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(03/23/95 10:00am)
"AIDS is the cure, not the disease," an angry hand scrawled in white chalk letters in the entrance to the Quadrangle's Speakman section. In the same chalk writing, other sections of the Quad were also vandalized with anti-gay graffiti, including the archways near Thomas Penn and Ward. Written in large letters, some of the graffiti stated "It's great to be straight," and "Keep ROTC, lose the queers." Wharton freshman Lee Anchin, a Speakman resident, said he first saw the graffiti in the Speakman entrance early Wednesday morning. Anchin said that he tried to erase the graffiti the next day, first with his foot, and then by pouring water on it. "I think an attack on any group is disgraceful, and it has no place in public," he said. College freshman Rob Fechner, who also attempted to erase the graffiti, said he felt the chalk inscriptions showed the vandal's ignorance. "If ignorant assholes like this are going to take the time to insult people, they should at least get their facts straight -- AIDS is not a gay disease," said the Speakman resident. Nursing sophomore Ashley Paine, a Facilitating Learning About Sexual Harassment Steering Committee member, said she is not surprised the angry messages coincided with Bisexual, Gay and Lesbian Awareness Days. "I think it is a backlash against BGLAD week," she said. "Heterosexual youth are one of the fastest growing groups of HIV infected people in America," she added. "As a bisexual woman, each time I hear a homophobic comment, I just shake my head. It offends me deeply, and I wonder how people who are intelligent enough to get into a University like Penn can be so ignorant and narrow-minded." College freshman Rachel Murphy, also Speakman resident, said "it is embarrassing that visitors had to witness such intolerance," referring to prospective students who were in the Quad at the time. According to Residential Living Director Gigi Simeone, in such cases of discriminatory graffiti, both the University Police and the Philadelphia Police are called in to investigate.
(03/23/95 10:00am)
and Lisa Levenson The Student Committee on Undergraduate Education will mark its 30th anniversary today with the release of its 1995 White Paper on Undergraduate Education. The report contains recommendations "for the attainment of a complete educational experience at the University." The recommendations fall into eight broad areas, ranging from curriculum and research to foreign language proficiency and residential living. The most radical of the proposals would change the core curriculum currently in place for all undergraduates, merging existing curricular options into a program called "Penn Sectors." Centering around Community, Society and Tradition, the new arrangement's aim is to "provide a holistic approach to learning in which students would be able to appreciate and understand the development and uses of knowledge." The new courses would be team-taught by multiple faculty members in a seminar format. Between four and five of these courses would be developed for each sector, emphasizing writing, speaking, analysis, research, interpersonal skills and technology. The report also proposes the creation of a companion program for Writing Across the University, entitled Speaking Across the University. The goal of the program is the improvement of undergraduates' verbal communication skills. According to the White Paper, Annenberg School Dean Kathleen Hall Jamieson has committed to teaching a "SATU training session." As for research, the report states that undergraduate involvement in such "comprehensive inquiry" is essential to a balanced education. To encourage undergraduates to participate in research, the White Paper would "establish a research foundation in the Community sector course." It would also encourage each school to develop capstone classes and additional independent study options, while simultaneously increasing awareness of undergraduate research opportunities. Under SCUE's plan, each core curriculum sector would also include a "service-learning course," designed to combine the objectives of the particular sector with public service. The report also highlights the shortcomings of the University's foreign language program. "In their current form, foreign language courses and instruction fail to provide even basic language skills, thus wasting student time and energy," the White Paper states. The report also recommends a more detailed transcript, which would include the mean score, grading distribution, type of class -- lecture, seminar, laboratory or independent study -- and instructor's name and position for every course taken. SCUE also advocates more intensive training for teaching assistants, and additional, more frequent evaluations by their sponsoring faculty members, in an effort to reinforce teaching standards. Selection of TAs would be solely merit-based if the White Paper is adopted, meaning that undergraduates and graduate students would be equally eligible for such positions.
(03/23/95 10:00am)
Awaiting the first public reading of Pulitzer Prize-winning author Norman Mailer's newest book, Oswald's Tale: An American Mystery, 200 people gathered in the Harrison Auditorium yesterday afternoon. Mailer compared himself to a "restaurateur who'll give you a testing menu," before he started reading passages from various works. In the third session in a series of lectures, Mailer read selections from Tough Guys Don't Dance and Harlot's Ghost along with a poem entitled "Togetherness." But the high point of the program was the portion read from Oswald's Tale, his newest book, due to arrive in bookstores in April. The audience heard actual KGB transcripts of their surveillance of Lee Harvey Oswald and excerpts from Mailer's interview with the KGB agent assigned to Oswald's case. "What I got was a sense of [Oswald] as a man," said Mailer, describing his research experience in the former Soviet Union. When asked if he had developed any conclusions as to whether Oswald had acted alone in the assassination of John Kennedy, Mailer responded that it was after he returned from Minsk to the United States that he developed a "tentative" conclusion. "He was perfectly capable of committing the crime alone," Mailer said. "But whether he did or not is another question." Mailer closed the reading with a passage from Ancient Evenings describing the Egyptian embalming process from the point of view of the dead body. His description included a graphic section on the extraction of the brains from the skull. Members of the audience were allowed to ask general questions of Mailer following the reading. In response to a question on the his decision to become a writer, Mailer said he was lucky that he had the support of his parents. "I had great luck," he said. "I won a story contest when I was 18 so as a result my parents accepted my decision." Answering a question about writing style, Mailer said he lets the material dictate what approach he should use. "I find I can't write anything until I find the style for the piece," he said. The program closed with a formal autograph session during which Mailer not only signed books, but also discussed boxing techniques. College junior Matt Robinson presented the former boxer with a left boxing glove to be autographed. "I figured it'd be an appropriate keepsake of the event," Robinson said. And College junior Christy Mach left the program with a newly autographed copy of Mailer's Armies of the Night in hand. "I feel lucky," said Mach. "It's not everyday that you meet someone who's a legend in his own time."
(03/23/95 10:00am)
Tickets will cost $15 Clinton is coming. No, not Bill. George, as in George Clinton and P-Funk. P-Funk will join the Roots, the Samples and Sonic Youth on April 22 for the Spring Fling concert, Fling concert planners announced last night. College junior Mike Parker, the co-director of the concert committee of the Social Planning and Events Committee, said he found it difficult to describe the band. "Ohhh. Aaahhaa. Ooo,ooo,ooo. It's impossible to describe them," he said. "They are the original funksters. Over the past 25 years they've been playing everything form Hendrix-style rock and roll, to funked out disco tunes." Fling Co-Director and Wharton junior Gil Beverly was equally troubled when asked to describe the band. "P-Funk. By the name, they're funky," he said with a chuckle. "Their sound is based on a lot of funk, a lot of funk guitar and a lot of strong rhythms. They're hard to describe." Lead by "high priest and ring leader" Clinton, P-Funk has 18 musicians, Parker said. Using every musical medium -- from vocals to horns to guitars -- the band is known to play for hours straight, often drawing single songs out for 15 minutes. Over the years, P-Funk has released songs under various labels, such as Funkadelic and Parliament, to evade problems with record labels. Some of their more popular songs are "Give Up the Funk (Tear the Roof Off the Sucker)" , "P.Funk (Wants To Get Funked Up)", "Bop Gun" and "Flashlight." According to Parker, the band has recently regained popularity because rappers -- most notably Snoop Doggy Dog -- have taken background music from the funk band. And according to Wharton senior Haile Johnston, co-director of SPEC Concerts, P-Funk is probably the band that most influenced rap music. Although P-Funk is the last addition to the four-band ticket, Parker said it is by no means a lesser entity. "This band's stature is, in terms of record sales and all that, the biggest one of all those performing," he said. Wharton and College senior Vivek Tiwary, co-director of the SPEC concert planning committee, added that P-Funk will help to further diversify the Fling ticket. "There's really something in there to satisfy every musical taste -- except for maybe country or classical," he said. The concert -- which will be held, rain or shine, on Hill Field -- is projected to be six and a half hours long. The length of stage time for each group increases according to their position on the ticket. So, the Roots will play for about 45 minutes, then the Samples and Sonic Youth will play respectively for an as of yet undetermined amount of time and P-Funk will close with a two-hour performance. Tickets will be sold to University students with PennCards at the Annenberg Center for $15, and non-students may purchase tickets for $25 through Ticketmaster. All tickets are general admission and will be on sale during business hours starting April 3. About a week before Fling, tickets will also be available on the walk. Because the concert is so long -- it will start at 6:30 p.m. and end at 1:30 a.m. -- people will be able to come and go after their hands are stamped. Beverly was optimistic about the concert. He said he expected to sell over 1,000 tickets to students and between 5,000 and 6,500 to non-students and guests.
(03/23/95 10:00am)
The Undergraduate Assembly's vote Sunday night in favor of allocating funds for open student parties at fraternities has sparked a lot of debate among students. "My house, and I am sure many others on the Walk, do not want to host parties for the entire campus," Delta Sigma Theta brother and College senior Ryan Heil posted on the University computer newsgroup upenn.talk earlier this week. But leaders from the four organizations behind this plan -- the Social Planning and Events Committee, the InterFraternity Council, Panhellenic Council and the Bi-Cultural Inter-Greek Council -- are still very optimistic that the parties will benefit all members of the student body. The plan, which is still in the beginning stages, calls for several parties a month to be run by these four organizations, according to SPEC President and College senior Lissette Monge. The UA voted to allocate $10,080 to SPEC to pay for the costs of the parties, at which the "Bring Your Own Beer" policy will be strictly enforced, according to InterFraternity Council Judicial Manager and UA representative Josh Gottheimer. "It will be easier to monitor and control with four groups in charge," the College sophomore added. Each party sponsor will work with a $700 budget, Gottheimer said. IFC President David Treat said the system allows larger parties to be held because there is less of a risk of being caught with BYOB violations. The College junior added that it helps appease students who do not want to pay to get into a party for which they had to buy their own beer. At the same time, fraternities will be reimbursed for their entertainment costs. "This allows us to throw parties free to the whole Penn community so fraternities and sororities do not have the financial burden and everyone can get together and have a good time," Treat said. Gottheimer stressed that the purpose of these parties is to simply provide "a safe social environment for students at Penn." The parties will not be solely IFC events, he emphasized. Gottheimer added that the parties are a good alternative to students going downtown for the night-life. Many of the parties will be held in fraternity houses because fraternities are insured. But Monge said not all of the parties will be held in fraternity houses. Some may be held in Houston Hall, she said. Panhel president Lissette Calderon, a Wharton junior, said SPEC will have complete control over the funds, which will be allocated "in a very strict and stringent system." "We want to guarantee the University that no fraternity is making a profit as a result of this," she said. The new plan, which will begin in the fall, has received positive feedback from the administration, according to Gottheimer. But not everyone is as excited as its organizers. Some fraternity brothers claimed they had never been consulted by the IFC about the plan. And Alpha Chi Rho president and Wharton junior Tim Brown said he is not sure if he supports the idea. "I am still not certain if this is going to help or hurt the fraternity system and the social activities we have now," he said.
(03/23/95 10:00am)
More than 70 people ate quail, turkey mole and oxtail soup at the Palladium last night. Following an International House screening of the movie Like Water for Chocolate, based on the book by Laura Esquivel, viewers headed straight to the Palladium for a dinner that mirrored dishes that Tita, the movie's main character, created in the film. Organizer Gretjen Clausing, assistant director of the Neighborhood Film Video Project, said the event was a part of the "Book and Cook Fair," a Philadelphia celebration that unites reading and cooking. While Clausing said there would be "a mixture of people from the University community and around the city," there were few University students in attendance. According to several participants, the $35 price tag was well worth the meal. Dinner began with chilis with walnut sauce followed by oxtail soup. The participants chose between quail with rose petal sauce and turkey mole as an entree. Cream fritters rounded off the dinner. Those who attended the Palladium event said they enjoyed the food. "It was delicious," Philadelphia resident Catalina Rios said. "I loved the quail, and the three types of wine were great." Brian Regli, another participant and Philadelphia resident, agreed. "The food was darn good," he said. "I think it's a wonderful idea to attempt to create a meal from the film," Rios said. The event was International House's second annual presentation for the Book and Cook Fair. Last year, Babette's Feast was shown, also followed by dinner at the Palladium. "Last year, [the program] was well received," said Roger Harman, the owner of the Palladium. "We had reservations for 220 seats. We had to turn away people." The movie was screened at 6 p.m. and 8:15 p.m. last night. The meal preceded the second showing. Clausing expected more than 200 people to participate this year. The program will be repeated tonight at the same times.
(03/23/95 10:00am)
It used to be that incoming students only had to worry about tequila shots and the occasional gun shot. But next year's freshman class now has another kind of shot to be scared of -- vaccination shots. Starting in September, hepatitis B is going to be added to the University's Pre-matriculation Immunization Requirement, according to Director of Student Health Services MarJeanne Collins. She added that the University is the first large university in the nation to require the hepatitis B shot. "At this moment I only know of one [other school] that [requires the shot] -- Springfield College did it in September of 1994," Collins said. "We are definitely in the forefront." Other institutions are either thinking about or in the process of implementing such a policy, she said. The PIR, which was initiated in 1984, already requires students to be vaccinated against measles, mumps and rubella. Entering freshmen will be informed of this requirement in the admission packet that is sent to them this spring, Collins said. They will not be able to register for classes until they have at least two out of the three required doses of this vaccine, she added. They can get the third shot at student health. Collins, who also serves as chairman of the American College Health Association's Vaccine Preventable Diseases Task Force, said Student Health decided to require this additional vaccination "because it is the right thing to do." She added that although the shots are relatively expensive, "it is much cheaper than it used to be." "The entering college student can now get [immunized] at a pretty reasonable price of about $10 a dose," she said. Immunization Coordinator at Student Health Vernell Edwards said this addition is important "because it is becoming more and more of an issue on college campuses across the country." There are approximately 300,000 new cases of hepatitis B a year in this country and teenagers are at high risk because the disease is transmitted through bodily fluids such as blood and semen, she added. "They are in the risk group for hepatitis B by virtue of age," Collins said. "Almost everyone will become sexually active during those years." She added that it is necessary to require this because college students do not usually visit their doctors more than once a year and are not on an immunization schedule. Edwards said the University holds one of the strictest PIRs in the country, due in large part to Collins' efforts. Although only the freshman class will be required to have these shots, the vaccine will be recommended for all other students. Edwards said he is excited to see how the entire University population will respond to this request. "A lot of students did have the shots last year even though it wasn't a requirement," he said.
(03/23/95 10:00am)
Students in the School of Engineering and Applied Science had a chance to participate in a "Dialogue with the Deans" yesterday about improvements in the undergraduate program. The meeting provided a moderated forum for students to speak to Engineering Dean Gregory Farrington, Undergraduate Associate Dean David Pope and Director of Admissions and Advising John Keenan. Sponsored by the Engineering Undergraduate Advisory Board, this was the second annual open dialogue between the administration and students. Engineering junior Gregory Grimaldi moderated the dialogue, introduced the deans and led the question and answer period that followed their brief speeches. Farrington discussed recent improvements in the Engineering School -- including last summer's start of a two-year effort to install new heating and air-conditioning systems in the Moore Building. He also described plans for "major renovations on a whole series of lecture halls" followed by the renovations of many classrooms for next year. He said one of his goals is to create a "small college [environment] within a large University." He also advocated social events within the Engineering School, such as dinners with faculty members. And Farrington expressed optimism about the future of the school, citing admissions statistics. "Applications to this school were up to the highest level in history in both numbers and in quality," he said. Keenan focused his speech on improving advising for Engineering students. To improve undergraduate advising, he said, seminars will be set up to educate advisors about effective advising techniques. Keenan also said the advising manual will be revised. In response to questions and criticisms of Engineering advising, Pope explained that new databases have been created to help keep track of the school's large number of students and their advisors. The deans also discussed improvements in study abroad programs. The new plans will allow students abroad to take co-curricular courses taught in English, but would also require a rigorous language study program. Germany, Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore and Zimbabwe have already been selected for this program. Other improvements discussed include a new Pentium computer lab, and possible printing privilege reform.
(03/23/95 10:00am)
The Panhellenic Council voted unanimously last night to endorse the InterFraternity Council's "Bring Your Own Beer" policy. According to Panhel President Lissette Calderon, this is the first time Panhel has ever voted to endorse BYOB. Past Panhel councils have hesitated to support the policy because they questioned whether it could be adequately enforced, she explained. This Panhel decided it was time to "take a stand," however, and to vote in favor of the policy because "something had to be done." "The bottom line is that it's all an issue of liability for any drinking accidents that might occur," the Wharton junior said. Calderon also said Panhel's vote marks a new trend in the council. "It was a big step for the Panhel," she said. "It's encouraging for us to stand up for our actions. For a long time we just followed the wave of what the IFC was doing. "It's no longer IFC's policy, it's also our policy," she continued, adding that Panhel and the IFC will work closely together to enforce BYOB "to the best of our ability." Calderon acknowledged, though, that there have been problems with enforcing the policy so far. "We're definitely in a stage of transition," she said. Greek Alumni Council officers enforce BYOB policy. But Calderon said Panhel plans to work with GAC "to the best of our ability."
(03/23/95 10:00am)
Casey and Sam met on a Friday night. They saw each other at a bar and began a conversation. Each was extremely attracted to the other and they went home to Sam's apartment. For the next few months, they saw each other frequently -- taking walks, seeing movies and just hanging out at home. Throughout Casey's and Sam's relationship, they had their ins and outs -- they even broke up a few times --but they always ended up getting back together afterwards. Near the end of their year together, Casey and Sam realized their relationship didn't have the same "spark" that it used to. They broke up for good the week before their one-year anniversary. Today, Casey has a new boyfriend, but Sam is still looking. Casey and Sam are both men. Although homosexual relationships may appear identical to heterosexual ones, there are actually major differences that affect both the couple's interactions with each other and with society. For example, because mainstream society assumes all individuals are straight, gay people have a harder time finding one another, reducing the possibilities for spontaneity. "We don't have these big blinking signs to wear around the city that say, 'I'm gay, men only need apply,' " College sophomore Rob Faunce said. "You don't run into [gay people] at the orange stand at the supermarket. The sexual atmosphere is not conducive to get to know people." Gary Reddick said this obstacle affects him as well. "It's definitely harder to meet potential dates," the College freshman said. "Especially at a place like Penn. Not all gays and lesbians use the Program [for the Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Community at Penn] office or go to rallies. A lot of people don't want to expose themselves in that way." Gay night clubs are the locations most individuals visualize when thinking about gays meeting other gays -- and this is primarily because the clubs provide a social atmosphere in which it is assumed that the clientele is homosexual. But besides bars, gay students said they meet partners in many different ways. Kenneth George, an associate dean in the School of Education, said studies report that nightclubs are not the only places where gays meet each other. "Research shows that same gender couples meet wherever anyone meets," said George, who also serves as the director of Human Sexuality Education at the University. "The misconception is that gay and lesbian people can meet in only gay and lesbian environments." Reddick said that matchmaking and making acquaintances through other friends are also common practices in the gay community. "You meet in the same sort of environments that heterosexual people do," Reddick said. "I know few people who only start relationships in clubs. A lot of relationships are through friends -- that's the way a lot of people meet each other." The emphasis on night clubs within the gay dating scene has consequences that bother some members of the gay community. Because at a club, it is assumed that all present are homosexual and that they have specifically come to the club to pick up other gays, there is increased pressure to "hook up." "When you're meeting them at gay clubs in the bar scene setting, the emphasis is on sex," Faunce said. "It leads to too many one-night stands. The morning after a one-night stand is not exactly a good time to say 'What's your name?' The people you're interested in -- you end up going too far with the first night." But other students said they disagree. "There does seem to be that notion in society at large, and I don't know if I would agree with that," Reddick said. "I know quite a few people who abstain from sex. With such an emphasis on AIDS and HIV, I don't see that happening very much." College freshman Austin Wakefield, who attends the dances sponsored by the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual Alliance held at the 24th Ward in Center City, said he has never felt obligated to have sexual relations with people he meets there. "I've never been pressured that way," he said. "I've gone many times and I've only done that once." Regardless of the circumstances surrounding a sexual encounter, many students have said that in the gay community, there is definitely an emphasis on safe sex. "The emphasis on safe sex is far greater in homosexual relationships," Faunce said. "It's a matter of life or death. It's not awkward because it's understood by all that it's for our safety and protection. It's not one man saying, 'I'm a man, I don't need to wear a condom.' " Reddick said that although there is stress on safe sex, there has been a recent decline in its practice by young adults in general. "I think the gay community has always emphasized safe sex since the onset of the AIDS epidemic," he said. "[But] I think a lot of young adults period are falling into a lot of unsafe behavior--be it gay or straight." Reddick compared the negligent attitude with which many approach the use of contraception to that of individuals who do not wear seatbelts while riding in a car. "A lot of us have a fatalistic attitude about what can be done if you are found to be [HIV] positive or you have AIDS," he said. "I hear, 'If it's going to happen, it's going to happen,' or 'if it's my time, it's my time.' " In mainstream society, gay and lesbian relationships are often portrayed such that one person is "playing" the role of the feminine partner--often dubbed "femme"-- while the other plays the role of the more masculine partner --or "butch" -- such as in the famous play La Cage Aux Folles. But outside of the world of fiction, opinion is mixed on the prevalence of this butch/femme phenomenon in gay relationships. "A lot of gay people are offended by that idea," Reddick said. "We're two men, and we love each other as men. You're sort of taking on heterosexual notions of what constitutes a relationship--or intimacy for that matter." Coordinator of PLGBCAP Bob Schoenberg said he thinks this so-called "role-playing" is a complicated issue. "It's such a stereotype of homosexual relationships [to assume] that they mock heterosexual relationships," he said. "There is no uniform answer. Most gay and lesbian relationships that I know about are not as defined as one plays the butch and one plays the femme, or one is dominant or one is submissive." George, however, said that the practice of taking on typical heterosexual gender roles has recently reemerged from a period of dormancy. "There is conflict in younger gay and lesbian people with no role models," he said. The practice of gender roles "seems to be resurfacing -- two men, one believing they have to be the more dominant or masculine one, although I don't like that word." Schoenberg has seen a similar resurgence in role-playing -- citing the present use of the terms "top" and "bottom," stereotypes referring to the positions in insertive intercourse, as in "He's a top," or "he's a bottom." "There certainly are certain relationships in which this is an important dimension," he said. In the past, "it may have been more defined. Interestingly, the phenomenon has reemerged." George added that in his research he did not find lesbian couples employing gender roles as much as their male counterparts -- mainly due to their decreased visibility in society. Jennifer Manion, a College junior and co-editor of the campus women's magazine Generation XX said she also did not know many lesbians who call themselves "butch" or "femme." "Many of the women I know don't readily identify as either and it's all relative," she said. "Sometimes the people who appear to fit one of the categories play out the other in relationships." Although gender roles are utilized in some homosexual relationships, Schoenberg said this behavior is completely different from transsexuality, in which a person actually feels like he is biologically a member of the opposite sex. Transsexuals often undergo sex change operations and end up being heterosexual. But regardless of whether they employ gender roles, homosexual relationships experience certain dynamics solely due to the fact that both members of the couple are of the same sex. "If men have a greater difficulty with intimacy than women do, how is that problem magnified when you have two men in a couple, both of whom have some trouble -- due to socialization -- with intimacy," Schoenberg said. Once they have started relationships, gay couples are often swimming upstream against the current of a heterosexual society. "It was always awkward when you wanted to go out in public together," said College of General Studies student Anthony Putz, the chairperson of LGBA. "In the beginning it was hard [deciding] to hold hands or not hold hands. I've had people spray paint on my door the word, 'faggot,' when they found out we were living together." Presently there is no official marriage ceremony for a gay couple recognized by a government in the United States, forcing individuals to modify their behavior accordingly. "We don't have the option of running off to Vegas and eloping," Faunce said. "There's a greater need to plan--looking for companies that offer domestic partnership benefits, finding gay-friendly housing. These are little things, but little things that add up." The lack of a recognized matrimony between homosexuals also brings less obvious dilemmas -- such as picking an anniversary date. "Was it the day we met, or the day we had sex?" Schoenberg said. Another obstacle faced by gay couples is intolerant families accustomed to heterosexual society. "Weddings, anniversaries, [heterosexual couples] get toaster ovens," Schoenberg said. "Their parents are usually --not always-- accepting of their partners. Each of those things are different for a homosexual couple." Despite their differences, homosexual and heterosexual couples share more than many think. "There are many more similarities than people think," Putz said. "You share responsibilities like other couples. You fight about who's going to put the cap on the toothpaste. You fight about whose parents you're going to see on holidays." George said he sees similar image concerns and struggles within heterosexual and homosexual relationships. "Money and power seem to be the same," he said. "I don't see any differences there. Every couple seems to have issues with power, which plays itself out with money, sex and all those other things." Reddick said the most significant similarity between straight and gay relationships concerns the emotions and desires valued in each: "The desire for love and affection and for someone who will accept you for you and that you enjoy being with and that makes you feel happy."
(03/23/95 10:00am)
In front of the peace sign on College Green yesterday, more than 30 students gathered to celebrate, learn and increase the University community's awareness of homosexuality as part of the week-long Bisexual, Gay and Lesbian Awareness Days. "We are here today to celebrate ourselves," said Scott Reikofski, assistant director of Student Life Activities and Facilities, in a statement read at the rally. "BGLAD is not about flaunting our sexuality on Locust Walk, nor is it about attacking those who are unable to be tolerant. BGLAD is about affirming ourselves and educating others." More than 10 speakers came to lend their support, including Vice Provost for University Life Valarie Swain-Cade McCoullum. "We are here to celebrate all of us and all of you here," she said. And some speakers came to share their own personal experiences about "coming out." Nursing sophomore Ashley Paine, a Facilitating Learning About Sexual Health representative, described how difficult it was to find a homosexual with whom she could comfortably discuss her feelings during a transitional time in her life. Other speakers came to educate the University community about homosexuality. "Homophobia is not just a matter of verbally harassing or physically harming," said Kurt Conklin, a health educator at Student Health Services. "Homophobia is also a matter of closing our lives off to the possibility of loving and caring for many more people in the world. "When a father stops hugging his son beyond the age of five because he is afraid it will teach the wrong message to his son -- the dad and son both are living the reality of homophobia," he said. The rally was a time for sharing and mingling. Some came to support friends who were speaking. Others stopped on Locust Walk to listen to what was being said. But most came to show that they are not ashamed to be lesbian, gay or bisexual. "These types of events are really important for the educational community," School of Education graduate student Philip Tromovitch said. "Prejudice and the problems that exist in society are primarily due to ignorance. BGLAD and similar events help to educate the community about issues they may not have a full knowledge of." Bob Schoenberg, coordinator of the Program for the Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Community at Penn, said BGLAD is intended to "give gays, lesbians [and] bisexuals at Penn a chance to be proud." It also "helps make the general Penn community aware that the LGB people are here at Penn and educate them about our needs and concerns," he said.
(03/23/95 10:00am)
It's one of the campus' best-kept secrets. But the University's bridge team recently made a name for itself, winning a regional tournament at Drexel University last month. In the tournament, sponsored by the Association of College Unions International on February 24 and 25, the University beat Swarthmore College and the New Jersey Institute of Technology to qualify for the collegiate finals. This qualification entitles the four members to an all-expenses paid trip to Memphis, Tenn., to compete against six other teams for the title of College Bridge Team Champions. Each member of the winning team is awarded a $500 scholarship, according to Jana Jackins, the junior program coordinator in Memphis. The finals will be sponsored by the American Contract Bridge League, which is the "sanctioning body for tournament bridge," Jackins said. The competition, scheduled to take place on May 19 and 20, is a special junior event for full-time students under 26 years of age. They pay a lower yearly rate for dues and participate in tournaments restricted to juniors. The four members of the University's bridge team include graduate student Doug Koltenuk, the team captain; College senior Gwenn Kalow, fourth-year graduate student Jacques Olivier and Wharton sophomore Gregory Robbins. The students said they are excited to have the opportunity to compete in May. However, Olivier voiced some concern over the lack of experience the team has had playing together. "The only problem is that although each player has a lot of experience playing individually, we won't be able to get a lot of practice playing together," he said. Still, Robbins said the team has a good chance of succeeding in Memphis. "I think it's a great opportunity to represent Penn," he added.
(03/23/95 10:00am)
Over 200 people processed in almost complete silence down Locust Walk to College Green last night, gathering to remember College junior and Sigma Alpha Epsilon brother Justin Koppel. "It's not the candles that matter," one person said, as gusts of wind struck down many of the small flames. Assembling on the terrace steps in front of the Peace Symbol shortly after 8:30 p.m., SAE President and College junior Joe Ayoob called the hour-long vigil a "great testament to Justin." Koppel was killed in a head-on car collision over Spring Break, when the car he was driving was struck by another vehicle in the Florida Keys. The incident claimed a total of three lives. For the several speakers at the Peace Symbol, the vigil was a way to begin dealing with the tragic accident and the sudden loss of a friend. "This is just wrong," College senior and SAE brother Joshua Blatt said. "He was 20 years old. He should have lived longer. He should still be here. "It's really hard to make sense of the whole thing -- it's a random, senseless event, and we all suffer with the loss," said Jonathan Foster, who is Koppel's cousin and a Wharton graduate student. "As people say, we have to continue on with our lives and think about what he gave to us," he added. "It's the only good thing I can see that came from the whole tragedy." Although much of evening was filled with sadness, Jordan Foster retold several humorous anecdotes from Koppel's youth. In one story, Jordan Foster, a University alumnus and Koppel's cousin, recalled the time he had to teach an 11-year-old Koppel all about "girls." But in the end, even Foster said he had trouble believing his cousin was gone, adding he expected Koppel to come "out of the bushes in any moment" and say "just kidding." "I haven't cried yet because Justin was bigger than life," he said. "Frankly it seems like a dream -- a really bad dream." A memorial service for Koppel will be held on April 13 in Bodek Lounge in Houston Hall at 6 p.m. Sylvia and Richard Koppel, Justin Koppel's parents, are scheduled to attend.
(03/23/95 10:00am)
Philadelphia has been transformed into a life-size smorgasbord, as the city's annual "The Book and The Cook" celebration continues today. The event, in its 11th year, brings together cookbook writers, restaurant owners and gourmands from across the city and the country, and also features several local restaurants in its festivities. One of the most popular of the annual events is a beer tasting -- already sold out -- to be held at the University Museum. "It's mission is to communicate the quality of the Philadelphia hospitality industry on a year round basis," Book and Cook event producer Judy Faye said. "We are a savvy, sophisticated restaurant community capable of entertaining and attracting on a year round basis. "The restaurants become theaters," Faye added. "The restaurants come through like gangbusters and do a fabulous job with it." Beginning yesterday and continuing through Sunday, city restaurants and the Philadelphia Convention Center will host some of the finest chefs and cookbook writers in the country. To start the festival, the Palladium will be serving Mexican recipes from the movie Like Water for Chocolate while International House shows the movie on the big screen. And Michael Jackson, the "world's leading expert on beer," according to Director of University Museum Catering Bruce Nichols, will be the featured beer expert, offering samples and brewing workshops. Over 150 beers will be on tap, so to speak. "It's really going to be a global beer-fest," Nichols said. "It's become the most popular event in the whole weekend. There is a really strong connection with the University Museum and beer." Most beers are from microbreweries, so, according to Nichols, "it's not an event for Rolling Rock or Bud." The White Dog Cafe will be featuring Vietnamese chef Nicole Routhier, who will cook dishes from her cookbook with chefs from White Dog. In addition, the restaurant will show slides of Vietnam from 6 to 8 p.m. White Dog co-owner Judy Wicks said she expects to serve between 250 and 300 dinners. "It's a way of promoting Philadelphia as a restaurant city," Wicks said. Bucks County Nut and Coffee is going to have a coffee brewing and tasting seminar on Saturday at 1 p.m. Owners Cathy and Roger Owens will discuss buying, selling and roasting coffee and will teach how to operate home cappuccino machines. The "coffee talk" costs $15 and reservations are required. "We're the largest roaster in the Philadelphia area, but people don't know our name," said Susie Hesler, manager of Bucks County Coffee. "We want to get our name out." Zocalo restaurant will have chef Joyce LaFray on hand to cook recipes from her Cuban cookbook, Thursday and Friday evenings. Other events include The Cook and The Book Fair, which is being held at the Convention Center on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The event will feature free samples, cookbooks and cooking accessories. Tickets must be purchased, and Nichols expects 15,000 to 20,000 people to attend. Reading Terminal will have a 17th-century representation of a feast on Friday and Saturday from 12:30 to 4 p.m. In addition, there will be tours of the Italian Market and Chinatown until Sunday.
(03/22/95 10:00am)
From television programs such as Beverly Hills, 90210 and Melrose Place, American mainstream society finds that the "ideal" woman measures 36-24-36, while the perfect man is toned with bulging muscles. But for many individuals, the lines are not as clear- cut. The gay community faces many dilemmas in terms of body image. There are a multitude of different gay "images" and fitting in can become a problem. Before College sophomore Melissa Krakowski came out of the closet, she had preconceived ideas of what gays and lesbians looked like. "All lesbians were these butchy women who wanted to be men and had some hormonal imbalance," she said. "All men had lisps. Or at the other end, that men were always working out or very slutty." But after actually joining the gay community, Krakowski discovered the reality behind the stereotypes. "It's true for some lesbians, but not for all," she said. "There are lesbians who are a little more in touch with their masculine sides, but it's definitely not true for all." Amidst the various opinions about body image facing gays, bisexuals and lesbians, one thing is usually agreed upon: Just as much -- if not more -- emphasis is put on body image in the gay community as in the straight community. "Male images, advertising, the increase in the depictions of pecs, biceps and rippling stomachs -- the glamorous torso has had an impact on how the male is being idealized," said one student who asked to be identified only as Bill S. "It's common among straight men, but for the gay man, it's male to male. It's pressure to be this way." The stereotypes for gay men usually fit into two categories -- either extremely effeminate or extremely masculine. The former is often portrayed as having a higher voice or lisp and the latter as constantly working out and wearing tight apparel. Many said living up to these images, especially the ultra-masculine one, is often the top priority in the lives of many gay and bisexual men. "I think gays and bisexuals struggle with [body image] a lot more because there is a lot of pressure to have the 'perfect' body," said Kurt Conklin, a health educator at Student Health Services. "A lot of gay and bisexual men increasingly are turning to the gym." Along with the photos of semi-clad, musclebound men found in the pages of gay magazines, new stereotypes about gays resulting from the AIDS epidemic have also put pressure on homosexuals to look their best. "The impact of HIV and AIDS on our community has had an effect," Bill S. said. "The image of the gay men wasting away to emaciated figures has influenced our community to try to look muscular, bulky and really, really healthy. We're still alive, we're vital, we're an alive community. That has impacted on our body image." Another motivation for gay men to tone their bodies is self-defense. "Some men go to the gym and try to bulk up because we know there is a lot of violence toward gay men," Conklin said. "They may be trying to bulk up as a defense. One of the side benefits [of starting to work out] was that I felt more physically prepared for physical assault." Although lesbians are also very concerned about body image, some students have said they don't think lesbians put as much emphasis on it as gay men. "Lesbians are much less image-conscious than gay men," said Jennifer Manion, a College junior and co-editor of the campus women's magazine Generation XX. "Lesbians are less likely to compromise themselves to fit the image which straight women have because it's seen as ideal by the heterosexual society." Gay women also encounter two different stereotypes: One extremely masculine --often called "butch" -- and one very feminine, not surprisingly dubbed "femme." According to many students, both body types are almost equally accepted in gay communities. "Both are accepted in homosexual societies," Manion said. "Some people go for the opposite, some people go for the same, some people go for both." But because of the heterosexual paradigm of the "perfect" woman and the more historic homosexual stereotype of the "butch" female, "femme" lesbians say they have a harder time coming out of the closet. "My take is that a lot of people don't give you much credit for being serious in your sexual identity if you are femme," said Bronwyn Beistle, Graduate Student Associations Council president. "If you look androgynous or butch you get more credit. If you try to look femme, it's like you're trying to pass [as a heterosexual]." But regardless of gender, overwhelming body image concerns can be very detrimental to many members of the homosexual community. "Look at the 'hunks' " in the gay newspaper, said Bob Schoenberg, director of the Program for the Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Community at Penn. "The gay subculture does put a great deal of importance on body image. I think that's unfortunate. There are a great many gay men that suffer as a result." Students said that some gay men spend all of their time working out, which is problematic for a more than a few obvious reasons. "Physical exercise and fitness becomes a problem when it's dominating your life," Conklin said. "For men who spend a lot of time in the gym, that's time they're not spending helping the gay community become stronger politically and socially. If people are going to gyms mainly in pursuit of the perfect body, that's not, in fact, very healthy." As in the heterosexual community, poor nutrition is often a problem resulting from a desire to change one's physical appearance. "Feeling anxious about your body may mean that you're not eating very well," Conklin said. "I think that also plays out in the gay and lesbian community as well." Eating disorders also afflict the gay community. Bill S. struggled with food for ten years before coming to the University. Upon arrival, many factors -- including his still-hidden homosexuality-- resulted in a long, hard struggle with bulimia. "Where my bulimia most surfaced was the intense experience of going to college and not yet coming out, going to a new school, coming from a working class background and going to an Ivy League institution," Bill S. said. "Food was my coping mechanism for dealing with these feelings." Bill added that his lack of friends and what he perceives as homophobic feelings at the University contributed to his lack of self-esteem. "Pressures of homophobia in the society turned me to food for comfort," he said. "When you can't call a friend, you can always call a pizza. All you need to do is have $10. Friends have faults, but pizzas are pretty consistent." And even after dating and acquiring a few friends, Bill's insecurities took control and he began a cycle of binging and purging. "During college, I had relationships with other men on campus and the thing is that the body image issues would get in the way and I would wonder whether or not they would leave because I was too fat," he said. "I started to forget who I was and why they were attracted to me." After two years of struggling with the disorder, Bill S. sought counseling on the advice of a friend. But Bill found that the University could not accommodate him. The Student Health representative "told me that she really couldn't meet my needs. Most of her resources are for women. There are aren't services on campus for men who have these problems." Bill said he felt frustrated and angry. "Here I was feeling inadequate and half in denial about seeking treatment and Student Health was deflecting me and telling me, 'Well, there's nothing we can do.' And she wanted to refer me to outside services which I would have to pay for. It was bullshit." Through outside counseling, Bill overcame his bulimia, but wishes that the University had the necessary resources to help people in his situation. "I know both gay and straight [male] athletes have problems with body image," he added. "It would be nice if we could find help on this campus." Susan Villari, Director of Health Education at Student Health Services, said that Student Health does provide services for men, but attitudes are actually what prevents students from taking advantage of them. "I don't necessarily think there need to be more services, it just needs to be more publicized," she said. "There's a lot more stigma for men to come forward and use the services." She did say, however, that if there were demand for new services they would be created. "It's difficult to provide services for only one person -- especially a support group," she said. Student Health "would create a new support group if there were enough men who were willing to be in a support group."
(03/22/95 10:00am)
After several months of delay, construction of the new University City Station is nearly complete, bringing rail service to the airport and other destinations to campus. The station will open on April 24, six months after its originally scheduled opening in November. Costing $9 million, the station will provide direct access to the Philadelphia International Airport from a stop under the South Street Bridge. In addition to the R1 Airport Line, the station will be served by other regional rail trains operated by the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transit Authority. There will be direct access to SEPTA's R-2 Marcus Hook/Wilmington line and R-3 Media/Elwyn line. Coree Randolph, communications capital projects manager for SEPTA, said the station will be the most modern in the entire SEPTA system. "The design of the station is very unique and very much state-of-the-art," Randolph said. "You can't appreciate the structure unless you go inside. It's quite a grand entrance." And Randolph added that the design caused delays because it took a longer time for the architect to acquire certain materials. "It has an airy design with bolted ceilings, covered platforms, tiled surfaces and glass enclosed waiting gates," she said. According to Randolph, delivery schedules and poor weather conditions contributed to the delayed opening. "We are all working very diligently bringing the station to the University community by April 24," he added. To celebrate the opening, Mayor Ed Rendell will preside over an official ribbon cutting on April 28 with SEPTA general manager Louis Gambaccini and SEPTA board chairman Thomas Hayward. The new rail station should also provide improved service to students who use the airport. A train ticket to the airport will cost $5, cheaper than shuttle services. Lady Liberty Transportation, one of those shuttle services, charges $8. The train stop will be open from 4:30 a.m. to 1:30 a.m., and tokens and trail passes will be sold between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. In addition to the train station, SEPTA is also in process of creating a "University City Circulator," which would provide bus services between 30th Street Station and the new regional rail stop, as well as other locations in the University city area. Randolph said the loop will be free to customers with trailpasses, transpasses or transfers, but will cost 50 cents for individuals without such passes. She added that the "Circulator" is still on the drawing board because additional capital funding must be found. Randolph said, however, that she hopes to have the buses running by the opening of the new station. University Transportation Manager Ron Ward said the new rail stop will be a great asset to the University. "It will benefit a lot of University employees as well as students," Ward said. "Hopefully it's going to be a pretty heavily used station."
(03/22/95 10:00am)
Standing with two feet flat on the ground does not always ensure perfect balance -- a fact that often leads to difficulties when diagnosing balance problems. But physicians at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania recently began diagnosing and treating these problems at a new facility, aptly named The Balance Center. The center -- started by the Ear, Nose, and Throat department at HUP -- will study and treat such disorders as dizziness, light-headedness and vertigo. Treatment for a majority of these disorders mainly involves retraining eye and body movements, thus affecting balance, according to Glenn Knox, Balance Center Director and assistant professor of head and neck surgery. The Balance Center at HUP, which is the only comprehensive facility of its type in the Delaware Valley, utilizes state-of-the-art technology to diagnose the various disorders. The Postroography platform tests six sensory conditions, including visual, somatosensory and "compensating eye movements." Patients stand on the platform with their eyes both open and closed for different trials, experiencing variations in pressure and motion of background scenery. The results are then analyzed by a computer. "Postroography is our more general test," Knox said. "I use it very often." Another test used by Knox involves a rotational chair, which provides more specific data. While the rotational chair moves back and forth, eye movement responses show the functions of the inner ear. In coordination with the Balance Center, Knox has also set up a support group for patients suffering from Meniere's disease -- a disorder which often results in dizziness, ear-ringing and hearing loss. The purpose of this group is to discuss the disease and treatment options, as well as its impact on everyday life. The first meeting of this group will be held on March 29th at the Memorial Library of Radnor Township in Wayne.
(03/22/95 10:00am)
Debicella decides not to run Forty students declared their candidacy for the Undergraduate Assembly at yesterday's introductory UA meeting, up from 29 last year. They will compete in next week's election for 25 seats on the UA. Although an increased number of students have announced they will be running for UA positions, many current members have decided not to seek re-election. Only 12 out of the 33 UA incumbents are running for re-election, and none of the members of the UA Steering Committee -- including UA Chairperson and Wharton junior Dan Debicella -- will vie for positions in the upcoming race. "I do not think I have anything more to contribute to the UA," Debicella said. "We got everything done that we set out to do." Debicella added that he did not want to play the role of spoiler in the next student assembly. "I don't want to be the Dan Schorr of the next UA -- I don't want to be criticizing their chair," he said, referring to the UA member, a College senior. Debicella also discussed some of the difficulties he has observed during his tenure. "The problem with the UA is the petty in-fighting rather than the members working together against the administration," he said. "I think I was disappointed with the bullshit politics that went on." Although Schorr, the UA's University Council steering representative, is a graduating senior, the rest of the UA's board are either sophomores or juniors. They each named different reasons for their decision not to seek re-election. Wharton sophomore and UA member Nancy Solnik said that she is not running because of the uncertainty surrounding the future of student government. There are two proposals for overhauling student government through constitutional reform on next week's ballot. "I prefer not to run for something that may or may not exist next year in its present form," she said. Although Wharton junior Vincent Scafaria said he is not running for re-election because he expects to graduate in December, he had some tips for his successor. "In the future, I would personally like to see attendance requirements for all UA members," he added. "Should they miss a certain number of meetings, then they lose their position to the next highest vote-getter." The candidates' introductory meeting differed from past years in that the Fair Practices Code was not read in its entirety. "Hopefully, [the candidates] understood the rules," College senior and Nominations and Elections Committee Chairperson Rick Gresh said. "Normally, when we read the FPC, candidate meetings last a couple of hours." NEC Chairperson of Elections Roy Fu, a College senior, said he believed the meeting went well. Gresh said he was happy with last year's voter turnout of 21 percent, although he still hopes that there will be an increase this year. In addition to the candidates, four referenda will be on the ballot for the voting that takes place next Tuesday and Wednesday.
(03/22/95 10:00am)
Richard Glanton, president of the Barnes Foundation, shared his political views with more than 70 students Monday at the eighth annual Campus Organized Lectures On Racial Sensitivity forum. Glanton spoke in the place of Alan Keyes, former United Nations ambassador, who could not attend the event. Biren Johnson, a Wharton senior and co-chairperson of COLORS 1995, said the program, which continues throughout the week, is an intramural event co-sponsored by the Alpha Phi Alpha and Sigma Chi fraternities and designed to foster better race relations. Glanton, a Philadelphia lawyer, spoke about the history of the Barnes Foundation and his own relation to it. The Barnes paintings, by such artists as Kandinsky, Degas and Toulouse-Lautrec, had not been seen by the general public until the collection was exhibited two years ago. It is currently on display at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. He then took questions from the audience, often discussing his political views on local issues. "Philadelphia is one of the only cities I know of that [delegates] money [for] renovating housing projects," Glanton said. "It doesn't make sense because it is much cheaper to relocate people from housing projects to restored vacant houses." One member of the audience asked Glanton about his views regarding President Clinton's health care plan. "It's foolish," he said. "People in Canada and Poland and other places with state-operated health care come to the United States to get first class care." Glanton also touched on the subject of affirmative action. "I am not for affirmative action. I am for equality," he explained. "But if we have to have affirmative action in order to have equality, than so be it. If affirmative action can be ended, however, and equality restored than that is fine also." Wharton sophomore Deacon Pham said he was not impressed with Glanton's lecture. Glanton "was very articulate, but overall I didn't think the presentation was really relevant to the whole COLORS theme until he answered questions from the floor," he said. College junior Chris Greene, co-chairperson of the event, explained that Keyes, who was originally scheduled to give the keynote address, cancelled at 10 a.m., leaving Glanton little time to prepare.
(03/22/95 10:00am)
Two years ago, College senior Seth Hamalian came out of the woodwork to become Undergraduate Assembly chairperson, winning a race in which he was considered a dark horse. Now, a week before UA elections, Hamalian has announced that he is involved with the dark horse constitutional reform plan that was kept under wraps until it was placed on the ballot last week. "I had a lot to say," Hamalian said Monday night, adding that "multiple authors" were involved in the formation of the proposed constitution. He said others associated with the second constitution include College seniors Sharon Jindal and Sarah Manning. Before last week, only one plan for constitutional reform was on the ballot -- that authored by College senior and Undergraduate Assembly member Dan Schorr and College junior and Daily Pennsylvanian columnist Mike Nadel. The Schorr-Nadel plan has been discussed within various student forums for several months. But shortly after rumors began flying that another constitutional plan was being drafted in secret, Nominations and Elections Committee representatives announced late last week that students would have the opportunity to vote on another plan as well -- one with no cited author. Hamalian said last night that those involved in writing the constitution did consult many students as they progressed. "Part of the problem is that the writers wanted to be anonymous," he said. "The plan is supposed to stand by itself -- it's not anyone's ego trip." Although College senior Roy Fu, the NEC Chairperson of Elections, said the second plan did not really differ with the UA's current constitution, much of the student government set-up is changed under the second proposal. Like the Schorr-Nadel plan, the new body would be called the Undergraduate Senate. There, however, the similarities end. The Student Committee on Undergraduate Education and the Social Planning and Events Committee would be renamed and considered standing committees of the Senate. Currently, SPEC is not considered a standing committee of the UA. In addition, the four Class Boards would be changed to "constituent programming boards" of SPEC, along with the current SPEC committees. SPEC would have the right to determine "which of those constituent boards shall be maintained." Hamalian said despite difficulties between SPEC and the Class Boards last year, there was no reason to think SPEC would disband any of the Class Boards now because the boards "have done good work." A Senate Coordinating Committee and Budget Committee would also be developed as Senate standing committees. All standing committees would involve Senate members to a greater degree than do current UA standing committees and every Senate member would work in at least one of them. For instance, the Senate's Vice President for Programming would chair SPEC, and the Senate Vice-President for Undergraduate Education would serve as a co-chair of SCUE. "The elected representatives have no clearly defined responsibilities and because of this, they don't accomplish anything," Hamalian said. "The specific branches have very clearly-defined goals and the largest impact on campus, so [they] should involve elected representatives." The Senate would also have the right to revoke NEC appointments. Under the second constitution, the Student Activities Council would be structured quite differently than it is currently. SAC representatives would not have to attend every general meeting, as they do now. Instead, up to 15 SAC boards would be formed based on the type of each activity -- for instance, a "publications board" would be developed for all student magazines. A board's director and budget coordinator would be elected internally. Hamalian said this system would not prevent specific activities' representatives from going to meetings, requesting funding or defending their groups. "The point is to get groups to work in cooperation and to make things run a lot smoother," he said. "Right now, the general meetings are ineffective and often arbitrary in their decisions." The constitution will also allow any SAC group to appeal SAC funding decisions to the Senate. The constitutional reform proposal will be on the ballot, along with the Schorr-Nadel plan and two amendments to the current UA constitution, during the March 28 and 29 elections.
