U. abandons plan to demolish high rises
(03/26/97 10:00am)
*This article appeared in the joke issue.
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U. takes 44% of early applicants for Class of 2001
(01/14/97 10:00am)
The University admitted 44 percent of early decision applicants this year, in an increase from last year's record-breaking low of 35 percent, according to Admissions Dean Lee Stetson. The Admissions Committee deferred 31 percent of applicants until the spring and rejected 24 percent of the applications outright. Although the early application pool was smaller this year -- 1,829 applicants, as opposed to last year's 2,046 -- testing profiles among those accepted in the class of 2001 were stronger, Stetson said. And he noted that this year's early acceptance process was still more selective than two years ago, when 52 percent of early decision applicants were admitted. The average SAT verbal score went up one point to 667, while the average math score increased ten points to 698. The average SAT II score also rose -- 675 from last year's 662 -- while the average class rank remained constant, with most students in the top 4 percent of their class. Stetson said he expects the final class to have a similarly high profile. "Having a larger group of students accepted early allows us to be more discerning and selective in the regular pool," he said. The 808 students already accepted make up 35 percent of the Class of 2001. Women make up 48 percent of those admitted early, down from last year's all-time high of 52 percent. The College of Arts and Sciences accepted 506 students from its 1,145 applications. Wharton took 195 students from a pool of 476. The School of Engineering an Applied Science admitted 87 out of 172 applicants. And the School of Nursing selected 20 students from among 31 applicants -- the largest pool in eight years. Of the total number of accepted students, 224 are minorities -- 28 percent. By contrast, 159 minority students were admitted early last year. This year, 152 of the students admitted early are Asian or Asian American, 33 students are African American and 74 are Hispanic. The early decision class is the most geographically diverse in the University's history, with 44 states and 23 foreign nations represented. The number of students accepted from Pennsylvania and New York decreased, although the number of student from New Jersey rose from 126 last year to 144. The rash of crimes near campus in early fall probably contributed to the decrease in early applicants this year, Stetson said. And several of Penn's peer schools -- like Princeton, Yale and Stanford universities -- changed their policies from early action to early decision, which may have lured away potential Penn applicants. "This is not just conjecture," Stetson said. "We've gotten feedback from students applying to Penn."
U. takes over leasing for 3401 Walnut
(12/05/96 10:00am)
Administrators will work with a consulting firm to redevelop retail in the complex and across campus. In signing a contract Tuesday night, the University acquired full leasing responsibilities for the 3401 Walnut shopping complex, allowing it to control the vendors in the Food Court and the store fronts at 34th and Walnut streets. Working with the consulting firm William Jackson Ewing, officials plan to redevelop the complex as part of a complete overhaul of local retail. Although the University owns the shopping complex, Kravco -- a Philadelphia-based leasing company, which built the King of Prussia Mall -- had previously managed the space. When the shopping complex was built about 10 years ago, University administrators asked Kravco to handle leasing responsibilities because of the company's success in King of Prussia. But University President Judith Rodin said the frequent vacancies in the complex left administrators "outraged." The most prominent hole has been the Italian Bistro space, empty for two and a half years. Other short-lived ventures at 3401 Walnut included The Lodge, Quantum Books and Perfect Pretzel. Now that the University is no longer at the mercy of Kravco's leasing decisions, Executive Vice President John Fry said his first priority will be to fill the Bistro space. In a survey last spring by the University's Real Estate Department, students ranked the shops at 3401 Walnut Street as the most popular stores near campus. Of the survey's respondents, 67 percent said they frequent the building's food court. About 20 percent asked for a "nice" Italian restaurant near campus, which may influence the search for new vendors. Picking up leasing responsibilities for 3401 also fits into the University's ongoing efforts to improve retail on and near campus. The University will work with consultants from the firm -- who specialize in urban development and retail -- to analyze the Walnut complex and examine the current "mixed bag of tenants," Fry said. The same team will be responsible for planning retail reprogramming across campus. This reprogramming will encompass retail within Houston Hall, 40th Street and the Sansom Commons -- the upscale retail district to be centered around the new Barnes & Noble bookstore. "We want a holistic approach to our retail programming," Rodin said. While University administrators want to create retail with a single "look and feel," the Walnut Street retail will aim to "rehumanize" the area -- in conjunction with a plan to enhance, renovate and improve the north end of campus, Fry said. But shops in the 40th Street mall -- which the University acquired from Smokey Joe's owner Paul Ryan in 1990 -- will be more service-oriented, in accordance with a program to revitalize the west end of campus. "There will be different gears of retail, but they will all relate to each other," Fry said.
Quad to see ResNet by September
(11/26/96 10:00am)
Preliminary electrical work will begin in January. Large-scale construction is set to begin May 12, after move-out. Installation of ResNet -- the University's fiber-optic residential communications system -- for the Quadrangle is on schedule and should be completed by September 1. Completing the installation will provide an additional 1,500 residents with a high speed ethernet connection to PennNet, access to a 55-channel cable television system and enhanced telephone service, according to Director of Academic Programs in Residence Chris Dennis. "Students will be able to get the Quad ambiance with modern technology," he said. Construction of new wiring pathways in the Quad is necessary to accommodate the installation in older buildings, he added. Preliminary basement work for the project is due to begin in January, Dennis said, noting that work will not start before 9 a.m. or take place during reading days and exams. Larger-scale construction will start May 12, after undergraduates move out. Because of the ResNet project, the May 10 undergraduate move-out date will be strictly enforced, except for students granted extensions because of graduation or other University-sponsored events, Dennis said. The construction will force Quad seniors who plan to stay on campus until graduation to relocate to the Ware College House, which was wired for ResNet in the summer of 1994. Other residents staying after May 10 will be moved to the high rises, Dennis said. Students currently living in Ware or the high rises who plan to remain on campus after the official May move-out date may be asked to change locations or accommodate Quad residents in their rooms. Additionally, there will be no early move-in before August 30 for Quad residents. "We are trying to give people as much advance notice as we can," Dennis said. "But that's as much as we can do. "The construction schedule is so tight, and we need to get so much done, that we have to begin as quickly as we can," he added. Dennis said it is essential to maximize summer construction to allow leeway for potential problems that may occur. "We hope construction will be straightforward," he said. "But whenever you are working with an old structure, things can surprise you. Planners have already mapped out the wiring pathways for the ResNet cables. "To the extent you can anticipate [problems], we have worked them out," Dennis said. Installation of ResNet in the Quad will complete the wiring of campus dormitories, a project that began in 1993.
SpectaGuard to handle all U. security
(11/26/96 10:00am)
In an effort to improve campus safety, the company will replace the contractors employed by individual schools. The SpectaGuard Security Company will assume responsibilities for security in all University facilities, Public Safety Managing Director Thomas Seamon announced yesterday. SpectaGuard will designate more than 175 guards for campus, replacing the several security contractors now employed by individual schools, said Chris Algard, who directs security services for the University. Additionally, the company will station a vice president, two account managers and a full-time trainer on campus, according to SpectaGuard President Bill Whitmore. Algard said the SpectaGuard contract will cost the University about the $4.6 million it already pays for the different companies. He said the other security companies have been notified that their contracts will end, and a letter explaining the situation will be sent to individual guards as well. A transition date will not be released until after the guards are notified, Algard added. Administrators said they hope employing SpectaGuard will improve campus safety. "Partnering with one of the leading security providers in the country enables us to collectively improve campus safety and the quality of life at Penn," Executive Vice President John Fry said. Unification of security services under one provider is a key provision of Seamon's master plan for campus security, released last March. Seamon said yesterday that a single security service provider would allow for better integration of safety and security systems. "Experience shows that guard personnel and University Police, working side by side, forge an effective working relationship that greatly benefits the overall security program," Seamon said. Representatives from areas of the University that employ security guards met last June to evaluate their current security contracts and identified SpectaGuard as the best service provider. "SpectaGuard has extensive experience with both educational institutions and the health care industry, and maintains the highest standards of professional performance," Fry said. Whitmore cited SpectaGuard's use of cutting-edge technology such as computerized instant reporting and data tracking as a further benefit of employing the company. Currently, individual schools within the University employ more than 200 security personnel from five different companies. Each school has different pay structures and overhead rates. Allied Security Service is the largest provider, employing more than 75 guards at the University since August 1994. SpectaGuard -- a campus presence since the early 1980s -- is employed by the Wharton School, the Dental School, the Steinberg Group, the Veterinary Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania and the Arthur Ross Gallery. SpectaGuards also handle crowd control at Franklin Field and the Palestra. And the University hired 10 more SpectaGuards in October to patrol the area west of 40th Street in response to a high number of crimes earlier this fall
U. moves toward more control of retail on Walnut St. in 'rehumanizing' effort
(11/25/96 10:00am)
The plans include taking over leasing at 3401 Walnut and centralizing food trucks near Van Pelt. In conjunction with a plan to enhance, renovate and improve current facilities on the north end of campus, the administration plans to "rehumanize" the area by overhauling local retail space. "Right now, the only thing you want to do on Walnut Street is to speed up and get through those lights," Executive Vice President John Fry said. "We want to slow traffic down and get people to say, 'Wow, this is really cool'." The administration is now working with urban planners, a traffic consultant and the Division of Public Safety to redevelop the area, Vice President for Facilities Management Art Gravina said. And the University hopes to hire a retail consultant to survey the condition of retail across campus, he added. As part of the retail overhaul initiatives, the University is moving to acquire full control of leasing responsibilities within the 3401 Walnut shopping complex. A Philadelphia-based leasing company now manages the space. Assuming responsibility for the center would enable the University to control the vendors in the Food Court and the store fronts at 34th and Walnut streets. "We want to change the feel of Walnut so it doesn't seem like you're crossing a great chasm," Gravina said. Fry said his first priority is to fill the Italian Bistro space, which has been empty for two and a half years. He also wants to fill any vacancies in the food court. Over time, he added that he would like to conduct a store by store analysis, examining the "mixed bag of tenants." On the other side of Walnut Street, Fry said he would like to tear down the wall that backs Van Pelt Library, making room for a vending court for food trucks on campus. "Right now you have a brick wall that serves no particular purpose," he said. "And we need a place to put vendors that is prominent, because vending is part of the culture of the campus." Fry said he also wants to demolish the Franklin Annex at 36th and Sansom streets and reexamine the use of the Mellon Bank Building at 36th and Walnut streets. "The Franklin Annex does not need to be where it is, and the Mellon Bank is not a particularly functional building," Fry said. He said he would like to find places to relocate offices currently in those buildings and make room for mixed use retail and residence space, continuing "the vocabulary of Walnut Street we started off on 34th." He added that this space is critical for "Sansom Commons" -- a project to revitalize the 3600 and 3700 blocks of Sansom Street. University President Judith Rodin said the soon-to-be-built Barnes & Noble bookstore on 36th and Walnut streets will serve as a hub for a commercial district she hopes will resemble popular Manayunk, Pa. "We want to create a vibrant, 'round-the-clock, exciting destination," Rodin said. She added that she would like to extend the type of successful retail and restaurants currently located on Sansom Row between 34th and 36th streets. "The bookstore annex should be an incredible anchor for well-respected merchants," Gravina said. The Penn Inn -- a University-built and -operated hotel to be located next to the new bookstore -- will also draw merchants to the area, administrators said. "The Inn will have a distinctive feel -- like one of the great Penn buildings, not like a chain hotel," Fry said. He added that the University is working with a planning commission to close 36th Street between Walnut and Chestnut streets, which would allow for the creation of an "urban park" with a plaza and outdoor cafes. "Closing off the street is not necessary to begin the project, but it is important for establishing the ambiance of the area," Fry said. To finance the project, Fry said he intends to solicit private investment from outside companies.
Rodin hopes to push boundaries of campus farther east and south
(11/21/96 10:00am)
Strategic acquisitions to the east and south of campus and enhancement of its northern and western borders are the mainstays of the Campus Master Plan, University President Judith Rodin announced last week. The plan aims to secure the University's connection to the city and strengthen relations with neighboring institutions, Rodin said. The Civic Center, the parking lot at 33rd and Walnut streets and the land around the 30th Street Post Office are among sites targeted for acquisition to the east and south of campus, Vice President of Facilities Management Art Gravina said. Such purchases could support recreation facilities and laboratories, Gravina said. "The current athletic fields suffer a lot of wear and tear from interscholastic use, and labs get archaic very quickly," he explained. The Civic Center would provide a good location for research laboratories, Gravina said. He said recreation fields to the east of campus could create a "front yard" for the University, replacing the current "industrial zone." Other plans for east and south campus include the improvement of safety and cleanliness and the encouragement of economic development. Rodin pointed to the recent transfer of the Genovo building at 30th and Walnut streets as an example of the type of economic development practice she hopes to continue. Expansion to the east and south "makes geographical sense related to our athletic facilities and residences -- especially Hill House," Rodin added. Gravina said the administration is looking at all facilities to the east and south for acquisition and expansion purposes. "It's like the construction of old grind mills, which were built with an explosion wall," he said. "If and when we have to explode, this is where we want to build out." The last time the University undertook a major expansion project was in the 1960s, when development to the west led to the construction of Superblock. And northern expansion at the time saw Penn take over land along Market Street for what became the University City Science Center. This created a scare that the University would "wipe out the whole neighborhood," said Carol Scheman, vice president for government and community affairs. "We are committed to doing better" this time around, Scheman said. Expansion under the new plans would focus on non-residential areas like the Civic Center and the 30th Street Post Office. The rest of Rodin's proposals involve enhancing, renovating and improving current facilities to the north and west -- not buying new land there. Plans also include upgrading residences on the northern border. The recently acquired Sheraton Hotel at 36th and Chestnut streets will be used as "swing space" during residence renovations across campus. And the development of "Sansom Commons" will create an upscale retail district centered around a new hotel and the Barnes & Noble superstore. On the west end of campus, the aim is to revitalize the area and reconnect Superblock to main campus, Rodin said. "Superblock seems to me, a real missed opportunity for this University," she said last week. "I think we can rectify the error." Plans for a student-oriented "Hamilton Village" in the Superblock area are underway, Gravina said. "High rise living can be OK if there is a sense of community," Gravina added. Ironically, before Superblock was constructed, a collection of Victorian-era homes known as Hamilton Village occupied the space. Safety will be a central issue for planning of the Superblock area, Gravina said. "We are working with Public Safety to make sure we don't design into something that is unsafe, like dark entranceways and extensive shrubbery," he said. With the upcoming move of Public Safety to 40th and Chestnut streets, University Police's station and carriage house on Locust Walk will open up possibilities for a late-night cafe and coffee shop, Gravina added. Beyond Superblock, the University will attempt to revitalize retail west of campus. For service-oriented retail, Rodin said a Special Services District -- with an emphasis on clean, safe and well-lit streets -- at the northwest edge of campus is in the works. She added that she wants to facilitate commercial development on 40th and Market streets and provide incentives for faculty, staff and students to live in neighborhoods immediately west of campus. "We want to work with the city so the area is clean and safe," Gravina said, adding that plans include getting rid of graffiti and cleaning up empty lots. "We're not seeing ourselves as Big Brother," he added. "We want to be a catalyst for discussion among neighborhood groups." Scheman said she is meeting monthly to coordinate with various neighborhood organizations. "I can't claim we've worked with them every day, but our plan is informed by parallel planning by the community," she said. She explained that local residents and the University have similar views on the area's needs -- including improved housing and public schools, economic development and more job opportunities.
Mail thefts drop after April arrest
(11/18/96 10:00am)
Former U.S. Postal Service worker Gerald Ricca, who pled guilty to charges of mail theft last April, finished his two-month incarceration earlier this month and will soon begin his mandatory 300 hours of community service at the University. Ricca, a clerk at the 30th Street Post Office, was arrested on three counts of mail theft and three counts of mail delay last year. He retired from the Postal Service in July. Ricca was responsible for many of the mail thefts that plagued University dormitories since 1992 -- striking the Quadrangle especially hard. According to U.S. Postal Inspector Lou Recchilongo, the number of complaints from University students decreased by more than 99 percent after Ricca's arrest in February. And this semester has been equally problem-free, he said. "There used to be a collective cringe each fall when the theft reports started coming in," he said. "There has been nothing like that this year." But Residential Services Director Nancy McCue said she has handled more than 1,400 reports of lost or damaged mail filed with Residential Living since that time. McCue said she has received three complaints of damaged mail since September, but the damage was apparently the result of transport conditions, not tampering. There have been about seven complaints about lost mail, McCue added. Recchilongo called these numbers extremely low. "Mail does sometimes get lost on its way," he said. "But it's when we start to see a pattern -- such as disappearance of mail going to a certain address -- that puts a light under us and we start to investigate." There have been no reports of rifled mail on campus this year, Recchilongo added. "We have our finger on the pulse of what's going on at Penn," he said. "The best way to prevent theft is to act on complaints right away."
NEWS ANALYSIS: Seeing double: Facilities plans may overlap
(11/15/96 10:00am)
Rodin offered her vision before the consultant firm she hired had made its recommendations. When University President Judith Rodin announced a series of proposals for campus facilities Wednesday, she offered her vision of the direction campus planning should take. But this summer, the administration hired independent consultants to recommend future residential changes. Since some of Rodin's announcements covered residences, administrators may end up with two designs for campus redevelopment by the end of the year -- possibly forcing them to make another series of decisions at that time. The consulting firm of Biddison Hier has been working to survey campus residential facilities this fall. All changes in the newly formed Department of Housing and Residence Life have been put on hold until the firm releases its final report in April. When the firm's preliminary report comes out in January, administrators say they hope to use it to re-envision the current dorm system. "Our recommendations will deal both with physical problems of facilities on campus and the modernization of those facilities, so they will be attractive for the next 20 years," consultant Gail Hier said. But Rodin's outline for a campus master plan already includes sweeping changes to residential facilities. Among these changes are potential plans to build new dormitories on the north edge of campus. Renovations may target the graduate towers, the Quadrangle and Stouffer residences, Rodin said. And the demolition of current residences like the high rises is a further possibility, she added on Wednesday. Rodin also included a residential evaluation in her presentation, labeling Stouffer "a mess" and Superblock "a real missed opportunity for this University." She called many of the facilities outdated, since they weren't built to support modern technology. And she added that the organization of residential programs needs to be revised, to shift away from an in loco parentis structure where the University keeps a close eye on student life. Despite the apparent inconsistencies, one University official speculated that Rodin's comments do not necessarily conflict with the Biddison Hier survey. He said the survey will take into account everything the president mentioned. "I believe [Rodin] was just throwing out ideas to peak community interest," he said. "She was merely showcasing the range of thinking that is going on." There are currently no concrete plans for residential restructuring, no matter what Rodin may have alluded to in Wednesday's University Council meeting, he said. No such plans will be released until after the Biddison Hier report is finished, the official explained. Rodin said that the University also needs a further assessment of its facilities' physical condition. Additionally, she said the administration must determine whether renovation or demolition and reconstruction would be most suitable for each structure.
U. grants Wharton use of Book Store site
(11/14/96 10:00am)
Rodin also announced plans for a new Bio complex and to move the Education and Social Work schools. The Wharton School of Business will build a new facility on the current Book Store site, University President Judith Rodin announced at University Council yesterday. The administration gave Wharton the go-ahead to begin construction at 38th and Walnut streets, once Barnes & Noble builds its superstore at 36th and Walnut streets. Wharton will be responsible for funding the construction, according to Executive Vice President John Fry. Earlier estimates priced the project at $100 million. Both Wharton and the Psychology Department had petitioned for use of the Book Store site. But Rodin said the Psychology Department must make decisions about its future before considering a new facility. She added that the Book Store site will fulfill Wharton's significant need for space. The school's dramatic change in curriculum -- emphasizing team-building techniques -- requires an additional 250,000 square feet of classroom space, she explained. Wharton Deputy Dean Janice Bellace said studies by an independent consulting firm in 1992 concluded that adding space onto existing structures would be impossible. The studies determined that new construction would be more economical than renovating Vance Hall. The Psychology Department had wanted the space to consolidate its offices, laboratories and classrooms, which are now scattered in four separate buildings. But Rodin said there hasn't been a serious conversation about the possibility of a new Psychology building on Locust Walk for a long time. "The Psychology Department is wrestling over a variety of questions, including whether to stay together as a department," Rodin said. She said planning a new facility would not be practical until Psychology decides whether to split into two branches -- one biology-focused and the other focused on computer science. Psychology Chairperson Robert Seyfarth said he is currently working with the president's and dean's offices to formulate a statement about the future of the department. "A new building -- a place that makes sense given the future of the discipline -- is of highest priority," he added. There are no plans for a specific location, but Rodin suggested that Locust Walk would be an impractical site for research facilities. Also at yesterday's meeting, Rodin announced plans to build a new Biology complex. The project would entail some renovation and some new construction, she said. Phase two of the IAST project is also in the planning stages now, Rodin said. As work on the Roy and Diana Vagelos Laboratories nears completion, work will begin on phase two -- the cognitive and computer science component of the project. Vice President of Facilities Management Art Gravina said this portion of the project will require the renovation of the Morgan Building, the Music Building and the Music Annex. Funds for phase two are already committed, Gravina added. IAST phase three will entail the creation of a science library, which Gravina said will likely use the top floor of Hayden Hall. And Rodin announced plans to relocate both the Graduate School of Education and the School of Social Work. Rodin said she is working with the deans of both schools, but had not yet determined a location for either. "The schools of Education and Social Work are in terrible spaces," Rodin said. "The buildings are ugly -- not the kind of buildings Penn wants in middle of its campus." But Fry said no matter what happens to the buildings, they will not be demolished for more Wharton expansion.
U. to push City Council for food truck regulations
(11/12/96 10:00am)
Citing "intolerable" conditions, University administrators are pushing the City Council to regulate the vendors who set up shop near campus. Carol Scheman, vice president for government and community affairs, said she hopes the Council will approve some regulations by next spring. An ordinance on vending would ease enforcement of health and safety codes, Scheman said. With the spring deadline in mind, she said she plans to start pushing ideas through the Council immediately. In an attempt to reach a consensus on vending guidelines, Scheman met with students and faculty last week and previously spoke with the vendors themselves. The vending situation in University City has worsened since 1992, when the imposition of regulations in Center City caused an influx of vendors into West Philadelphia, Scheman said. "The current compliance with public health standards is variable," she added. Unregulated vending can also interfere with the University's safety efforts. Director of University Police Operations Maureen Rush said vending trucks often obscure certain areas from the view of patrolling officers. Rush cited an incident last month when four students were robbed behind vending trucks on the 3900 block of Spruce Street. "The conditions made it a nice place for a robber to be," she said. "Three big silver trucks were left there for the weekend and provided cover from the street." She added that the Department of License and Inspection subsequently ordered the removal of the trucks. Rush also said she has seen "many near misses" where pedestrians crossing from behind vending trucks couldn't see oncoming cars. "I know from just driving around here," she said. "Instead of going to cross at an intersection, students stick their little heads out from behind the food trucks. If there had been a big truck coming, they wouldn't have a head." Scheman pointed to vending trucks as "sitting bombs," noting a case last year when a vendor's gasoline tank exploded. Restricting vending trucks from Spruce and Walnut streets is also part of the University's lobbying agenda for City Council. Vendors on Spruce Street restrict ambulance access to the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, according to Scheman. After two hours at City Hall, Scheman said she was able to push an agreement to remove the 11 vendors who blocked Spruce Street in front of HUP. But two have since returned. "Dealing with these issues one at a time is irrational and a waste of resources," she explained. Scheman said most vendors seem optimistic about plans for regulation. "They know not everyone will be included," Scheman said. "The vendors understand they are in a competitive business where there are winners and losers." But she noted that a limited arrangement would be preferable to the current situation, where many vendors have to get to campus as early as 2 a.m. to fight for a space. "Vending is an important Penn tradition," Scheman said. "But it can be done better." Following authorization of the City Council ordinance, the University will proceed in developing more specific plans, such as where certain vendors will be situated around campus, which vendors will be included and parameters for cart design.
Firm scrutinizes campus facilities
(11/08/96 10:00am)
The Biddison-Hier teamThe Biddison-Hier teammet with studentsThe Biddison-Hier teammet with studentsand faculty for input. Gathering suggestions and opinions for their ongoing evaluation of University facilities, management consultants Gail Biddison and Tom Hier met with student and faculty groups on campus yesterday. Through brainstorming meetings with students, faculty and administrators -- in addition to market research -- the partners hope to devise a plan for improving campus buildings. "Our recommendations will deal both with physical problems of facilities on campus and the modernization of those facilities, so they will be attractive for the next 20 years," Hier said. Administrators will use some of the research on dorms in planning the future shape of the residential system, a goal of the 21st Century Project on Undergraduate Life. Other research will go into a planned overhaul of all campus facilities. Biddison said she and Hier probably won't officially release recommendations until April. "We are still in the information-gathering process," she added. But some findings may be released through the office of the Vice Provost for University Life beginning in January. In the past few months, Biddison and Hier have met with several focus groups and distributed a survey to some students via e-mail. "We've gotten a lot of feedback about the notion of a community," Hier said. "And we have begun to think through what that means as far as space organization." Freshmen already seem to have well-defined residential communities, he noted. The University could consider trying to establish a housing option for upperclassmen that falls somewhere between the tight-knit groups freshmen form and the total independence of off-campus living, he said. Biddison and Hier discussed issues including the placement of common spaces, dining halls and athletic facilities throughout campus with students from the Residential Advisory Board last night. Students suggested more service centers like the one in Hill College House, which provides amenities such as futons for visitors, vacuum cleaners, media equipment and stamps. Van Pelt College House residents recommended the 24-hour advanced technology support they receive in their residence's computer labs. "We have a real commitment to student and faculty input in this process," Associate VPUL Larry Moneta said. Moneta added that a separate facilities audit examining "every square inch of campus" will be completed by the end of the semester and turned over to Biddison and Hier to incorporate in their evaluation. "This is a detail-oriented process," he said. "It's something you only want to do every 50 years."
Foglietta skips victory party after cruising to his ninth straight term
(11/06/96 10:00am)
Philadelphia DemocratsPhiladelphia Democratsgathered downtown toPhiladelphia Democratsgathered downtown tocheer President Clinton'sPhiladelphia Democratsgathered downtown tocheer President Clinton'seasy reelection. and Erin Malec Complete with hoagies, cheesesteaks and mustard-covered pretzels, the Pennsylvania Democratic Party celebrated its victories last night at the Convention Center in true Philadelphia fashion. Missing from the festivities, however, was 16-year incumbent U.S. Rep. Thomas Foglietta (D-1st District). Although after winning 87.3 percent of the vote, Foglietta was expected to celebrate his landslide victory with the other members of the party, he had still not appeared late into the evening. But his Republican opponent, Philadelphia lawyer James Cella, was even more obscure. "I don't have the foggiest idea who the other guy is," said architect Michael Neil, a 1st Congressional District resident, who attended the festivities. "I voted for Foglietta because he has done a lot for the city, he has a great administrative staff and he is pro-Israel," Neil added. Despite Foglietta's absence, those gathered at the Convention Center continued to party, powered by President Clinton's easy reelection. Mayor Ed Rendell and the Philly Phanatic joined a diverse crowd, including many students and local residents. Rendell, sporting a navy tie speckled with donkeys and saxophones, welcomed the 68 percent voter turnout in the city -- 78 percent of which supported Clinton. "Everyone was saying that Philadelphians would stay home this year, but some of the turnouts were better than anyone had expected," Rendell said. "I think that people in this city have a genuine affinity for Clinton, and that they understood what a Republican Congress could do to us," he added. Despite Rendell's optimism, Republicans maintained their control of the House of Representatives and Senate after yesterday's election. A crowd of approximately 1,000 had already gathered by 9 p.m., when Clinton's victory was announced. Penn students made a strong showing among those dancing and cheering as election results poured in. "We wanted to get here early, because we knew it wouldn't be long before it was over," Wharton sophomore Jeff Snyder said. College freshman Michele Sacks, attended yesterday's event as a member of Penn for Clinton/Gore '96. "One of the reasons I went to Penn was to be in the city to be part of things like this," Sacks said. All students involved with College Democrats and Penn for Clinton/Gore were invited to the celebration. "I was really involved in the campaign and now's the time to sit back and enjoy it," College sophomore Beth Garstkiewicz said. Rendell said student support was essential to the success of the Democrat campaigns. Observing the election proceedings, Asmat Ullah Khan, director of Pakistan's National Institute of Public Administration, said the election process contrasted greatly to that in his country, whose parliament dissolved yesterday morning.
Profs: U. could do more to boost safety
(11/05/96 10:00am)
After last week's stabbingAfter last week's stabbingfaculty offer their own tips. Microbiology Professor Susan Weiss was full of regrets last week when she sold her West Philadelphia home, where she lived with her family for the past nine years. "It's a wonderful neighborhood," Weiss said. "There is an interesting mixture of people, lots of kids on the blocks and it's convenient to the University and the city. "But all that is juxtaposed to coming home at night and running into your house because you are afraid of being mugged," she said. Last week's murder of medical researcher Vladimir Sled, compounded by the numerous crimes in the area this fall, brought safety to the forefront for many faculty members living west of campus. But Weiss said those who have lived in the area for longer periods of time tell her the current increase in crime is just part of an ongoing cycle. Although she said she doesn't feel more unsafe now than in years past, she expressed greater concern about safety since her son is older and more independent. "The neighborhood is fine for raising kids when they are little and you can carry them around everywhere," she said. "But when they get older and need to go out, safety becomes more of a problem." She recalled a time when someone stole her son's bicycle after knocking him off it -- an incident that prompted her decision to move to the suburbs. "It's a shame because I think the more people who move out, the more we're giving up the streets to the criminals," Weiss added. While the majority of University faculty who live in West Philadelphia said they have no intentions of leaving their beloved neighborhood, they are quick to recommend ways the University could improve the area. "A lot could be done to make the area around the University livelier, more vibrant and more appealing," said Urban Studies co-Director Michael Katz, also a History professor who has lived in the area for 18 years. He urged the University to encourage more faculty, staff and graduate students to take up residence in West Philadelphia by making investments to stabilize the quality of housing and local schools. "They could develop a mortgage plan with more generous financial incentives," Katz added. History Department Chairperson Lynn Lees suggested the University look at mortgage plans such as Yale University's, which gives subsidies to faculty and staff who live in New Haven, Conn., neighborhoods near the school's campus. But she emphasized that any new plan should aim to benefit West Philadelphia specifically. Biology Professor David Roos said the University needs to focus its efforts to deal with the problems of trash and graffiti west of campus. "It is well established that a dirty environment begets crime," he said. Although he thinks measures such as Penn Escort are useful, Roos said they shouldn't be viewed as permanent solutions. "While it is good to realize its benefits for the moment, the goal should be a community where Escort is not necessary," he said. Roos added that he thinks the University should reconsider creating a safety corridor extending Locust Walk to 47th Street --Ean idea suggested several years ago that received little response. Carol Scheman, vice president for government and community affairs, is spearheading several ongoing plans to improve West Philadelphia. "The University can't make decisions about where people live," Scheman said. "Nor can the University single-handedly make West Philadelphia a safer place. "But I am hopeful that the West Philadelphia area will turn around and become a better, more attractive and safer place to live," she said.
Dining ranks No. 2 for healthy cuisine
(10/31/96 10:00am)
Dining Services rankedDining Services rankedjust behind Duke for itsDining Services rankedjust behind Duke for itsnutritional content. Penn's Dining Services ranked second behind Duke University in a nationwide survey released this week on healthy food offered in campus dining halls. The survey, conducted by a Washington-based physicians group, lauded Penn dining services for its inclusion of a daily egg- and dairy-free dinner entree. The Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine also commended Penn's rotating salad bar with fat-free dressing and the make-your-own stir-fry wok station. "We are happy to be ranked number two," Marketing and Meal Contract Coordinator Adam Sherr said. "It shows we are headed on the right track." The committee surveyed dining services at 38 campuses across the country, looking at menus, recipes and nutritional information, according to the group's media coordinator Kathy Savory. The schools surveyed included the universities ranked in the top 20 by U.S. News and World Report, plus a few schools to equalize geographical distribution, Savory said. "We wanted to let high school students looking at these schools know where the real healthy meals can be found," she said, adding that dining services can be an important factor in deciding where to matriculate. Each of the top five dining services had at least one low-fat or vegetarian dish offered each night, Savory said. Engineering and Wharton freshman Dean Pernisie said he thinks Penn Dining Services has a diversity of offerings that sets it apart from other schools. "I see a real attempt at providing a variety of food -- from the salad bar to hot entrees to the wok station," Pernisie said. "Rather than having a single specific meal, they accommodate for individual preferences." According to Sherr, Duke's high rating is due to a vocal vegetarian population among its student body. "Duke is known to have the most intricate vegetarian fare that we know," Sherr said. All decisions made by Dining Services are based on semi-annual student surveys, Sherr said. The vegetarian bar, along with wok and pasta stations all stemmed from student requests, he added. "The name of the game is to give students what they want," Sherr said. Savory added that the general trend in campus dining over the past few years has been toward healthier fare. "Students are requesting healthier options," she said. "The days of mystery meat are coming to an end." She stressed the need for healthy eating among college students. "For many students, college is the first time they are making their own eating choices," she said.
Bagel Builders closes its doors
(10/29/96 10:00am)
Houston Hall's Bagel Builders shut its doors for good Thursday afternoon, to the disappointment of students expecting a bagel and cup of coffee for breakfast the next morning. "It was very frustrating to have made plans and then to walk up to a closed gate and see that I wouldn't be having a bagel," College sophomore Elisa Stein said. "The alternative food options were less than satisfactory." According to Associate Director of Student Life Tom Hauber, the store closed unexpectedly due to financial difficulties within its franchise group. "[The group] fell on hard times," he said. "They have had to close five or six stores in the area." Hauber said the University wants to replace Bagel Builders with a similar operation. Those companies under consideration include Manhattan Bagel Company, which has taken over several area Bagel Builders in the last few months. Manhattan Bagel spokesperson Bill Parness said though he is unaware of the potential deal, hiscompany is interested in acquiring the Bagel Builders franchise group that includes the Penn site. Hauber said Manhattan Bagel is not among the potential replacement companies he has talked with thus far. "I have spoken with two or three companies and made a lot of progress since Friday," Hauber said. "The top contender wants until Wednesday to put some numbers together," he said, refusing to reveal the name of that company. "But considering the time of year -- with students here -- we hope to have something in that space within the next two weeks."
Renovations complete, Law School returns to original home
(10/24/96 9:00am)
Ceremony celebrates end ofCeremony celebrates end of2-year, $6.5 million projectCeremony celebrates end of2-year, $6.5 million projectto restore Lewis Hall Marking the conclusion of a two-year, $6.5 million restoration and renovation project, Law School graduate and donor Howard Gittis cut a ribbon at ceremonies last night to symbolically rededicate Lewis Hall -- the Law School's original building at 34th and Chestnut streets. Bagpipes welcomed the black-tie clad guests to the exclusive affair, which was limited to the school's major benefactors and administrators. U.S. Sen. Arlen Specter (R-Pa.), a 1951 Penn graduate, and Mayor Ed Rendell, a 1965 graduate, were among those in attendance. "It is great to have a benefactor like [Gittis] to make this contribution so that students can train here at this great law school and perform legal aid," Specter said. Gittis' donation supported the construction of a law clinic on the building's ground floor, where the school's legal firm will be housed. "We now have one of the finest facilities for a clinical law office or law firm anywhere," Law School Dean Colin Diver said. The clinic, named for Gittis, offers students, under faculty supervision, the opportunity to argue cases for Philadelphia residents. "Clinical studies are what give graduating law students the ability to get in, start quickly and be great assets to their clients," said 1957 College for Women graduate Lenore Gittis, Howard Gittis's sister. The Lewis Hall renovation updated the building for greater flexibility and restored its 17th century English architecture and design. In addition to the Gittis Clinic, renovated areas of the building include two classrooms and a reading room in Goodrich Hall, Sharswood Hall and Kaufman Seminar Room. New admissions and development offices were added, and technology upgrades now connect computers to the classrooms. A newly created trial courtroom will include cameras to allow students to review their own performance. At a benefactors' dinner following the rededication ceremony, Rendell remarked on the renovation's "incredible use of space --Eput together in a practical way, while preserving the grandeur [of the building]." "It's great to come back and speak at Penn Law," Rendell added. "When I applied to the school as an undergraduate, the dean laughed at my application? and told me my money would be better spent at Smokey Joe's." Other returning Law graduates also said they were impressed with the renovations. "It is an extraordinary combination of a beautiful job with renovation and an adaptation of space that was no longer being used to suit current needs," 1979 Law graduate Don Millinger said. Law School Assistant Dean Gary Clinton noted that the renovation is especially relevant to current students. "Space means something to people," he said. "Students can sense a continuity in time. People who have gone here have done wonderful things with their lives and that history is reflected in this building." The Law School, founded in 1850, has been housed at its current location since 1900. When Lewis Hall was first opened, the structure was the largest building in the country devoted exclusively to the education of lawyers.
Trustees meet, approve real estate deal
(10/18/96 9:00am)
The University Board of Trustees approved the acquisition of 16 properties north of campus at its monthly meeting Friday. The properties -- located on the 3900 block of Chestnut Street, the 3900 and 4000 blocks of Sansom Street and the 100 block of S. 39th Street -- include 115 residential units and three commercial units, according to Executive Vice President John Fry. The University will maintain the buildings as residences, turning management over to a realty company. Current owners Arnold and Constance Pagano will give the properties to the University in exchange for a gift annuity totaling $1,950,000. The annuity will provide the Paganos with a specific amount of money each year. The acquisition will be funded by internal University resources and the assumption of outstanding mortgage loans from some of the properties, according to a report by Board of Trustees Vice Chairperson Susan Catherwood. The Trustees also approved a resolution to establish the positions of lecturer and senior lecturer in the foreign language departments of the School of Arts and Sciences. The positions are designed to slow the turnover rate of language teaching staff and allow for the naming of a larger number of teachers in the departments. The resolution marks the end of a debate between the Faculty Senate and SAS about the hiring of non-standing faculty for continuous service. During Friday's meeting, the Trustees also approved a $200,000 grant from the Fannie E. Ripple Foundation to be used by the Medical Center and Health System toward the institution of a Photodynamic Therapy of Ovarian Cancer research program. At the Trustee Committee on Budget and Finance meeting earlier Friday, Vice President for Finance Stephen Golding reported that the University spent $115 million on capital projects and equipment during the 1995-1996 fiscal year. He said the University received $4.2 million less than the budgeted amount for graduate student tuition because fewer students than planners had expected to enroll did so. But investment income yielded $3.3 million more than the budgeted amount, due to better interest rates and higher balances than planned. At the end of the fiscal year, the University recorded a debt of $935 million -- $281 million incurred by the University and $653 by Health Services, Golding said. A full financial report will be presented at the Trustees' stated meeting in November, according to Fry, who said current financial statements indicate "better than break-even performance." The Trustees met with University President Judith Rodin and Provost Stanley Chodorow in closed meetings Wednesday and Thursday, where they were briefed on the five-year Agenda for Excellence program. Board of Trustees Chairperson Roy Vagelos said the Trustees "received the plan enthusiastically." Daily Pennsylvanian staff writers Scott Lanman and Ali Feen contributed to this report.
Rash of local crime causes concern for area merchants
(10/03/96 9:00am)
In the aftermath of more than 30 robberies near campus over the past month, concerned local retailers are taking extra safety precautions and hoping that the rash of crime will end. After a student was robbed at gunpoint in front of the Uni-Mart convenience store at 40th and Locust streets September 18, Assistant Manager Rob Browler decided to close the store an hour earlier every night –– at 11 p.m. He said he will continue the earlier hours "until things calm down." "People are being more cautious and not going out as much late at night," Browler said. "If students are not outside, I won't have any business anyway." Browler added that he rearranged the schedules of some employees who expressed concerns about safety and is letting them leave even earlier. Bucks County Coffee Assistant Manager Carrie Winston, who works at the 40th and Locust streets shop, said she is nervous when closing up at night. "Most of the people who work here are men who live nearby, so it is not a problem for them," she said. "But I have to walk to the trolley going into Center City." Winston said she has not noticed any decrease in customers. "We had a show and a fraternity meeting here the night after the shooting [of College senior Patrick Leroy]," Winston said. "I think students see us as more of a safe zone." Sankar Reddy, who manages the 7-11 at 38th and Chestnut streets, which was robbed September 29, said he is more worried about losing employees than customers. "If it happens again, no one will come and work here," Reddy said. He noted that employees left the 7-11 on Drexel University's campus after similar incidents of crime occurred there. The store is now understaffed, and may be forced to close. But Associate Treasurer Chris Mason said he is not yet concerned about retailers leaving the Penn area because of safety concerns. "Retailers here have always known what they are getting into," Mason said. Director of Police Operations Maureen Rush said local merchants have been more cautious recently, alerting University Police officers to any suspicious behavior. She noted that a 7-11 employee was involved in the apprehension of a suspect who University Police believe to be involved in many of the recent robberies near campus, including three in the store itself. Mason said although retailers must rely on the presence of University and Philadelphia Police, they can also encourage customers to stay out on the streets at night -- a move he believes would make the area safer. Paul Ryan, owner of Smokey Joe's Tavern at 210 S. 40th Street, said he agreed. "People have to get out on the streets in large numbers and take the neighborhood back," he said. "If they stay inside, it will only get worse." Ryan added that the University Police department is doing a good job. "40th Street at night has cops all over the place," he said. "[And] the good part is that they're catching people." Ryan, who has owned Smokey Joe's since 1952, said he is not concerned about the current rash of crime in the area. "I've seen things like this come and go before," he said. "[Crime] escalates and then goes back down." Last spring, merchants on the 3400 block of Walnut Street were the target of multiple robberies. But Cinnabon Manager Joe Maguire said the store has not had any problems since its two armed robberies last semester. And Foot Locker Assistant Manager Bisarat Worede said the only problems his store has dealt with involve stolen credit cards. The store has a full-time security guard. "We have to suspect everyone," Worede said. The University is currently awaiting the results of an ongoing major facilities evaluation that will direct the future of retail on and around campus. "It will be beneficial for merchants to come on board to improve the quality of life and to attract customers," Rush said.
Sheraton will temporarily house students
(09/30/96 9:00am)
During dorm renvations, displaced students to live at Sheraton; U. plans to build new hotel University officials plan to transform the University City Sheraton Hotel at 36th and Chestnut streets into a temporary dormitory within the next few years as current residences undergo renovation, according to Provost Stanley Chodorow. Eventually, he said, the Sheraton could become a permanent residence for students. And since the future of the Penn Tower Hotel is also uncertain, the University may build a new hotel for campus visitors, Chodorow said. Officials are now in the final stages of negotiations surrounding the purchase of the Sheraton, according to Executive Vice President John Fry. The University will borrow more than $12.9 million from a commercial bank for the purchase of the property and some additional renovations –– primarily to the hotel's parking garage, Fry said. Fry added that the purchase will be "self-financing." "We're not using any University dollars for [purchasing the Sheraton]," he said. "The amount of activity that will be generated will allow the property to pay for itself." The Sheraton is currently a popular location for parents to stay during move-in, Parents' Weekend and graduation. It is also used for University-sponsored events, luncheons and awards ceremonies. According to Chodorow, although the building will continue to operate as a hotel for the time being, it will go through many changes in the next 10 years. When the current evaluation of the residential housing systems is complete, the building will be used as "swing space" while campus residences undergo renovation, Chodorow said. "Once we have a plan for what we're going to do, it will probably require us to shut down sections of our housing for renovations," he said. "When we're finished [with the renovations], what we do with that building and space is essentially up for grabs." Converting the space into permanent housing for undergraduates or graduates is one possibility, Chodorow said. But the Sheraton building will not revert back into a hotel. The Penn Tower –– the only other hotel on campus –– was transferred to the University Medical Center over the summer and its future use will be at the center's discretion. "A campus like this must have a hotel -- where else are parents going to stay?" Chodorow said. "Also, we have conferences, we have visiting faculty, we have people coming all the time. "But when we've built a new hotel –– furnished ourselves with the kind of facilities we really want –– then we won't need [the Sheraton building as a hotel] anymore," Chodorow added. As for a new hotel's location, Chodorow said the University is considering a variety of options. Among these are the 50,000 square feet of space that will adjoin the new Barnes and Nobles bookstore at 36th and Walnut streets. "We want that area where the bookstore is and the whole area of Sansom to be really lively," he said. "What we put there will depend on our judgement of what will make it really lively and be a real service to the University." Chodorow said the main issues involved with the Sheraton negotiations were settled at the end of the summer. According to Fry, University officials are now working to finalize a closing date for the purchase. Employees in the executive manager's office at the University City Sheraton refused to comment on the purchase.