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(06/06/93 9:00am)
Research on women's health issues and reproduction has been done at the the University's Medical Center for more than a quarter of a century. But until this spring, women's health and reproductive research efforts had not been consolidated. The Medical Center's newly-created Center for Research on Women's Health and Reproduction brought women's health research together and is now one of the nation's largest and most diverse in the field. The center will receive more than $5 million in funding each year from the National Institutes of Health, according to Associate Med School Dean Jerome Strauss, who heads the center. "The concept of the center is to build a more formal umbrella over these programs and to expand them with more resources and space committed by the institution," Strauss said last week. "We've been doing [women's health research] for 25 years . . . the Medical Center has been one of the world leaders and one of the few early on which was dedicated to the care of women." The Center will conduct its research on female-related diseases and disorders, including several aspects of reproduction. Infertility, implantation, contraception and pregnancy-threatening diseases are all research areas, Strauss said. The center will also serve as a training center for the medical community. Strauss said that one of the center's research goals is to identify the causes of endometriosis, a major cause of infertility and debilitating pain in women. Other researchers are interested in pregnancy-related diseases, such as maternal diabetes, which affect the fetus. "It's very encouraging to see that there's been some recognition on the national level that there are gender-related health issues and there was a general lack of support which dealt with those issues," Strauss said. Strauss was also chosen to chair a NIH working group formed to design and set the research agenda for women's health. Strauss noted that the creation of research centers such as the one for women's health is "very much in vogue," and said he hopes that the center's "diverse gathering across many specialties in medicine" will facilitate the development of similiar research programs with overlapping interests.
(04/15/93 9:00am)
Hundreds of University City motorists unexpectedly received citations yesterday for doing something most of them do every day -- drive their cars. The offense was driving a gas guzzler. More than 600 gas guzzler violations were handed out by members of the Penn Environmental Group yesterday to increase awareness among those who drive fuel inefficient automobiles. Specifically targetted by the group were cars with fuel efficiency below the national average of 28 miles per gallon or cars with the lowest efficiency in their class. "It's the largest direct action against the auto industry," said Mike Isenberg, an Engineering freshman who organized the event. The ticketing campaign is part of a national grass-roots effort which will reach more than 200 cities in North America. Offenders were given a green ticket which lists the violation, the results of gas guzzling and steps which can be taken to end environmental damage. According to Isenberg, transportation accounts for one-third of the United States' greenhouse emissions. For each extra gallon of gas used by a gas guzzler, 20 extra pounds of carbon dioxide are released into the atmosphere. "I felt that it was a quite positive event overall," said Adeodato Ressi, a College junior who issued a number of tickets. Ressi said he feels the tickets will raise awareness for those buying cars in the future. "I haven't heard of any negative response," Isenberg said. "I think we were very sucessful in arranging awareness on fuel efficiency." Ressi said he felt the message was well-received, despite some motorists who denied that the gas guzzler they were driving belonged to them.
(04/09/93 9:00am)
A group of community activists yesterday asked the University to officially condemn Mihailo Markovic, a former adjunct political science and philosophy professor, for his alleged leadership role in the Serbian government. In front of College Hall yesterday, Philip Valenti of the Schillings Institute said that Markovic is now "a spokesman and leader of the fascist Serbian government" and that he is "involved in organizing genocide." In response to the group's calls to "officially and formally repudiate Markovic," Associate Dean of the School of Arts and Sciences Richard Beeman said that Markovic has not taught at the University since fall 1990 and has not had a contract since 1991. "Markovic is not a professor and not an employee of the University at this time," Beeman said yesterday. "It has always been the University's policy to neither condemn nor condone the views of current or past faculty." Markovic worked at the University for nine years. Political science department chair Oliver Williams said last night that Markovic has "no connection whatsoever" with the University or the Political Science Department. Williams said he "listened with disbelief" to Markovic on a Serbian radio broadcast very early in the political conflict, and was disturbed by what he heard. But he added that during a war it is difficult for to keep track of a person's actions. "I don't know and I don't think the Schillings people know exactly what his status is," Williams said, adding that the allegations have upset many people at the University. Valenti claimed that Markovic is still associated with the University. Markovic is still listed as an adjunct professor in the 1992-1994 Undergraduate Academic Bulletin and in the current graduate admissions catalogue. The 1992-1993 Course Register lists three of Markovic's courses. The Schilling Institute has organized a petition to President Sheldon Hackney to permanently ban Markovic from the University. "It's as if a professor were to go to work for Hitler," Valenti said. "He is actively complicit in acts of genocide . . . the University should make it clear he is not going to return again." Williams said that Markovic had not been removed from the course registers because his contract did not end until the fall of 1991.
(03/16/93 10:00am)
While most University students were dreading the end of spring break, most fourth-year medical students couldn't wait until it was over. Today is match day -- the day residency positions are assigned to medical students nationwide. "We're all sort of anxious waiting," fourth-year Med student Elise Lebel said yesterday. "It's such a grab bag . . . regardless of how good you are you never know what's going to be in the envelope." Lebel added that there can be up to 40 applicants for the most competitive spots. Residency positions at hospitals are assigned through a computerized process which requires med students nationwide to visit and rank the locations of their choice. Hospitals submit a ranked list of students they would like to accept. On match day, each student is accepted by just one hospital. It's the waiting which keeps med students counting the days. "You only get into one place," Med student Alex Parikh said before break. But he noted that the match-up system is "biased for the students" because the computer tries to match students with their choices as best it can. "I know the hardest day for me was the day before putting the rank list in," said Lebel, who is hoping for a position at the University, the University of Pittsburgh or Stanford University. "The scary thing about applying is that we all sign this contract that says we will be bound to whatever's in that envelope." "It really forces you to decide where you want to go," said Parikh, who is applying under a "couples match" option with his fiancee. "It's a competitive year and because there's two of us, we play this thing fairly conservatively." Medical School Vice Dean of Education Frederic Burg said before break that he understands the high anxiety experienced during the application process, but feels that its design serves the students well. "We do extra well because of the caliber and reputation of our students," Burg said. "They are sought after by the best institutions in the country and have the opportunity to enter a residency program in any area." Burg said he understands the anxiety experienced as match day approaches, but he said he feels that the anxiety is a necessary trade-off for a system which is "better for the students in the long run." "You can shoot as high as you want to," Burg said. He noted that under the old system hospitals would rush the students and there was pressure to accept positions. The present system "allows maximum opportunity against the trade-off of the anxieties," Burg said. But both Parikh and Lebel agree that the University's reputation will give them an advantage. "Being from Penn really helps," Parikh said. "They sort of roll out the red carpet wherever you go." "Everywhere you went, the Penn name connected you to people," said Lebel. "I didn't expect that."
(02/06/93 10:00am)
When world-renowned gene therapy researcher James Wilson arrives in March to head the University's newly formed gene therapy institute, he will have more than curing genetic diseases on his agenda. Along with the technology of gene therapy come ethical concerns which will require serious discussion inside and outside the medical community. "We hope to begin discussions and put together a format in which we can address and discuss all the various ethical and legal issues that go along with these new technologies," Wilson said last week. "It will be a good opportunity to intellectually discuss the implications of what we do beyond the clinical applications." Gene therapy involves replacing defective genes in humans, thereby altering the course of disease. The modified genes are inserted in somatic cells, which means that an individual does not pass altered genes on to future generations. Critics of gene research are concerned that the technology developed could be used in unanticipated ways and are concerned that the technology will be too expensive to be widely applied. Wilson said he will begin coordinating discussions when he arrives in March. "We'll have a large committee with representatives from various different constituencies, including probably the community, where we will have an opportunity to discuss and air some of the issues that go along with this," he said. Arthur Asbury, the Medical School's vice dean for research, said he agrees that the ethical aspects of the research need to be considered. "Any time we try to intervene in human diseases there are problems that arise that are of an ethical nature," Asbury said. "Are there dangers to others? Are there any other dangers that we haven't thought of that we need to consider? [Wilson] is talking about bringing together boards or panels to consider some of the implications of the work from a social and ethical point of view," he added. Wilson and Asbury said the panels would likely include community leaders, members of the clergy and experts in law.
(02/03/93 10:00am)
When James Wilson and his 12-person research team arrive at the University in March to head the world's first gene therapy institute, they will have to work in borrowed space across the street from their eventual home. The University Trustees have approved a Medical School plan to renovate approximately 5,000 square feet of laboratory space in the Wistar Institute to accomodate Wilson for about two and a half years. The renovations are expected to cost $2.1 million. According to Medical School Vice Dean for Research Arthur Asbury, the gene therapy institute's eventual home will be in the new Biomedical Research Building 1, which is currently under construction. Biomedical Research Building 1 is the medical center's $60 million facility which is being constructed next to Blockley Hall. The building, which will contain approximately 200,000 square feet of space, is designed to facilitate the sharing of equipment and expertise between researchers in different fields. The facility will house research programs in cancer, aging, cardiovascular disease, genetics and gene therapy. According to Asbury, providing such research facilities is the medical center's primary responsiblity. The research projects themselves are supported largely with grants from outside sources, he said. "In the short run, the Medical Center does things like renovating laboratories and hiring people to get them started buying equipment," Asbury said. "Dr. Wilson will bring with him a large amount of grant support," Asbury said, adding that the gene therapy institute will be supported largely by outside funding sources such as the National Institutes of Health. The institute, which was announced in December by Med School Dean William Kelley, will be the first in the country devoted to studying gene therapy with a focus on the treatment of human disease. Wilson, currently at the University of Michigan, is one of three researchers nationwide authorized to perform gene therapy experiments on humans. No H&J; required. Do not bother inserting ! -- Michael Center ultimately to move to new $60-million research building
(01/28/93 10:00am)
The University will soon become home to the world's first and only human gene therapy institute, and nationally renowned gene therapy researcher James Wilson cannot wait to move in. "I've been interested in this technology ever since I was a graduate student, although it wasn't popular until a year or two ago," said Wilson, who was recruited from the University of Michigan to head the newly formed Institute for Human Gene Therapy. Gene therapy research has become so popular in the last couple of years that medical center officials are betting that it will "revolutionize medicine as we know it today," he said. "Those of us over here in research at the medical center think that human gene therapy is going to be the most important area in biomedical research in the next 10 to 15 years," said Arthur Asbury, the Medical School's vice dean for research. "This is comparable to the discovery of bacteria or the discovery of antibiotics." According to a statement from Medical School Dean William Kelley, the type of genetic research planned for the institute will be "critical to the work of finding cures for diseases ranging from AIDS to cystic fibrosis, and from cancer and cardiovascular diseases to Rheumatoid arthritis." Wilson leads one of three teams nationwide authorized to conduct experiments in gene therapy on humans. As director of the Medical Center's institute, he will be responsible for stimulating and coordinating multidisciplinary efforts which will involve researchers and clinicians across a broad range of fields. "It's a cross-discipline program," Wilson said. "What I'm going to try to accomplish is collaboration within the various schools, and departments within the schools, to bring together programs in gene therapy." Asbury said gene therapy is made possible by "the revolution in recombinant biology" that has occurred over the last 10 or 12 years. "We are able to alter the course of otherwise untreatable diseases by the replacing of defective genes," Asbury said. Wilson is best known for his work which utilized gene replacement therapy to cure human cystic fibrosis cells in a laboratory culture. Last December, the National Institutes of Health advisory committee approved the experiment for 12 patients. Wilson said yesterday he is "absolutely" excited about making the move to the University. "The opportunity to start something like this, which is the first of its kind, is very exciting to me," he said.
(01/19/93 10:00am)
Daniel Johnson wasn't aware that he had donated $10 million to the University's Medical School until he read his name in USA Today Friday morning. That's because he didn't. Much to his amazement, the national newspaper ran a story which mistakenly indentified Johnson as a Boston doctor who donated $10 million to provide free tuition for 25 medical students annually. The actual donor, a University alumnus, remains anonymous. "I was sitting on an airplane Friday morning reading the paper, and when I got to the D section it was quite surprising to see my name," said Johnson, who is the speaker of the House of Delegates of the American Medical Association. Johnson said yesterday that he feels bad for the anonymous doctor and his wife who made the donation. "It really was a wonderful donation made much more magnanamous because it was anonymous," he said. Johnson added he thinks the donors acted with "the finest interest of philanthropy" and feels bad that he was mistakenly given the credit. "It had to be a terrible thing for them," Johnson said. When Med School Dean William Kelley announced the donation last Thursday, he said that the donor and his wife were "a humble couple who wish to remain anonymous...hopefully at [a] later date they will choose to come forward." The $10 million was used to establish a fund, which officials hope will eventually provide free medical school tuition for all medical students, thus allowing them to enter the field of their choice without constraints due to heavy education debt. Johnson said his only other concern is that after being given credit for a $10 million donation, he might be called upon to meet other needs as well. "I don't want people thinking I've won the lottery," he said, "since I certainly haven't."
(01/19/93 10:00am)
The Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania made more than $18 million over projections for the three months ending in September, HUP officials said last week. Total profits for the third quarter were $29.2 million, or $18.5 million more than what was predicted in the hospital's budget. HUP Executive Director Bud Pittinger said the figures were part of "a healthy trend that we would like to see continue." Pittinger attributed the higher figures to the changing health care industry, a busy few months at the hospital, and efforts to reduce hospital expenses. "Fortunately for us, some of our assumptions regarding our payer mix have changed," Pittinger said Friday. Revenue for the hospital is affected by who is paying the patient's bills. During the three-month period ending in September, Medicare and Blue Cross paid higher percentages than the hospital expected. "Blue Cross is strengthening its marketing position and we will continue to benefit," Pittinger said. An increase in the amount of surgery performed at the hospital is also partially responsible for the unexpected revenue, Pittinger said. Pittinger said the hospital makes more revenue from surgery, and it was a "very busy" period full of doctors working "twelve hours a day." But the hospital will not have to decide where the extra money will go. "Every nickel is committed to upgrading HUP," said Pittinger, who added that the money will be used for "deferred maintainance and capital replacement." The hospital is a non-profit institution. Last year, after HUP brought in $1 million more between July and October than it did the year before, both Pittinger and HUP Chief Financial Officer John Wynne attributed the increase in revenue to increased admissions, lower medical malpractice costs, and the leadership of Medical School Dean William Kelley. Kelley's leadership in uniting the various departments since he arrived in October 1989 greatly attributed to the financial success of the medical center, Pittinger said at the time.
(01/15/93 10:00am)
An anonymous $10 million donation to the Medical School may ultimately lead to free tuition for all University Med School students, Med School Dean William Kelley said yesterday. Kelley said he hopes the money, which was donated by a Med School alumnus and his wife, will make the University a "prototype" for the way medical schools will operate in the 21st century. "This may ultimately establish Penn as the nation's first private medical school to provide full tuition for all of its medical students," Kelley said at a press conference yesterday. The program, called the Twenty-First Century Endowed Scholars Fund, was established so that medical students will have the "freedom to pursue the medical careers of their choice" and will not be constrained by financial concerns, he added. "Many private medical school students carry a burden of educational debt equal to that of a home mortgage by the time they graduate," said Kelley. "We hope it allows students to worry less about cost and more about their education." Fredric Burg, Med School vice dean of education, said the fund will "remove any variables" when medical students decide "how they want to spend their lives." Kelley said the anonymous $10 million gift was made by "a humble couple who feel very strongly about medical education." Their gift is designed to provide full tuition for the first 25 selected scholars. The first six recipients started Medical School at the University this fall. By 1995, there will be at least 25 scholars per year. "We are committed to raising funds to provide full tuition for 200 student scholars by the year 2000," said Kelley. "Each additional endowment gift or pledge of $400,000 to the fund will provide full tuition for one student per year in perpetuity." He said it was impossible to determine how long it would take for the fund to reach its ultimate goal of a $240 million endowment -- enough to pay the tuition for all 685 medical students. "We hope scholars will choose to repay this generosity either through their socially beneficial medical service -- pursuing a career in medical research, medical education, service to patients in geographically remote or otherwise under-served patient populations -- or by funding another Twenty-First Century Scholar," Kelley said. The first group of scholarship recipients was not selected based on financial need or intended career path, but rather on individual merit. Some of the first recipients said they are thrilled that their years at the University will be paid for by the generous donation. "It's a tremendous gift," said tuition recipient Adil Esmail. "I feel very fortunate." Karen La Face, another first year Med School student and fund recipient, said she plans to practice a less lucrative type of medicine which the fund will allow her to pursue because she will not have to worry about paying off student loans. "What the fund really does is to allow people to make a career choice based upon what they'll like the most and where they feel they'll have the biggest impact," La Face said.
(12/04/92 10:00am)
It wasn't clear last night who most enjoyed the Penn Singer's fall production, Broadway to Heaven. The audience's enthusiasm for the show was equally matched by the singers themselves, who were clearly having a great time recreating some of Broadway's biggest hits. Favorite selections from Porgy and Bess, Oklahoma, My Fair Lady, Jesus Christ Superstar, and Les Miserables were brought to life with strong vocal performances, extensive choreography and a measure of comic relief. The show contained 35 selections, alternating between full-company numbers and individual performances. Quick transitions kept the show moving and barely gave the audience time to applaud. A well-choreographed rendition of "O Lord, I'm on My Way," from Porgy and Bess, began a string of full-sounding choral arrangements involving all 45 singers. Wharton graduate student Tom Love followed with an especially strong, well-received performance of the musical's last number, "I Got Plenty of Nothin." Several selections from Oklahoma, such as "The Farmer and the Cowman," and "Pore Jud is Daid," lightened the mood with comic themes. The company then changed from their Oklahoma overalls and plaids to suits and gowns for six selections from the 1956 hit My Fair Lady. Strong performances continued after intermission, when the group turned to Jesus Christ Superstar and Les Miserables. The selections from Les Miserables gave individuals a chance to showcase their vocal talents. Broadway to Heaven will be performed tonight and Saturday at 8 p.m. in the Annenberg School Theater.
(12/03/92 10:00am)
Penn Singers' new production "Broadway to Heaven" might as well be called Broadway 101. The show, which opens tonight, is a musical tour of 20th Century Broadway productions complete with pieces from five shows -- Porgy and Bess, Oklahoma, My Fair Lady, Jesus Christ Superstar and Les Miserables. "This is without a doubt the best fall show the Penn Singers have ever mounted," said Wharton senior Leigh Large, the group's president. "It's not just singing, but a fully staged production." Several of the numbers include all 45 singers and extensive choreography including "Master of the House" from Les Miserables and "Jesus Christ Superstar" from the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical with the same name. "We alternate between big and small numbers to get a real variety with both the style and performers," Large said. "The narration is very brief and interesting, not a lecture." Bruce Montgomery, the group's director, said he believes that the show is one of the best ever produced by Penn Singers. "This is different from any fall show we have given and it has the potential to be the best we've other done," Montgomery said. "It is also the most ambitious. We've tried very hard to represent shows of the previous decades." Penn Singers Publicity Manager Daniel Rudasill said the show diverges from the past fall performances because it has extensive choreographing and costuming. "It's definitely the most different," the College junior said. "In terms of choreography and solo work this is definitely the most student controlled show as well. It's all student directed." "Broadway to Heaven" will be performed tonight, Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. in the Annenberg School Theater. Tickets are available on Locust Walk and at the door.
(11/05/92 10:00am)
Tomorow one of the University's performing arts groups opens a three show run of their fall performance, and no script has even been written yet. Of course, members of Without a Net, the University's only improvisational comedy troupe, would have it no other way. "Hurt Til It Laughs," the group's improvisational comedy extravaganza which runs tomorrow through Sunday is actually a compilation of many old and new games. Performers rely heavily on members of their audience to provide the background of a game, such as a situation, category, or relationship. Then it is up to the actors to incorporate the information into a sketch that is both spontaneous and funny. "Bucket" is one of the new games the troupe plans to introduce, according to group members. While one performer leaves the room, the audience determines a relationship and location for two other actors. The first performer is then brought back on stage and told to submerge his head in a bucket of water while the other two performers begin to act out their scenario. When the submerged comedian can longer hold his breath, he becomes part of the scene and attempts to guess the relationship. Without a Net has appeared in five free shows this year, but group members said "Hurt Til It Laughs" is their best effort. "This is the real show," said group member Tony Angeles, a Wharton senior. "It's very intense. We're at our best through two hours of material." Members of the troupe recognize that a responsive audience is critical to the success of their improvisational comedy. "A lot of the show's success depends on the audience," said performer Avish Parashar, an Engineering sophomore. "For college students it usually works out really well. But sometimes for older audiences or smaller crowds they aren't as open to us." Keeping the material fresh is also important, Parashar said. "Performance wise, we usuallly try something new to keep the audience interested. We rarely repeat the same ideas," he said. Five new games will be introduced during the show, including "Point of View." In this game, the same story is told different times, from the perspective of each character. And old favorites of the group, such as "Freeze," will also be performed. The group also has a supply of "fillers" which they can introduce once and perform between several sketches. For example, "World's Worst Person" requires each performer in the troupe to create their worst version of an occupation supplied by the audience. "Hurt Til It Laughs" appears November tomorrow through Sunday at 8 p.m., in Rainey Auditorium of the University Museum. Tickets are available on Locust Walk and at the door.
(11/03/92 10:00am)
Each Saturday night, surrounded by the sound of live jazz, the elegance of a French restaurant, an array of raw fish and a few plastic Godzillas, Tony Saito is able to practice for his graduate work in the dental lab. As a sushi chef, the University dental student said he gains valuable experience working with his hands, delicately slicing, rolling and molding fish, rice, and vegetables into what he regards an art form. The Tokio-Le Champignon restaurant, located in Society Hill at 2nd and Lombard streets, provides a unique mix between a casual Japanese sushi bar and a fine French restaurant. Diners in the restaurant can choose to sit at normal tables or at tatami, low Japanese style tables set on mats designed for kneeling. They can order French cuisine or sushi from the adjacent bar where Saito works as the chef. "By working here, I've met a lot of people," said Saito, who is in his second year at the University's Dental School. Saito has worked at the restaurant for eight years and decided to enter dental school after a regular customer introduced Saito to the profession. "It's an advantage to me to have found a career working with my hands," Saito said. "Being able to work with your hands is important in the dental labs." The sushi bar offers a casual environment which Saito said he prefers to work in. The menu features Japanese cartoons, and his Godzilla collection adourns one wall. "We get a lot of Penn students coming down here," said Saito, noting that the casual environment makes it easier for new customers to experiment with sushi for the first time. "A lot of new people come in. I guide them through nice and easy. You just don't want to have them jump in and eat raw fish," said Saito. "A lot of people have the conception that Japanese food is just raw fish, but there is also hot food like beef, chicken and pork, as well as others." Saito said that Japanese food is divided into numerous categories including nigiri, maki and sashimi. Nigiri is an actual piece of raw fish served on top of rice, while the sashimi is just the fish. "This is what actual sushi is all about -- fish on top of rice," Saito said. But Saito said he frequently serves other styles of Japanese food. For instance, maki is a roll, with fish wrapped in rice and seaweed. Wasadi is a type of horseradish which can be dipped in the soy sauce to provide a strong, hot taste. "In the winter time people have colds so they'll use some wasadi and it will clear up their sinuses," said Saito. Ginger is provided as a way to cleanse the palate. New fish can be tried without the taste of a previous fish left over. And Saito said he normally recommends California rolls to the first time sushi eater because they do not contain any raw fish. "They won't be overwhelmed by raw fish," Saito said. An open mind, however, can lead one to more exotic varieties, according to Saito, who notes that sea urchin is available for "professional" sushi eaters. The advanced sushi diners also may eat quail eggs which cracked open on salmon. "Those are not for beginners," Saito said. Different types of sushi can be ordered and be arranged on a wooden Japanese style boat as a centerpiece. The arrangements can become very ornate, according to Saito. "It's definitely art, especially the boats," said Saito. Saito warned, however, that eating raw fish can be dangerous. "A lot of people are worried about it. The important thing is to get to know the restaurant and chef," Saito said. "I'm really critical of my sushi." He said he uses fish from a "high quality" New York sushi company. "[The restaurant] is a combination of the best of both worlds -- the Orient and the Western World," said Marguerite Galant, a patron at the sushi bar. "It's quite unique."
(10/09/92 9:00am)
An intruder broke into Hill House Monday night through a second floor window, stole money and other items, and left unnoticed through the room's door. But Hill residents said yesterday they believe the man actually wandered through the dormitory for more than two hours while looking for a way out of the building. According to University Police logs, the incident occurred between 6:00 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. on Monday evening. No arrest was made. A telephone, answering machine, suitcase, and some money were taken from a second floor room, according to Michael Carroll, Detective Supervisor of the University Police Department. Instead of leaving through the window or Hill's front door, students and Hill officials believe the burglar apparently wandered down to the first floor in search of another exit. Several students reported a stranger wandering their halls at 11 p.m., approximately two hours after the burglary was reported. The police were called back, and together with Hill's graduate fellows, an unsuccessful search of the first floor was conducted, said Steve Feld, senior administrative fellow at Hill House. However, one of the building's fire doors was found open, and Feld said he assumes that is how the burglar finally left. "It is the assumption that the thief left through that door," said Feld, although he noted that, "There is not a lot of hard evidence." "This guy just walked down the hall with a suitcase over his shoulder. He was old and looked like he didn't belong," said Mari Boggiano, a College freshman who saw the intruder. "He seemed to be looking around. Now I know he was looking for a way out," she added. Boggiano saw the man walking around on the first floor a little before 10 p.m., but like other students who saw the intruder, she did not report him. Other Hill residents who saw the intruder at various times Monday evening described him as 6'1" with graying hair. They also noted that he carried a suitcase. However, no one in Hill reported the stranger until much later in the evening. Those who saw the intruder earlier that night did not become alarmed. Some figured the man could have been a guest or even someone's father. "You kind of wonder when you see someone out [of] the ordinary, but you don't automatically think he's a burglar," said Elaine Dwyer, a College freshman. "I thought it was strange, but my first thought was not that it must be a burglar," said Boggiano. "This place seems so safe that 'burglar' is not the first thing that comes to mind when you see someone walking through the hall." Most Hill residents said they did not feel any different about their safety after the break-in. "I knew the risk was always there, so this just reconfirms my belief that it can happen," said Matt Gustke, a Wharton freshman. "I really don't feel any different now than I did before." Most other residents also felt that Hill is still a safe building. They noted that there are bars on the first floor windows and that incidents such as the break-in are rare occurences. "To the best of my knowledge this is the first time Hill House has been broken into from the outside," said Feld, who called the event, "an isolated incident." Nonetheless, he emphasized the importance of safety and security while living in the city. "You have to take a responsibility for your own safety," Feld said. "The bottom line for Hill House is that students will keep windows and doors locked when they are out." Anyone with information regarding the intruder should contact Michael Carroll, Detective Supervisor, at the University Police Department.
(09/24/92 9:00am)
Although over 50 students gambled away their evening by attending comedian Bill Cosby's new show You Bet Your Life, everyone said they came out a winner. And while the students raved about Cosby's improvisational humor, many gave the show's concept low marks. "The game show part was stupid," College freshman Cari Emery said. "But the interviewing part was funny and that's where Bill Cosby was at his best." Before taping began, Cosby briefly welcomed the University students and assumed his role as host. "We thank some of the kids from the University of Pennsylvania for coming out this evening," Cosby said. "Get it all out before midterms." Students said they enjoyed being on the set of a gameshow where they were able to get a "backstage" feel for how it is produced. But many students learned, after standing in the lobby of WHYY television studios for nearly one and one-half hours, that the celebrity world is not always exciting, and often demands that one "hurry up and wait." "We were waiting so long that I thought the Cos overdosed on Jello Pudding Pops," College freshman Ryan Jaffe said. You Bet Your Life is actually a revival of an old game show where contestants with bizarre occupations are paired up to answer trivia questions on various topics. Much of the show's emphasis and appeal is the interaction between Cosby and his contestants, students said. The freshmen said they were most entertained by the conversation between Cosby and a gravestone saleswoman from Detroit. For nearly fifteen minutes the two humored the audience as the saleswoman explained her business to the animated Cosby. She attempted to sell a stone to Cosby, who she said falls into the "pre-need" category. The crowds reaction was loudest when Cosby uncharacteristically shouted "bullshit" in response to the contestant's claim she felt sorry for her deceased clients. Other contestants included a 60-year-old skydiver and a cow-manure-throwing-contest judge. The students' reasons for attending the event were as varied as the contestants. "I had nothing to do and it was free." said College freshman Melissa Spindle. But Stewart Meyer said toungue-in-cheek that he attended since he could not locate a copy of the pornographic magazine which claims to feature a naked University sophomore. "7-11 ran out of Hustler, so I decided to come here instead," the College freshman said last night. The trip to the studio was organized by David Shane, Community House's social events coordinator. "We brought a Community House T-shirt for Bill Cosby," Shane said. "And were hoping to get a little bit of free publicity for Penn." The shirt was given to one of the audience coordinators. You Bet Your Life coordinators said they were unsure when this episode would appear on television.
