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(02/08/99 10:00am)
From Michelle Weinberg, "For Every Action," Fall '99 From Michelle Weinberg, "For Every Action," Fall '99This Saturday, I attended my first protest. I'd always thought about attending a protest, but I've never really had the courage. Thoughts of radical protesters getting arrested and screaming at people in the streets ran through my mind. At the protest, we dressed in orange aprons, trying to look like Home Depot employees. We handed out "coupons" to people entering the store with our message printed on both sides. We dropped a banner off the roof of the building -- a slightly illegal act, but nobody got caught. And we chanted "mahogany and cedar, rain forests die by meter" and "Home Depot sucks, don't waste your bucks." It was an amazing feeling to know that my voice was being heard -- the megaphone I was shouting into certainly helped in that effort -- and that we were making an impact. Walking through the parking lot and talking to people was also a thrilling feeling -- people were really receptive to hearing about our cause and listening as we answered their questions. Student protest has always been a means for social awareness and change. This past weekend, 27 students at Georgetown University occupied the office of the university president in protest of Georgetown's role in the sweatshop industry. Last week, 100 students at Notre Dame went on a hunger strike, demonstrating to have homosexuality protected by Notre Dame's anti-discrimination policy. The long-term impacts of these protests have yet to be seen, but they have gained attention and support for their causes across the country. Protesters are often quickly dismissed as crazy radicals. But don't automatically discount demonstrators because you are uncomfortable with the idea of speaking out for change. Students around the world are willing to risk their lives in the name of a cause in which they believe. In Nigeria, youth protesters were killed by soldiers as they demonstrated against oil companies destroying their land. And none of us can think about student protest without recalling the tragic slaughter of Chinese dissidents in the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre. Unlike these foreign protesters, we live in a society where free speech and free expression are taken for granted. It is our right to speak out for or against any issue that upsets us. Yet most of us never do speak out and look strangely upon those who are willing to try. The majority of Penn's student body seems to be apathetic to anything that occurs beyond the imaginary walls of the University of Pennsylvania. Most Penn students don't care about anything that does not have a direct and immediate impact upon their own lives. We cannot spend our lives hiding inside the ivory tower. Phrases like human rights and social justice are thrown around in intellectual discussion, yet very few of us seem willing to take a stand. People seem afraid to make up their minds. Claiming that "I don't know enough about the issue to take a stance" or "This issue doesn't really affect me" is simply taking the easy way out. Get educated about issues, take a stand and speak out. Remaining silent about an issue is the same as condoning it. I have always believed in speaking out against injustice, and have written letters, petitioned, organized speakers and generally talked up issues that I felt were socially important. Yet even I, a self-proclaimed activist, was wary of demonstrations and protests, wondering if the visual impact actually served as an effective means for awareness and education
(05/22/97 9:00am)
At 8:10 p.m., University Police Sgt. Tom Rambo lays down the rules: No photos of officers on the force's Special Response Team, which Rambo heads, because they work both undercover and in uniform. Stay in the car at all times unless he gives the word. That's all. The move was one of several made by officials to attempt to stem crime in the wake of last fall's mugging wave, which was capped with Patrick Leroy's shooting. "Our assignment with the SRT is to prevent crime by being visible and preventing people from committing crime," he says. Because the patrolmen only respond to high-priority reports of crime over the police radio, Rambo adds, you won't see the SRT "trying to get keys out of the car with a slim jim for a half hour." It becomes clear as we zip around University City that the team's officers have few rules; they can do whatever they want, wherever they want. And the lack of boundaries -- the SRT guys aren't confined to a small patrol area or even the University Police jurisdiction (bounded by the Schuylkill to the east, Market Street to the north, 43rd Street to the west and roughly Baltimore and University avenues to the south) -- helps explain precisely why these officers are involved in many of the arrests University Police make. Among the unit's 60-plus arrests and other feats since its inception seven months ago are the following: · February 4 -- Officer Len Harrison takes it on the chin? literally. As he tries to stick an assault suspect into a police van, the suspect kicks Harrison in the face, giving him a concussion, while another suspect escapes on foot. Fortunately, University Police rearrest both suspects minutes later. · February 25 -- Harrison and Officer Mike Sylvester prevent any serious damage or injury when they get to the Tabard Society house fire before it gets out of hand. · March 24 -- Harrison and Sylvester apprehend two suspects -- one carrying 16 packets of crack cocaine -- shortly after they allegedly rob a professor at gunpoint near campus. Our first taste of action tonight happens in front of Chestnut Hall, where a blue Pontiac 6000SE idles with its hazard lights flashing but no one in the car. Rambo gets out and writes a $25 double-parking ticket, to the dismay of the middle-aged driver who shakes his head, maintaining he was making a quick delivery. You were backing up traffic throughout 39th Street, Rambo retorts as he returns to the wheel, three minutes lost. End of argument. We crisscoss nearly every street within the University Police jurisdiction, including several I never previously walked down, but nothing seems to happen. At the night's start, another officer told us to "get ready to get bored," and after several futile hours of searching for crime, it appears that the SRT has accomplished its crime-prevention goal -- at least for a few hours.
(11/03/95 10:00am)
There is no doubt that West Philadelphia has changed over the years. If anyone has looked into the history of the area, they would learn that it was Philadelphia's first suburb. In fact, in 1782, the University moved from its Center City location to West Philly in order to escape the confines of the city. Much later in the mid-1900s, a proposal was made to move the University once again, this time to Valley Forge. But, Penn chose to stay in the city. As a result, "the Penn experience" has now become more than that of just attending college, but also of learning continuously from our diverse, heterogeneous urban surroundings. So homecoming is more than just coming home to Penn, it's coming home to the city, and West Philadelphia. This Homecoming Weekend we have a new idea: Let's start making the most of our West Philadelphia neighborhood while we're still here so that when we come back and visit in a few years we have fond memories not just of going to school in West Philadelphia but of spending four years of our lives in a remarkable urban neighborhood. Even if you're just back visiting for the weekend, it's not too late to start exploring some of the wonderful things that West Philly has to offer. Here is a brief list of some of these great places: ·The Firehouse Farmer's Market. A smaller version of Reading Terminal with a more quaint and friendly atmosphere, 50th and Baltimore ·The Carrot Cake Man. Cool guy, good cake. (47th & Pine) ·Dhalak. Ever wonder what people who work for Dining Service do in their spare time? Run the best Ethiopian Restaurant on the East Coast. (47th and Baltimore) ·Hollywood Palace. Jazz 8:00-1:00. Sundays. 52nd & Walnut ·The American Diner. a traditional 50's hangout. 4201 Chestnut · The 4600 block of Locust Street-A finalist in the Philadelphia Most Beautiful Block Competition. · Lip Lic'ns. Great American Soul Food. Good Corn Bread. 4909 Catherine Street. More than this, there are an abundance of other ethnic restaurants, grocery stores and community resources. Clark Park and Cobbs Creek Park are great places to take a walk or ride a bike. And finally we have one more thing to tell you about, our neighborhood right off campus. The few blocks west of Penn comprise one of the cities extraordinary neighborhoods. Cafes like Chimes and delis like Koch's are famous throughout the city. But more importantly the diversity and sense of community give the neighborhood its unique character. Students are just one of the many groups who live in West Philly and sometimes they don't do as much as they could to contribute to the community. It is unfortunate but true that students who could serve as one of the neighborhood's greatest strengths are too often a weakness. Problems with trash disposal and poor maintenance of houses and grounds are two seemingly trivial issues that have a large effect on the neighborhood. Penn Friends & Students for Neighborhood Involvement (PFSNI II) is an organization of students and community members who do simple things to make our "home" better. In fact this Sunday, during Homecoming Weekend, we're holding a neighborhood clean-up. So, go to the Tiger Death Fest, but also join us on Sunday, November 5. At 11 a.m., 4052 Spruce Street (41st and Spruce). Its a good place to start. "Can you live without the willow tree? Well, no, you can't, because the willow tree is you." -- John Steinbeck.
(01/30/95 10:00am)
Danielle Jean-Guillaume "I'm sorry, but some people 'round the world are just going to have to die and the Haitians may sometimes be among them." Do you recognize the humor in this statement? Neither did we. Yet, in his article entitled "One Man's Vision of Haiti" published in The Red and Blue, Jeremy Hildreth suggests that his point of view is "actually pretty funny." However, while attempting to present an argument against U.S. intervention in Haiti, Hildreth clearly demonstrates the depth of his insensitivity and prejudice. Naturally angered and hurt by the author's offensive and unsubstantiated message, the executive board members of Dessalines Haitian Student Association responded. With the intention of providing a beneficial learning experience in light of the hatred expressed, Dessalines planned a meeting for the parties involved. Unfortunately, Hildreth, President Rodin and her administration did not share our enthusiasm. Despite the fact that we clearly expressed our acknowledgment of the author's right to freely express himself, we have been accused of advocating censorship. It must be acknowledged that our complaints are not due to our differing opinions, but rather to Hildreth's attempt to present his opinion as factually based. He abuses his First Amendment right, disregarding its value while using it as a tool for discrimination. When will our community take a stand against the obvious bigotry and hatred that permeates this campus and manifests itself in the form of "literature?" The overwhelming apathy that exists at Penn is so destructive that even those personally targeted, as well as other community members, do not see the absurdity of the attack. Peruvian sophomore Felix Estrada supports Hildreth's description of Haiti in his DP guest column of December 8, 1994. In addition, he disregards the value of his own nation, describing Peru as a "pathetic country." While Estrada agrees that the article insults Haitian people, he admits that his opinion would be different if he were Haitian. Is this acceptable? Communication between individuals of differing cultures and beliefs does not exist in the form of insult. Must every individual in the Penn community suffer a personal attack before we acknowledge this? It is obvious that there is a need for dispelling myths about Haiti as well as discussion about Haitian issues such as American intervention in Haiti. Effort towards dialogue between members of this community will be thwarted when bigotry is at the root of the discussion. Therefore, in the interest of avoiding such negativity, we are organizing a public forum to discuss relevant issues. We encourage all members of the Penn community to take an active role in this program. We also invite all to join us in our second annual celebration of Haitian Solidarity Week beginning February 6. The theme of our celebration is "Breaking Down the Barriers." Individuals who have devoted their lives to the study of Haiti and its culture have been invited to share their expertise. We are confident that they will help us to break down barriers at Penn. Colette Lamothe is a junior anthropology major from Newark, N.J. She is president of the Dessalines Haitian Student Association. Danielle Jean-Guillaume is a senior biology major from XXXXXX, Conn. She is corresponding secretary of the Dessalines Haitian Student Association.
(12/06/91 10:00am)
School of Arts and Sciences faculty approved a new Latin American Studies minor this week after a unusually strong collective effort between students, faculty and administrators. In addition, the faculty also approved a minor in cognitive science, reflecting a growing demand for computer-related studies. Administrators and students hope the new Latin American Studies minor could attract more Latino students to the University and open up the opportunity of establishing a major. The approval took place at a normally-scheduled SAS faculty meeting Tuesday. Assistant Romance Language Professor Jorge Salessi, who helped write the proposal for the minor, said the decision was "fantastic." He added that several different groups worked in harmony to establish the minor. "We succeded because of the help of administrators, faculty and students," Salessi said. "Without that combination, you don't get things done." And Pam Urueta, president of Asociacion Cultural de Estudiantil Chicano de Aztlan, said with the establishment of the minor as well as the new study abroad program in Oaxaca in Mexico, the administration is showing a strong concern for Latino students. "The establishment of the minor coupled with the approval of the Oaxaca program is a strong demonstration by the administration that they are aware of Latinos on the campus," Urueta said. "This is a good beginning." Urueta added that students were the main force behind starting the fight for the minor. "I think the speed in which the minor was established was greatly helped by student dedication to the major," Urueta said. Salessi also said they University now needs a Latin American Studies major, but that cannot be accomplished until the University hires more Latino faculty. Once more faculty are hired, new classes relating to a major can be created. "To have a major we need more faculty, and we don't dare let go of the faculty we already have," Salessi said. Salessi believes with the new minor and a possible major in the future more Latino students will be drawn to the University. "We also need more faculty because the students need to have role models in front of the class who they can relate to," he said. "The minor will absolutely draw students because we are working on the program. All these first things are little tiny sprouts emerging, and we have to water them. Urueta agreed that the future of Latino students and all students at the University will be improved by the new minor. The requirements for the minor will include that only two courses from the minor will be counted toward a major in another discipline, six courses with Latin American contents have to be taken and three of those courses must be upper-level courses, and only advanced language courses inclucing composition and literature courses will count among the six courses. Salessi also said students will probably be able to declare the minor next semester. (CUT LINE) Please see MINOR, page 10 MINOR, from page 1
(06/27/91 9:00am)
Last week, University trustee George Weiss gave 67 Massachusetts second-graders the gift that keeps on giving -- an education. Last week, Weiss attended a meeting at the Herrington School in Cambridge, Massachusetts and announced that he would put the all of the 67 rising third graders through the college or vocational school of their choice, provided they graduate high school. "They can go to any college or post-secondary school in the country," Weiss said this week. "We want kids to be productive members of the society." Weiss graduated from the Wharton School in 1965, and said he is pleased that students at the University are involved in the community, especially through their tutoring programs. Since 1987, Weiss has launched similar programs in Philadelphia and Hartford, under the "Say Yes to Education" Program, which he and wife Diane founded. Each program works closely with universities nearby. Weiss' first donation was to the Belmont Elementary School, which is located at 41st and Brown Streets. The 308 students currently in the program represent many different ethnic backgrounds. "This is one university reaching out to another to make a difference," said Weiss. "We want to make a difference and we don't care what the ethnic background is." The program is administered by the University's Graduate School of Education. Its main goal, Weiss said, is set at redirecting lives of at-risk students by providing educational and financial support. Say Yes also provides tutorial programs, dental care and family support for the students. "It's one thing to say that we will give you financial support if you reach there," said Carl Maugeri, assistant director of news and public affairs at Penn which handles communications and public relations for the program. "It's another thing to say that we will be with you every step of the way." Maugeri also stressed the importance of advocacy for the students under their help. Say Yes staff members serve as advocates by monitoring students' academic progress, meeting frequently with school personnel, and through counseling students and parents. Coming from a relatively poor background himself, Weiss said he paid his own tuition when he attended the University. He said when he was a sophomore at Penn where he met underprivileged kids at a Christmas party. "We got together years later at the homecoming football game and I was very impressed that these kids had completed high school," said Weiss. "They told me, 'We couldn't look at you straight in the eye if we didn't'." Ever since that day, Weiss said he set wanted to help poor children achieve higher levels in education. "I said to myself, if God ever gives me the ability to make a lot of money," he said. "What I'll do is try to implement a program to help the poor, that will have a strong component of caring."
(02/28/91 10:00am)
President Sheldon Hackney announced yesterday that a "Community Service Program" will fill the former Psi Upsilon fraternity house next fall. Hackney approved a recommendation from Vice Provost for University Life Kim Morrisson calling for a living-learning program "dedicated to service to the wider community" to fill the Locust Walk house, known as the Castle. "My recommendation for the Castle is to create . . . a place in the heart of our campus where undergraduate and graduate students. . . can explore the key issues of service and community involvement in answer to the question, 'What good may I do?' " Morrisson's report to the president states. The recommendation says a committee made up of faculty, students and staff currently active in community service will set guidelines for the program, as well as criteria for selecting residents. The group will help the students organize service programs next year. The Castle, currently the only empty building in the heart of campus, has become central to the year-long debate about how best to diversify Locust Walk. Students and faculty members have said throughout the year that the house is a microcosm of the whole issue -- they said what Hackney does with the Castle foreshadows what will be done with the Walk. Morrisson's recommendation for the house directly addresses one of Hackney's most public goals. Since coming to the University ten years ago, Hackney has consistently said he wants to strengthen the University's ties with the West Philadelphia community. The new program will provide a formal center and could serve as a rallying point for students interested in community service. Hackney said in a written statement yesterday he is "enthusiastic" about the new program. College Vice Dean Ira Harkavy, who directs the West Philadelphia Improvement Corps and is perhaps the University's most outspoken supporter of community service, praised the president, saying he could have made "no better decision." Hackney has served as a co-instructor for several years for Harkavy's seminar course on University-community relations. "[The decision] exemplifies what the University should be doing and [Benjamin] Franklin's message of education being linked to service," Harkavy said. "It will add tremendously to Locust Walk and to the entire University." VPUL Morrisson has been seeking ways to fill the vacant house since last May, when the Psi Upsilon fraternity was kicked off campus for the January kidnapping of a Delta Psi fraternity brother. Hackney said last semester that the building will be filled on a temporary basis, stressing that no program will prevent Psi Upsilon from reclaiming the house if the fraternity returns to campus in three years, the earliest it can apply for re-recognition under Morrisson's punishment. Morrisson said she hopes the community service program will remain in the Castle until that time. The VPUL said she based her recommendation on the advice of the Diversity on the Walk committee, proposals from students and staff members, and discussions throughout the University. She said many of the suggestions she received stressed the importance of community service. "The centrality of the house and the centrality of the program and the way it will reach out beyond the house for the benefit of the University community and the wider community seemed very appropriate for the site," Morrisson said yesterday.
(02/18/91 10:00am)
Students just can't seem to get enough of the newly reopened Furness Building. The building's Fine Arts Library is such a popular study space that many days it is hard to find a place to sit. The library's reading room, with an atrium that extends almost five stories to the leaded-glass skylight, has "instantaneously" become a favorite place for students. "In the evenings, it looks as if this whole place is filled," said Alan Morrison, the Fine Arts librarian. And many students said that they come to Furness not only because it is a good place to study, but because of its beauty. Second-year graduate student Aliya Khan said she enjoys the natural lighting. "It's really nice to sit there [under the skylight] when the sun is setting and you can see the twilight," she said. But today's favorite study space for many students and faculty was nearly demolished in the 1950s. A University plan from the '50s called for the construction of a boulevard that would have gone directly through Furness. Fortunately, architect Frank Lloyd Wright visited campus at the time and praised the building, causing the University to revise its plans. The $16.5 million restoration of Furness, completed last month, began in 1986 under the guidance of Lee Copeland, dean of the Graduate School of Fine Arts. Until Van Pelt Library opened in 1962, Furness was the main University library, storing over a million books. But because it was unable to accommodate the unexpected growth of the library and the University, the building was neglected for many years. The building's exterior, shrouded in scaffolding for much of the last four years, stands out on College Green, with an exterior of clean, vibrant shades of red and brown. The interior is marked by an ornate staircase that ascends almost to the top of the tower. The main reading room, with its arches and rotunda, allows natural light to flood onto the spacious reading tables. In addition to the Fine Arts Library, the building, which was recognized as a National Historic Landmark in 1975, houses the Arthur Ross Gallery, the architectural archives of the GSFA and some classrooms and studios. "[Furness] is not only important to the University and Philadelphia but to American architecture," Copeland said last week. The restoration process just completed was intended to "take the building back as close as possible to its original design," David Marohn, an architect involved in the restoration, said last week. "We were lucky to have so many chronological records and photo evidence," he added. Restoring the library's old bookstacks was difficult, Copeland said, because they were structurally unstable and needed to be entirely redone. "We think it was very successful," Marohn said. "The way the building has been renovated, the collection can expand in the future. That's an important feature of the restoration." And according to those who work in the restored Furness, the library is now particularly comfortable to work in. "We're looking forward to a cool summer in here," said Morrison, who just recently, along with his staff and books, was permitted to move back into Furness from their temporary home in Van Pelt.
(02/12/91 10:00am)
A University institute has received a $5.4 million grant that will make it a "national center" in cognitive science research and education. Officials at the University's Institute for Research in Cognitive Science said yesterday that the institute had received the grant, the only one ever awarded, from the National Science Foundation. The five-year award will be spread through the IRCS across several departments, including Computer and Information Science, Linguistics, Mathematics, Philosophy and Psychology. The IRCS is one of only a handful of programs completely dedicated to cognitive science. This branch of science "investigates the capacity of humans and other animals to construct, manipulate and communicate mental representations of the external world," according to a statement from the IRCS. Cognitive science research is especially important to artificial intelligence, machine translation, software development, robotics and graphics and animation. IRCS Co-director Aravind Joshi said yesterday that the grant will increase the Institute's already prominent reputation in the academic community. Engineering Dean Gregory Farrington said he felt the grant was a fitting award to scientists at the University. "I think it is very exciting," Farrington said. "It is the culmination of many years of the research of this group of people . . . it focuses attention on a core area of excellence at Penn." The grant will be doled out over five years and may be increased, according to Joshi. A subprogram of the National Science Foundation awarded the grant with an option to renew it for another six years. It is one of only 14 proposals approved out of 146 applications made to the NSF. The interdisciplinary nature of the IRCS allows the money to be distributed to many departments in both the Engineering School and the School of Arts and Sciences. The IRCS was formed in January 1990 as a restructuring of a Cognitive Science program that was formally established in 1978 and based on research from the early 1960s. The grant will be directly applied in a variety of ways, including support to visiting faculty and post-doctoral fellows, development of new undergraduate and graduate educational programs, funding of workshops, and promoting interaction with public institutions and academic centers.
(11/27/90 10:00am)
When most admissions officers make a presentation in another city, they simply fly there, rent a car, and head for their destination. But this fall, Director of Transfer and International Admissions Elisabeth O'Connell had to convince taxi drivers in Greece to drive her places, decipher maps written in Thai and apply for permission from the government to speak in Singapore. O'Connell, along with colleagues Ambrose Davis and Jodi Robinson, traveled to over 20 different countries this fall to recruit students for the University. The University has the largest population of international students in the Ivy League -- they account for 9.6 percent of the total number of students. In many respects, O'Connell's day is similar to that of other admissions officers. She visits several schools to make presentations and runs evening programs where parents and students hear about the University. In addition to prospective students, there are alumni, parents of current students, and students who are studying abroad who attend the evening information sessions in other countries. O'Connell said she is often their only connection with the University -- she provides them with a support network. O'Connell has worked for admissions since she was an undergraduate in 1979, the same year the international admissions office opened. And she has a strong personal interest in international recruiting because she came to the University from Sweden in 1977. Unlike regular admissions officers, international recruiters must constantly monitor political and economic conditions around the world. For instance, O'Connell canceled her trip to Egypt and the United Arab Emirates because of the current crisis in the Persian Gulf. She also encounters unique cultural, economic, political and linguistic barriers in each country. For example, in the Phillipines, she said, it is very important to keep receipts when she exchanges currency because the peso is constantly changing. Taxi drivers in Greece can decide that they do not want to drive someone to their destination in mid-trip, and force the passenger to scramble for another cab, O'Connell said. In Hong Kong, O'Connell said, there are few traditional taxis. Instead she travelled in "tuk-tuks," which she said look like three-wheel taxis without doors. And the government in Singapore will not let her speak in public without a stamp stating that she has "permission to perform" on her passaport. O'Connell's passport shows the wear and tear of many trips. She said there is a special extention attached to it which carries the overflow of stamps. Alejandra Torres, a College sophomore, said Davis visited her school in Bogota, Columbia. She said yesterday that the visit made a difference in her decision to attend the University. She said Davis made a presentation, showed a film, and put the students at the school in touch with local alumni. About half of the students from her private bilingual high school, which is 20 percent American and 80 percent Columbian, attend school in the United States, Torres said. Brown University was the only other Ivy League school that sent a representative to her school. "We do know the reputation of Penn, but it is a great help to have someone come and talk about it," Torres said.
