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(02/01/94 10:00am)
Acting Vice Provost for University Life Valarie Swain-Cade McCoullum released a preliminary draft of her office's objectives for this semester yesterday. The preliminary report, which addresses student services, Residential Living and the Revlon Center, states basic goals and discusses each department under the jurisdiction of the VPUL Office. But despite the broad nature of the draft, McCoullum said she plans to focus primarily on diversifying Locust Walk and proceeding with plans for the Revlon Center this semester. "Our objective is to be fiscally sound, to provide high quality services, to improve facilities and to make sure that we know student needs," Associate Vice Provost for University Life Larry Moneta said. McCoullum said she has three main goals for her term as acting VPUL, the first of which is to help the directors of VPUL departments meet objectives faster. "Secondly, I want to reach out to student programs and organizations so they have a better idea of where they can go for program support," McCoullum said. "I want them to have a clear and concise mechanism for having suggestions implemented," she added. As her third main goal, McCoullum said she hopes "to build new connections to the schools and academic departments of the University, because the life of the University is first and foremost nurtured by our academic programs." The VPUL Office hopes to achieve that last goal by restructuring several academic programs, including PENNCAP, which provides services to low-income students. The objectives update also calls for the establishment of a Student Transitional Programs office to administer the New Student Orientation, Pre-Freshman, and Mentor programs. Maintaining and improving Residential Living, Student Health Services, student activities and life, performing arts and minority services is another focus of the VPUL agenda. "I will absolutely and unequivocally oppose any cuts in student services," McCoullum said last week. "I will also absolutely and unequivocally support the expansion of student services and activities." The VPUL Office is also in the midst of collecting student data and information through surveys and focus groups. The data will be used to plot goals and objectives more comprehensively, Moneta said. Throughout the report, marketing and promotion of VPUL services, events and activities is emphasized. The department directors will review, update and revise the draft, and a final report will be released within two weeks, McCoullum said.
(01/31/94 10:00am)
The $24,000 Penn Student Summit on Race Relations was deemed an "overwhelming success," organizers of the summit said last night. The summit, which began Friday when 58 student leaders gathered at the Temple University-owned Sugarloaf executive complex in Chestnut Hill, a suburb of Philadelphia, was aimed at designing a comprehensive one-year plan for campus race relations. After ice breakers and discussion groups, the students began to focus on problems and solutions to campus race relations. And, when the conference concluded yesterday afternoon, the group had mapped out several recommendations which will be finalized at a Feb. 13 follow-up meeting, Wharton senior Lawrence Berger , a summit organizer, said. "We were able to come up with a plan that included both practical things to implement and various stands on certain projects and issues," he said. "We were able to come to agreement with a group that was very diverse." The plan deals with both academic and social issues. Academically, the student leaders suggested an increase in classroom group projects and assignments, with "randomized" groups to ensure diversity, Berger said. "You'd be exposed to very different people while exchanging information and ideas," he added. On a more social level, student leaders strongly supported the Revlon Center as a place where all students could gather and share ideas. "We focused on ideas which celebrated commonalities like providing space which everyone could use and have a vested interest in, like the Revlon Center," College junior and Undergraduate Assembly chairperson Seth Hamalian said. The group also recommended building a bookstore/coffee house on Locust Walk, Wharton and Engineering junior Matthew Kratter, chairperson of the Student Committee on Undergraduate Education, said. "[The coffee house] would be a place for Penn students, faculty and staff to congregate with a social and intellectual environment," he said. "It's something I strongly support." But the practical aspects of the plan made up only part of the conference's accomplishments, co-organizer and Wharton and College senior Jessica Mennella said. "Different student groups represented by their leaders were able to work together in a collaborative effort that was very positive for the University and for the students on campus," she said. The student leaders who attended the conference said the summit was worth the $24,000 price tag. "It was good to be that far away from campus," Hamalian said. "I've never been that focused on one issue for so many days in a row and I don't think that would've been possible on campus. "The housing and the setting didn't strike me as extravagant," he added. Engineering junior Ha Nguyen, vice president of the Social Planning and Events Committee, voiced similar sentiments. "I would say it was worth the money," she said. "We needed an atmosphere that was conducive to the topic we were discussing." After finalizing the various recommendations, student leaders will use their positions to convey their ideas to administrators, professors and staff, Berger said.
(01/28/94 10:00am)
The Student Activities Council overwhelmingly voted to reject a request for funding by The Red and Blue, a traditionally right wing campus publication, last night. The newspaper, which was just recognized by SAC this fall, has been denied funding several times in the past few years. The Red and Blue had requested $5989 for a laser typesetter at the meeting. SAC turned down not only that request, but also a second one for half that amount. College sophomore Christopher Robbins, managing editor for The Red and Blue, presented his request to the entire SAC body, which consists of steering and financial committees and representatives from each SAC-recognized activity. Robbins said the typesetter was one of the cheapest and lowest-quality available. He added that the typesetter was "absolutely necessary" for publishing the magazine. "We want to put out this publication to prove to everyone that we can do it," he said. "If we don't get the money, we won't have a publication." The typesetter would allow for a full-color cover, glossy, high quality paper and a "beautiful" publication, Robbins added. Financial Administrator for Student Activities Lynn Moller said SAC had not funded the publication previously because "they were deemed politically biased." Robbins said The Red and Blue's reputation for being "conservative" and "very right wing" is unfounded this year. "A lot of you are worried about the publication being too conservative," he said. "We're not right wing, we're not left wing, we just want to put out an issue." Wharton senior Stanley Rowe, a member of SAC's finance committee, presented the committee's viewpoint on the funding issue. "No other group on campus has a typesetter and many quality publications are getting along without it," he said. "The Red and Blue will have a publication but it won't be to the extent they wanted." According to Rowe, The Red and Blue has a $2000 debt with SAC. "We didn't want to loan them the money because we didn't see them being able to repay a debt," he added. Robbins said the money dates back many years, when The Red and Blue was previously recognized. "The financing committee never told us they wanted the money back when we were re-recognized," Robbins said. Several representatives asked Robbins about alternative methods of funding. "We have tried many other options," he said in response. "I really believe we deserve the money." Robbins also responded to representatives who asked if the magazine could use cheaper and lower quality paper, or if a desktop publisher and laser printer could be used in place of a typesetter. "The Red and Blue is the only magazine with glossy coated paper in the Ivy League and we want to keep it that way," he said. "We have huge graphics and we need a typesetter with the capability and memory to handle them quickly." Representatives spoke rather negatively about the request. "I would suggest cutting your budget," Wharton sophomore Gina Rollis said. "I do want to see you succeed but I can't support spending $6,000." "This would set an outrageous precedent," College junior Debra Pickett said. "Show us what you can do with what you've got." Pickett added that, as editor of Voyage Out, a campus women's magazine, she uses some of her own money to pay for some costs. Only one student spoke favorably about the expenditure. "I want to see Christopher get a paper out and if $5989 will do it, then I say let's give it to them now," College junior Adrienne Frangakis said. After the first vote almost unanimously opposed the $5989 request, Robbins asked for $2994. "We'll cut pennies and do whatever we can to get the publication out," he said. But the majority of the SAC body rejected Robbins' second request. "I was disappointed," College freshman and Red and Blue writer Paige Oliver said after the vote. "I wished it had been approved." "We'll be able to get this issue out with or without their help," Robbins said afterwards. "I know that's a contradiction of what I said earlier, but I didn't have faith in them from the beginning. "It seems that only extreme tactics work with totally unreasonable people," he added. Also during the meeting, the representatives elected three students to the SAC Finance Committee. College junior Basia Dybicki will serve her second term, while Oliver and College freshman David Shapiro, The Daily Pennsylvanian's Computer Services Manager, are the newest committee members.
(01/27/94 10:00am)
While 60 student leaders head to the Sugarloaf Executive Conference Complex this weekend for the Penn Student Summit on Race Relations, another conference dealing with "relations between races" will be held simultaneously in Houston Hall. Asociacion Cultural de Estudiantes Latinos Americanos President Lisette Monge, who is planning and organizing the campus summit, said last night her conference was planned in September, far before plans for the Sugarloaf Summit were announced. Monge would have represented both ACELA and the Social Planning and Events Committee, of which she is also president, at the summit, which is being held at the Temple University owned compound in Chestnut Hill, a suburban section of northwest Philadelphia. According to Monge, 50 members of the National Multicultural Students Association, a newly-formed group made up of cultural organizations from 25 East Coast schools, will spend Friday and Saturday on campus, holding workshops, speeches and discussions. Monge said Asian-American, Latin-American and African-American groups from various campuses, including Cornell University and Harvard University, make up the NMSA. "It was sad that there was a conflict," Monge said. "It would have been great if I could have gone and if they weren't the same date." Wharton senior Lawrence Berger, co-organizer of the Sugarloaf summit, said the date for his conference cannot be changed. "I don't really see it as a conflict," he added. About 40 ACELA members will join 50 other students at this weekend's campus conference. ACELA has also invited other groups from the United Minorities Council to attend the conference. "I think the basic goal is to recognize the obstacles that are facing minority groups and their similarities," said Nursing senior Kim Rosado,who is vice president of ACELA. "Together we can foster an environment where we can support each other instead of tackling problems on our own," she said. Monge said she hopes her conference will affect race relations. "We're trying to get the groups in action and that, in turn, will affect race relations," Monge said. The on-campus location of the conference will not affect its success, she added. "I don't think there is going to be a problem with distractions because it's on campus," she said. "Plus, it's easier when one group is hosting an on-campus convention." Associate Vice Provost for University Life Larry Moneta said, though, that the student leader summit is being held off-campus to separate the students from their usual surroundings and distractions. "The summit's purpose is to focus on Penn, and that issue may be harder to deal with when you're on campus," Moneta said. "The other conference is not Penn-specific, so you don't have that conflict," he added. The University is spending $24,000 on the Sugarloaf summit. More than half of this will be used to pay for lodging, Berger said. The NMSA conference is not costing the University any money because each attendee, with the exception of ACELA members and hosts, is paying a $20 registration fee, Monge said. "Houston Hall doesn't cost anything to rent," she added. Berger said that a fee for the Sugarloaf summit might have created problems for some student leaders. "I think a minimal fee would be a nice token, but what happens if a student leader couldn't afford it?" he said. "We want to focus on race relations, and we don't want that to be a barrier." Monge said there were similarities and differences between the two conferences. "Our goals are to help the different groups within the NMSA," she said. "The other summit is focusing on Penn in general and trying to educate the entire community. "[But] we're both holding workshops and we're both hoping to affect race relations," she added. Berger echoed Monge's sentiments, adding, "the more groups discussing [race relations] the better." Still, though, a representative from ACELA and one from SPEC will attend the Sugarloaf summit, Monge said.
(01/25/94 10:00am)
The Undergraduate Assembly held its first meeting of the semester Sunday night and brainstormed about issues involving student life, campus and facilities, and budget and finance. And through these and other discussions, the UA agenda for the upcoming semester has begun to take shape. UA Chairperson Seth Hamalian said his group will emphasize several issues this semester. "We really need to move forward with the [Vice Provost for University Life] issue and the Revlon [Center] issue," the College junior said Sunday night. The UA's Student Life Committee will tackle the group's primary objectives, Committee Chairperson and College sophomore Miae Oh said last night. "We want to research into various VPUL issues and how we can make the various organizations under VPUL better," she said. "And Revlon is such a toss-up right now. It's a very difficult issue." Oh added that because the building of the Revlon Center is a "long term" issue, the UA plans to involve the freshmen members in preparing for future discussion of the issue. The Campus and Facilities committee will also concentrate on the Revlon Center, said College sophomore and committee member Lance Rogers. "We want to get a feel of how students feel about the Revlon Center," he said. "We're concerned with what different things are going to be put in the Revlon Center with respect to what students need in a student center." Rogers added that the committee is also discussing several other campus issues. "We're concerned about safety issues and we're trying to get more blue light telephones on campus," he said. "We're also looking into mail service on campus." The Budget and Finance Committee is planning to release a report discussing the budgets of Residential Living and Dining Services in mid-February, committee member and Wharton sophomore Daniel Debicella said. "The project is a review of the?budgets to see if there are any areas where students feel there is too little or too much money being spent on something," he said. "We hope it will help the Dining Services and Residential Living departments to cut costs and improve services. "Some form of the savings could then hopefully be passed on to the students," Debicella added. The committee hopes to conduct student polls and finalize research before presenting the proposal. Rogers, who also serves as the UA Communications Director, said the UA will attempt to create a better relationship between itself and the student body throughout this semester. "My hope?is to launch a comprehensive communications strategy that will better connect the student body with their student government," he said. "We're a tremendous resource that they should take advantage of." In the course of the semester, the UA will also assess its involvement with the Ivy Council, an organization made up of Ivy League student government leaders, Rogers said. "We will be determining exactly what role Ivy Council will be playing with the UA and how interactive the UA will be with Ivy Council," he added.
(01/24/94 10:00am)
Many men feel his pain. Many women believe her claims of abuse. Most have followed their story. And everyone seems to have an opinion about the verdict in the Lorena Bobbitt trial. On Friday, she was acquitted by reason of temporary insanity on charges of malicious wounding. Last year, the couple's case made national headlines after Lorena Bobbitt cut off her husband John's penis. While surgeons were able to reattach his organ, the feud became a subject of national debate. And attention has zoomed in on the long-awaited trial of Lorena Bobbitt since her estranged husband was found not guilty of marital rape last year. Many University students strongly disagreed with Friday's verdict, saying insanity should not have been considered a factor. "I think she planned it and thought about doing it before," Engineering and Wharton sophomore John Hull said. "But you'd probably have to be insane to do that anyway." Others said John Bobbitt deserved to be compensated for damage. "Some reparations should be made," College freshman Benjamin Fogelman said. "The man's extremity was cut off. You can't do that. It's wrong." "I think she should have been held somewhat accountable," College senior Scott Romeika said. "She deserves something worse than what she got." Crazy or not, some said Lorena Bobbitt should have been found guilty. "I don't know if she was really crazy or not, but I think she should have been found guilty," Nursing freshman Rebecca Cross said. "After all, she chopped off his thing!" Several students worried about the ramifications of the case. "It's also going to set a precedent for a similar situation to happen again," Fogelman said. "It's kind of scary for all men," Romeika said. "I never heard of anything like that happening before. I guess I still feel relatively safe." Some students still agreed with the jury's decision. "I think that [it] was a fair verdict," College sophomore David Hong said. "If what she said was true, than she didn't deserve punishment." Watching the trial had an impact on how Wharton and Engineering junior Amish Mehta perceived Lorena Bobbitt's guilt. "Before the case started, I thought she should have been guilty," Mehta said. "Once I watched the trial, I could justify the verdict. "I think it was justified because of her sincerity," he added. "She convinced the jury that the way she was treated promoted her state of temporary insanity." The case also triggered a debate in some viewers' minds about the validity of the temporary insanity plea. "The use of temporary insanity as a defense needs more clarification." Mehta said. "If people start getting away with things based on temporary insanity, then that could cause a problem." Many students refused to comment on the Bobbitt verdict because they felt that the issue was too "touchy" to even discuss.
(01/21/94 10:00am)
Some slept. Some studied. Some trekked into Center City. Whatever students were doing yesterday, they were not going to class. Most students discovered yesterday's University closing on Wednesday evening by calling 898-MELT. Immediately, many made plans for their day off. "We decided to go downtown," College senior Mary Chou said. "We're going to see a movie." But other students decided to stay in and simply relax. "I'm going to be sleeping, watching soap operas, and doing no work," College freshman Elyse Dorkin said. "That's it." Though students were pleased that the University was closed, many complained that it had not been closed earlier. "It's slippery and dangerous," Wharton freshman Sang Kim said yesterday. "They should have closed it before and they should close it tomorrow." "I think it should have been closed earlier in the week, too," College senior Karen Krigsman said. "For safety's sake, I think it's good that classes are finally cancelled." But the formality of an official closing wasn't necessary for Krigsman. She hadn't had a class all week. "I went to French on Monday and there was a note on the door cancelling class," she said. "On Tuesday, in Comparative Literature, my professor never showed up." Krigsman said her Wednesday classes begin at 3 p.m. and the University closed at 2 p.m. that day. "With the University being closed [Thursday], and I have no classes Friday, that means I will have had the whole week off," she added. "I personally haven't wanted to leave my house anyway, though I had to because I didn't know my classes would be cancelled." Many students attempted to use the day to catch up on their studying. "Right now, I'm studying," Nursing sophomore Rachel Rosenkrantz said yesterday morning. "I'm probably going to work most of the day, catch up on sleep, and, most importantly, relax." "I have to catch up on a lot of work," Kim said. "But it's hard to study in my room because the Quad is so noisy." Kim added he wished Van Pelt Library, which closed Wednesday afternoon, was open. "I probably can't study that much without the library," he said. "So I'll end up watching a lot of TV." Several students decided to skip today's classes – which were subsequently called off – and go home for a long weekend. "I'm driving home to New Jersey soon," Engineering senior Ryan Reber said yesterday morning. "I'm just bagging the class I have tomorrow and making it a long weekend." The slippery roads would not be a major problem, Reber said. "The roads around here are pretty rough," he said. "But once I get on the highway, I'll be OK." College freshman Nick Lemen, wrapped in a towel and carrying shampoo, had quite different plans for his free time. "Showering," he said, when asked how he would be spending his day.
(01/21/94 10:00am)
JEREMY KAHN and STEPHEN SANFORD All but three of the University's 12 schools are breaking even on their current budgets, Comptroller Alfred Beers told a University Trustees committee yesterday. The University is currently running a $2 million deficit as a result. While the Annenberg School and Graduate School of Fine Arts, respectively, have deficits of $200,000 and $225,000, the Graduate School of Education has a $425,000 surplus, he said, speaking before the Trustees' Budget and Finance Committee. The Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania is currently operating with a $33.2 million excess, Beers added. Executive Vice President Janet Hale said yesterday these figures reflect how the schools are doing so far in meeting their budget schedules and are not final figures for the fiscal year. Beers' report to the committee was part of the Trustees annual two-day winter meetings. The meetings began on campus yesterday despite temperatures that hovered near zero degrees for most of the day and forced the University to close. Since Van Pelt Library was closed, several Trustees meetings had to be moved from their scheduled locations in the library to the Faculty Club. The Trustees' University Responsibility Committee unanimously approved a report urging the University to re-invest in South Africa. In 1987, following a firestorm of student protest against South Africa's policy of apartheid and the University's continued investment in the racially-segregated nation, the University Trustees voted to sell off all University stock in companies which refused to withdraw from South Africa. These holdings then totaled approximately $35 million. "The Committee concludes that South Africa has now made substantive progress in dismantling the legal structure of apartheid," the Committee's report said. "Restrictions on the University's investment policies that were based on lack of such progress are no longer applicable." The committee also discussed ways of improving the University's relationship with the West Philadelphia community. "I believe that Penn can make a stronger contribution to society, especially in West Philadelphia," said Glenn Bryan, director of the University's Office of Community Relations, speaking before the Trustees. "I think it's important for community relations to be proactive, not only crisis based." Bryan also spoke about putting out a newsletter called the Community Union as "an attempt to begin to let the community know what we're doing and informing them about the opportunities and services at Penn." Bryan said that in working on acquiring the Philadelphia Civic Center it has been important for the University to get community input and involvement. Rae Scott-Jones, executive director of the West Philadelphia Improvement Corps -- a consortium of community organizations, residents, and businesses that work on community projects -- told the Trustees he is concerned about what actions they plan to take. "My visions are for a thriving community for everyone," said Scott-Jones, adding he has been frustrated by University actions in the past. "Many, many efforts in the past have been very fragmented. Now, they're more connected. I hope the University continues to lead the charge. By being involved in a real community, students are being educated tremendously. I really think that it's mutually beneficial." The committee also discussed other urban schools with better community programs, including the University of Southern California and Yale University. "There are little parts that work in different places," said Engineering junior Garth Feeney, who is the committee's student representative. "We should try to put them together." Also at the Budget and Finance Committee, Hale briefed committee members on expected state and federal budget appropriations to the University in February. If the Commonwealth follows through on a "handshake agreement" with the University, the state budget will include $35 million for the University, Hale said. As for federal funding, Hale said she expects increases of 2.9 percent from the National Institutes of Health and 7.8 percent from the National Science Foundation. Currently, the University receives appropriations totaling $110 million from NIH and $17 million from NSF, Hale added. Executive Vice President of the Medical Center William Kelley briefed Trustees on the impact of the Clinton Health Care Plan on the University's ability to provide care to patients, conduct medical research and teach students. Kelley told Trustees he recently went to Capitol Hill to express concerns about the Health Care Plan to Senate Finance Committee Chairman Daniel Patrick Moynihan (D-N.Y.). In other business, the University is finalizing a 10-year contract with Philadelphia Electric Co. which would amount to a five percent discount over the University's total electric bill, Vice President for Facilities Arthur Gravina said. Under the new contract, Gravina said the University can expect to save $1.2 million in 1995. The Trustees Stated Meeting is scheduled to be held today in the Hoover Lounge of Vance Hall, beginning at 2:30 p.m. At the Stated Meeting, the Trustees will vote on several resolutions including the promotion of Budget Director Stephen Golding to vice president for finance, the elimination of the American Civilization and Regional Science departments and HUP's amended budget.
(01/18/94 10:00am)
Students hoping to satisfy their appetites for tacos, hoagies, pizza and espresso will have to wait two days more before the WaWa Food Market at 38th and Spruce streets offers them, Store Manager Joe Gallagher said yesterday. While the market, itself, did open as scheduled yesterday after being closed for three weeks, the newly installed Pizza Hut and espresso bar, along with the Taco Bell and Hoagie Express did not. "Unforeseeable conditions," have prevented the entire complex from being ready until tomorrow, Gallagher said. While part of the WaWa did open on time, some customers and workers say a closed WaWa is better than a half-opened one. "I thought they should have waited," said Errick Graham, associate leader of the Spruce Street WaWa. "They should have opened it all up at once." The remodeled WaWa, which has not been renovated since it was built in 1986, has new paint, lights, counters, and a new layout. "It's much more open and visible," said one WaWa cashier. "It's just better." Students had mixed opinions about the new setup. "It reminds me of a gas station," College freshman Michael Gross said, pointing to the green and yellow paint which runs along the walls. "It's lost the neighborhood touch," College senior Ethan Fellheimer said. "It feels more like the CVS than the WaWa." Fellheimer added that he thinks the new additions will not make the WaWa any better. Other students disagreed, though, and were optimistic about the new and improved store. "I'm waiting for the full effect," Wharton junior Kerri Korkin said. "It's so bright and big-seeming," College freshman Stephanie Nussbaum said. "Now you don't have to bump into people in the aisles." According to Gallagher, the new WaWa will be more efficient. "There will be separate stations for each part of the store and less lines," he said. "You'll be getting in and out of here quicker." Graham said, however, he thinks the location of the cash registers might cause problems for the stores. "I think the register is too close to the door," he said. "It could pose problems with security because people can easily see inside." Despite these concerns, Gallagher said he anticipates a "better" WaWa once the renovations are complete. "It's nice and bright and cheerful now," he said. "I just think people will like it better and business will improve too," Gallagher added.
(01/18/94 10:00am)
Half will pay for lodging The Penn Student Summit on Race Relations, a gathering of student leaders to discuss campus race relations, will cost the University approximately $24,000, Wharton senior and retreat coordinator Lawrence Berger said. The retreat will take place from Jan. 28 to Jan. 30 at the Sugarloaf Executive Conference Center in Chestnut Hill, Pa. Half the cost of the summit, or $12,000, will go toward the use of the compound, which is owned by Temple University, Associate Vice Provost for University Life Larry Moneta said last night. "It's just a beautiful professional retreat site," he said, explaining why Sugarloaf was the "right" place to hold the conference. The retreat's organizers also justified the expense, by saying that a campus summit would not be as effective. "We felt that it was very important to remove students from the campus so that their main focus would be this issue," retreat co-organizer and Wharton and College senior Jessica Mennella said. The other half of the cost will pay for facilitators provided by A World of Difference, a New York City based organization affiliated with the Anti-Defamation League, Moneta said. Berger and Mennella approached between 50 and 65 corporations, including Mellon Bank and Aetna Life Insurance, for contributions in November, but were denied by all of them, Berger said. "The timing was the biggest problem because some companies said they needed a year or more [ to approve such an expense]," he said. "The response was a wholehearted no." "The last thing we wanted to do was take University money," Berger added. The money, which will be used for the program, will come from the offices of the president and the provost, who support the endeavor, Berger said. "It was really difficult at first," he said. "But with the help of [Interim President] Claire Fagin and [Executive Assistant to the Provost] Linda Koons, things started getting rolling with funding from the University." The summit organizers say the retreat will allow 60 student leaders to talk about campus race relations and attempt to develop a concrete one-year plan to solve the problems they discuss. Wharton junior and President of the Junior Class Board Jason Diaz, who is planning to attend the conference, said the retreat will be worth the money the University is spending. "If the goalposts cost $20,000 and the retreat costs $24,000, I would take this any day," he said. "If this can bring forth action, it's probably a fairly cheap way of doing it." College junior Lissette Monge, president of both Acela, the Latino Students Association, and the Social Planning and Events Committee, said she will not attend the conference, but added that both groups will send members to the retreat. "I'm hoping [the organizers have] made their best judgement," she said. "I think it's a lot of money but for a good cause." College junior Seth Hamalian, Undergraduate Assembly chairperson, tentatively plans to attend the conference. He said his schedule, and not the program's cost, will determine his attendance of the retreat. "I don't think one can pass judgement yet until we see what the results are," he said. "The issue is important enough to warrant the commitment timewise and costwise. Hamalian said, however, that the cost of the retreat should not be discounted. "I'm behind the concept of the retreat," he added. "But I'm not behind the concept of just randomly throwing out $24,000." Mennella said the summit has received a "highly discounted rate" from both Sugarloaf and A World of Difference. "We really scraped and saved wherever we could," she said.
(01/12/94 10:00am)
In light of recent campus problems regarding race relations, several student leaders are organizing the first Penn Student Summit on Race Relations. The weekend-long gathering of student leaders, designed to devise a one year plan to improve race relations at the University, will take place between Jan. 27 and Jan. 30 at the Sugarloaf Inn in Chestnut Hill, Pa. University student leaders in areas of government, peer education, advocacy and the press will come together to discuss problems and solutions for campus race relations. Wharton senior Lawrence Berger and College and Wharton senior Jessica Mennella first began discussing the idea of a summit in the fall of 1992. Together with Associate Vice Provost for University Life Larry Moneta, the students began concrete planning last July. "The country is focused on Penn," Mennella said. "We've gotten a lot of negative press and students have the ability to change that." According to Berger, the summit is being held off-campus so that student leaders will be able to completely focus on the issue at hand, and not about other problems. "Unless we take people away, it won't work," he added. Berger said he hopes that something "practical" will come out of the retreat. "It is up to us to do something," he said. "We'll have all different voices to try to figure out the solutions together." Both short-term and long-term solutions will be discussed, Moneta said. "Students will have a chance to work on these issues which affect students," he said. "Nothing but good can come from it." Moneta himself will not attend the student-run conference, though. A steering committee – comprised of Wharton sophomore Rachel Bluth, Wharton junior Sanjay Kacholiya, Mennella and Berger – was set up to work out the details of the summit. Last week, they sent letters to over 100 groups, inviting the president or chairperson of each group to attend. Because of monetary and space constraints, though, only the first 60 leaders who respond will be able to go on the retreat. So far, 30 student leaders have accepted the invitations, Berger said. Student leaders who were invited to the summit expressed hope that the conference will produce positive results. "I think it's an important idea for student leaders to get together and discuss the issue of racism," said Undergraduate Assembly Chairperson Seth Hamalian. "I'm pleased with the emphasis on a concrete one year plan to be implemented when we get back from the summit." Hamalian, who said he will try to attend the summit, expressed concern that the student leaders will not come up with any new suggestions because so much campus discussion has already taken place on the issue. Both Berger and Mennella said they feel student leaders had the ability to affect campus race relations. "We have to take into consideration how important our position [as student leaders] is," Mennella said. "We can come up with a plan so that we are all comfortable here." Individuals from A World of Difference, a New York City institution affiliated with the Anti-Defamation League, will attend the summit to aid in facilitating discussion, she added.
(01/10/94 10:00am)
Store plans to keep Taco Bell and grocery products Students who are not completely satisfied with tacos and hoagies will find a wider variety of offerings at the WaWa Food Market at 38th and Spruce streets when it reopens next week. Pizza Hut Express and an espresso bar will join the taco stand and market when it reopens next Monday, said Vic Musso, WaWa's area manager. "We hope that the variety will entice more people to come to that WaWa," he said. "Pizza is obviously a big thing with everybody, and I think people will like the espresso bar." While students will find added variety at the WaWa, space limitations have prevented an expansion of the 3,500 square-foot facility, Musso said. "Everything will be compacted slightly," he said. "There won't be as large an amount of each item, so we'll just have to replenish more often. The customer won't see a difference." In addition to the new offerings, old equipment, light fixtures and counters will be replaced. Tables and chairs will be cleaned and repaired as well, Musso said. "The equipment was worn down," said Fred Bergner, WaWa's regional facility manager. "The remodeling is really necessary and sort of overdue." According to Musso, WaWa policy requires that facility renovations take place every six or seven years. This will be the first remodeling for the Spruce Street WaWa, which opened its doors in late1986. "It's due time-wise and it's due as far as appearance goes," he said. "We also feel that we will have more to offer the students." Students coming home from winter break were surprised to find WaWa closed and empty. "I wish I could go there now," said Wharton freshman Jacques Cobbeni. "I just came back from break and I need a lot of stuff." Most, however, look forward to the additions and renovations. "The more choices we have to eat out on weekends, the better," College freshman Jeremy Johnson said. "Pizza Hut is better than Domino's anyway." Although signs in the windows said the WaWa would be open today, Musso said it will be at least another week before the store and additional food vendors would be ready for customers. Neighboring stores, like students, also expressed interest about the WaWa renovations and the store's opening. "It might help our business," Beijing owner Mark Gendelman said. "It might attract more individuals to the area." Gendelman said he did not think that the new additions would hurt Beijing's business. "We don't sell what they sell and they don't sell what we sell," he added. Renovation plans began over a year ago, Musso said. They involved consulting with the Liquor Control Board and reviewing 35 blueprints before finding a way to fit everything into the limited space dimensions. Originally the remodeling was to occur last summer, but the date was changed because of the heavy business volume at the store during the summer months. Musso and Bergner apologized for the inconvenience during the renovations and asked students to visit the other campus WaWa stores for groceries. "Look forward to a better facility for all the customers and everyone involved," Bergner said.
(12/08/93 10:00am)
For the second time this year, the Commission on Strengthening the Community held an open forum Monday night to discuss the problems of the University community and to propose solutions. Six non-Commission members attended to discuss a variety of issues. "The real way to improve the community at Penn is to improve the social life," College junior Dan Schorr said. "I understand why they're there, but the enormous restrictions interfere with the sense of community here." Schorr, who is an Undergraduate Assembly representative, said fraternity parties have become somewhat exclusive since the new alcohol policy went into effect and invitation lists became the norm. "We could create an alternative," said English Professor Rebecca Bushnell, the Commission's director. The forum also discussed the College's core curriculum. "Many people think that the core curriculum...is Euro-centric," College senior and Commission member Mita Sanghavi said, adding that the Commission is looking at various solutions to this problem, Sanghavi said. College sophomore Jesse Goldstine discussed examining the role of college houses, especially DuBois House. "DuBois seems very mysterious to me," he said. "I think there should be open houses to invite people to come and learn." College sophomore and Commission member Mike Nadel added that the Castle, which houses a community service program, could be used as a model. "They go out of their way to publicize and have open houses," he said. The group also discussed the future of the Racial Harassment Policy. After several students voiced objections to Interim President Claire Fagin's decision to keep the policy until a new one is implemented next June, Commission Chairperson Gloria Chisum said that she supported Fagin. "She found a majority of opinions for the policy and so ? she made the right decision," she said. "We believe in First Amendment rights because they're a given." "Then why is there a debate?" Schorr asked. "Is it a creation of people's minds that freedom of speech is an issue on campus?" "Yes," Chisum said. The June 30 deadline also posed a problem for several students because school will not be in session then. "Students think that the decision should be made by April 1, not June 30," Schorr said, citing a unanimous UA vote which recommended the earlier deadline to Fagin. "That's an unreasonable time constraint on the committee," Chisum replied. The most controversy came during a conversation about the Commission itself. Chisum explained that 10 students were involved with the Commission, with two on the main 17-member committee. College freshman Jared Minsk voiced strong objections to this arrangement. "I feel that there should be larger student representation," he said. "It feels like the Commission is a group of outsiders without student input." "Students are ready to make good decisions," Schorr added. "We've heard that before, many times," Chisum said. "But students are sometimes too close to the issues." The Commission has talked with many student groups and will be presenting a report with recommendations in mid-January, Chisum said.
(12/03/93 10:00am)
Despite a slow start, Intuiton's fall show Alison Wonderland, finished strong in its debut last night. Highlighted by exemplary performances, the two-act play is the story of Alison Wonderland's look back on different points in her life. The title character, played by College sophomore Phoebe Hyde, recalls dream voyages through Wonderland and explores both childhood experiences and her college years. The somewhat amusing first hour and a half of the production lacked a clear focus. But, it was well complemented by the shorter second act which created and explored the show's message in only 45 minutes. The scenes in Wonderland are colorful and entertaining, though the humor is occasionally forced. And many of the dream sequences leave something to be desired. Nursing freshman Shannon Bisbee, who plays Alison as a child, excels in the scenes that are based in reality – such as playing with her classmates and having tea with adults. Unfortunately, the reality scenes are trivialized by the majority of scenes which are based in Wonderland. Throughout the play, scenes parallel one another, as the dream world is compared directly to the two real ones. This is an extremely effective technique, and provides the most intriguing aspect of the first act. In the second act, Wonderland falls to the background and Alice's college life becomes the focus. Played by College junior Amy Pickard, the college-age Alice tries to discover her personal identity. Unlike in the first act, the dream scenes have become more introspective and do not lose their entertaining value. Pickard's use of facial expressions and monologues, and her interaction with other characters, is the high point of the show. College junior Aron Greenberg's effective performance in the second act made audience members wish he had a larger role in the first. As narrator, Hyde began and ended the show with fascinating monologues. But for the most part of the play, she sat on the stage steps without the lines needed to explore the unfolding events. According to Director Michael Breslow, a College senior, the play's primary goal was to provide its audiences with thought-provoking material. While the show gives audience members a great deal to ponder upon leaving, a solid first act would have made the play more effective. Alison Wonderland will run tonight and tomorrow night, as well as December 9 through 11 in the Houston Hall Auditorium. Tickets are on sale on Locust Walk for $5.
(12/02/93 10:00am)
Group's fall show is adaptation of Lewis Carroll favorite Intuitons' fall show, Alison Wonderland, will open tonight in Houston Hall Auditorium. An adaptation of Lewis Carroll's novel Alice in Wonderland, the show will include both traditional scenes and new material. Approximately 15 years old, Intuitons is the "only experimental theater group on campus," said College sophomore Leah Klerr, the assistant director of the show. "We strive to do shows that other groups may not do." In recent years, Intuitons has created work-in-progress productions, without specific original scripts. Alison Wonderland is no exception. It too is a work-in-progress show. Though the basic foundation was taken from Carroll's novel, the cast wrote a great deal of the final product, which includes a combination of real- life scenes and dream sequences. "I don't think anyone has ever done Lewis Carroll like this before," Nursing senior and chair of the Intuitons board Beth Montgomery said. Taking advantage of Houston Hall Auditorium, the cast uses both the stage and the center floor space. Many "real life" scenes onstage will parallel the dream-like events that occur on the floor. As a result, audience seating is limited. Many of the 12 cast members portray more than one character, switching between the scenes in Wonderland and those in the "real world." Cast members emphasized the cooperative effort of everyone involved through writing, set designing, and acting. "It was a big undertaking," College freshman Mark Goldman said. "This is the most thoroughly involved I've ever been in a play." Nursing freshman Shannon Bisbee concurred. "It's a very non-traditional play...We all had a hand in it." "A lot of what the show is is how I'm feeling as a senior," College senior and director Michael Breslow said. "I'm providing people with a way of looking at things, but I'm not giving them the answers." Breslow added that some people have misconceptions about what type of group Intuitons is. "A lot of people will classify the group as strange," he said. "I don't think that's a fair way of describing it. We just don't do mainstream type shows." Using simple sets and costumes, Breslow said he hopes that the audience will pay attention to "the words and feelings, instead of a big rabbit suit." "The show's goal is simply to give everyone something to think about," Klerr said. Alison Wonderland opens tonight at 8 p.m. and will run through Saturday night as well as next Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights. Tickets are available on Locust Walk for $5.
(11/30/93 10:00am)
For 2,000 years, over 5,000 Jews lived on the southwest coast of India, in a village called Cochin. Now only 50 Jews remain, the rest having emigrated to Israel over the last 40 years. Monday night, Ithaca College Anthropology Professor Barbara Johnson spoke about the Cochin Jews to about 30 students, professors and community members. She has studied the community for almost two decades, following their move from India to Israel. Using slides and video material, Johnson concentrated on the Jewish and Indian customs and rituals of the Cochin Jews. She also discussed women, immigration and assimilation. Johnson said that no one was sure when or why Jews came to India. "It was probably part of the merchant spice trade 2,000 years ago," she said. "Others came over during the Spanish Inquisition." The people which Johnson studies lived in an area called Jewtown, on a street called Synagogue Lane. Eight Jewish communities existed in Cochin, each defined by a synagogue. "You see Jewish symbols as you walk down the street," Johnson said. "There are mezuzahs on every door post." In India, the Cochin Jews were religious and traditional. The Cochin culture, language and life enhanced typical Jewish practices, she said. In the 1950s, Johnson said, Cochin Jews began emigrating to Israel. Usually, Johnson said, Jews leave their homes after experiencing persecution or mass destruction; the Cochin situation was different. "There was a pure, innocent and religious Zionism," Johnson said. "In some cases, it was also a desire for a better life economically." The Cochin Jews took many of their Indian traditions with them, including language, dress and practices. However, they also practice Israeli customs, speak Hebrew and wear "modern" Israeli garb, Johnson said. "The preservation of identity and transformation of identity occurs at the same time," Johnson said. "In India, their Jewishness set them apart. In Israel, their Indian culture sets them apart." Johnson briefly related the Cochin experience to Jewish life in America. She said that in America, non-Jews and Jews learn to understand each other just as the Cochin immigrants and Israelis do. "There's mutual respect and coexistence," Johnson said. "There aren't too many people who know about this," Asian and Middle Eastern Studies professor Yael Zerubavel said. "I wanted to bring her to Penn so that people will become aware of the Indian Jews." "[The program] demonstrated the diversity of the Jewish community," said College senior Yaakov Yendelbaum. "We're interested in things that deal with rich and diverse Jewish culture," explained Jeremy Brochin, director of Hillel, which co-sponsored the event with several other groups. "This is an interesting and exciting example." "It's sad when cultures move to new environments," College freshman Vanessa Eisemann said. "But ? this showed that they can keep their roots and be accepting of the communities around them."
(11/18/93 10:00am)
Tonight, Off the Beat, one of the University's co-ed a cappella groups, will begin a three-night performance featuring a new repertoire of music. College junior Gabriel Rutman, Off the Beat's music director, will guide the 11-member group with only a pitchpipe and his snapping fingers. Like other a cappella groups, Off The Beat not only sings, but acts as an entire orchestra as well. But they place special emphasis on their orchestrations. Through their voices, they perform percussion, bass, and other backup sounds. "We are the music," Rutman said. "We sound like the songs." This year, Off the Beat will be performing 12 new songs. In the past, the group has entwined some of its previous numbers with new ones. This year, however, the six men and five women decided to do something different. "The dream of doing all new songs has come to a reality," College and Wharton senior Larry Linietsky explained. The group will perform songs by a variety of current artists, including Red Hot Chili Peppers, Kate Bush, Stone Temple Pilots and 10,000 Maniacs. "Most of the songs are progressive MTVesque," said College junior Cres Pellecchia, president of Off the Beat. "We do songs that are on the radio, Rutman added. "That's different from the other Penn groups." Off the Beat will also sing and dance to "Time Warp," a popular number from The Rocky Horror Picture Show. The small, cohesive group works together in multi-part harmonies, to create "very unusual arrangements," College sophomore Pam Beecroft said. "The music is entirely more complicated than ever before," Linietsky said. The group will be sharing the stage with various other performing arts groups during its Thursday through Saturday run. South Asia Society Dance and Without a Net will perform in tonight's show. Tufts' Amalgamates and Without a Net will work the crowd tomorrow night. Saturday night's show will feature Brown Derbies and Smith's Smithereens. The three shows will be held at 8:30 p.m. in the University Museum's Rainey Auditorium. Although Friday's and Saturday's shows are sold out, the group will sell tickets today on Locust Walk for tonight's show. Standing room only tickets will be sold at the door during the weekend shows.
(11/16/93 10:00am)
Leon "Chicago" Richards and Catherine Engle walked into the Castle's main lobby wearing identical shirts. "Empty the shelters. Fill the homes," their t-shirts proclaimed. Richards and Engle work for the Kensington Welfare Rights Union, an organization developed and coordinated by poor and homeless people from the Philadelphia area. "We fight for the rights which we're entitled to," Richards said. The two participated in a panel discussion about homelessness last night as part of Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week. The panel discussed last weekend's sweep of the subway concourse surrounding City Hall which forced homeless people out of the concourse. According to Gloria Casarez, a member of Empty the Shelters – a group started in 1990 by about 40 University graduates – only 300 shelter beds were set aside for the 500 individuals that had been residing in the concourse. Casarez condemned the sweep and its goal to "beautify the area." "I'd like to take [Mayor Ed] Rendell by the throat and tell him what I think," Engle said. The panel also discussed problems of the shelter system. "The shelter system isn't doing what it's supposed to be doing," explained College sophomore Cynthia Mason, a member of Empty the Shelters. "Shelters treat you like shit, like children," Richards added. "[They] are also keeping poverty going." Richards, vice president of the Kensington Welfare Rights Union, said an automobile accident left him unable to work. He said he lost his home and began using drugs until he found out about the welfare rights group. "I wanted to get help so I got involved with this organization," he said. "It strengthens me and keeps me clean." Though still homeless, Richards has been a recovering addict for 10 and a half months, he said. After leaving an abusive relationship, Engle said she worked in Wildwood, N.J. for 13 years. While working, she suffered two heart attacks and decided to return to Philadelphia to be with her family. "We ended up on welfare," she said. "But eventually we ended up homeless." The welfare rights union recently helped Engle to find a home for her and her family. Kathleen Sullivan, the final panelist, graduated from the College last spring and now works for Empty the Shelters. "We support and work with organizations like KWRU," she said. "Groups with poor people struggling for their own survival are the groups that can make a difference." Sullivan explained that welfare only supplies enough money for monthly rent, without providing money for food, clothing or other necessities. She said people often become homeless because they do not receive enough money from welfare. Engle and Richards urged University students to "get involved." "As long as the system is the way it is, homelessness will always be there," Engle said. "We've got to do something." Students who attended the program called it very informative. "It really gave me a new perspective," Nursing freshman Jennifer Barthmaier said. "The news and the media portray [the concourse sweep] in a totally different way." "I hope this opened people's eyes to the problems of the homeless," said College senior Laura Yens said, vice president of the Penn Volunteer Network. "It is everyone's problem and it could happen to anyone."
(11/12/93 10:00am)
The University's African Studies program, in cooperation with Bryn Mawr, Haverford and Swarthmore colleges, has received a $520,000 Title VI grant from the U. S. Department of Education, according to Sandra Barnes, chairperson of the African Studies steering committee. "[The grant] will allow us to establish a very viable program for the study of Africa at the undergraduate level," Political Science Professor Thomas Callaghy said. The African Studies program at the University has been developing and expanding over the past six years. In June, Barnes applied for the grant, which was approved in the early fall. The grant will allow the four-school consortium to establish an African Studies Undergraduate National Resource Center, which will be located on the University campus, temporarily in the museum building. The center will be the coordinating body for the expansion of the program, Barnes said. "There are very few African study centers in the United States," Barnes said. "Penn will now become one of those few." The consortium held its first grant-sponsored activity on November 5. Faculty and community members participated in a day-long workshop, including seminars and speakers. "It demonstrated what is possible," Haverford Political Science Professor Harvey Glickmam said. "You have a first class group of people who will be able to share ideas." Professors in each school are planning to develop more courses, seminars, workshops and other programs. They also hope to bring in outside speakers, both from the local area and from Africa. "Our three colleges are now better integrated with Penn in African studies," Glickmam said. "It's good news for both graduate and undergraduate students." Ray Hopkins, a political science professor at Swarthmore, said the reason for the grant is that Swarthmore does not have the resources to develop a comprehensive African studies program alone. "By combining resources ? we're going to facilitate the concentration of African Studies for undergraduate students," he said. "What is most exciting is what happens outside of the classroom," Bryn Mawr Sociology Professor Mary Osirim said. "We'll be putting students in direct contact with African culture." Osirim added that she hopes to develop opportunities for students in the consortium to study, intern or do research in Africa. Another possibility, Hopkins said, would be an Africa Day celebration on all four campuses. "[The grant] is going to really cement the message that there is ? an involved community out there," Anthropology graduate student Ivonne Teh said. "It gives us recognition and more money to do bigger and greater things."
(11/04/93 10:00am)
Imagine sitting in a classroom, frantically studying theoretical investment situations in order to successfully enter the job market. Now imagine using $5 million of the University's endowment to invest in the stock market to prepare, through real money management, for future employment. The first scene depicts a typical Wharton undergraduate or graduate classroom. The second portrays a new program which Wharton students have developed to expose them to the real world of Wall Street. The program, called the Wharton Fellows Fund, was developed by Wharton graduate students Phillip Coburn and Robert Craig. It will give 12 undergraduate and graduate students the chance to invest in the stock market and create a mutual fund, Coburn said. Those students will be fully responsible for the management of the money, but a "junior analyst program" will allow other interested students to become involved in the decision making process. Wharton faculty members and leaders of various investment firms will advise and generally oversee the entire program, Coburn said. The program, which Coburn and Craig began developing last year and plan to begin in upcoming months, is not a new idea. Coburn said at least 30 other schools have real money management programs. "We were a major step behind because we didn't have anything set up," Coburn said, adding that "there was a lot of enthusiasm for [the fund]." The fund will connect with the Penn Investment Alliance and one fellow will be a PIA member. "[The fund] is a unique opportunity for people to get hands on experience in the stock market," said Mandee Heller, College and Wharton senior and president of the PIA. Coburn explained that the fund has not yet established funding. Students and faculty are working on two options to achieve their $5 million goal – using the University endowment, which Coburn estimated at $1.2 billion, or raising the money themselves. "Five million of that is not a huge chunk of money," Coburn explained. "We'd be managing part of the endowment's money. It's not really spending money." This option would require approval from the University Trustees. The students and faculty have not yet approached the Trustees with the idea. Coburn said using the endowment is preferable for tax purposes. Assistant Finance Professor Bruce Grundy provided another reason for using money from the endowment. "If you're responsible for a real loss ? of the University's endowment, you'll take that with you to your grave," he said. The fundraising option could involve alumni and firms that recruit on campus. Coburn said participants will be chosen by faculty in November. He hopes to officially begin the program on February 1, even if it does not begin with $5 million. "I don't think having a huge amount of money is critical," said Accounting Professor Richard Sloane, who is on the selection committee. "[The fellows] have to develop a track record first." "This is going to be an important addition to the learning experience," Finance Professor Donald Keim said. "It will be a very nice complement to the structural, theoretical courses." Wharton freshmen, sophomores and juniors, along with first year graduate students are welcome to apply for fellowship in the program. The deadline for applications is November 15.
