Search Results
Below are your search results. You can also try a Basic Search.
(03/31/94 10:00am)
After over an hour of debate last night, the 25 members of the new Undergraduate Assembly elected Wharton sophomore Dan Debicella as their chairperson. Debicella defeated College junior Dan Schorr and Engineering freshman Manuel Calero in the election. Though each of the three candidates' speeches for chairperson centered around changing the UA for the better, questions for each were quite individualized. Calero was asked consistently about his experience and knowledge of the UA and the position of chairperson, as this would be his first term as a member of the body. And Schorr was criticized by several members of various minority groups, including the United Minorities Council and the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual Alliance, for his views on free speech and the role of minorities at the University. "I've never seen you work with people," said College junior Stephen Houghton, LGBA co-chairperson and a Daily Pennsylvanian columnist. "I've only seen you talk at people and reiterate your views over and over again. You're very close-minded." UMC Chairperson and College senior Jun Bang accused Schorr of "antagonizing a great portion of this student body by taking a stance against the UMC." Schorr responded by saying that he is not close-minded because he is a strong advocate of free speech and "the idea that all ideas must be heard." "How can you call me close-minded?" he said. "That's the very antithesis of everything I've ever said and everything I believe in. "I want to work with the community -- every part of the community," he added. Debicella was questioned on his decision to run for chairperson instead of following through with his original intention to run for treasurer. "I really have thought about this," he said. "Some of you members believe in me? and that's why I'm running." After one round of voting, Debicella defeated Schorr in a run-off ballot. The other four members of the UA steering committee were also chosen during the three and a half hour transition meeting, during which the 25 new UA members took office. College sophomore Tamara Dubowitz defeated College sophomore Lance Rogers for the position of vice-chairperson. Rogers, who listed 10 accomplishments he hoped to achieve, advocated selling the University logo nationwide and instituting a South Street shuttle in connection with Penn Escort Service. Dubowitz said "communication, communication and communication" will be her focus. "I do think it's really unrealistic to put 20 issues in front of our faces and say we'll accomplish them," she said. College freshman Sabrina Gottlieb, who said she will work with and learn from Debicella, was elected treasurer over Wharton sophomore Quang O and Calero. "My number one goal is to educate the body about budgetary issues," she said after the meeting. "I was sometimes at a loss for what was going on last year and with better education, the budget meeting will run a lot more smoothly." Gottlieb said she hopes to evaluate the budgets of the four undergraduate schools, which have previously turned down the UA's request for their budgets. College freshman Mosi Bennett was unopposed and elected by acclamation for the position of secretary. "I want to work on internal communications, making sure that all UA members know what everyone else is working on," he said. "I want to use my position to influence the direction the UA takes this year." Schorr and College sophomore Miae Oh were elected as finalists for University Council Steering Committee representative. The UC Steering Committee will select its final choice for representative at a later date. College freshman Josh Gottheimer and Rogers also ran for the two slots. Debicella and Dubowitz said they were looking forward to a "better" year for the UA. "The UA is now poised to do what it's meant to do -- student advocacy," Debicella said after his win. "We'll tackle issues that affect the students, from security and Residential Living to tuition hikes and Revlon, amongst others."
(03/30/94 10:00am)
Three candidates are vying tonight to become the next chairperson of the Undergraduate Assembly. Two of them, Wharton sophomore Dan Debicella and College junior Dan Schorr, have served on the UA previously. The third, Engineering freshman Manny Calero, is the dark horse of this year's election having no prior UA experience. Schorr announced his candidacy almost a month ago, when election results were announced in early March. At that time, Debicella said he was going to run for the position of treasurer. But, Debicella announced his candidacy for chair Monday night, and said that if he does not win the position, he will run for treasurer. Calero declared his candidacy last night, saying that his announcement came after much discussion with current and former UA members. "After speaking with them, along with the outgoing UA chair [College junior Seth Hamalian], I've concluded that being UA chair requires three things -- objectivity, being a charismatic leader and the time commitment," he said. "I believe that I am committed, willing and ready to serve as UA chair." But other UA members said Calero's inexperience and relative youth are major impediments to his ability to serve as chair. "I'm wondering if it's possible for an inexperienced UA member to know how to run the UA effectively as chairperson," College freshman and UA member-elect Laurie Moldawer said last night. "I'd like to see someone with experience." UA member and College freshman Sabrina Gottlieb voiced similar sentiments, saying that even after one semester of experience, she would not be prepared to serve as chairperson. "You have to know administrators, Trustees and how things run in the school," she said. "I don't think I have that experience." Gottlieb and Moldawer both said they did not know Calero very well. "I think the person who runs the UA should be somebody that a lot of people in the UA know and can trust," Gottlieb said. "You put a lot of trust in the chairperson to steer you in the right direction. I just don't see how it can work." Hamalian said Calero has had experience in the past. At the same time, he said "a somewhat clean political slate is a benefit to the UA." "I believe the most qualified candidate is Manny Calero," he said. "He is sincerely committed to put his time and energy into providing the UA with the type of charismatic leadership it needs?a charisma I am not convinced the other two candidates have." Calero said student involvement and gaining respect for the UA are his two main goals. Calero supports the University's Racial Harassment Policy and is opposed to the assigned housing proposal of the Commission on Strengthening the Community. · Schorr said he hopes to "get rid of nebulous debates" if elected UA Chair. "I want to work on consensus to change specific things about the University," he said. "The UA has focused on irrelevant debates and missionless projects and has been in general disarray. That must change." Schorr, who is going into his fourth term on the UA, founded the First Amendment Task Force last fall and has been a staunch advocate of free speech at the University. He has also had several ideological differences with Hamalian throughout the year. "He's been involved in the UA for a long time," Hamalian said of Schorr. "But I am not so sure that that is a good thing because he brings a lot of baggage, both in terms of ideological beliefs and personality traits, that have put him at odds with many people on campus." Schorr said, though, that "knowledge of the University, its administrators, Trustees and students" is one of the most important traits of a UA chairperson. "I think I am the type of person who has the leadership skills to get things done at this University," he said. Moldawer said last night that she will vote for Schorr, calling him the "most dedicated person on the UA." "He has the leadership abilities to change the UA around, improve its reputation and get it the respect it deserves, along with actually making progress," she said. · Debicella, a member of the UA Budget Committee, has been praised by several members for his strength in financial matters. Hamalian said the UA would need Debicella's aid on budget issues even if he won the position of chairperson. "[He has] the most experience and knowledge of anyone in the body in the department of budgetary issues," he said. "The UA would do well to ensure that the treasurer position goes to the most qualified individual in financial matters -- Dan Debicella." Debicella has served two terms on the UA. This fall, he authored a resolution advocating the abolishment of Part II of the University's Racial Harassment Policy, the so-called "speech code." And more recently, Debicella completed the Dining Services Budget Review. "Certain members have asked me to run for chair," he said, refusing to name anyone specific. "Some believe my abilities are better suited to chair than treasurer, because I am impartial, and I have organizing and administrative skills." Debicella said he also hopes to move away from "philosophical debates" and would make "student advocacy" his main focus. "I want definite concrete plans for a new student center in place by the time students leave this summer," he said, referring the Revlon Center. · College sophomore Tamara Dubowitz and College sophomore Lance Rogers will run for the vice chairperson position. Gottlieb said she will run for UA treasurer only if Debicella wins the chairperson election. UA member and College freshman Mosi Bennett is the sole official candidate for UA secretary. Josh Gottheimer, a College freshman and UA member, announced his candidacy for University Council Steering Committee representative. The transition meeting will take place tonight at 8:30 p.m. in the UTV-13 headquarters. It can be seen live in the studio or on UTV-13.
(03/29/94 10:00am)
and Daniel Gingiss After a seven-hour debate surrounding an unfair campaigning charge, the Senior Class Board finally announced its new president last night. College junior Loren Mendell garnered enough votes in yesterday's run-off election to defeat Wharton junior and current Junior Class Board President Jason Diaz. But before the final decision was handed down, the current Senior Board members debated Diaz's claim that Mendell violated Section 2c of the Senior Class Board's election code. Section 2c states that "No other printed publicity is permitted regarding your candidacy in the election" besides those publicity items mentioned in other sections. But several Board members refused to comment as to what exactly Mendell did to warrant Diaz's accusation or suspicion. Diaz, who had until 7 p.m. to file the charge, made his official complaint at 6:56 p.m. last night. "Our election was running very smoothly until 6:55," said Senior Class President Matthew Canner. "But you have until 7 to file a grievance." Canner, a College senior, said last night that the Board decided Mendell was "not in violation" of Section 2c of the code. He added that the Board members were upset at the entire situation, so they felt it necessary to discuss the problem fully. "We wanted to deliberate it thoroughly since it was such an important decision," he said. "We were saddened by the whole situation because one person was going to be upset." Diaz, who was indeed visibly upset after the decision, would not comment about the charge. Instead, he conceded to his opponent, Mendell. "Congratulations to Loren Mendell," he said. "I think he'll do a great job, [and] I'm looking forward to participating next year." Mendell was unavailable for comment last night. The other run-off in yesterday's election was for Wharton representative, which was decided without any controversy. Wharton junior Elin Brenner defeated Wharton junior Dan Spears to claim the position. "I'm very excited about it," Brenner said last night. "I'm really looking forward to serving on the senior class board -- I think it will be lot of fun." Brenner added that she, like the other run-off candidates, was frustrated because she had to campaign on Locust Walk a second time. "We were all surprised -- no one expected it to happen," she said. "I just decided that I was going to go out and try again and hopefully win this time." Brenner added that her main goal as Wharton representative will be to make sure that all Wharton students know about Senior Class Board events.
(03/25/94 10:00am)
The University graduate favored to become Mexico's next president was assassinated Wednesday night during a campaign appearance in Tijuana. Luis Donaldo Colosio, who represented the Institutional Revolutionary Party in this year's election, received his master's degree in regional development from the University in 1977. Colosio received gunshot wounds to his head and upper body, was rushed to Tijuana General Hospital, and was pronounced dead at 11:10 p.m., three hours after he was shot. According to Mexico's Attorney General's office, the alleged gunman, Mario Aburto Martinez, 23, and his apparent accomplice, Vincente Mayoral Valenzuela, about 40, were arrested. The PRI, as Colosio's party is known by its Spanish initials, has been in power in Mexico since 1929. Colosio, having received the current president's endorsement, was virtually guaranteed a victory in the upcoming election. Had he lived to be elected, his main responsibility would have been the institution of the North American Free Trade Agreement. University administrators, faculty and alumni remembered Colosio fondly last night. "He was probably the most outstanding example of what we have tried to produce for our graduate students," Regional Science Chairperson Stephen Gale said. Though Gale never personally knew Colosio, he said Colosio gained a great deal from the Regional Science department. "The department is being closed this year, and one of the outstanding graduates that we had and one of the great symbols of the strengths of the department was Colosio," Gale added. Regional Studies emeritus professor Tom Reiner had Colosio as a student, and developed a close relationship with him. "Partly because he was from Latin America and I was a Latin America person in the department, we had a bit more together than just a random student," he said. "I've stayed in touch with him since then as well." Reiner added that he knew when he taught Colosio that "he was going to do well." "He was precisely the kind of material we are recognized for dealing with on issues of regional development and urbanization," he said. "I'm proud that our department had a role in his education and that he recognized that." A friend and classmate of Colosio's while both were University students said that Colosio, whose friends called him "Donaldo," was very "aristocratic and political." "It did not surprise any of us that he took the path into government which he did," said the friend, who said he wanted to remain unidentified to avoid involvement in the investigation of the "politically motivated assassination." He said Colosio was very well mannered, soft spoken, warm and "especially curious." "He was always looking forward to the future and working towards a goal," he said. "And he was always asking questions." Colosio's two favorite hobbies were listening to jazz and playing squash, said his classmate. Reiner said there were several possible motives behind the assassination. "Colosio was secretary of something like [the U.S.'s Housing and Urban Development Department]," he said. "One or another group may have felt bypassed because there are a huge number of projects in local communities which Colosio has dealt with. "He was also involved in environmental affairs, and it could have been someone against NAFTA and the environmental moves that were being made," Reiner added. He said the loss was a "personal shock as well as pretty tough on Mexico," because it will disrupt Mexico's stability. "I will miss the chance to see what someone like that could do, being put in a position to affect change in one of the world's poorer regions," he added. "It was an opportunity lost." And Colosio's friend and classmate said it was "sad." "We live in a world where an act of violence, whether planned or unplanned, can erase a lifetime of work?and can do away with so much good intention," he said. The Associated Press contributed to this story.
(03/25/94 10:00am)
The Class of 1995 elected its Senior Class Board with only half the turnout of last year, College senior and Senior Class Board Vice President Robbyn Leventhal said last night, and several run-off elections remain to be held. "I think it is because not as many people ran this year," she said. "Last year, there were more candidates and double the amount of people voting." Leventhal said only 700 juniors participated in the election. The two finalists for Senior Class Board president are Wharton junior Jason Diaz, the current Junior Class Board president, and College junior Loren Mendell. College junior Leigh Molinari will serve as vice president. Molinari is currently Junior Class Board president. College junior Mike Rosenfield and Wharton junior Manny Citron were elected as secretary and treasurer, respectively. The Senior Class Board Historian will be College junior Ari Pundit, who ran unopposed. Juniors Robyn Kestenbaum and Jerome Schneider will serve as representatives for the College of Arts and Sciences. Junior Mandy Higgins will serve as the Nursing School representative and Karen Oberthaler was elected as representative from the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences. There was a tie for the position of the Wharton School of Business' representative between Elin Brenner and Dan Spears. Kestenbaum said she is "excited" about her new position. "I hope to plan things for the entire senior class to come together and participate in the events," she said. "It's so rare for that to happen, and that's the whole point of the Board." Kestenbaum said she is anxious to begin planning activities, especially Hey Day, which is scheduled for April 22. "I think they'll do a great job," Leventhal said. "And some people have experience through [the Junior Class Board] too." Runoffs for the positions of president and Wharton representative will take place Monday in front of Steinberg-Dietrich Hall from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
(03/23/94 10:00am)
Although new members of the Undergraduate Assembly were elected March 1, they will not take office until March 30. Originally, a transition meeting was scheduled for tonight, but a decision made by UA Chairperson and College junior Seth Hamalian and Nominations and Elections Committee Chairperson Sharon Dunn, a College senior, moved the meeting back. New UA members said the decision is controversial because of a student leaders dinner to be held with President-elect Judith Rodin tomorrow night. Several UA members accused Hamalian of changing the date so he could attend the dinner on behalf of the UA. If the transition meeting had been held tonight, though, the new chairperson would have attended the dinner. "No adequate reason has been given for the change," UA member and College junior Dan Schorr said. "I'd like to think it had nothing to do with Judith Rodin's visit, but the new UA has been slighted by not being able to meet with her. "Something's definitely wrong here," added Schorr, who is running for UA chairperson. Hamalian directly responded to Schorr's comments. "As for Dan Schorr's on the record insinuations and off the record accusations, they just simply demonstrate the kind of conniving and backhanded things he would do in order to meet with the new president," he said. "It's really a shame to see the new UA potentially falling under the direction of individuals whose minds constantly view student government as a battle of backroom politics and maneuvering against one another," Hamalian added. Schorr said the decision to move the transition meeting "hurts the UA" because new members will only have a month to organize before the semester ends. Hamalian said, though, that if the new UA is "motivated" to take action this semester, "they can get plenty of things done." He said Dunn made the final decision on the transition date, reasoning that the budget and transition meetings are very lengthy and may have interfered with academics and extra-curricular activities. But UA member and College sophomore Dan Debicella said he saw "no need" for the change in date. "It's a question of is this politically motivated," he said. "It's [Hamalian's] right to meet with Judith Rodin, but I would like to see some new UA members included in the process." UA member and College sophomore Tamara Dubowitz said Hamalian is an appropriate representative to meet with Rodin. "He's had a year of experience with chairing the UA behind him," she said. "He's more apt to explain to her about what the UA has been like." Staff Coordinator for the Transition Sherrill Rosoff said the meeting is an informal "gab session" of a "very small group" of undergraduate and graduate student leaders. The controversy over the transition date change has led to the discovery of yet another problem. The UA bylaws state that the first order of business after the general election of the new UA should be the steering committee election. The timing of the budget meeting thus violated those bylaws. "If we could correct it, we should," Debicella said. "But we can't go back to before the elections and do it right." He added that there was no reason why the budget meeting could not be held before elections. But UA Vice Chairperson and College senior Scott Sher said the budget meeting was placed after elections "so people couldn't play politics with the budget." He suggested the bylaws be changed next year.
(03/22/94 10:00am)
Three of the four Class Boards received less than half of their funding requests from the Undergraduate Assembly at the UA's annual budget meeting Sunday night. And the UA killed every Class Board request for additional funding, saving one. During the six hour meeting, the UA approved budgets for all divisions of student government, including the Nominations and Elections Committee, the Student Committee on Undergraduate Education, the Social Planning and Events Committee, the Student Activities Council, the Class Boards and the UA itself, allocating a total of $828,000. The largest portion of the meeting was devoted to debating the budgets of the four Class Boards, which were formed last year to promote class spirit and establish class-related social activities. Last year, the Freshman, Sophomore and Junior Class Boards were funded by the UA under one budget. This year, though the Senior Class Board, originally funded by SAC, was budgeted under the UA, and four separate budgets were made. The Office of the Vice Provost for University Life matched the UA's allotment of $12,500 to the class boards last year. But because the one year committment has expired, the funds are no longer available. The Freshman thru Junior Class Boards were each funded 80 percent of their total budgets by the UA. The remaining 20 percent will be made up by fundraising. "We have to ask people to prove they can raise funds on their own," UA Budget Committee Chairperson and Wharton junior Eric Leathers said. "I think this is setting a good but different precedent." Each Class Board appealed the decision, and the UA voted down each objection overwhelmingly. UA Treasurer Ashley Magids said the freshmen had several problems during the budgetary process. "The freshman class did not understand that it was supposed to [turn in] a proposal for next year and submitted a summary of the past year's events," she said. The resubmitted budget was also "inadequate," Magids added. Junior Class Board President Jason Diaz, a College junior, represented the freshmen because no one from the board was present. He appealed to change the Board's expected revenue from a class dance from $4,750 to $1,750, explaining that the Freshman Class Board overestimated the number of attendees and the price per ticket. "Our budget numbers are a little rough," he said. "These numbers are whimsical." Vice Chairperson and College senior Scott Sher countered Diaz during debate by saying that the UA would have to provide the extra $3,000 to the Class Boards. And Leathers said the Freshman Class Board was requesting money for only "somewhat passable programming?that the student body might not want." The appeal failed by a large majority. The Sophomore Class Board, which is in charge of Tiger Death Fest next year, appealed for $1,000 to buy more stuffed tigers. The extra money might have allowed the board to give the tigers away instead of selling them, Class Board member and College sophomore Michael Nadel said. College sophomore and Class President Lenny Chang said "it would be a lot cooler" with more tigers. But that motion also failed. After completing that budget, UA member and College junior Dain Landon requested $2,223.50 for a Junior Class Board escrow account for an additional junior class event. Sher, saying "money does not grow on trees," said the proposal would take money from SAC, a "horrible" move. After the motion failed overwhelmingly, the UA dealt with the Senior Class Board and gave it $803 more for publicity -- the one increase it gave the Class Boards. The UA then discussed Oktoberfest, an event planned for next year's Homecoming Weekend, which would be similar but more elaborate than last November's Skimmer Day. SPEC and the Class Boards were originally going to co-sponsor the event, but UA member and Engineering junior Guarang Shah requested to remove Class Board's participation from Festival on the Green, Friday's main event. SPEC representatives said SPEC had more experience with the project, adding that the overlaps between the two groups were too numerous. Some UA members said after the meeting that this decision may have stemmed from a letter sent from the Executive Board of the Class of 1996 which was circulated during the meeting by Nadel, who later said he was the sole supporter of the letter. "The current talk of cooperation between the two groups on SPEC's part served only to manipulate the budget process to take support away from the boards," the letter said. After a caucus when members from the two groups discussed the situation, the UA voted in favor of a plan to put all Oktoberfest money into a special escrow account which requires both groups to sign for every withdrawal. "I think it was a brilliant [solution] to continue funding both of them and force them to work together," UA Budget Committee member and Wharton sophomore Dan Debicella said. "They now need to do it together or not at all." Also at the meeting, SCUE received money for a new computer, printer and software, bringing it's budget of $10,312 to more than double of last year's approximately $4,490.
(03/22/94 10:00am)
Elections for the Class of 1995 Senior Class Board will take place today and tomorrow in front of Steinberg-Deitrich Hall from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., College senior and current Senior Class President Matthew Canner said last night. Four candidates are running for Senior Class Board President. College junior and Junior Class Board member Leonard Cooperman, Wharton junior and Junior Class Board President Jason Diaz, College junior Loren Mendell and College junior Rick Thompson are all on the ballot for the top position. The other offices all have either two or three candidates running for them, Canner said. These numbers, he added, are lower than last year. "The numbers were a lot higher last year because there weren't any other class boards," he added. "The lower number of candidates might be due to the fact that there are now four class boards, whereas when the Class of '94 ran, many of us had to wait three years to finally run for class boards." A candidate, who asked to remain anonymous due to the Class Boards' rule which states that candidates may not speak to the press before or during an election, said the problem might be due to incumbents who try to intimidate other people from running. Last year the Senior Class Board elections had a 60 percent turnout, Canner said. "I think it was great because it was a true representation of the class," he added. "I hope to see the same thing this year." Every full-time student who is currently a junior can vote in the elections, Canner said.
(03/22/94 10:00am)
If Holocaust deniers are to be believed, gas chambers did not exist, The Diary of Anne Frank is a work of fiction and the Holocaust did not happen. But, in a speech last night at the Christian Association, Deborah Lipstadt, a professor of Modern Jewish and Holocaust Studies at Emory University, tried to expose the fictions perpetrated by Holocaust deniers. Lipstadt, who served as a consultant for the U.S. Holocaust Museum in Washington D.C., recently wrote a highly acclaimed book entitled Denying the Holocaust: The Growing Assault on Truth and Memory. A main objective of Holocaust deniers is "to create the illusion that there are two sides to this issue," Lipstadt said. "I won't give these people the credibility of sitting with them in discussion," she added, saying that she refuses to participate in any television program or public debate which includes the so-called "revisionists." Lipstadt said she does not use the term "revisionists" to describe Holocaust deniers because it is a common, legitimate term used to describe certain historical schools of thought. Reputed Neo-Nazis, white supremacists and racists are all among the ranks of the deniers who say the Holocaust never happened and six million Jews were not systematically exterminated, Lipstadt added. Although she said she will not debate the deniers, Lipstadt did say that refutation is sometimes needed through questions, such as why some Nazi war criminals admitted to the accusations even though they knew they would be given the death penalty and "where did the people go?" She also emphasized the importance of education. "Expose what they are and go and learn what it's all about," she said. "The real answer is not to debate, but to educate." Lipstadt focused on the Institute for Historical Review, a organization promoting Holocaust denial, and ads which it sends to college newspapers for publication. The newspapers which accept the ad, Lipstadt said, have "confused First Amendment thinking and confused thinking between truth and fiction." "It's utter garbage, [but] students have fallen for it," she added. Lipstadt read a passage from the IHR's most recent ad which discussed the U.S. Holocaust Museum, and Lipstadt herself, as perpetrators of the "hoax." Lipstadt said the movement is not extremely "widespread," but added that "Holocaust denial may become more common in the future because?there is something about Holocaust denial that appeals to the decency in all of us. We don't want to believe that it happened, but it did." A question and answer period followed Lipstadt's lecture and several students asked about how they can respond to those who deny the Holocaust's existence. "You're not going to convince the real deniers," Lipstadt said in response. "But you can expose them." After the meeting, students said they were moved and inspired by Lipstadt. "She has given me ammunition to discount [the deniers] entirely," College junior Adam Schaffer said. A reception was held after the speech in the Hillel building, where students were able to talk with Lipstadt on a more personal basis.
(03/18/94 10:00am)
The Undergraduate Assembly will meet Sunday night to discuss the 1994-1995 budgets for all branches of student government. The UA's total budget of $828,000 will be dispersed by members to the Student Committee on Undergraduate Education, the Social Planning and Events Committee, the four Class Boards, the Nominations and Elections Committee, the Student Activities Council and the UA itself. Several controversial issues will be discussed at the meeting, including methods of funding campus social activities and buying new technological equipment for the various student government offices. UA member and Engineering junior Ha Nguyen said the budget meeting will most likely focus on a debate regarding the budgets of SPEC and the newly-formed Class Boards. The Class Boards were established last year to increase school and class spirit. Boards were elected for the freshman, sophomore and junior classes. A Senior Class Board has existed since the mid-1980's. Wharton junior Jason Diaz, Junior Class Board president, has been the spokesperson for the Class Boards. At a presentation he made to the UA at its February 20 meeting, he outlined the accomplishments and goals of the Class Boards. The Boards have sponsored class-wide events such as the Junior Class Florida Beach Party held in February and University-wide events, such as November's Skimmer Day. SPEC plans University social events including Spring Fling, along with concerts, movies and a multitude of other activities throughout the year. "We're ready to offer even better programming than we have in the past," SPEC President Lissette Monge said. "Our budget reflects the new programming we're planning to do." Some UA members have said that the Class Boards and SPEC overlap in their activities and have called the funding of both organizations into question. "I think there is definite overlap in some of the social planning that goes on between Class Boards and SPEC," Nguyen said. "We have to decide where to cut that overlap so one group will get funding for one thing and the other group will get funding for something else." UA member and College sophomore Lance Rogers said he hopes both groups retain funding because they serve different purposes. "Class Boards deal with individual classes whereas SPEC is University-wide," he said. "I think they play two different roles and both need to be fully continued." Rogers said he does not think the existence of the Class Boards will come into question at Sunday's meeting. UA Treasurer and College sophomore Ashley Magids said she supports the existence and funding of both organizations. "We will be recommending that? the two work together on many events," she said. "They understand that there will be funding differences but I don't think there has to be funding problems since there are clear differences between the two organizations." Magids added that she and the UA Budget and Finance Committee will explain those distinctions on Sunday. Monge said the differences become "blurred" when the four Class Boards do activities jointly. "They then become University-wide things and the lines become blurred," she said. "Class Boards are for class events and SPEC is for large University events." Magids said she expects this year's budget meeting to go much smoother than last year's, which lasted for seven hours. "I really don't anticipate any large controversial debates except possibly those centering around the Class Boards and SPEC," she said. "I am very hopeful that the meeting will run very smoothly this year and I've worked up to my potential to make that happen." Magids said she has gone over the budgets with each branch of student government to determine what cuts would be best for the budget and easiest for the group. She added that she has given budget reports at each UA meeting in order to inform the body so "they will not have questions about what activities are already in existence and have already been explained." UA members will also discuss various moves which could improve the technology for the student government offices located in Houston Hall. SCUE is requesting funding for a new computer because its current one "is and always has been very inadequate," SCUE Chairperson and Engineering junior Matthew Kratter said. Rogers said he supports SCUE's request. "They've been doing some great things and I think they need that computer to continue doing so," he said. The budget meeting is the last official meeting of the outgoing UA. The new UA members, who were elected two weeks ago, will take office following a transition meeting on March 30. There, the new UA steering committee will also be selected. Diaz was unavailable for comment last night.
(03/18/94 10:00am)
and Daniel Gingiss The atmosphere at Cavanaugh's Restaurant last night can best be described in only one word -- "PENN-demonium." More than 500 screaming fans crammed into Cav's, located at 39th and Sansom streets, for the Penn-Nebraska basketball game. And when the final buzzer sounded, and Penn had won its first NCAA tournament game in a decade, the jubilant crowd exploded into cheers and a chorus of "The Red and Blue." The Quakers dominated throughout the whole game, never trailing in their 90-80 victory over the Cornhuskers. Cav's doorman Jeff Farrell described the scene as "hectic, crazy [and] exciting." "Everybody's going nuts," he said. "This crowd was just enormous." College senior Morris Massel was just one of the fans dancing on the tables and chairs after the game. "The Quakers played the best fucking game of their lives," he said. "The way they were shooting today, they couldn't miss." But most of the fans did not have time to analyze the game itself. Instead, they just savored the victory. "This is absolutely the best game I've ever seen in my entire life," said College junior Debra Bernstein. "This is the best experience at Penn I've ever had." "We did exactly as I thought we'd do," said Engineering and Wharton senior Chris Heagele. "Unbelievable!" The PENNdemonium was not only limited to Cav's, though, as many other Quaker fans -- including University administrators -- watched the game on and off campus. Acting Vice Provost for University Life Valarie Swain-Cade McCoullum watched the game from her parents' home in Germantown. "We were jumping up and down and screaming so loud that the next-door neighbors stopped by to make sure that everything was all right," she said. "I am so excited? I'm just beside myself." McCoullum added that she won a bet with her father. She said she will claim her prize -- 20 trips on Great Adventure's Great American Scream Machine roller coaster -- with her father this summer. Associate VPUL Larry Moneta said he was not surprised at the victory. "I think it's spectacular and I knew all the time that they were going to win," he said. "It shows you can be very smart and very athletic at the same time." Students also said the victory legitimately places the Quakers in the NCAA's national spotlight. "Maybe everyone will start paying attention to us now," said College senior Curt Soloff. "We're for real." The win was especially sweet for University seniors, who are catching their last glimpse of the Quakers as students. "It was awesome," said College senior Alissa Stonehill. "I have the best memories, and it makes it so much better that we're seniors -- this is it for us." "It's better than ever," added College senior Dana Rebak. "It's the best way to leave the school." Predictions for the Quakers' fate in the upcoming tournament games ranged from the realistic to the outrageous. With the victory last night, the Quakers advance to the second round in the tournament. They will play the University of Florida on Saturday at the Nassau Coliseum in Uniondale, N.Y. "I think they have the capacity to beat Florida," Moneta said. "Their strength is equally distributed and I think they can match very well against Florida." Moneta went even further in his prediction, saying that Penn could win "at least two more." But Massel set his sights even higher than that. "They're going to take them all -- that's it, very simple," he said. "They're going to go the whole fucking way!" And for some fans who could not attribute the Quaker's success to anything else, St. Patrick's Day provided the answer. "It's the luck of the Irish that made us win," said Wharton junior Steve Byrne.
(03/17/94 10:00am)
University officials said last night The Daily Pennsylvanian's discovery of five McGinn Security Service guards asleep at their posts compounds the need for major changes in the organization and institution of safety and security measures on campus. And acting Vice Provost for University Life Valarie Swain-Cade McCoullum added that her proposal of integrating the many agencies which currently control campus safety and security is a step in the right direction. The proposal, which was announced yesterday, also calls for integration of departments which control mail service and residential maintenance. Currently, University Police, Residential Security and several other security firms are responsible for the various aspects of security on campus. "I think there needs to be one agent," McCoullum said. "One agent decreases redundancy and increases efficiency and maximizes accountability. "But it is not enough to have the one agent unless that agency has the resources allocated to do the best job," she added. Residential Living Director Gigi Simeone said she is in favor of McCoullum's proposal, and suggested that the University Police department be the main organization in charge of campus safety and security. "I think it would make sense for campus security to be under the supervision of campus security experts," she said. "We would have confidence in Public Safety for the supervision of security in the residences." But University Police Commissioner John Kuprevich said the proposal would not solve every problem "overnight." "I don't think that integrating [the agencies] will make everything disappear and that we'd never have a security official fall asleep," he said. "I cannot guarantee that, and neither can anyone else." Kuprevich did say that the existence of multiple departments "lessons the effectiveness overall for the security of the campus." In addition to McCoullum's proposal, several task forces have been developed to examine the problems and possible solutions of campus safety. One is the Security Task Force, a group Kuprevich is working with to create a report primarily focusing on the University security situation. "We're trying to come up with the right model to integrate security, technology and the police department," he said. "It would add value to the level of security on this campus." Kuprevich said the task force is finishing the final draft of the report, but said he did not know when it would be completed. Executive Vice President Janet Hale said Monday night that "several studies have been going on" dealing with campus security. "I think we have to look at each structure and determine who can best perform it and how it can best be performed," she said. "I need to look at the business and administrative functions [of it]." The changes which McCoullum advocates might remove safety and security issues from Residential Living's jurisdiction. But Simeone says she is not disturbed by the possibility of this removal. "Residential Living is a huge department with many, many responsibilities," she said. "We have over 3,000 activities every year and we respond to the concerns of 6,500 students. "If security were to go to Public Safety, we would not see that as diminishing our important role and function on campus," Simeone added. McCoullum said that the top priority is "providing exemplary service," and not who is controlling those services. "Nobody who cares about students should be concerned about where and who is responsible," she said. "I think that everything should be reviewed and every possibility should be explored without fear of anything." Kuprevich said there are other issues which he has to consider. "You have to build a structure that helps keep [the guards] attentive to the job, awake, while giving them guidance," he said. "There has to be a chance for career growth and place more value on [the job] while giving it a higher level of respect. "If it's not treated as important, [the employees] won't act as though it's important," he added. McCoullum said the newest situation with the McGinn guards sleeping on duty is a "tragic affirmation of the fundamental necessity for this university to make fundamental changes in the way we organize?key institutional priorities."
(03/17/94 10:00am)
The Commission on Strengthening the Community held its final open forum yesterday, packing a room with mostly students and alumni affiliated with the Greek system. And the Commission's proposal to move fraternity and sorority rush to sophomore year was discussed for more than half of the almost two hour forum. Commission Chairperson Gloria Chisum began the meeting by saying that Commission members are "taking all of the comments very seriously." She added that the turnout was the largest of all the open forums the Commission held. When Chisum opened the floor for comments, College junior Edward Skyler immediately brought up the Greek rush proposal. "The [Inter Fraternity Council] has decided to endorse your proposal," he said to a surprised Chisum. But, after a pause, he added that the endorsement holds only if "the following conditions be met." Skyler, who is IFC vice president of rush, said that if the Commission retained the Greek rush move, freshmen should not be allowed to participate in extra-curricular activities, sports or any other non-academic group during freshman year. "Our organization should be given the same autonomy as any other organization," he added. Chisum responded to Skyler's remarks by saying that the "residential component" distinguished the Greek system from the other campus extra-curricular groups. Black Inter-Greek Council President Wayne Wilson then spoke, saying that the Big-C was "totally overlooked" by the Commission. Wilson said that Big-C fraternities do not have a residential component and added that the Commission should treat the three components -- Big-C, IFC and the Panhellenic Council -- of the Greek system differently. Commission Director Rebecca Bushnell said the Commission "recognized that there are non-residential components to the Greek system." Panhel President and College junior Suzanne Rosenberg asked about the Commission's intent in proposing the Greek rush move. "The basis for that whole set of recommendations [regarding residences] is to provide a strengthening of the community," Chisum said. IFC President Hayden Horowitz emphasized "everything the IFC has done to strengthen the community." "We ask that you don't perpetuate the frat boy stereotype," the College junior said. "The IFC demands to be treated equally?with mutual respect." The limitation of choice was a major issue which many fraternity brothers and sorority sisters emphasized during the forum. "Doesn't moving rush to sophomore year only limit women's choices?" said College junior Liz Shain, Panhel vice president of rush. "Many people may want to rush at different times in their lives and they should have that choice." Concerns about manpower and financial constraints were also discussed. "If freshmen are not allowed to be part of the system, our chapters could potentially die," Wilson said. "The amount of manpower it takes to function and produce our programs is unreal." Rosenberg said every Greek chapter will encounter financial difficulties and be required to increase dues. She added that certain people with a lower socioeconomic status might not be able to afford the higher dues. This may lead to a "decrease in diversity" within the Greek system, she said. The residential aspect of Greek life was also discussed. Members of the system said sophomores make up the majority of those who live in the fraternity and sorority houses. Brian Rose, the Sigma Alpha Nu Alumni Association president, said juniors and seniors are more interested in off-campus housing and will be less likely to live in the houses. The rest of section D.1 of the report, which deals with "assigned housing" was then discussed. Wharton junior Nicole Maloy focused on the issue. "Minority students can't represent a whole culture for the benefit of the majority," she said. She also brought up the idea of choice in connection with the "assigned housing" issue, saying that if students are able to choose to come to the University, they should be able to choose where they want to live. "Why do you have to take something away from freshmen?" Maloy said. She suggested that the Commission recommend that the University dispense better information on options to incoming freshmen.
(03/16/94 10:00am)
Safety, mail are top concerns Following complaints about the performance of the Office of Residential Living, acting Vice Provost for University Life Valarie Swain Cade McCoullum said last night that she has begun a "comprehensive study" of methods to improve the department. McCoullum added that she hopes a full plan will be ready for implementation by June 30, the day her tenure as acting VPUL ends. The focus of the study includes issues of mail service, maintenance, and safety and security. McCoullum said the three have common problems, and therefore common solutions. "Residential Living programs and services engage at least 40 percent of a residential community member's time," she said, explaining the department's importance. "And it is important to me that each department in the [VPUL] division, especially Residential Living, do their substantive planning prior to the end of the academic year?and include a complete timetable of implementation," she added. McCoullum said the problems with mail service are "mostly" not the fault of Residential Living. "The U.S. Postal Service sucks," she said. "I have received detailed information from a high ranking 30th Street? Post Office official who has recounted a litney of internal post office problems." Those problems include staff cutbacks, denied overtime, weather related problems and low staff morale, McCoullum added. But, despite the U.S. Postal Service's involvement in the University mail system, McCoullum admitted that solutions had to be made on a University level. Some of these include additional training, construction of new facilities and the possibility of a "unique zip code for the University." But McCoullum added that the "University's whole system" contributes to the problems. Mail which comes into the University can be handled by three different agencies -- the U.S. Postal Service, the Penn Mail Service and the Residential Living Mail Service. McCoullum suggested that the three organizations be combined into one, which would deal with all of the mail which comes into the University on a daily basis. The central problem of flawed organization occurs in the other two areas of Residential Living which the VPUL office is examining, she added. Problems with University maintenance, particularly in the residences, include paint, carpeting, heat, ventilation and air conditioning systems and roofs. The three offices of Physical Plant, Facilities and Planning and Residential Maintenance all control various aspects of the University's maintenance system. And McCoullum said these agencies, like those involved in the mail delivery, can be consolidated. The final issue, safety and security, is one of the most important, according to Executive Vice President Janet Hale. "Safety and security is something you always want to improve on campus," she said last night. "Probably nothing is more important than that." Though the VPUL office has already initiated mandatory background checks for all security personnel, McCoullum said she hopes that consolidating the offices involved in safety and security will be a more long-term improvement. Currently, University Police and Residential Living Security personnel deal with the safety issues which come up. But, McCoullum added, there are "a large number of security firms which provide services to one facility or another across the campus." This, too, can be consolidated. "I think we need one oversight officer identified for each of these administrative services," she said. "These are three areas where there are multiple oversight agencies and significant resource allocation challenges. "I hope to work?to reduce the number of redundancies and reallocate resources to improve student services," McCoullum added. She said the proposed changes should not be considered in a negative light in terms of the Department of Residential Living, though services would most likely be removed from the control of Director Gigi Simeone. "First of all, it's possible that everything could be put under Residential Living as the main body," McCoullum said. "But at this point nobody who cares about students should be concerned about where and who is responsible for providing the services." She added that those who "care less about students" might feel "threatened" by the proposals. This feeling is definitely unfounded, McCoullum said. "Every member of the Residential Living and Maintenance staffs has actively and openly partnered this public review of their area," she said. "Every possibility should be explored without fear of anything." Hale said the study will "look at each structure" and determine "how and who can best perform the services." She added that she will be considering the "business and administrative functions" involved in the process. Simeone, who would be the key department member affected by any of the proposed changes, was unavailable for comment last night.
(03/16/94 10:00am)
Twelve Undergraduate Assembly members met with members of the Commission on Strengthening the Community last night and voiced their opinions on the Commission's preliminary report released last month. The UA members questioned the four Commission representatives for an hour on issues ranging from "assigned" housing to the Revlon Center. UA member and Wharton sophomore Dan Debicella began the meeting by asking about the report's proposal to increase faculty-student interaction. "I think the advising recommendation addresses that," Commission Director Rebecca Bushnell said. "We also talked about sponsoring activities which would bring together the various factions of the University and that would include faculty, staff, and students." Associate Director for the Commission Allen Green brought up the issue of scheduling specific programs to fit both faculty and student needs. "We did not come up with any specific proposals which would schedule around times which students need and faculty schedules," he added. College junior Sarah Manning brought up the issue of "randomized housing," discussed in section D.1 of the report. She was quickly corrected by Bushnell, who used the term "assigned housing." Manning also asked about fraternity and sorority rush delay, inquiring why the Greek system was singled out rather than other groups which require a commitment early in freshman year, such as performing arts groups. Bushnell answered the question by saying the Greek system is the only group which involves housing and living arrangements. Later in the meeting, the rest of section D.1 was discussed when UA Chairperson and College junior Seth Hamalian said he sees a discrepancy in the themes of the Commission's report. While most of the report focused on "choice combined with responsibility," Hamalian said, the "assigned" housing section "veered away from that tone of the report." Bushnell said the original recommendation was made because the Commission felt students were not making an "informed choice." But she and Green said they are both reconsidering the recommendation. "In some cases, I've really had my mind changed on this issue," Bushnell said. Hamalian suggested that the Commission change the recommendation to reflect incoming freshmen's needs for more information which would enable them to make informed choices without limiting these choices. The UA had previously discussed both the issues of Greek rush and assigned housing. The members had voted not to send a letter to the Commission advocating the housing proposal, and, due to debate, argument and parliamentary procedure, never voted on the Greek rush issue. Several members focused on the future of the report and its recommendations. College freshman and UA member Omar Gonzalez asked at one point, "How willing are you to reverse your decisions?" Green said the "basis of having a preliminary report" is to obtain information and opinions from "as many people as possible." "I think people [on the Commission] have been swayed and influenced by what others have said since the report came out," he added. Final approval of the recommendations, Green said, will come from President-elect Judith Rodin after she takes office in July. A committee made up of student, faculty and administrative representatives will aid the Commission in the implementation process, he added. The Commission's final open forum will take place today from 4:30 to 6 p.m. in room 351 of Steinberg-Dietrich Hall. This will be the final opportunity for members of the University community to voice their opinions or ask questions of the Commission before the final report is drafted and released March 31.
(03/15/94 10:00am)
Nassau Coliseum officials say tickets for Thursday's NCAA first round basketball game against the University of Nebraska are sold out. And University Athletic Department officials say students with season's tickets are most likely the only ones who will be able to obtain the approximately 300 tickets available through the University. But many students are not allowing these difficulties to stop them from attending, or at least watching, the game, which pits the sixth-seeded Nebraska squad against the 11th-seeded Quakers. Students all over campus are reveling in the Quakers' past successes and predicting future ones in the tournament. "I am excited about [the tournament]," College senior Alexandra Schein said last night. "It's my last year here and my last chance at seeing Penn basketball." Schein added that she is surprised by the seed the basketball team received in the eastern conference of the tournament, saying she was "hoping we would have been a seven or eight." Other students also said they expected the Quakers to be seeded higher in the conference. "I think we deserved to get a lower number seed," College sophomore David Eisenberg said. "But if we had been an eight or nine seed, we would have had to play North Carolina in the second round." Eisenberg added that he thinks the Quakers have a "very good chance" of reaching the Sweet Sixteen, a feat achieved only if they win two tournament games. "They are capable of beating Nebraska and Florida," he said. If the Quakers win their game against Nebraska, they will face the winner of the University of Florida and James Madison University match-up. Engineering freshman Frank Migliori said he is "hoping for the best." "I think they can pull a couple of upsets and make it to the top sixteen," he added. But Schein has bigger dreams for the Pennsylvania Quakers. "I would love to see a 1979 repeat or, better yet, a 1920 repeat," she said. In 1979, the men's basketball team reached the Final Four, losing to the eventual national champion Michigan State Spartans. In 1920, before the NCAA tournament was established, the Quakers won the national championship. Both Eisenberg and Schein said they will probably not attend Thursday's game because of the low availability of tickets, as well as other factors. "I have too much work," said Eisenberg, who is a season ticket holder. "But I like watching it on national TV too." Schein said she is not a season tickets holder but "would have loved to go? especially because it was a commutable distance." She added that she will "definitely watch the game." Even those who have not attended basketball games during the regular season plan on watching and following the team in the tournament. "I haven't really followed them but I know some stuff," Migliori said. "I think Maloney is a lot stronger of a player than the Nebraska players and I wish the best for Penn." He added that he will not attend the game because he has four midterms this week, but does hope to watch it on television. College freshman Miranda Salomon said she has not been able to attend again because she has not have time. "But I think I will watch the game on Thursday as long as nothing comes up," she said. The Quakers will play their first round game at 7:30 p.m. Thursday at the Nassau Coliseum in Long Island. The game will be televised on CBS and broadcast on WXPN radio.
(03/04/94 10:00am)
The Nominations and Elections Committee announced the 25 winners of Undergraduate Assembly elections last night. Jim Strangio, chairperson of Elections for the Nominations and Elections Committee, also announced that the referendum requesting student support for the University of Pennsylvania Emergency Medical Service passed by a vote of 89 percent to 11 percent. Strangio said 21 percent of the student body participated in the election, which was held this Monday and Tuesday. Only 17 percent of undergraduates voted on the referendum issue. In order for the referendum to be official, 15 percent of the student body have to participate. College sophomore Jonathan Slotkin, UPEMS captain, said he is excited by the results. "We realize that we are not only charged with realizing our own dreams, but the mission is also supported by the student body," he said. "We'll do our best not to fail them." The 12 incumbents who ran for re-election were all successful in retaining their UA seats. The top vote-getter in the College of Arts and Sciences was sophomore Eden Jacobowitz. Also elected were freshmen Mosi Bennett, Josh Gottheimer, Sabrina Gottlieb, Seth Gribetz, Laurie Moldawer and Adam Strunk; sophomores Tamara Dubowitz, Miae Oh, Lance Rogers, David Suh, Eric Tienou and William Walton; and juniors Jessica Pollock and Dan Schorr. Sophomore Dan Debicella was the top winner in the Wharton School of Business. Also elected in Wharton were freshmen Nancy Solnik and Patricia Tsai, and sophomores Quang O and Vincent Scarfaria. Freshmen Todd Sternberg and Courtney Tamburello tied for the sixth Wharton representative position and will participate in a run-off election after spring break, Strangio said. In the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, freshman Manny Calero received the most votes. Sophomore Sundeep Goel, the only other official candidate, also received a UA spot. And sophomore Steven Hong conducted a write-in campaign for the third Engineering spot, receiving enough votes to qualify for the position. At least 28 Engineering students had to write-in a candidate in order for him to qualify for the position, Strangio said. No students from the School of Nursing officially ran for UA. But Nursing freshman Lisa Aspinwall was elected after receiving enough write-in votes to qualify her for the position. Aspinwall needed at least 13 Nursing students to vote for her in order to win. "I think Nursing is an important school that needed to be represented," Aspinwall said last night after the announcement. "I hope I can truly get involved in the UA and help it towards change." Jacobowitz said he was "surprised" that he received the highest number of votes in the College. "I think this finally means that people saw right through the bullshit and saw that I'm just a normal student that had to deal with a lot of racists," he said. The candidates said they are hoping for a "more successful" year with the newly-elected UA board. "The organization has to be restructured in almost every aspect," Schorr said. "People have to focus and we need a sense of mission and a sense of accomplishment." After the winners were announced at the 7 p.m. meeting last night, UA members immediately began to announce their intentions to run for the UA steering committee. Schorr said he plans to run for UA chairperson. And Rogers said he intends to pursue the position of vice chairperson. "In doing so, I want to bring the UA and the student body closer together," he said. "I want to create more student involvement and awareness of the UA and its many, many benefits to the student body as a whole." Other newly-elected members voiced similar sentiments. "One problem that has been a recurring one over the past two years is that students don't know what the hell the UA does, who the hell we are and what the hell we're here for," Dubowitz said. "If they don't know that, there's no point to our existence. Dubowitz added that her main goal for the upcoming year is to inform students "that there is a UA and that we're here for them." Bennett said he hopes the next UA will have a "more productive" year. "This past year was kind of disappointing," he said. "I hope? the students will have more respect for the UA in the future." "I want the UA to be more representative of the views of the student body and not just the views of a select group of individuals," he added. Moldawer said she thinks the UA will "make a real difference this year." Gottlieb agreed, asking the student body to "call me and let me know what issues they are concerned about so I can work on them." And Debicella, who announced his intention to run for UA treasurer, said he feels "optimistic." "It can go anywhere from here," he said. The top vote-getters in each school will be University Council representatives. Gottheimer, Dubowitz, Oh and Schorr were also elected as UC representatives. The one charge of an NEC Fair Practice Code violation, which Strunk had filed against Dubowitz Tuesday, was dropped because "there was no intent to bias the election," Strunk said.
(03/04/94 10:00am)
Delay holds up VPUL search A new University provost will not be announced until at least May 1, Provost Search Committee Chairperson and Economics Chairperson Andrew Postlewaite said last night. The search committee, which was appointed after former Provost Michael Aiken's departure for the University of Illinois last February, said in December they hoped to finish their search by last month. Originally, the committee put off their search pending the selection of a new president. A February date was chosen after the approval of Yale Provost Judith Rodin as the next University president. The committee now hopes to have a final list of candidates for Rodin by the end of the month, Postlewaite said. Rodin is ultimately responsible for narrowing down the list and selecting the provost. Postlewaite added that he hopes Rodin will make a final selection by May 1. "The academic world is such that it would be much more difficult for her if she's not able to get [the search] done by May 1," he said. "Most external people would have to let their own university know by then [if they will be leaving]. "If getting the right person means going past May 1, I am sure [Rodin] would," Postlewaite added. Another search, that for the Vice Provost for University Life, hinges on the provost search, acting VPUL Valarie Swain Cade McCoullum said this week. McCoullum took over for former VPUL Kim Morrisson January 1. She agreed to hold the position until June 30. The new provost will be instrumental in the search for a permanent VPUL, McCoullum said. "It's my understanding that President Rodin is focusing her intentions on the Provost search process," she said. "Just as they wanted the new president before the new provost, they are doing something very similar in the student life positions." McCoullum said she does not know if the VPUL Search Committee will be able to complete their work by June 30, her last day on the job. She added that it would be best for the University if her term ended at the scheduled time, "to provide President Rodin with optimal flexibility in her choices for academic and administrative leadership positions." "When Interim President Fagin and Interim Provost Lazerson invited me to serve as Acting VPUL, we agreed it would be important for our terms to be co-terminate," she said. McCoullum added that her successor's transition should not be difficult, explaining that she was able to make an easy transition when Morrisson left her position. "I really was able to come in to serve in a very short period of time," she said. "I had three weeks to make the transition, [but] I had enormous cooperation with students and administrators." McCoullum added that her previous University employment as assistant to the president "did make a difference." Although she hopes her term will end by June 30, McCoullum said she is willing to continue in the post if the VPUL Search Committee "needed additional time." "It would be my pleasure to do whatever I could to support the University Life area and the new president and the new provost," she said. "If there was an opportunity to provide support during the transition period, I would welcome it." McCoullum said she hopes to ensure a smooth transition for the new VPUL by making sure that "all of the projects and programs and work that has been underway be fully nurtured and strongly supported." Postlewaite said the Provost Search Committee had "no connections" with the future search for a VPUL.
(03/02/94 10:00am)
Only one candidate for the Undergraduate Assembly was charged with a violation of the Nominations and Elections Committee's Fair Practice Code last night, according to NEC Chairperson of Elections Jim Strangio. College freshman and UA candidate Adam Strunk accused College sophomore Tamara Dubowitz of "having table tents with her campaign materials in Hill Dining within 75 feet of the polling location at Hill House," Strangio said last night. Strunk explained that Dubowitz had placed campaign placards on each table in the Hill Dining area. According to section 5f.1 of the Fair Practice Code, campaigning is not permitted within 75 feet of any poll while the polls are open In last year's election, 41 charges of FPC violations were filed with the NEC. The Coalition for Responsive Student Government -- a group of 20 students who ran for the UA on a common platform last year -- was the primary factor in last year's high number of charges, Strangio, an Engineering junior, said. "Last year was the really, really big exception," he added. "Usually there are very few charges, but not this few." In the fall 1992 election, there were 10 to 15 charges, which Strangio said were also "more than normal." He attributed the difference to the "really clean campaign" held this year. "To my knowledge, none of the other candidates violated the Fair Practice Code," Strangio said. "It was nice to see that we had such a clean campaign." He added that the FPC was changed in the last year to "loosen up" the poster policy. "I think that was part of the reason why there are almost no charges," he said. "It isn't mandatory to follow the poster policy anymore." NEC Chairperson and Wharton senior Sharon Dunn said she is pleased with the lower number of charges. "In the past two years, there's been an outrageous number of charges, but before that there were low numbers," she said. "Hopefully, [the lack of violations] is attributable to having the candidate's meeting, going over the rules and being available for questions." Strunk said last night Dubowitz's violation could have biased some voters eating at Hill. "The intent of having the restriction is so people will not be unfairly prejudiced in their voting," he said. "Anyone eating there could be influenced. "That was probably the general intent of placing the placards there and that's why I pressed the charge," he added. Though results of the election will not be available until after Thursday night's FPC hearing, Strangio said the election turnout was "very, very good considering the weather and the problems we experienced." On Monday, the NEC computers intermittingly stopped operating throughout the day because of the cold weather. As a result, certain polling places were closed for parts of the day. Strangio said the difficulties did not affect the number of voters. Dubowitz was unavailable for comment last night.
(03/01/94 10:00am)
Downed computers shut polls The Undergraduate Assembly elections began yesterday with problems plaguing the Nominations and Elections Committee, which runs the elections. Throughout the course of the day, the computers, which the NEC uses to check the eligibility of each student who wants to vote, intermittently shut down. During the time when the computers had to be shut down, polling places had to be closed. NEC Elections Chairperson and Engineering junior Jim Strangio said the weather was to blame. "The computers weren't meant to be functioning in the cold," he said last night. "We needed new monitors and then the same problem happened again with the new ones." College freshman Davida Rapoport went to vote at a polling booth outside Steinberg-Dietrich Hall at approximately noon yesterday. "They weren't open yet because the computers broke down," she said. "It was inconvenient because I thought they were closing at 5 and I had class until 5 and no time to go tomorrow." NEC Chairperson and Wharton senior Sharon Dunn said she ran the Hill House elections from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., and "there was a half hour or so where the computers were down." "It took us a while to get everything set up and going," she said. "[But] we had a great turnout while I was there." Though Rapoport was able to vote later in the day, she said voting should be extended because "a lot of people were inconvenienced by the fact that polls were closed right around lunchtime." Candidates agreed with Rapoport last night, saying their constituencies were affected by the technical problems. A UA candidate, who asked not to be identified because of an NEC rule prohibiting candidates from speaking to the press, said the Stouffer polling area was also closed at noon. "It was totally unintentional, but it was a very biased election," she said. "As a freshman candidate, most of the people who were going to vote for me could not vote because [Stouffer] was closed." Wharton sophomore and UA member Quang O said he had supporters who waited until the polls re-opened in order to vote. "But people without a personal stake in the election might be turned off and would have just left," he said. "If [the problem] was very serious, I think they should extend elections by a day or increase the number of polling places [today]." One candidate, who requested anonymity, called the NEC "pathetic." "It's pathetic that such an organization which prides itself on its organizational skills could display such incompetence," he said. "But if the elections was extended? I doubt that they'd be able to do any better." UA candidate and College freshman Laurie Moldawer voiced similar sentiments. "The entire UA election was a shoddy operation," she said. College sophomore Jonathan Slotkin, University of Pennsylvania Emergency Medical Service captain, said his organization's ballot referendum might be affected by the computer breakdown as well. "There was a significant amount of polling time lost," he said. "I think we can get a fairer turnout if the balloting is open an extra hour or two tomorrow." Despite these concerns, Strangio said no increase in polling hours is going to be made. Instead, polling will be held outside Stouffer, in addition to the previously announced Steinberg-Dietrich, during the hours of noon to 5 p.m. Some students also encountered difficulty in attempting to vote in today's election even though they met the NEC's eligibility requirements. The NEC allows full-time University students to vote. And Strangio said each school has its own definition of "full-time." The College of Arts and Sciences defines full-time students as those taking at least three credits. But full-time students in the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences must take at least four credits. Several College students who are taking three credits were turned away yesterday because the computer did not identify them as "full-time" students, Strangio said. And candidates were angered by this situation as well. "A three-credit student has every right that a four-credit student has, and should be given the opportunity to vote," said a UA candidate . Strangio said the NEC computer is hooked into the Registrar's Office, which requires four credits for every University student to be "full-time." But Dunn said the NEC follows the individual schools' policies. "You need to be a full-time student in your school," she said. Strangio said anyone who was wrongly prevented from voting yesterday will be allowed to vote today. "I don't want to deny anyone the right to vote," he said. Candidates said they hope yesterday's difficulties will not affect the final numbers of voters who turn out for this election. "I don't want to see those numbers blamed on apathy," an unidentified UA candidate said. "The blame falls on the technical problems."
