 donation for food and coffee. "We wanted to create a relaxing environment so people could get together and have some good conversation," Wharton sophomore and program participant John Seeg said. The event featured three University musical performances -- Off the Beat, the Suitable Boys and Janet Kim. Each performed for about 20 minutes. "The groups were great," said College sophomore Amy Jacobs. "It's nice to get to see Penn talent in a natural, relaxed atmosphere." Castle residents said Friday night their motive behind the coffee house was to give University students another option for campus entertainment. "There are few on-campus alternatives to fraternity parties or watching movies in dorm rooms," said Bridget Dugan, a first-year Education graduate student, who helped organize the coffee house project. "With crime and people not being 21, this is a good opportunity [for on-campus entertainment]." Castle residents said although the majority of their community service is performed off-campus, they also need to focus their attention to their immediate surroundings as well. "A major part of the community is the Penn student-body and one aspect of community service is serving it," Seeg said. In addition to providing a social outlet for students, residents said they also wanted to raise awareness about the Castle and its programs in general. "A lot of people don't know that this is a residence," said College junior Shelly Waldman. "We have a dining service, open 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. which is open to all students." Although it felt like a coffee house for the majority of the night, during Off the Beat's performance, it seemed more like a concert hall. All conversation stopped and the standing-room only crowd listened intently. "We don't [usually] get a chance to perform like this," said Off the Beat president Cres Pellecchia, a College senior. "It was a lot more fun and laid-back?We were singing for the fun of it." Although the Castle's maximum occupancy is about 75 people, at one-point 155 coffee connoisseurs were counted, Dugan said. Residents said they were thrilled with the turnout and plan to repeat the event monthly. Although they will charge for next month's event, all coffee houses will be free after that, Dugan added. The Castle residents also said that they are seeking four students to fill vacancies in the program.
(10/03/94 9:00am)
What does meshuganeh mean? In normal Yiddish, one might say the word means crazy, but to a group of University students it is the name of a new Jewish social club. The Meshuganeh Club, the first purely social club sponsored by the Hillel Foundation, was formed to promote the social interaction of the University's Jewish students from every sect of the religion, said co-founder Lynne Havsy, a College junior. Unlike Ruach, Hillel's reform social club, Meshuganeh is not associated with one sect, nor does it perform Jewish rituals during its events, she added. "Something was missing in the community," said College junior Noah Roffman, the club's other co-founder. "[We wanted] to make [the community] like home for us." Roffman and Havsy said the existing Jewish groups on campus focus primarily on religious activities, which may alienate some less observant Jewish students. "Maybe there are students not interested in Israel," Roffman said. The founders said last week that about 130 students have expressed interest in the club, 40 of which attended the introductory ice cream social-planning meeting held this month. "We're all really shocked," said College junior Brad Coren. "It's really taking off." The group's activities will include trips to other universities, Philadelphia attractions, sporting and cultural events and intramural sports. And the group has entered a team in the University's intramural co-ed football league which is competing in bracket I. "The girls are better than the boys," Coren joked. The Meshuganeh Club's grand opening will take place on College Green after Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres' speech today. The "Post Peres Celebration" will offer catered food and a live band. "It's not often that a Jewish head of state speaks at Penn," Havsy said. "That's why we intend to celebrate his visit in grand fashion." The club meets once a month in Houston Hall. "Even the planning meetings will be social," Coren said. Although the club was formed to unite the Jewish community, non-Jewish students are welcome, and club leaders said this week they are still actively seeking members.
(10/03/94 9:00am)
Nearly 860 Philadelphia area students and graduates attended the Graduate Study and Career Fair for minority students held at the Civic Center Friday. The fair, which was sponsored by the Black Issues in Higher Education magazine, featured 60 exhibits from businesses and graduate schools from across the country. The graduate schools representatives at the fair said they hope to diversify their enrollment. Business representatives said they plan to offer new opportunities to minority students. "There has been a dramatic drop-off in the participatory rates[of minorities] in graduate study," said Frank Burtnett, a consultant and planner of the fair. The fair was designed to aid these groups in obtaining information about graduate schools and make valuable contacts in the job market, Burtnett said. At the fair, exhibitors got a chance to meet a large number of minority students at one time rather than visiting many different universities on recruiting trips. "One day at a job fair is equivalent to months of other methods of recruiting," said Nancy J. Harvey, human resources associate of the Besselaar Corporation. Fair-goers were able to get information about graduate schools and pick up registration forms for graduate school standardized examinations. Those attending also met and presented resumes to employers and attended seminars on subjects such as good interviewing technique. One school, Thunderbird University, an international management MBA program in Phoenix, offered minority students waivers for their program's application fee at the fair. In order to provide the most opportunities for students, Burtnett said he tried to intersperse graduate school booths with the employer exhibits as much as possible. "We want to create exposure and interfaces for the students," he said. Most students said the fair gave them the attention that they miss at mainstream job and graduate school fairs. "It is easier to have a conversation here because there are less people," said Kareema Levetter a Lafayette University graduate. "I don't feel rushed?I can have a 15 minute conversation with an employer [at this fair]." One of the only criticisms of the fair was the absence of a few scheduled employers, such as the Philadelphia School District.
