Breaking through a glass ceiling
(11/02/01 10:00am)
In the early 1960s, Penn's English Department invited Phyllis Rackin and two other women to join its faculty in 1962. And, in the beginning, they were received warmly.
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Finding a balance
(01/16/01 10:00am)
Iman Martin is an expert at juggling. The newly elected United Minorities Council chair balances a demanding academic schedule with a variety of extracurricular activities -- and stays sane through it all. And though she is only a College sophomore, Martin has figured out her priorities. Even with a crazy finals schedule that would send many into a panic and cause them to cut off all contact with the outside world, Martin still went to Sulzberger Middle School to work with students in an after-school health education program. "No matter how busy I get, community service is never something I am not going to do," she explained adamantly. And as the UMC Chair -- a position she shares with College junior Jen Kwon -- Martin will continue to have her hands full. "I keep myself tremendously busy," Martin said. As Kwon spends the semester studying abroad in France, Martin will find the majority of UMC responsibilities on her shoulders. Next fall, she hopes to head abroad to Ghana while Kwon returns to head the organization. And in preparation, Martin has opted to study Twi, a Ghanaian language, as she works to fulfill her language requirement. "I wanted something new and I wanted to expand my cultural knowledge," she said, explaining why she chose to learn Twi. And though she wants to expand her horizons, she didn't travel far from home when she came to Penn. In fact, she can walk home whenever she wants, having grown up just blocks from campus. But when she was younger, Martin had no intention of spending her college years at the school just blocks away from her home. "I swore I wasn't going to Penn," she said with a sheepish smile. Ultimately, she chose to come to Penn -- her mother's alma mater -- to stay near home. Martin said that she changed her mind, in part, because she realized that "growth wasn't in distance -- it was in the mind." And so far, she has lived up to that statement. Martin is a double major in the History and Sociology of Science and Fine Arts, and academics occupy much of her time. However, she doesn't let that stop her from being an active member of the Penn community. As a freshman, Martin attended her first UMC meeting at the urging of College senior Jerome Byam -- who has just finished his term as UMC Chair -- and then-UMC Chair Chaz Howard. Elections were taking place that night and, though it was her first inside glimpse at the UMC, Martin took a chance and ran for admissions co-chair on the spot. "It was really random," she remembered. But UMC members "could tell that I was this kid who cared about her community." And Martin was elected to a position she said she has thoroughly enjoyed over the last year. She explained that for her, the job's necessary interaction with the pre-frosh -- "answering the questions, seeing the nervous energy" -- was the best part of the position. Martin's job also gave her the opportunity to tackle issues of minority recruitment, allowing her to work side-by-side-with admissions officials. "I was lucky to get to see that," she said. Besides the UMC, Martin currently helps teach at the after-school health education program Masters of Health at Sulzberger Middle School. Working in health education makes sense for Martin, who wants to go on to medical school and ultimately hopes to earn an M.D. Ph.d. She hopes to do research in epidemiology -- the study of disease -- and said she is specifically interested in studying "the cultural ramifications of disease." Though she enjoys being actively involved in campus life, she also appreciates having her own space, which she has found in her Sansom East residence. With a room to herself, Martin has a place to study and a place where she can indulge her artistic side. "I paint and I draw," she said, explaining that the artistic process necessitates a place where she can spread out. The grad towers offer more than personal space for Martin, who explained that graduate students offer great insight to undergraduates. "[They've] been there, done that," she reflected. "They put everything in perspective." Martin will need perspective and vision as she tries to balance her new UMC responsibilities with her other commitments. Because they are the first people to split the position, Kwon and Martin face the additional challenge of figuring out how they will coordinate sharing the chair. And both are very aware that communication will be key. "Thank goodness for technology," Martin said, smiling and breathing a sigh of relief. She and Kwon will rely heavily on e-mails and telephone calls over the semester. Martin stressed that responsibility within the the UMC is shared. "It's going to work because... it is not us two," she said, citing the importance of the board and the constituent group representatives and members. Martin sees her new role as that of a facilitator and a liaison and is quick to point out the importance of dialogue -- both within the UMC and across campus as a whole -- in working toward her goals as chair. "I want to see discourse on campus," Martin said. "I love conversation -- it does so much." And she also hopes to see an increase in the number of minorities and non-minorities alike working on diversity issues on campus. "I can't change the world," Martin explained, saying she can only help start the process of change. "I can work with other people and promote other people working with other people. "That's all I intend to do."
Many voices speak for minorities
(12/07/00 10:00am)
For more than 20 years, the United Minorities Council has played a central role in advocating the concerns of minority students at Penn. The umbrella organization, which represents 15 minority-interest groups, has always maintained a strong commitment to this community.
An artful tribute to victims of AIDS
(12/01/00 10:00am)
Today, the Button -- a prominent Penn symbol -- will be draped in black in recognition of World AIDS Day. Since 1988, December 1 has been designated World AIDS Day in an attempt to heighten awareness, education and research about the AIDS virus, or Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. And through lectures, art work and a memorial service, members of the Penn community are also working to help acknowledge today's importance. "[The day] is meant to educate people about the alarming growth of AIDS worldwide," said Kurt Conklin, who works in Penn's Office of Health Education. The Queer Student Alliance covered the Button last night at midnight as part of A Day Without Art-- an event that is held in conjunction with World AIDS Day. College of General Studies junior Jay Wahl, the head of the QSA, explained that covering works of art is meant to "symbolize the loss the artistic community has suffered due to AIDS." The day's featured event will be an address given by noted poet Mark Doty at 4 p.m. this afternoon at the ARCH building. The talk is being sponsored by several organizations, including the Penn Center for AIDS Research, the English Department and the Office of Health Education. Students will also be on Locust Walk handing out red ribbons, selling baked goods and taking donations to raise money for AIDS research. Because the day is also meant to commemorate those who have died from AIDS, a memorial service will be held at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania at 5:30 p.m. this evening. Wahl explained that it was important that the campus community be aware of today's significance, especially because college-aged heterosexual women and homosexual men are among the groups most at risk for HIV infection in the United States. "We wanted to do something to get the campus involved," he said. "Everybody walks by [the Button.]" Conklin also emphasized the need for AIDS awareness on campus. "[World AIDS Day] reminds people that anyone can be affected by HIV," he said. In 1991, when basketball star Magic Johnson publically admitted he was infected with HIV, students were more cognizant of the risk, Conklin explained. Today, however, with the advent of new medications and treatments, many people have developed a false sense of security and are more likely to engage in risky sexual behavior. It is difficult to estimate the effect that AIDS has had on college campuses in recent years since the last national survey to determine the number of students infected with HIV was conducted in 1989. That survey suggested that anywhere between one and 250 to one in 500 college students are infected.
New UMC co-chairs to split term
(11/30/00 10:00am)
Last night, power in the United Minorities Council switched hands as College sophomore Iman Martin and College junior Jen Kwon were elected the new chairs of the umbrella organization that oversees 15 minority groups. In a different set-up for the UMC, the new chairwomen will each serve for one semester -- Martin in the spring and Kwon in the fall -- so each can study abroad during their off semester. A new vice chair, Kisimbi Thomas -- a senior in Nursing and Wharton -- was also chosen. Kwon and Martin will replace College senior Jerome Byam. And Thomas will fill College senior Anita Patel's position. "I think we are going to make a very good team," Thomas said. "I'm happy with who the chairs are." Kwon and Martin, realizing that they share a similar vision for the UMC, decided to run as partners because of their study-abroad plans. Kwon will be studying in France in the spring and Martin hopes to move to Ghana in the fall. "There's enough continuity outside of [Martin and Kwon] that the transition should be easy enough," Byam said, explaining that the governing structure of the UMC will help make a dual chairship possible. Martin has been UMC admissions co-chair for the past year, while Kwon has been involved with the Asian Pacific Student Coalition and more recently joined the UMC. These different backgrounds, they said, will complement each other. "I have a lot of UMC history under my belt, and Jen will be someone to come in with freshness," Martin said. The decision to elect both students to head the body was made at a UMC meeting last night. The representatives of at least two-thirds of the constituent groups came together for about an hour and a half to listen to speeches, ask questions and vote. After Byam briefly explained how the election process would work and the role of the chair, he introduced the four candidates running for the position -- with Kwon and Martin running as a pair. Each candidate or pair was given five minutes to address the group. After all had made their speeches, the floor was opened up for 20 minutes of discussion. The candidates then left the room while the members voted by secret ballot after discussing their various concerns. The new chairs stressed that greater communication between all the minority coalitions -- UMC, UMOJA, the Latino Coalition and the Asian Pacific Student Coalition -- was a top priority. Kwon and Martin are excited about their new role, though both acknowledge that it is somewhat daunting. "As much as it's an honor, it's a challenge," Martin said. And Kwon explained they only came to a final agreement to run as a team "right before the meeting." "I didn't think this idea would fly with most people," she said, expressing her surprise at the election's outcome. Elections for other UMC positions will be held next week.
Minority enrollment shows stagnation since 1970s
(11/28/00 10:00am)
Nearly one-third of Penn's undergraduate students are minorities -- about 20 percent are Asian, 6 percent African American and 4 percent Latino, according to the University Registrar. Considering that little more than 30 years ago the minority population at the University barely existed at all, Penn has clearly come a long way since the mid-1960s, when it first began actively recruiting minority students. However, since the 1970s, the numbers of African-American and Latino students on campus have been stagnant. Seven percent of this year's freshman class is African American. In 1969, 8 percent of the freshman class was African American. And this year's entering freshman class was 7 percent Latino, while the group makes up roughly 12 percent of the national population. Initially, Penn's minority recruitment efforts were fairly effective. Between 1965 and 1969, the freshman classes went from being 1 percent African American to 8 percent. And the numbers of Asian-American and Latino students began growing fairly rapidly in the mid-1970s. In the early 1970s, then-Director of Admissions James Nolan stated that the University had the objective of increasing the percentage of black students to match that of the national black population. And while Penn administrators say they remain committed to increasing diversity on campus, little has changed since then. The obvious question, then, is why. A host of factors can be cited to help explain why blacks and Latinos remain underrepresented at Penn. Administrators said that there is just a limited pool of qualified minorities out there and all top schools recruit them. With this situation, Penn's financial aid practices put Penn at a disadvantage. Because Penn offers aid primarily in the form of loans, many minority students choose to attend schools that offer more aid. "As a consequence of this, we lose a lot of qualified... students," History Professor Robert Engs said. In 1996, University President Judith Rodin unveiled a plan allocating $5 million to increase the number of underrepresented minority students and faculty at Penn. A commitment was also made to raise an additional $20 million for this cause; that fundraising is still underway. Officials said some of that funding has gone into scholarships and fellowships, as well as faculty recruitment. But with the five years almost up, the minority student and faculty populations have not significantly changed. Still, while some say Penn's numbers could use a boost, the University falls about in the middle of its peers with regard to minority statistics. In 1997, Ivy League schools had an average of 6.5 percent African-American students and 5.5 percent Latinos in their student populations.
A troubled past is not forgotten
(11/28/00 10:00am)
The first minority students to attend Penn were two Native American brothers of the Mohawk tribe who entered the Public Academy of Philadelphia in 1755. This was just 15 years after Benjamin Franklin founded the institution that would become the University of Pennsylvania in 1791. Ever since, race has been an issue that always looms large at Penn. But for almost two centuries it was one the University, like the rest of the nation, could easily brush aside.
Diverse groups create unity in UMC show
(11/20/00 10:00am)
In a jubilant celebration of culture and diversity, a host of performance groups came together in Irvine Auditorium on Friday night as part of UNISUN 2000. The free multicultural show was the featured event of Unity Week 2000 and was meant to highlight the diverse talents and cultures at Penn and in Philadelphia. Performers included a cappella group Penn Masala, dance troupe PENNaach and a local group of break dancers. The size of the audience fluctuated during the night, and at its largest, included about 400 students. "[The show] is a good way to see a lot of groups you wouldn't have seen otherwise," said audience member Prajakta Nadkarni, a College junior. "You realize how diverse Penn really is." Unity Week, which began on November 11 and ended last night, is the United Minorities Council's annual fall celebration of Penn's diversity. "Unity Week is intended to showcase some of the cultures Penn has to offer," College senior and UMC Chairman Jerome Byam explained as he and fellow emcee College senior Cassandra Georges introduced Friday's show. Over the course of the performance -- which lasted nearly three hours -- a total of 16 different acts took the stage, most of which centered around singing or dancing. Several student cultural organizations performed. PENNaach, a South Asian all-female dance troupe, was the first group to take the stage. And a number of other groups also danced, including Onda Latina, the Penn Philippine Association and the Caribbean Students Association. Three a cappella groups had a chance to show off their vocal abilities. Penn Masala, an all-male group, sang in English and Hindi, as did Penn Atma, an Indian women's group. Full Measure, a Christian ensemble, also performed. Individual students took the stage as well. Qi Cao, an Engineering junior, played the Gu jen, a traditional Chinese musical instrument. And College junior Jason Hsi demonstrated his skills with the Chinese yo-yo. Groups from the Philadelphia area also contributed to Friday's show. Native Nations, a local Native American dance troupe, performed various traditional numbers. And Da Fresh On Beats -- a group of break dancers from Penn, Drexel University and Philadelphia -- showed off their abilities. "I wasn't expecting them at all," College junior Afia Ofori-Mensa said of the break dancers. "They were incredible." And a Korean-American troupe, Sori-Mori, offered a presentation of the traditional Korean folk art known as P'ungul, which centered around drumming. UMC Programming tri-Chair and College sophomore Anita Sreedhar felt that the event was a success. "It was a great show," she said. "As far as I could tell, everyone was having a good time, both onstage and off."
Issues of race at forefront of talk
(11/17/00 10:00am)
Examining issues of race, politics and the future of both in the United States, Harvard Law Professor Christopher Edley addressed a crowd of about 100 Penn students and Philadelphia residents on Wednesday at the Law School. Edley, a politically active scholar who has served as an economic advisor to the Clinton administration, was the featured speaker for this year's Honorable A. Leon Higginbotham Jr. Memorial Lecture. Edley's discussion of evolving race relations -- and their effect on politics -- seemed appropriate given the current presidential election situation. "The election campaign, whatever the result, has brought into focus the dangers and opportunities before us," Edley said. This is the 12th year that the Afro-American Studies Program has sponsored this lecture, which honors Higginbotham -- a Penn professor for more than 30 years -- for his contributions to legal and academic communities. Following a brief introduction from English Professor Herman Beavers, the director of the Afro-American Studies Program, Law School Dean Michael Fitts gave a short tribute to Higginbotham's legacy. Penn Law Professor Regina Austin then presented the audience with some of Edley's accomplishments. Edley began his political career working with the Carter administration, and has continued as an advisor to President Clinton. He currently serves on the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, having replaced Higginbotham after his death. In his speech, Edley looked at three key issues: the racial divide in the country, the new agenda for racial justice and the state of democracy. Throughout the talk he emphasized that race in this country no longer exclusively concerns African Americans and whites. "We have to broaden our vision and tackle a more complicated problem, the new problem of the colored lines," Edley said. He explained that because of the rapid growth of the Asian and Latino populations, the race dialogue will have to expand to include them as well. College sophomore Christine Choi identified with Edley's remarks. "He made a big focus on cross-racial coalitions," she said. "Minority groups need to focus on each other to promote a greater understanding." Edley stressed the need for more collaboration between people of all colors. "Listen," he said, "I think we need to reclaim the integration idea." As he criticized last week's presidential election for being "scandalous," he made clear that race is becoming more important as both Republicans and Democrats increasingly seek minority support. Before concluding the lecture with a 15-minute question-and-answer session, Edley pointed out that in this "century of color," a community vision of the future will be critical if "our hearts [are to] be healed of the poisons of racial hatred."
PAACH opens for business
(11/13/00 10:00am)
With balloons, drumming, singing and dancing, Penn's Pan-Asian American Community House officially opened its doors this weekend.
Committee recommends U. join both sweatshop monitoring organizations
(11/10/00 10:00am)
The Committee on Manufacturer Responsibility recommended yesterday that Penn join both rival sweatshop monitoring organizations -- the Fair Labor Association and the Worker Rights Consortium. Penn Students Against Sweatshops immediately criticized the decision, saying that the University should only have one monitor since they have such different set-ups and goals. "The whole idea that the WRC can't stand on its own is ridiculous," College junior and PSAS member Sue Casey said. "And there's no reason for the University to join the FLA." Last spring, PSAS held a nine-day sit-in at College Hall to demand Penn's withdrawal from the FLA, which Penn eventually did. They continue to push for the WRC, noting that it is less beholden to corporate interests. PSAS also said the committee asked for greater University representation on the operating boards of the FLA and WRC last spring. Only the WRC has increased their representation. The WRC and the FLA seek to monitor factories that produce university apparel and ensure the rights of the workers. The WRC has the support of several human rights organizations and has just over 60 college and university members. The FLA has the support of the White House and the apparel industry and 147 higher ed members. Composed of nine voting students, faculty and staff -- including two PSAS members -- the committee reached its decision in a 5-4 vote held during its meeting yesterday. "We completed our work on our recommendation to the president," said committee head Gregory Possehl, who heads the Anthropology Department. The Committee on Manufacturer Responsibility replaced last year's Ad Hoc Committee on Sweatshop Labor, which recommended last spring that Penn stay out of both monitoring organizations. Committee members had four options from which to choose yesterday. They could vote in favor of joining both the FLA and the WRC, joining one or the other or abstaining from both. "I feel that it's the complementarity of the two organizations that is important for Penn," Possehl said. Possehl stressed that as a result of yesterday's decision, the committee will make its Thanksgiving deadline for submitting a recommendation to University President Judith Rodin. Next week, the committee will meet again and review a draft of the report to be given to Rodin. After that, Rodin will make the final decision. If Rodin follows the recommendation, it is difficult to speculate what the results will be for the University as it tries to ensure that its logo apparel is produced under appropriate labor conditions. Daniel Long, a WRC governing board member who spoke at yesterday's meeting, explained that officially the WRC does not take a position on the FLA. However, from a more personal point of view, he said he felt that a decision to join both organizations showed a lack of consistency on the part of the University. "Personally, I think the University should take the moral high ground," Long said. "Joining both [organizations] gives a mixed message." He did congratulate the committee for its recommendation to join the WRC, though, and said he is looking forward to hearing Rodin's final decision. Maureen Murtha, the University liason for the FLA, was happy to hear of the Committee's decision. "I would be absolutely delighted for the University of Pennsylvania to rejoin the FLA," she said. PSAS members, though, were less than enthusiastic about the recommendation and criticized the process through which the decision was made. "Unfortunately I'm really not that surprised [by the decision]," College sophomore and PSAS member Anne Wadsworth said. "It's really too bad that we felt disempowered throughout the whole process."
Asian Pacific American Heritage Week starts with a bang - and a pop concert
(10/30/00 10:00am)
Asian Pacific American Heritage Week got off to a lively start this weekend with Saturday night's KAI Kickoff Concert. A popular Asian-American vocal group, KAI performed for roughly an hour in front of an enthusiastic crowd of about 300. "We hope to bring you an atmosphere that will stimulate dialogue... and reflection on the Asian Pacific American experience," APAHW co-chairman and College junior Walter Kim said about the week. The concert was the first in a series of events scheduled for APAHW, an annual celebration of Asian Pacific American culture and heritage put on by the Asian Pacific Student Coalition. With their peppy pop music, vibrant stage presence and snappy dance routines, the light-hearted group was definitely a little Backstreet Boys-esque. But the crowd ate it up. "I really liked the a cappella," College freshman Zhiying Tang said. "They sounded really professional." After a welcome, introductions and a few games, Saturday's show began with a brief performance by a group of eight break dancers from Penn, Drexel and the Philadelphia area. Shortly after the dancers, KAI took the stage and met with screams and applause from the excited crowd. The five-member group, originally from San Francisco, is one of the first all-Asian-American vocal acts to get signed by a major record label and to make it onto the Billboard charts. KAI performed 12 songs in total and began its show with a prayer that they sung a cappella. Throughout the concert, the group alternated its performance style, singing a cappella numbers, performing coordinated dance routines to recorded music and providing live acoustic guitar accompaniment. Following the show, the audience members had a chance to meet the group members at a table in the lobby where KAI signed autographs and talked with fans. Engineering senior Hai Ton, who is also co-chairing the week, said he felt that Saturday's event was a success. "I was very happy with it," he said. "[Saturday] night was a surprise." In particular the large turnout impressed Ton, who explained that the event earned about $2,000 more than was projected. APSC is sponsoring the week's events. The umbrella organization recently added two new groups to its membership -- the Bangladesh Students Association and Sangam, a South Asian political organization. Several other events are lined up for the remainder of APAHW, which lasts until November 4. Throughout the week there will be a variety of activities, including a multicultural display on Locust Walk, a movie screening and a candlelight vigil on College Green. The week's highlight events will be the address given by keynote speaker Angela Oh -- a known political activist and advocate for Asian Americans -- on Wednesday and the Vis-aVis Fashion Show on Friday. The overall purpose of the week, Ton explained, is "to be able share our heritage and culture with the community."
UMC adds two new organizations to ranks
(10/23/00 9:00am)
The United Minorities Council voted to induct two more student groups into the organization -- the Bangladesh Students Association and the Penn African Student Association. There are now 15 member groups in the umbrella organization that represents a wide range of minority interests. According to UMC Chairman and College senior Jerome Byam, the addition of the BSA and PASA can only increase the UMC's effectiveness. "The minority community isn't uni-dimensional," he said. "So, the more groups we have helps us to better achieve our goals and mission." The BSA has 72 members and it seeks to promote the interests of students with a Bangladeshi cultural heritage. Bangladesh is a small nation in South Asia bordered by India. And the PASA has 157 members, of whom 25 percent are African. Their goal is to increase awareness of African issues on campus. The decision to induct the BSA and PASA was made when the General Council of the UMC, composed of representatives from the different constituent organizations, met on Saturday afternoon at the Greenfield Intercultural Center. Both groups went through the same process for membership, including a presentation by a representative and a question-and-answer period. The constituents then vote secretly and a three-fourths majority is required to become a member. The BSA went first, with representatives Nawshin Ali and and Sadia Chaudhury, both College juniors, briefly reviewing the group's history and reasons for wanting to join the UMC. "We are trying to become a more legitimate organization on campus," Ali said. "We hope that the UMC can lend us that legitimacy and [help us] establish more connections with other minority groups." Following the presentation, there was a discussion during which council members raised various concerns including the small size of the BSA's board and its role in combatting student apathy. And while Ali and Chadhury were out of the room, the members talked for about 20 minutes, specifically touching upon the role of a Bangladesh club within the South Asian community. But ultimately, the council members admitted the BSA after voting in a secret ballot. "We're thrilled. It really gives us more legitimacy... and access to minority resources," Ali said. The process began again when PASA representative, Baker Kiggundu, a College senior, was given his turn to speak to the council. The PASA, which was revived in 1993, aims to promote "awareness of Africa and African culture and issues," Baker said. He then cited the group's reasons for seeking UMC membership, which will allow the PASA to work with many other groups and aide its revitalization efforts. Before Baker left the room so that council members could debate and vote, he answered their questions and addressed the issues they raised. Debating for only about five minutes, the General Council quickly called for a vote and accepted the group as a member. "They add to the voice of the UMC," Byam said.
Rally supports LGBT community
(10/12/00 9:00am)
Wearing stickers that read, "I support National Coming Out Day" and waving multi-colored balloons, the crowd at the National Coming Out Day rally was effusive and appreciative. And the Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender community had a lot to celebrate. Not only was it the largest NCOD rally ever held at Penn, with speakers that included Candace Gingrich, half-sister of the conservative former speaker of the House, and former professional baseball player Billy Bean, it was also the day that a $2 million donation for a new LGBT Center was officially announced. University President Judith Rodin announced the gift, which was given by alumni and life partners David Goodhand, 37, and Vincent Griski, 36. The gift will go toward giving Penn's Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Center a new home in the Carriage House. During the rally, a range of speakers, including several students, University officials and different spokespeople affiliated with the Human Rights Campaign -- an organization that fights for gay and lesbian rights -- addressed the crowd. Provost Robert Barchi and Rodin both reaffirmed Penn's dedication to diversity. Rodin noted that the donation would help continue to create an accepting and supportive environment at Penn -- an environment the donors enjoyed when they were students here. "What is most gratifying is that Penn fostered an environment where [Goodhand and Griski] could live openly as a loving couple," Rodin said. Goodhand then spoke, explaining that the new LGBT Center was both a gift and a challenge to the University community. "We can create a space," he said. "But we can't create change." The day's keynote speakers were Gingrich and Bean. Gingrich is the manager of the HRC's National Coming Out Day Project and a leading spokeswoman for LGBT issues. Gingrich offered a concise speech in which she explained the origins and importance of NCOD. "The idea was that we could not achieve equality from the closet," she said. The only way to achieve equality is through awareness, she argued, and that will come only when people are open and honest about their sexuality. Gingrich also called for increased political involvement on the part of the LGBT community, citing voting as a means of enacting change. College junior Ryan Baber, who particularly enjoyed Gingrich's speech, appreciated her message. "I liked the fact that she urged political action in a very non-partisan way," he said. Bean, who retired from pro baseball in 1995, publicly came out a year ago and is one of a very small number of gay professional athletes to do so. Like Gingrich, he spoke about the importance of coming out but, reflecting on his own experiences, emphasized that it is a difficult and individual process. "Every one of our journeys is different," he said. "You need to respect the place where everyone is." Other speakers included graduate and undergraduate students who are involved in different LGBT Center-affiliated groups as well as Michael Crawford, the eastern field coordinator for HRC. The rally was followed by a reception in Houston Hall and Gingrich and Crawford later attended a Queer Student Alliance meeting. Roughly 20 students attended the gathering, which was held in Irvine Auditorium. In a conversation with students, Gingrich again emphasized the importance of voting and of increasing awareness. "What I hope you understand is that there are things you can do to make it better for us," she said.
Alums donate $2 m. to LGBT Ctr.
(10/11/00 9:00am)
Two Penn graduates have donated $2 million to the University that will go toward giving the Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Transgender Center a new home on campus. University President Judith Rodin will publicly announce the donation -- made by life partners David Goodhand, 37, and Vincent Griski, 36, both 1985 Penn graduates -- today at the National Coming Out Day rally in Wynn Commons. "In a way, we feel that the building is coming out tomorrow," Goodhand said. The gift is unique in higher education philanthropy because it is the first of its kind to directly benefit an LGBT community, and it will help finance the renovation of Carriage House, located at the west end of campus at 3905 Spruce Street. The $2 million gift kicks off a $5 million fundraising campaign to pay for the Carriage House renovations. "President Rodin and I are very appreciative of the wonderful commitment that David and Vincent have shown in offering such a generous gift," Provost Robert Barchi said. The LGBT Center is currently located at 3537 Locust Walk and shares the building with the African American Resource Center and the Management and Technology Program offices. The LGBT Center houses its offices on the third floor. Over the last few years, Goodhand and Griski have worked with the center and have become aware of the center's lack of space. Goodhand, a retired Microsoft executive, and Griski, a former Wall Street analyst, approached the administration about finding more space for the center. The Carriage House, which is two stories and is much larger than the space available at 3537 Locust Walk, was selected as the ideal spot for the Center's new home. This center will be the first of its kind on a college campus. Goodhand and Griski said they hope that the new offices will serve as a safe haven, an information source and a social gathering place for LGBT students. The new center will also give the 10 LGBT Center-affiliated groups a much-needed meeting area. The men began negotiations for the project approximately a year ago. Since their 10-year reunion in 1995, Goodhand and Griski have been actively seeking to give back to the school that meant so much to them. "We love Penn," Goodhand said, explaining that he and Griski met and began dating here as sophomores and they lived together in Stouffer House. "In many ways Penn nurtured our relationship from the very beginning," he said. However, the building is not just intended for use by the LGBT community. In fact the entire first floor has been set aside as a common social area that is open to all students. "The center is certainly for the LGBT community," Barchi pointed out. "But it is also for the Penn community in the broader sense." Goodhand and Griski said they are glad to be providing the entire Penn student body with a social center in Hamilton Village. The donors have made a point to aid both LGBT students and the general student body. Goodhand, who was a 34th Street editor while at Penn, said he sees Carriage House as a challenge to students. "We can build a building," he said. "But we can't fill it. That is the job of students." Goodhand was also careful to point out that Penn has been a leader among universities in dealing with gay and other diversity issues, a tradition that he said he and Griski appreciate and hope to continue with the Carriage House.
Straight talk about coming out
(10/11/00 9:00am)
For Paul, a College freshman, coming to Penn this fall was not just about checking out parties, trying different classes and escaping his parents for the first time. He had some other things on his mind. Life at Penn would offer him his first chance to be completely open about his sexuality. Coming from a conservative and religious Christian background, Paul, who asked that his last name not be used, grew up with the notion that homosexuality was an unacceptable way of life. But shortly before going to college, Paul began to come out at home to some of his closest friends, and here at Penn he has gradually continued that process. "It's a slow process," Paul said. "But I don't want it to be too slow. I want to enjoy my life." Today is National Coming Out Day, a holiday that celebrates and honors those who have become part of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community. At Penn, a rally, with a speech by Candace Gingrich, will mark the occasion. But gay students are quick to note that coming out doesn't happen in just one day. It takes time to openly acknowledge your sexuality and there are students in many stages of this process on campus. College junior Jen Moore agreed, explaining that coming out is a series of steps, "and the first person you come out to is yourself."
PSAS launches teach-in on IMF, World Bank
(09/26/00 9:00am)
Penn Students Against Sweatshops are once again trying to promote awareness on campus. Last night in the newly renovated Houston Hall, PSAS, in conjunction with several other sponsoring organizations, hosted a teach-in for roughly 30 students who came to learn about the International Monetary Fund and World Bank and their relationship to sweatshops. The teach-in is one part in a series of events that PSAS is hosting this week as part of their International Monetary Fund/World Bank Awareness Week. "The purpose of the week is to raise awareness amongst the community about the policies of the IMF and the World Bank," explained Michael Janson, a second-year doctoral student in political science and a co-organizer of the event. The IMF and World Bank are meeting in Prague -- located in the Czech Republic -- this week for their second meeting of the year. As with the first meeting, which was held in Washington, D.C., in April, thousands of protesters are expected to demonstrate against the powerful lending institutions. PSAS is hoping to show support for the protest efforts by educating students about the issues surrounding the IMF and World Bank, and the teach-in was the first step in PSAS' education process. The first two of the night's three speakers offered a history of, and an update about, the IMF and World Bank. Janson gave students a brief overview of both institutions, tracing their activities back to 1944, when they were founded to aid in Europe's economic recovery after World War II. Over the last 30 years or so, the IMF and World Bank have become increasingly powerful and increasingly involved in the economies of developing nation. By offering medium and long-term loans to these countries, the IMF and World Bank have adversely affected labor conditions, according to Janson. College sophomore and PSAS member Sarah Gilfillan, who attended the teach-in, appreciated learning about the history of the organizations. "I really liked how [Janson] presented a historical background," she said. "It gave a pretty good general picture [of the IMF and World Bank.]" The next speaker, Ronald Kim, a doctoral student in linguistics and a columnist for The Daily Pennsylvanian, spoke about why the IMF and World Bank are holding their conference in Prague. "[Prague] is the gateway to Eastern Europe," he said, explaining that it is in this area in the world that the IMF and World Bank have been expanding since the collapse of the Soviet Block in the early 1990s. As a result, he went on to say that "Prague is an emerging battleground" between protesters and the powerful financial institutions. The final speaker of the evening was College senior Alicia Blum-Ross, who is one of about 30 or so PSAS members who protested in Washington, D.C., last spring. The audience then watched Breaking Ground, a documentary about the protests in Washington, D.C. The film was followed by a 20-minute question-and-answer session. For the rest of the week, PSAS plans to hold a rally/speak-out and "reality tours" today as well as a forum debate later this week.
Pan Asian American Community House almost ready to open doors
(09/20/00 9:00am)
The Pan Asian American Community House, the new Asian-American resource center on campus, hopes to open its doors to students, faculty and staff in early November. With nearly complete offices in the former Christian Association building on Locust Walk and a new program director, the center is almost ready to go. PAACH will offer a number of services and amenities, including advising and mentoring, a library, meeting space for various student groups and a place where students, faculty and staff can come together in a comfortable environment. "There's so little opportunity on campus to learn more about Asian-American culture and history," said Karen Su, the recently appointed director of PAACH and the assistant director of Asian-American studies. "I think that PAACH can really fill in that gap." PAACH will promote cultural enrichment for the Asian community on campus -- defined as including those of "South Asian, Southeast Asian, East Asian and Pacific Islander descent" -- as well as for the larger Penn community. Getting the center has been a tough battle for Asian-American students, who have called out for such resources for at least a decade. Finally last fall, students, led by the Asian Pacific Student Coalition, stepped up their efforts and launched a campus-wide campaign for a resource center. They quickly garnered attention, holding events such as the Speakout! rally. In February, after several meetings with University President Judith Rodin, the University committed to the establishment of PAACH. "It took some time for the administration to understand that here is a sizable population who needs to be understood, who needs to understand their own culture, their own identity, their own issues," said Assistant College of Arts and Sciences Dean Srilata Gangulee, who actively supported student efforts. "Therefore a center is much needed." Throughout the struggle for the center, the biggest criticism was that it would be exclusive, promoting self-segregation. Those involved with PAACH, however, have worked hard to ensure that that will not be the case. In its mission statement, the center says it "will assist the Penn community in informing, educating and exploring issues relevant to the Asian/Pacific American experience." PAACH also seeks to give any student -- regardless of racial or ethnic background -- the chance to learn more about Asian-American culture through different programs and events that PAACH hopes to get off the ground this year, including colloquiums featuring research in Asian-American studies. Plans for the upcoming year remain tentative at this point, and the center is still very much in the planning stages. "There's still a lot of room to define what PAACH will do," Su said. However, both she and involved students expressed a desire to work on attracting dedicated students, especially in the freshman class. Because the "PAACH is in its inaugural year, we really encourage that students... get involved now," Engineering junior and former APSC member Eric Chen said. "They will help shape the future of PAACH."
Profs: Do not yield to activist pressure
(09/15/00 9:00am)
University presidents across the country are under attack for the way they handle sweatshop issues. A group of economists and lawyers, including a Nobel laureate, is sending a letter to college and university presidents criticizing the decision-making process when it comes to labor monitoring organizations. Over the past few years, sweatshop monitoring has become a major cause for student activists at Penn and across the country. Students at many schools -- including the University of Wisconsin, the University of Michigan and Columbia University -- have held highly publicized protests and sit-ins over university policies for monitoring production of school-logo apparel. Now more than 200 scholars belonging to the Academic Consortium on International Trade signed the letter saying that schools are caving too quickly to pressure from student activists and not reviewing their options effectively. "We often encounter news reports of sit-ins by groups of students... after which decisions are often made without seeking the views of scholars," the letter states. There are two major monitoring groups -- the Fair Labor Association and the Worker Rights Consortium. Students favor the WRC, saying it is less corporate in its interests. The WRC has risen from less than 10 college members six months ago to 50 today, largely due to student pressure. Currently, Penn does not belong to either organization. Penn Students Against Sweatshops have been calling for WRC membership since their sit-in last February, which succeeded in forcing Penn to pull out of the FLA. The six authors of the letter emphasize the importance of process when schools choose to join monitoring groups. "We need more consultation on the issues. They're very complex, [and] we don't want to be ruled by sit-ins," co-author and University of Wisconsin Economics Professor Robert Baldwin said. PSAS member and College junior Matt Grove defended PSAS' actions last year when the group led a nine-day sit-in. He said the student activist group had gone through all the appropriate channels trying to persuade the administration to listen to their concerns. It was only when those means failed that PSAS decided that a sit-in was necessary. Grove also emphasized that PSAS members made a point to study the sweatshop issue. "Obviously our group had done lots of work regarding learning about [the FLA and WRC]," he said. "We were not uneducated on these issues when we had the sit-in." WRC Interim Director Maria Roeper also criticized the letter's assertion that decisions were being made in a haphazard fashion. "Most of the decisions to join the WRC have been done through a committee process," she said. Academic Consortium members worry about more than just the process through which the decisions are made, however. They are also concerned about the FLA and the WRC's commitment to improve workers' wages, which may very well mean paying workers above the minimum or prevailing wage. That could actually be more harmful than helpful for workers, the Academic Consortium believes. "The net result would be shifts in employment that will worsen the collective welfare of the very workers in poor countries who are supposed to be helped," the consortium's letter warns. It is unclear what type of reception the letter will receive when it makes it into the hands of university presidents. Included among the 200 signatures is that of Robert Lucas, a Nobel laureate and professor of Economics at the University of Chicago who signed because he feels that "people ought to be well informed before they make decisions." The names of the other signers are not being released at the moment. However, Robert Stern from the University of Michigan, who led the letter-writing effort, did say that one of the signatories came from Penn, but would not release his or her name.
Practicing what he preaches
(09/08/00 9:00am)
High finance, big business, investments, venture capital: These are directions in which business school graduates typically head. But one former Whartonite took a very different path. He chose "Ananda Marga" -- in Sanskrit, that's the path of bliss. "I always had a need to help people come on the spiritual path," Acayra Shambhushivananda said. Shambhushivananda -- also known as "Baba," which means father in Sanskrit -- received his doctoral degree from Wharton in 1972. Now he is the leader of a socio-spiritual movement that boasts a world following of more than 2 million people. Ananda Marga Gurukula was founded in 1955. It focuses on the building of a peaceful society through holistic education. The movement has its own lifestyle, educational and economic philosophies. Spreading these very messages, Baba came to Penn last week to meet with faculty and look at his former campus. A short man wearing a traditional Indian dress -- all in orange -- Baba had a full graying beard and wore an orange turban. But despite his faithfully authentic clothing, the leader of a world movement still has to carry a cell phone. He spent Thursday night and much of Friday on campus. He remarked that Penn seemed a bit different -- in part because of all the construction. "It's not the same feeling," he said. "But I am hoping to forge some permanent links here." Baba also serves as chancellor of Gurukula University, located in his native India and directly tied to Ananda Marga. Shambhushivananda has been a part of Ananda Marga since 1965. Arriving at Penn in 1969, Baba spent 10 years in Philadelphia. He earned his degree, conducted research, taught at Drexel and the University of the Sciences and offered yoga instruction. In 1979, Baba left the United States and decided to become a yogi. He remained close to the movement and took over during the past decade. The movement now has followers in approximately 182 countries. But it has been a controversial group. The FBI conducted inquiries into Ananda Marga from 1972 until 1984 and claims that it may have been involved in terrorism. But Baba continues to work at building up Ananda Marga, traveling around the world. Since 1992, he has also dedicated himself to developing Gurukula University -- a school and a township -- in West Bengal. While he concedes that spiritual leader and yogi are unusual life and career choices for most people, and especially for Wharton graduates, Shambhushivananda said his time at Penn played a vital role in his development. His stay at Penn, he said, "helped me to integrate the material and spiritual worlds." This enlightenment has been essential to his success in spreading his message because of the broad base of understanding that he has received