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(09/09/97 9:00am)
Though officials declared the ITA program a success, some students disagreed. Although the faculty and administration have declared the new residential computing system a success, the program has some students seeing red. Those running the 24-hour, in-house information technology advisor program speak of shorter waiting periods for computer assistance and rising numbers of working ethernet connections. The number of residences wired for ResNet nearly doubled this year. But as a direct result of the ITA program, a larger percentage of students have working ethernet connections than did at this time last year, according to Residential Faculty Council Chairperson Al Filreis. Fifty-five percent of students in ethernet dormitories are now hooked up, as compared to 38 percent last year, Filreis said. And Ira Winston, who directs computing services for the School of Arts and Sciences and the School of Engineering and Applied Science, said the program is especially helpful to arriving freshmen. "The freshmen moving in feel it is sort of a welcome sight that there's someone to help them hook up their computer," he said. Yet the success of the program is marred by complaints about the experience of its ITAs -- who are predominantly freshmen. In order to apply for the ITA work-study jobs, interested freshmen completed an on-line application asking about their computer experience. But since there was no uniform requirement used to measure experience, the 118 ITAs arrived on campus early to attend a three-day training session. Students who have used the service reported that ITAs varied greatly in skills -- from "absolutely wonderful" to "computer illiterate." College junior Erin Cassidy said the ITA who assisted her could not determine how to remove her computer's outer casing and then installed her ethernet card into the wrong slot. "He obviously knew less about computers than I did --Ewhich is pathetic," she said. "This is a very nice service to have, but they have to train their employees better." After ITAs installed an ethernet card into College freshman Abbi Dauber's working computer, several other systems malfunctioned. The computer was pronounced dead upon arrival at the Computer Resource Center the next morning. Dauber said she was bewildered by the ITAs' lack of experience. "They said 'Wow, this is the first new computer we've touched -- actually this is only the second one we've worked on altogether'," she said. Students frustrated with the ITA system have limited recourses since the Computer Resource Center has been told to turn away students living in dormitories with an ITA program. But Filreis guaranteed that all problems will be eventually solved by either the ITAs themselves or the overseeing upperclassmen and professionals. Administrative Assistant for Academic Programs in Residence Amy Phillips, who directs the project, said she expected a certain degree of unfamiliarity at the beginning. "Most homes are not hardwired so ethernet installation and ResNet software -- particularly for freshmen --is brand new," Phillips said. "I think they're getting better, and that's all we can ask from them -- that they're willing to try." Although the ITAs are supposed to refer problems they can't solve to a listserv or a superior, some students complained that their problems were never passed on to more expert technicians. Cassidy said her ITA "basically hemmed and hawed and said he'd bring someone else back." A week later, she is still waiting for help installing her ethernet card. But Filreis said a waiting period is normal when a more sophisticated problem arises since the problem will be discussed on the ITA listserv -- possibly for several days. Not everyone, however, has had a negative experience with the program. College freshman Jacob Stahl praised his ITAs for their willingness to devote time to his complex computer problem. The ITAs themselves said the experience has been both fun and educational. "I have learned a lot about computers and its nice to help people other people," College freshman Laura Fung said.
(09/08/97 9:00am)
Preliminary numbers seem to indicate that far fewer student than expected are taking advantage of the first Dining Services weekend meal plans in 17 years. Dining was prepared to serve up to 2,400 students per meal, according to Executive Director of Hospitality Services Don Jacobs. But staffers at the two dining halls serving Saturday and Sunday brunch and dinner estimated that they served only 2,800 meals altogether each weekend. Dining decided last spring to reinstate weekend meals after their own surveys and an independent study by the consulting firm of Cornyn Fasano showed considerable student interest. Dining's studies found that the majority of approximately 3,000 students polled wanted weekend meals, while Cornyn Fasano's study reported over 70 percent of undergraduates favored weekend brunch. But if the number of students currently signed up for weekend meals is any indication, students are far more likely to check off the "yes" box on an opinion poll than to actually sign up for weekend meals. According to Jacobs' estimate, approximately 1,500 students -- the majority of whom are freshman -- signed up for weekend meals over the summer. He added that Dining Services' goal was to sign an additional 500 students for weekend meal contracts at the Center for University of Pennsylvania Identification. CUPID paperwork, however, had not been tallied by the end of last week due to computer glitches, Jacobs said. Dining Services Director Bill Canney refused to estimate the number of students signed up for or attending weekend meals, describing such tallies as premature. According to some students, the number of weekend meal plan participants will be getting smaller, rather than larger. Many freshmen at Stouffer Commons dinner last night said they will drop out of weekend meal plans as soon they can. According to Dining Services policy, students must wait until October 6 to alter meal plans and pay a $30 fee. Wharton freshman Louisa Lee discussed her weekend dining contract with friend's over a Stouffer macaroni and cheese dinner. "I am on the silver [14-meal] plan, which is a mistake," Lee said. And Wharton freshman Sarah Goodstine agreed that "most of us are thinking of dropping it." Throughout the sparsely populated dining hall, most freshmen said they had already researched Dining Services policies for meal plan changes and resigned themselves to eating 14 or 19 meals a week until October. Several freshman explained that they had signed up for weekend meals because they -- or their parents -- were nervous about fending for themselves. Josh Kuntz, a Wharton freshman who said he will probably switch off the weekend meal plan, said his mother was "afraid I wasn't going to eat." College freshman Alexis McBride said she "didn't want to worry where my meals where coming from," adding that she was also considering changing her meal contract. Echoing what could be described as the freshman refrain, Lee explained that she simply "didn't know any better." But Canney said he is not surprised by the possibility of turnover among the freshman. "People always may have second thoughts when they sign up for any plan, especially if it's freshmen we are talking about," Canney said. "They are not quite sure what's in store for them when they get on campus." Canney added that as the program becomes more established, he expects more upperclassmen will sign up. "We're doing this because the students asked for it," he said. "This provides a convenience for students who are on campus, it provides an opportunity for them to dine in a safe environment. Procedurally, meals went smoothly, according to Canney, except for problems with the new PennCards, which continue to overload Dining Hall card readers.
(09/05/97 9:00am)
In a move to help resolve the shortage of performing arts rehearsal and performance space on and around campus, the University recently acquired the lease of a 300-seat theater at 37th and Chestnut streets. Campus performing arts groups will be able to begin rehearsing in the 100-year-old Tabernacle United Church -- the former home of the Movement Theater International --EOctober 1. MTI, a group devoted to performance arts such as mime and clowning, put on shows in the church from 1988 to 1994, before financial difficulties forced the group and the church to seek a new tenant. Since Penn used the church basement for rehearsals over the past two years, it was a logical choice to take over the lease, according to Roger Harless, who handled the rental transfer for the church. "It was a great opportunity for all three organizations," Harless said. "The University needed space, its gave the church an opportunity to work with another organization and it gave MTI an opportunity to be free of the lease." Lessenhop would not disclose the fee for renting the property, although he said it was "a fair market rent for a property of that type." According to the lease, the University will allow MTI to continue to hold its performances in the building, although Lessenhop said the University must determine its own needs before deciding whether the space will be rented to other groups. Although MTI has been using the theater for six years, the University will have to invest approximately $750,000 to insure that the building does not violate city building codes, Managing Director of Real Estate Tom Lessenhop said. The repairs include installing a sprinkler system, improving security and making the building wheelchair accessible, according to Provost Stanley Chodorow. While renovations have progressed quickly enough to allow rehearsals in the basement by October, full-scale performances will not take place until January. The rental of the building is part of a search for new performing arts spaces to replace Irvine Auditorium, which closed this fall, and Houston Hall Theater and the Annenberg Theater -- both of which will close at the end of the academic year. In addition to the new theater, the University will rent rehearsal space in St. Mary's Church at 39th and Locust streets. A new scene and costume shop at 4100 Walnut Street will also open later this month, while groups will continue to rehearse in the Christian Science Church at 40th and Walnut streets. Performing arts community leaders said they are grateful for the administrations efforts to secure new space and are eager to try out the church theater. "We are appreciative and looking forward to using the space," PAC Chairperson and College senior Elizabeth Scanlon said. But the search for performing arts space is far from over, according to Fran Walker, director of student life, activities and facilities. There is always a search for more performing arts space," Walker said. "PAC groups will tell you that performance space is not the primary problem -- we do have enough space as long as all the groups don't all perform on the same weekend -- its really rehearsal space that's a problem."
(09/04/97 9:00am)
The rooftop lounge will accommodate cardiovascular workout equipment and space for aerobic exercise. Superblock residents will soon be able to burn calories closer to home, as the University finalizes plans for a new High Rise South fitness center scheduled to open in 1998. The student-run Committee for Tangible Change and the Residential Advisory Board requested exercise facilities located on the west side of campus last year. Students polled by both groups had indicated that the current facilities in Hutchinson Gymnasium are inconveniently located. A final blueprint for the center, which will be located in the High Rise South Rooftop Lounge, will be completed within the next two weeks, according to Associate Vice President for Campus Services Larry Moneta. The blueprint will then be presented to RAB and circulated for discussion. Moneta said half of the center will contain cardiovascular workout equipment, although administrators working on the project are still deciding between two options for the rest of the space. If the group adopts the suggestion of Recreation Director Mike Diorka, the space will contain a Reebok Spinning Center --Ea new aerobic workout using bicycles. Otherwise, the area will be used for basic aerobic space. Moneta said he does not know what the project will cost, but insisted that money has already been set aside for the center. While some students expressed doubts that the center would open before they graduated, Chris Dennis, director of academic programs in residence, insisted the project is moving forward. "In the scheme of things this will be at our front and center," Dennis said. "It's coming, it's exciting, we are trying to be responsive to the RAB folks." The exact timeframe for the project depends on how much construction is required to transform the lounge into a gym. Air quality and electrical systems may have to be improved, and the lounge floor will probably require reinforcement to block noise and prevent structural damage. Students on the 24th floor of High Rise South, directly below the future fitness center site, expressed cautious optimism about the project. "I think it's good as long as the weights don't fall through the ceiling, but the elevators are going to experience a major slowdown," Wharton and Engineering senior Anurag Goel said. And other residents were upset about the loss of their lounge, since the project will occupy nearly all the available space. But University City Nautilus Manager Bob Stern was the most upset by the development, explaining the center will compete with his gym. "It's kind of unfair competition because we pay taxes and rent and we have to buy our own equipment -- we're not tax supported in any way," Stern said. University City Nautilus, which is located at 40th and Locust streets, has no immediate plans to counter University competition, but Stern said Nautilus will survive the opening of the High Rise South fitness center. "If they do it, I think we'll survive because we can run a business and maybe they can't run a fitness center," he said.
(06/01/97 9:00am)
New York, N.Y. Twice this year, the University almost lost its top academic official to other schools, as Provost Stanley Chodorow contended for the top jobs at the University of Michigan and the University of California at Los Angeles. In October, the University of Michigan Board of Regents named Chodorow one of four finalists to replace former outgoing President James Duderstadt. The search process was open to the public after several Michigan newspapers filed suit to ensure access to the proceedings, claiming that closed meetings would violate state "sunshine" laws mandating public access to activities by government agencies. Because Michigan is a public university, a judge ruled the law applied to the school. Chodorow went to Ann Arbor, Mich., where he sat for hours of interviews with the school's Regents, faculty and students. Afterwards, Michigan officials praised the provost's performance. "This guy is able to express articulately many of the things that resonate in this community," said Michigan Faculty Senate Chairperson Thomas Dunn. In the end, however, the Michigan Regents chose Dartmouth College Provost Lee Bollinger for the job. Bollinger had served as dean of the Michigan Law School for seven years, leaving in 1994 to assume his post at Dartmouth. Chodorow said he thought he had impressed people at Michigan, but stressed that he wasn't disappointed by the choice or the process. "It's like writing a paper," he said of the interviews. "You may feel good about it, but you don't really get to assess it a grade." Later in the school year, Chodorow was a finalist in the search for a new chancellor for UCLA, the largest school in the California system, and interviewed for the job. Unlike the Michigan search, the UCLA process was closed to the public. UC President Richard Atkinson was free to select any candidate he chose to present to the Board of Regents for approval, though a search committee did make recommendations. News reports in The Los Angeles Times, UCLA's Daily Bruin and the Sacramento Bee had indicated that Chodorow was a top contender for the position, along with Harvard Provost Albert Carnesale. UCLA Medical School Dean Gerald Levey and UCLA Law School Dean Susan Prager were also considered for the job. Chodorow served as a dean at UC-San Diego when Atkinson was that school's chancellor, and the two stayed close even after they both had left UCSD. Some members of the search committee placed Chodorow higher than Carnesale in their assessments, voicing some doubt over Carnesale's ability to manage UCLA's large campus. Professors at UCLA were also under the impression Chodorow was the top contender. Professor Frank Jones said he heard that Chodorow had already been offered and accepted the position before any announcement was made. "Everyone I've talked to that knows this man says he's almost Jesus," Jones added. "I mean he's kind, he really cares about undergraduates? what kind of better qualities could you want in a chancellor?" Atkinson chose Carnesale over Chodorow, however, after a set of all-day interviews in Berkeley, Calif. The Regents accepted his nomination and made the appointment. Carnesale, 60, is a former dean of Harvard's Kennedy School of Government and a professor of Public Policy and Administration. He serves as a consultant for the federal government and civilian organizations in the areas of defense, intelligence, international affairs, nuclear arms and energy. Though Chodorow had declined to comment on the UCLA search -- or even confirm that he was involved -- while it was ongoing, he later admitted that he had spoken with the search committee about the job. He added, however, that he is proud to be working at Penn and is not looking for another position elsewhere. Several other administrators said it was likely that both Michigan and UCLA had approached Chodorow on their own initiative because he is known throughout academia. The provost seemed to agree. "I am neither looking for a position at another university nor do I apply for jobs," Chodorow said. "As Penn's provost, I occupy a prominent position in higher education, and schools looking for presidents do call." Chodorow added that he agreed to talk with officials at UCLA and Michigan since both are "institutions of such distinction." Penn administrators said they were pleased that Chodorow would not be leaving. "We need the Provost's leadership as much as ever on the critical academic priorities of Penn's Agenda for Excellence, and we look forward to that continuing leadership," said University President Judith Rodin. Associate Vice Provost for University Life Larry Moneta said the other schools' interest in Chodorow reflected well on Penn. "I think it is a remarkable compliment that two of the finest institutions in the world have expressed interest in our provost," Moneta said. "I think whether he is actively seeking or not, it's the nature of higher education that the best people become candidates for the most significant positions." College junior Ari Silverman, chairperson of the Student Committee on Undergraduate Education, had said although he is shocked that UCLA did not pick Chodorow for its presidency, "UCLA's loss is Penn's gain." "I am very happy -- ecstatic -- that the provost will be remaining with us," Silverman said. "He has really developed his willingness to work with students, and I think to lose him at this time would really be to our detriment."
(06/01/97 9:00am)
New York, N.Y. The University still has not made any long-term decisions about the future of the Fels Center of Government, and the program will continue to function in its current state until any decisions are made, according to University President Judith Rodin. The Fels Center has been under review for the past academic year to determine whether it should be continued and in what form. In December, an external review committee recommended not to abolish the center, although administrators have not decided whether to accept the panel's recommendation. "The one thing that came out loud and clear is that [the panel] thought that we would not be a great university if we did not have a program in government administration," said Hack, whose school houses the Fels program. The committee also examined several of the difficulties Fels faces. Fels student Mark Siedband, who heads his class's internal government, said the program does not have the necessary prestige to compete with other schools. "Most [Fels graduates] put on their resumes 'master's degree from the University of Pennsylvania' rather than Fels because it just does not have the name recognition," he said. Hack added that competition from Harvard, Yale and Princeton may cause another of the school's problems -- low enrollment. Fifty-five students are currently enrolled in the Fels program, but this is only two-thirds of total number of students enrolled in past years. Mulhern said he attributes the drop to a lack of recruitment last winter during the upheaval following the sudden resignation of then-Director James Spady. "When I came in January, we didn't have a new class and that is very late to begin recruiting a new class," Mulhern said. Hack said that while the program's size should be expanded through additional recruitment, he would also like to see more students from other graduate schools taking classes in Fels. Under the current system of decentralized funding for the University's schools, if students wish to take classes outside of their home school, that school must pay a fee to the desired program. Additionally, if a school wishes to use a professor based in another program, that school must supplement the professor's salary. This system, according to Hack, removes any incentive for schools to encourage students to take advantage of classes at other schools. He called the system especially detrimental to the Fels program, which is seeking to diversify its class offerings and would benefit from a class taught by a Wharton or Social Work professor. Hack proposed an alternate system in which Fels could borrow a professor from another graduate school in exchange for allowing a certain number of students in that school take a class in Fels. The panel made several recommendations for relocating the school, and while Hack declined to comment on the recommendations, he admitted that Fels may not belong in his school. "Fels is unlike anything else we do at the GSFA," Hack said. "In that sense, for their benefit, it seems to me that it might be better served by a different school." But Mulhern said the program's needs are well-served under the auspices of the GSFA. Hack said he hopes decisions on the committee's recommendations will be made by the end of the month. Final programming decisions will clear the way for selection of a new director for the program. In the meantime, Fels operations are "pushing on," and and program coordinators are waiting for the administrative directives resulting from the committee's recommendations, according to Mulhern. And the recommendation to continue the program came as welcome news to Fels students. "The program is one of Penn's best kept secrets," Fels student Lance Rogers said. "Whereas the Woodrow Wilson School at Princeton and the Kennedy School at Harvard teach governmental theory, the Fels program adds a unique dynamic -- a hands-on approach towards governing." But Rogers bemoaned the program's lack of adequate facilities and poor class variety. And Siedband said Fels would benefit from more national recruiting and a more rigorous program.
(06/01/97 9:00am)
While the program has cut costs, employees questioned its merits. New York, N.Y. University officials have made restructuring the central administration -- paring $50 million from the budget over the next five years -- a major priority. When the program began in 1995, its main goal was cutting costs and increased administrative efficiency. A year and a half later, attention is also being focused on saving money in order to fund capital projects and, according to some, to lower the rate of tuition increases. At the same time, the program has resulted in approximately 200 job losses, leaving some workers questioning whether the benefits justify the costs, and others asking if the program even offers any benefits. From an employee standpoint, restructuring has caused overload and a sense of job insecurity, which may counteract the increased efficiency that restructuring plans sought. Administrators have also never considered the program to be easy to implement -- Executive Vice President John Fry called it "a bad situation" in 1995. But while most administrators maintain that the program is necessary, many of the workers who could be affected disagree. Librarian Jim Gray -- who serves as tri-chair of the African American Association of Faculty and Staff and as vice president of Local 590 of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees -- said restructuring not only demoralizes workers, but also "makes them mad as hell." "Restructuring is tremendously bad for the morale of the workers here on campus," Gray said. "Every year there is some kind of layoff process under whatever is the current industrial fad name. The process has left people with this insecurity which is unfair, especially for career employees who have already given a life of service to the University." For some workers, restructuring has taken on a racial dimension. Tom Henry, another tri-chair of the AAA, said job cuts affect a disproportionately large number of African American employees. This, combined with the fact that his group has not been asked to participate in any discussions on restructuring, has caused African American employees to feel they are under-respected and undervalued. But workers' criticisms of the restructuring process go deeper than fears of job losses. The layoffs have burdened remaining employees with more responsibilities -- an unintended consequence of the drive for efficiency. Fry said last year that layoffs would aim to eliminate work that doesn't add value to the system, but workers complain that they are still performing such "unnecessary" jobs -- in addition to the duties they already had to handle. Vice Provost for University Life Valarie Swain-Cade McCoullum said the 15 jobs cut from the VPUL have forced her staff members to work overtime and take less vacation, while purchasing agent Thomas Leary said he is "having a difficult time keeping pace" after job cuts in his department. But Purchasing Director Robert Michel said workers in his department -- which lost more than half its employees in the past year -- are not unhappy or any busier than in previous years. University President Judith Rodin acknowledged that restructuring causes some insecurity problems among workers, explaining that the University aims to expedite the process in order to ease the difficulties. "Our goal is to have the most well-qualified and well-trained and well-motivated people," she said. "When there is uncertainty and times have changed, it is hard to do that, so we are trying to get through this period of uncertainty as quickly as possible." But could the feelings of insecurity and overload associated with the process impact the University further down the road? Rodin said she does not think such effects will last, adding that increasedworkloads are temporary and will level off as workers get used to the new systems and technology added as part of the restructuring program. "Always in the early stages of process reengineering, as people are getting retrained, people do feel overloaded," she said. "We are doing a lot of training and, when that works, people will not feel overloaded." But restructuring is not over yet, and while employees adjust to the first stages, there could be future shocks to come. The degree of impact of future job cuts, which could be relatively minor or more significant than in the first stages, depends on decisions regarding departmental outsourcing and major overhauls. Fry explained that while downsizing is not the focus of restructuring, he will consider outsourcing certain departments if a private company can provide cheaper services and better quality. Officials have instructed the consulting firms studying both dining and residential life to consider all possibilities for those functions, including outsourcing them. Fry said the University has an obligation to ensure that students get the most for their tuition dollars. "We will continue to [consider outsourcing], not because we are going to outsource everything, but because we believe that unless we ask that question, we are clearly not doing to the students and faculty a service," he said. But outgoing Vice President for Finance Steve Golding emphasized that the University prefers to cut costs in areas where workers are not affected. Nonetheless, Golding conceded that the University must have a smaller workforce if it is to lower tuition, which has been a priority of students, parents and Trustees. While administrators list lower tuition increases and better services as the benefits of restructuring, Gray said the benefits of the plan are unclear and certainly do not apply to University workers. And Henry said the claim that restructuring will lower tuition is merely a way of playing student concerns against those of workers, adding that salaries aren't high enough to impact tuition significantly. Administrators said they are aware that employees feel insecure and even resentful, but they insist these changes are both necessary and beneficial to the University. "Obviously, when there is uncertainty it affects people," Rodin said. "The answer is not not to change, but to do it fairly, openly and as quickly as possible."
(06/01/97 9:00am)
New York, N.Y. Twice this year, the University almost lost its top academic official to other schools, as Provost Stanley Chodorow contended for the top jobs at the University of Michigan and the University of California at Los Angeles. In October, the University of Michigan Board of Regents named Chodorow one of four finalists to replace former outgoing President James Duderstadt. The search process was open to the public after several Michigan newspapers filed suit to ensure access to the proceedings, claiming that closed meetings would violate state "sunshine" laws mandating public access to activities by government agencies. Because Michigan is a public university, a judge ruled the law applied to the school. Chodorow went to Ann Arbor, Mich., where he sat for hours of interviews with the school's Regents, faculty and students. Afterwards, Michigan officials praised the provost's performance. "This guy is able to express articulately many of the things that resonate in this community," said Michigan Faculty Senate Chairperson Thomas Dunn. In the end, however, the Michigan Regents chose Dartmouth College Provost Lee Bollinger for the job. Bollinger had served as dean of the Michigan Law School for seven years, leaving in 1994 to assume his post at Dartmouth. Chodorow said he thought he had impressed people at Michigan, but stressed that he wasn't disappointed by the choice or the process. "It's like writing a paper," he said of the interviews. "You may feel good about it, but you don't really get to assess it a grade." Later in the school year, Chodorow was a finalist in the search for a new chancellor for UCLA, the largest school in the California system, and interviewed for the job. Unlike the Michigan search, the UCLA process was closed to the public. UC President Richard Atkinson was free to select any candidate he chose to present to the Board of Regents for approval, though a search committee did make recommendations. News reports in The Los Angeles Times, UCLA's Daily Bruin and the Sacramento Bee had indicated that Chodorow was a top contender for the position, along with Harvard Provost Albert Carnesale. UCLA Medical School Dean Gerald Levey and UCLA Law School Dean Susan Prager were also considered for the job. Chodorow served as a dean at UC-San Diego when Atkinson was that school's chancellor, and the two stayed close even after they both had left UCSD. Some members of the search committee placed Chodorow higher than Carnesale in their assessments, voicing some doubt over Carnesale's ability to manage UCLA's large campus. Professors at UCLA were also under the impression Chodorow was the top contender. Professor Frank Jones said he heard that Chodorow had already been offered and accepted the position before any announcement was made. "Everyone I've talked to that knows this man says he's almost Jesus," Jones added. "I mean he's kind, he really cares about undergraduates? what kind of better qualities could you want in a chancellor?" Atkinson chose Carnesale over Chodorow, however, after a set of all-day interviews in Berkeley, Calif. The Regents accepted his nomination and made the appointment. Carnesale, 60, is a former dean of Harvard's Kennedy School of Government and a professor of Public Policy and Administration. He serves as a consultant for the federal government and civilian organizations in the areas of defense, intelligence, international affairs, nuclear arms and energy. Though Chodorow had declined to comment on the UCLA search -- or even confirm that he was involved -- while it was ongoing, he later admitted that he had spoken with the search committee about the job. He added, however, that he is proud to be working at Penn and is not looking for another position elsewhere. Several other administrators said it was likely that both Michigan and UCLA had approached Chodorow on their own initiative because he is known throughout academia. The provost seemed to agree. "I am neither looking for a position at another university nor do I apply for jobs," Chodorow said. "As Penn's provost, I occupy a prominent position in higher education, and schools looking for presidents do call." Chodorow added that he agreed to talk with officials at UCLA and Michigan since both are "institutions of such distinction." Penn administrators said they were pleased that Chodorow would not be leaving. "We need the Provost's leadership as much as ever on the critical academic priorities of Penn's Agenda for Excellence, and we look forward to that continuing leadership," said University President Judith Rodin. Associate Vice Provost for University Life Larry Moneta said the other schools' interest in Chodorow reflected well on Penn. "I think it is a remarkable compliment that two of the finest institutions in the world have expressed interest in our provost," Moneta said. "I think whether he is actively seeking or not, it's the nature of higher education that the best people become candidates for the most significant positions." College junior Ari Silverman, chairperson of the Student Committee on Undergraduate Education, had said although he is shocked that UCLA did not pick Chodorow for its presidency, "UCLA's loss is Penn's gain." "I am very happy -- ecstatic -- that the provost will be remaining with us," Silverman said. "He has really developed his willingness to work with students, and I think to lose him at this time would really be to our detriment."
(05/16/97 9:00am)
Nearly seven months after the still-untallied A-3 Assembly election, the University Council Steering Committee has decided to call off arbitration regarding the election. Although only 22 votes were cast in the October election, results still have not been announced and last year's Assembly members have remained in their positions. Communications Professor Larry Gross explained that attempts to sort out the results of the last election were cut short because delays in getting the parties to the table made the prospect of completing the arbitration before the next election unlikely. At the April 30 Council meeting, outgoing Steering Committee Chairperson Peter Kuriloff, who also chairs the Faculty Senate, said efforts will be refocused toward assuring that the next election -- scheduled to be held later this month -- proceeds smoothly. To that end, Kuriloff appointed Gross, Law Professor Howard Lesnick -- who had been assigned to oversee the arbitration process -- and former Graduate and Professional Student Assembly Chairperson Alex Welte, a fourth-year Physics graduate student, to assist in the upcoming election. And for further insurance, Kuriloff asked Council Steering to approve a proposal next year that would require all constituent groups to provide a statement on their election process and the results of their last election before receiving final approval of their Council seats. While some Council members came out in support of this proposal, others complained about the A-3 Assembly's current representation on Council. At the past few Council meetings, some members have expressed concern that current A-3 Assembly Chairperson Karen Wheeler may have "simply tossed out the results of an election." Wheeler, who was elected to the board in fall 1994, continues to represent the assembly on Council since the lack of election results has prevented the appointment of a replacement. She has refused to comment about the elections, however, to either Council or The Daily Pennsylvanian. School of Social Work administrative assistant Paul Lukasiak, a candidate in the October election, lambasted the decision to halt the arbitration. Since the election, Lukasiak has approached Vice Provost for University Life Valarie Swain-Cade McCoullum, the Open Expression Committee and Council requesting an investigation into the matter. He called ignoring the last election unfair, since candidates are elected for two-year terms. Therefore, the winners of October's election should hold seats for another year and have a vote in the election of the new chairperson. Lukasiak, who will not run again in the May elections, said he does not know of anyone who plans to run and that there has been not yet been an announcement of a date for the elections. "The people who claim to be current board have done a horrible job communicating with the A-3s," he said. "Nobody cares because people feel they are powerless. They feel you can't fight City Hall. I feel you can fight City Hall -- or at least College Hall."
(04/30/97 9:00am)
The United Minorities Council could face a struggle when its bid to obtain a seat on University Council comes to a vote today. The biggest threat is not losing the actual vote, but that Council could fail to meet the quorum required to make the vote binding. The 3-year-old UMC request will require a change of the Council bylaws -- which allow only elected representatives to hold seats, preventing the UMC from acting as a representative of undergraduates. In order for the bylaw change to be binding, 46 of the 91 Council members must be present to vote, and a majority of those present must approve. The largest attendance problem is posed by the faculty delegation; many of the 45 faculty members seldom attend meetings. Several faculty members have already said they will not be present at the meeting. But Faculty Senate Chairperson Peter Kuriloff, an Education professor, said he has been urging faculty members to attend this meeting in particular. And University President Judith Rodin said several mass e-mails have been distributed and other efforts have been undertaken to ensure that a binding vote can take place. Council members said they are unsure if the resolution will pass, since the issue has been the source of considerable debate over the past three years. "I am not optimistic as we haven't had one in six years," said Kuriloff, adding that he has "moved to put on the agenda for next year a motion to reduce the number required for a quorum so we won't be in this position." The Graduate and Professional Students Assembly, which has 15 seats on Council, passed a resolution last month expressing support for a specific UMC seat, according to newly elected Graduate and Professional Student Association Chairperson Victoria Tredinnick, a Linguistics graduate student. But most of the 15 Undergraduate Assembly members who sit on Council do not support the UMC request, according to UA Chairperson Noah Bilenker, a College sophomore. The UA had given the UMC one of its seats on Council until 1994, when a change in the Council bylaws required members to be elected by their constituent bodies. Since UMC members are not elected by all undergraduates, they were unable to continue to use a UA seat. Since the bylaw change, the majority of the UA has opposed adding a UMC seat to Council, arguing that the UA is the representative body of undergraduates and that all groups seeking representation should participate in the UA. Many faculty members, however, are believed to support the resolution, though Faculty Senate Chairperson-Elect Vivian Seltzer, a Social Work professor, said few faculty members have discussed their opinions with each other. But one faculty member who requested anonymity said he will probably not attend the meeting, adding that his own disillusionment with Council would make it hard for him to vote. "I have become progressively unsure of the purpose of Council," he said. "So I have a difficult time deciding who, or what, should be represented." Others have expressed fear that a UMC seat would open the door for other large umbrella groups like the InterFraternity and Performing Arts councils to request seats of their own. Undergraduate Assembly Secretary and former UMC Vice Chairperson Olivia Troye explained that the UMC represents several hundred students who feel they are not being represented by the UA. "I think the UMC has a point that they're not being represented," Troye said. "Since the [Council] is an advisory board to the president and provost, it's important for all students to have representation on [Council], and if someone feels he is not being represented, there is no reason why they shouldn't take the appropriate channels to gain representation." But Bilenker pointed to Troye's presence on the UA to illustrate that UMC members can gain a voice through the UA. He added that while the UMC may not have liked how past UAs handled minority issues, he hopes his UA can improve. Troye added that the UMC will not abandon the issue if there is no quorum at today's meeting. "I think the issue will be delayed if the quorum isn't filled," she said.
(04/15/97 9:00am)
Eight others - including French politican Simone Weil - will get honorary degrees at the event. University officials confirmed reports yesterday that Bill Cosby will deliver this year's Commencement address to the class of 1997. And they announced eight other notables who will received honorary degrees at the ceremonies. College junior Tal Golomb, who was on the speaker search committee, said Cosby's appeal is that most University students remember him from childhood. "Bill Cosby is someone that we all grew up with," said Golomb, the former Undergraduate Assembly chairperson. "He's a very funny man and he should be a very spellbinding speaker." Cosby was asked to speak late last week after Secretary of State Madeline Albright declined the University's invitation due to scheduling conflicts. And the official announcement came later than usual this year, since several other top choices -- including former President Jimmy Carter and Nelson Mandela -- had to decline. Cosby --Ea Philadelphia native and Temple graduate -- received an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from the University in 1990. He is also a regular attendee at the annual Penn Relays. Cosby began his career performing in nightclubs and broke television's racial barrier with his 1965 debut in the show I Spy. During the '70s, Cosby returned to school, earning a master's degree and a doctorate in education from the University of Massachusetts. He may be best known among University students for the 1984-92 series The Cosby Show, and he returned to the small screen this season in Cosby. This year has also been a rough one for Cosby, who lost his son Ennis and faced paternity allegations during the same week last January. Senior Class President Neil Sheth said he is certain Cosby --Ewho has spoken at several other universities -- will be an excellent Commencement speaker. "I think he'll be very entertaining for us and hopefully he'll have a very powerful message for our class," he said. Also speaking at the ceremonies is French politician Simone Veil, who will give the Baccalaureate address. Veil, a Holocaust survivor, is the French Minister of State for Social, Health and Urban Affairs. She will receive an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from the University. Other Doctor of Laws degrees will go to William Danforth, a former Washington University chancellor, and Richard Posner, chief judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit. Doctor of Human Letters degrees will be awarded to Social Security Commissioner Shirley Carter, a 1956 Nursing School graduate, and Charles Williams II, a classical archeologist who received both a master's degree and doctorate from the School of Arts and Sciences. Ahmed Zewail, a California Institute of Technology professor and recipient of a doctoral degree from SAS, will receive a Doctor of Science degree, as will Louis Sokoloff, chief of the National Institute of Mental Health Cerebral Metabolism Laboratory and a 1946 School of Medicine graduate. And Gary Graffman, director of the Curtis Institute of Music, will be awarded a Doctor of Music degree.
(04/14/97 9:00am)
Morse is the second Penn official this year to leave for the Pew Charitable Trust, along with former spokesperson Barbara Beck. After nearly 14 years handling problems such as federal taxes, research grants and financial aid programs, Associate Vice President for Policy Planning David Morse has announced he will leave the University. Morse will take on a job with the Pew Charitable Trust, following former Director of News and Public Affairs Barbara Beck, who took a job at Pew earlier this year. Morse's counterpart in the Health System, Michael Nardone, also announced last week that he will be leaving the University to become Deputy Managing Director of the city's Special Needs Housing Department. Morse said working at the University has been an "extraordinarily wonderful" experience, encompassing tasks as diverse as handling negative reactions to the 1989 Robert Maplethorpe exhibit on campus to helping procure 100 tons of iodine for a faculty member's solar neutrino experiment. "I've become a public policy junkie since I've come to Penn, which is one of the good things about Pew -- it will allow me to continue that," Morse said. He added that he will likely continue to teach his Graduate School of Education Course on public policy in American Higher Education. While Morse's position will be filled as quickly as possible, the vacancy will create more work for the University's Office of Policy Planning, according to Vice President for Government, Community and Public Affairs Carol Scheman. "It is going to make me crazy until I can get a replacement," Scheman said. A search committee will begin looking for a replacement for Morse this week. But Scheman added that Morse -- famous in Washington and Penn for his bow-ties -- will be difficult to replace. "Morse is the 'dean' of federal relations people in Washington," Scheman said. "He is recognized widely as one the most experienced, thoughtful and knowledgeable people on higher- ed policy." She added that Morse's job is one of high pressure and constant demands. "He has to know Washington, how it works and who the players are in Washington and other institutions," Scheman said. "And most importantly for me and [University President] Judith Rodin, he has to be able to creatively spot and make new opportuntities for Penn." And employees in Morse's office described him as the best employer they have ever worked with. Micheline Murphy, a policy analyst, said that although Morse expected hard work, she never minded putting in extra hours on his projects because his own efforts were so impressive. "In all the time that I've worked for David he has never been too busy to answer a question or proofread a document, and he even offers to brings us coffee," Murphy said. Associate Director for Federal Relations Carl Maugeri, who many consider to be Morse's protege, agreed that Morse has always been a hard worker. "He's like a blur," Maugeri said. "He's always running from meeting to meeting and Senate office to Senate office." Maugeri added that Morse has provided him a thorough understanding of higher education policy issues. "Before I got into this I don't think I understood it the same way I do now and that it definetly due to watching David [Morse] operate," Maugeri said. Scheman --Ewho has known Morse since the two worked in Washington nearly 20 years ago --Eactually recommended him for a job to then- incoming University President Sheldon Hackney. Scheman said that although students may not be familiar with Morse's work, many would have lost federal financial aid without Morse's work in periods when Congress tried to cut federal student grants. She added that Morse's exit from the national higher education scene represents a loss not only for Penn, but for all the higher education people in Washington who often benefitted from Morse's experience. As a result, Scheman said she feels an obligation to fill Morse's position with someone equally qualified, adding that a pile of curricula vitae have already found their way to her desk. She said the group of higher education experts at Morse's level is relatively small -- and most are people with whom she is acquainted -- which she hopes will expedite the search for a replacement. Until a replacement is found, Morse's office -- and in particular his longtime coordinator Franca Jenkins -- will pull together to cover the extra work, Scheman said. Morse, meanwhile, said he has not yet begun to feel nostalgic for Penn, although he is certain he will once he leaves.
(04/14/97 9:00am)
Dining Services will offer weekend brunches and dinners at Hill House and Stouffer dining halls beginning next fall, according to Director Bill Canney. In addition to the current meal plan options, students will be able to purchase 14- or 19-meal contracts for the next academic year. Canney said the weekend meals will cost $4.60 more than weekday meals because of the additional costs of providing service on weekends. The move comes in response to Dining Services surveys over the last two years in which the majority of the 3,000 students polled expressed interest in the renewal of weekend meal plans. These surveys matched findings by the Cornyn Fasano Group, an independent food services consulting firm which has been studying Penn dining. Stage one of Cornyn Fasano's report -- released in late February -- indicated that over 70 percent of undergraduates expressed interest in a weekend brunch option, while 77.2 percent of underclassmen living on campus showed interest in a Sunday dinner. Approximately half of undergraduates living off campus and a quarter of the graduate students polled also favored a Sunday dinner option. Next fall, Hill and Stouffer dining halls will be open from noon to 7 p.m. Saturdays and noon to 8 p.m. Sundays, since students surveyed indicated a preference for earlier Saturday dinners. The extra hour on Sundays is designed to allow students returning to the University after a weekend away to have time for the meal, Canney said. Weekend dining was eliminated several years ago after Dining Services consistently failed to break even on weekend meals. But Canney said he hopes such high student interest is a good indication of the profitability of the meals. He added that in addition to the increased convenience of weekend meals, he believes on-campus dining will improve student safety. Based on the success of the weekend meals in Hill and Stouffer, the program may be extended to other dining halls, Canney said. The University's Kosher Dining -- which already provides Saturday meals -- is also considering a Sunday meal option, according to Dining Services Contract Coordinator Adam Sherr, who runs the kosher programs.
(04/14/97 9:00am)
Secretary of State Madeline Albright, one of the University's top choices, declined to serve as this year's speaker. Actor Bill Cosby has agreed to serve as keynote speaker at the May 19 Commencement ceremonies, according to a source close to the speaker search committee. University administrators have yet to make an official announcement, although one should be made in the next few days, according to College senior and former InterFraternity Council President Josh Gottheimer. By contrast, Tom Brokaw was announced as the class of 1996 Commencement speaker by the end of February last year. According to another source close to the search committee, Secretary of State Madeline Albright had been one of the University's top choices for this year's speaker. But Albright spokesperson Kitty Barttles confirmed that Albright declined the request last Wednesday. Barttles explained that Albright has to make another domestic trip on the same day, and although her office tried to accommodate for both trips, it turned out to be impossible. Sources said former President Jimmy Carter was also contacted by the University. And while Carter initially accepted, he was forced to cancel because his grandson's graduation is scheduled for the same weekend. South African President Nelson Mandela, another top choice, also declined an invitation to speak at Commencement. And George Stephanopoulos -- a former senior advisor to President Clinton who has agreed to teach at Columbia University next year -- was another possibility, sources said. But Stephanopoulos spokesperson Jenny Parker stressed that he had not been contacted by the University. The College of Arts and Sciences has already announced its keynote speaker, 1977 College graduate William Shore, for its graduation ceremonies May 18. Shore is an anti-hunger activist and advisor to former Democratic leader and presidential candidate Gary Hart. College senior and former Daily Pennsylvanian Managing Editor Kara Blond will also speak at the College graduation ceremonies. And former Social Security Commissioner Shirley Chater will address members of the Nursing School's graduating class. The Wharton School has not announced its speaker for its May 19 graduation, although an announcement is expected soon. The School of Engineering and Applied Science traditionally does not have a speaker. Actor and comedian Cosby is a Philadelphia native and a graduate of Temple University. He received an honorary degree from Penn at the 1990 Commencement ceremonies, and he returns to the University each year for the annual Penn Relays. Throughout his career, Cosby has sought to impress the importance of education upon young members of his audience. Before entering show business, Cosby had planned on becoming a teacher.
(04/11/97 9:00am)
The rejections of several well-respected professors have led students and faculty to question the tenure process. As academic positions become scarce, tenure and the promise of guaranteed employment remain a constant source of dissent in the competitive academic community of upper tier colleges. And Penn is no exception. Tenure has been an issue at the University for time immemorial, with complaints ranging from sexual discrimination and personal differences, to misunderstandings over research quality. Other bones of contention have concerned the role of student and departmental input in the process and in the final tenure decision. And although students fought hard last year for a greater role in the tenure process, student efforts to reform the tenure process have all but disappeared this year. Tenure is a controversial process at any university, since tenured professors may hold their positions for life, an issue which led the University of Minnesota to draft a mechanism for removing ineffective tenured faculty. At Penn, the process is considerably longer than at many other colleges, although it is fairly consistent with the rest of the Ivy League. After the third year of a seven-year tenure process, professors are reviewed and promoted to "tenure track." They are considered for tenure in their sixth year. Tenure applications are initially reviewed by the tenured faculty in the candidate's department. If the review is positive, the candidate's dossier is passed on to the personnel committee for consideration. School of Arts and Sciences Interim Dean Walter Wales explained that while teaching has become an increasingly important factor in tenure decisions throughout his 25-year career at the University, scholarship, mentoring and service are also important considerations. While students have complained that teaching is not weighed heavily enough, administrators say "great teachers who don't do great research become poor teachers over time," according to former Student Committee on Undergraduate Education Chairperson Ben Nelson, a Wharton senior. But Nelson and some faculty members have called into question the personnel committee's evaluation of some candidates' research. In the recent rejection of Religious Studies Professor Edward Breuer's bid for tenure, Religious Studies Department Chairperson Stephen Dunning alleged that the committee members were counting pages rather than examining their quality when evaluating Breuer's research. And the focus on research has also served to limit student involvement in the tenure process, according to former Undergraduate Assembly member Dave Futer, a College sophomore. Although increased student participation in the process was a goal of the UA, the English Undergraduate Advisory Board and SCUE last year, the first two groups have largely abandoned the fight. Futer, who tackled tenure as part of the UA's academic committee, said his research showed that student opinion and recommendations were used in an advisory capacity to determine the quality of a candidate's teaching. But since research is a huge factor, and students are not capable of evaluating research quality, Futer and the committee determined there was little they could do to increase student involvement. College senior and English UAB member Tali Aronsky said the UAB has largely abandoned its work on the issue for similar reasons. SCUE, however, will continue its fight for increased student involvement, according to current Chairperson and College junior Ari Silverman. Silverman said SCUE will continue to insist on the establishment of student members of the personnel committee, despite several refusals by administrators. The committee needs students, according to Silverman, since committee members tend to weigh research more heavily than teaching and because students are more qualified to evaluate their teaching needs. Professors are also concerned with the weight their opinions are given. English Department members were shocked that Professor Michael Awkward -- recommended unanimously by the department --Ewas rejected by the personnel committee. Others professors are concerned that the situation with Awkward --Ewho was lured to the University from a tenured position at the University of Michigan -- will prevent other top professors from coming to the University. Despite such concerns, it seems unlikely that the tenure process will change drastically, since most top administrators support the process. Provost Stanley Chodorow defended the process in an guest column in The Daily Pennsylvanian, claiming that several factors, including student and departmental opinions, teaching, research and service are weighed. He explained that while certain groups may be upset that their positive recommendation was not followed, they must understand that there may have been other opinions factored into the decision. "Most of the time the many voices heard in tenure files sing a harmonious chorus? Sometimes, however, the voices are discordant? given the weightiness of the decision for the University, which must plan on having a tenured faculty member remain in its service for 25 to 35 years, the process should err on the side of caution," Chodorow said.
(04/10/97 9:00am)
Religious Studies Professor Edward Breuer will not return next fall. Religious Studies Professor Edward Breuer is one of the University's top teachers, according to a committee of faculty and students which selected him as one of eight recipients of this year's Christian and Mary Lindback Award for Distinguished Teaching. But Breuer will not be returning to the University in the fall, since the School of Arts and Sciences Personnel Committee rejected his bid for tenure last year. The Lindback Award honors eight tenured or tenure-track professors each spring, while two Provost's Awards go to part-time faculty. The other award recipients have not been announced yet. Breuer's tenure bid was recommended unanimously by his department. But the personnel committee apparently rejected him due to concerns over his research and publication, according to Religious Studies Chairperson Stephen Dunning. Dunning added that no one questioned Breuer's teaching ability -- for which he received the award. "Nobody's disputing the quality of his teaching, but at Penn you don't get tenure for being a wonderful teacher," Dunning said. "If the scholarship isn't first rate, they're not going to give you tenure." Dunning added, however, that his department vehemently disagreed with the personnel committee's assessment of Breuer's research -- which Dunning said has received considerable praise from leading scholars. "We felt the decision was based upon looking at factors disproportionately," Dunning said. "We felt they were counting pages rather than quality." Former Student Committee on Undergraduate Education Chairperson and Wharton senior Ben Nelson, who worked with Breuer last year, agreed, claiming that Breuer was careful only to publish quality work and will not produce "mass research." "His downfall was that he will not publish for publication's sake," Nelson said. "He will only publish the highest quality work, and his department and colleagues recognized that, but the personnel committee did not." Both Breuer and Dunning said the tenure outcome might have been different if Breuer had completed his second book before the decision was made. At that point Breuer had only written one book -- a publication of his dissertation. Breuer said he made a conscious decision to focus more time on teaching than on research. "My priority has always been my students and that comes with costs and I don't regret that," he said. "The rewards of teaching far surpass the rewards of tenure." Breuer said tenure issues over the past few years have been characterized by a struggle to determine the balance between quality teaching and quality research. He added that while the University claims it balances the two factors, many students are skeptical. After popular English Professor Gregg Camfield's second rejection forced him to leave the University last year, students complained that the tenure process focuses more attention on research and publication than on teaching. And Breuer's students are also disappointed with the personnel committee's decision. Nelson said Breuer's class was by far the best he has taken at Penn, calling Breuer's departure at the end of this semester for Loyola College "a sad, sad loss." "He is an excellent professor," College junior Ami Joseph said. "He's one of those types of professors who gets students to think for themselves. His goal is to get students as excited about what they're learning as he is." Although most students and faculty believe Breuer's rejection was due to a lack of published scholarship, Nelson added that there was some concern about Breuer's ability to teach large lectures, since most of his classes have been seminars. But Nelson added that Breuer has recently taught several larger classes and received considerable praise from students. One of Breuer's former students, who requested anonymity, said Breuer's petition for tenure was harmed by a letter from a member of the Jewish Studies faculty. The professor severely criticized Breuer, although the letter concluded by recommending Breuer for tenure.
(04/03/97 10:00am)
Settling a 200-year dispute between New York and New Jersey, an arbitrator appointed by the Supreme Court has recommended dividing Ellis Island between the two states. And if the many University students who hail from those two states wish to protest the decision, they should head straight to Eisenlohr Hall. Paul Verkuil, a former visiting Law professor and the husband of University President Judith Rodin, was the arbitrator the Court appointed to propose a solution in the case of State of New Jersey v. State of New York, which concerned the 200-year dispute over the ownership of the island. For decades, Ellis Island -- in the middle of New York Harbor -- served as the entry point into the United States for millions of European immigrants. Now the former immigration offices have been converted into a museum, and the two states have been vying over the $5 million in tourism revenues that the island attracts each year. New Jersey began the suit in 1993 to gain control over the 24.5 acres of land added by landfill to the island after an 1834 agreement set the boundary between the two states. That agreement put the original land in New York, but the landfill was mostly in New Jersey. The Supreme Court has original jurisdiction in lawsuits between states, like the Ellis Island case. In such situations, the Court appoints an arbitrator, called a special master, to serve in the role of a lower court. Verkuil's recommendation calls for New York to retain the original area --Enearly five acres -- which contains the museum and major monuments. New Jersey would gain control over approximately 22 acres of landfill. New Jersey also claims rights to development of that area under long-delayed renovation plans. Past proposals for development have included a hotel and a convention center. The state would also gain a share of the income tax revenue from the 425 Ellis Island employees and the tourism profits. Verkuil explained in his recommendation that, in the interests of practicality and convenience, the entire main building and surrounding area will be given to New York intact, although part of that area is landfill. The Court can now accept, modify or reject Verkuil's recommendation, although a special master's recommendation is nearly always accepted. Mark Carey, a spokesperson for the New York State Attorney General's Office, said New York will protest the proposal in the Supreme Court. "We hate it," Carey said. "Ellis Island, is, was and always will be a part of New York City. [Attorney General] Dennis Vacco had grandparents who came through Ellis Island? People did not pass the Statue of Liberty to live in Jersey -- they were coming to New York. We think this decision flies in the face of history." The decision also alarmed some historical preservationists, who said preservation laws are weaker in New Jersey. But New Jersey Gov. Christie Whitman said she is pleased with the decision. "This is something that we have felt very strongly about," Whitman said. "It is a matter of obvious pride for the state. It's a recognition that both New York and New Jersey have served as a gateway for millions of Americans who have made a real difference in the state and across the nation." Now that he has completed his duties as special master, Verkuil -- a former Tulane University Law School dean and president of the College of William and Mary -- has moved on to a new job, ironically in New York. Tuesday, he began a position as dean of the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law at Yeshiva University in Manhattan. He was not available to comment for this report.
(04/02/97 10:00am)
The results from the A-3 Assembly's October election have still not been released, and some have challenged their validity. With the results of October's elections for the Executive Board of the A-3 Assembly still unannounced, the University Council Steering Committee has called for an arbitrator to resolve several questions about the legitimacy of the election. Yesterday, the committee gave School of Social Work administrative assistant Paul Lukasiak and the sitting Executive Board a week to decide whether to enter the arbitration process. Law Professor Howard Lesnick will preside over arbitration, if it takes place. The A-3 Assembly represents hourly-wage employees across the University, in the same way the Undergraduate Assembly represents undergraduate students. Lukasiak, a candidate in the October Executive Board elections, has accused the sitting board of election fraud for failure to release the results and for failure to put several nominees on the ballot. Only four candidates ran for the eight open positions, and only 22 of the eligible voters cast ballots. University Council's interest in the election arises from the fact that the A-3 Assembly chairperson -- currently Karen Wheeler, an administrative assistant at the Center for Community Partnerships -- holds a seat on Council. If the election was not conducted appropriately, Wheeler could be sitting on Council in violation of its bylaws. Wheeler, who is the only A-3 Assembly member permitted to speak about election issues, declined to comment, adding that she would not say whether the Assembly would participate in arbitration. In October, however, she had explained that only two people attended a mandatory candidates meeting. But A-3 Elections Committee Chairperson and Wharton Real Estate Center administrative assistant Yvonne McLean said in October that there had been confusion as to the nomination deadline. McLean said she told Lukasiak he could still make nominations after the October 2 candidates' meeting because she was unaware of a September 27 deadline that Wheeler had cited. Dorothy Stewart, a secretary in the Classical Studies Department, said her name did not appear on the ballot, although Lukasiak nominated her. She added that potential candidates were not notified about deadlines or mandatory meetings. Several weeks after the election, Lukasiak approached Vice Provost for University Life Valarie Swain-Cade McCoullum, who administers the University's open expression bylaws, and asked her to investigate the election. The University's Open Expression Committee -- an branch of the VPUL office -- referred the issue to University Council Steering, according to Steering Chairperson and Education Professor Peter Kuriloff. Graduate and Professional Student Assembly Chairperson Alex Welte's repeated requests for election results also brought the issue to Council's attention. Welte and other Council members stressed that the issue at hand is not a simple dispute between Lukasiak and Wheeler. "The whole thing has been framed inappropriately," said Welte, a Steering member and fourth-year Physics graduate student. "It is not a conflict between Mr. Lukasiak and the A-3 board." And Kuriloff explained that Lukasiak is currently the only individual involved with the arbitration, but only because no one else has expressed interest in participating. Stewart said she would be interested in the arbitration, although she had not been informed that it was taking place. Welte also complained that the issue has been discussed as a personal fight between Lukasiak and Wheeler, rather than as a question about the legitimacy of the elections and Wheeler's seat on Council. Under Council bylaws, only elected representatives may hold seats in Council. "None of my questions -- and I don't think anybody else's questions -- to Karen had to do with whether she and Mr. Lukasiak can get along -- I don't give a damn," Welte said. "The questions have to do with whether she simply tossed out the results of an election. There is compelling evidence that that is what she did, and the question is whether we are going to allow that." UA member and College sophomore Olivia Troye has also asked Wheeler and her co-chairperson Betty Thomas, an executive secretary in the Office of the Vice President for Finance, for the election results. Troye said the issue "seemed a little weird" to her since no election results were ever announced. Kuriloff said that if the two sides agree to arbitration, they will then sit down with Lesnick to discuss the issues, determine the principles and procedures to be used and agree to be bound by his findings. He added that he does not know what action Steering would take if either side refuses arbitration, since Steering must then decide whether to interfere in the proceedings of another constituency.
(03/28/97 10:00am)
Administrators denied a recent Time report that Penn could use its endowment to lower its tuition. Time magazine author Erik Larson's suggestions for lowering Penn tuition are neither feasible nor economically sound, according to several Penn administrators and faculty. Larson -- a 1976 College graduate and the author of the now infamous Time article "Why Colleges Cost Too Much" -- suggested lowering tuition by spending a higher percentage of Penn's $1.9 billion endowment. The University currently spends 3 to 5 percent of its endowment annually -- the smallest percentage in the Ivy League. Larson said the University should increase its spending to 6 or 7 percent and use the extra funds to lower tuition. But University President Judith Rodin said that such a solution would be self-defeating, since the endowment covers programs not paid -for by tuition. "The endowment is there to serve programs so it is anyway subvening tuition," Rodin said. "If you would start eating into the endowment, you have less to spend on programs and ultimately you would have to increase tuition." She added that since Penn is under-endowed compared to its peer schools, it has the least opportunity of all the Ivies to "eat" into its endowment. And Budget Director Michael Masch said the University cannot afford to spend more of its endowment, since there is no way to predict market trends. "By having a conservative spending rule, we hedge against the possibility of a market downturn," he said. Associate Treasurer Lucy Momjian said returns on the endowment have been fairly steady since 1979, but added that the economy -- and especially the stock market -- has boomed since then. And Economics Professor Herbert Levine said dipping into endowments is usually a bad idea. "An endowment is built up as a permanent increase in the income generating part of the funds you have," he said. "It's almost part of the 10 commandments of any financial officer of any firm that you don't eat into the endowment unless you have a crisis." And Finance Professor Jeremy Siegel noted that spending the University's endowment on tuition breaks may not be feasible since much of the endowment is earmarked for specific projects Siegel added that he doubts many donors would contribute to the University if they knew the money would cover on-going expenses. In his article, Larson also questioned why the University has increased tuition at a higher rate than inflation, suggesting than an inflation-based rate of increase might better serve students. But Siegel stressed that the article measured tuition increases against the overall rate of inflation, while failing to consider fluctuations in the rate over different sectors of the economy. "Certain costs go up higher than the rate of inflation, particularly costs in the service industry, like education," he explained. Rodin agreed, explaining that economic measures of inflation are not meant to specifically address the financial aspects of running a university. "The consumer price index is about laundry and groceries, not the high tech things you do at a university," she said. Levine agreed that the CPI measures a different package of goods than those used by universities, but added there is still a reason for concern if tuition is rising faster than salaries. Masch said the University plans to lower future tuition increases, although there is no commitment to bring increases in line with inflation. But Rodin said the University is trying to lower future tuition increases to a rate nearer to the inflation rate. "We are budgeting downward," she said. "We are planning for decreasing increases and we will continue to do that over the next few years." Daily Pennsylvanian staff writer Michael Brus and Business Manager Tagar Olson contributed to this report.
(03/27/97 10:00am)
Restructuring will bring finncial benefits. But are they worth the costs? University officials have made restructuring the central administration -- pairing $50 million from the budget over the next five years -- a major priority. When the program began in 1995, its main goal was cutting costs and increased administrative efficiency. A year and a half later, attention is also being focused on saving money in order to fund capital projects and, according to some, to lower the rate of tuition increases. At the same time, the program has resulted in approximately 200 job losses, leaving some workers questioning whether the benefits justify the costs, and others asking if the program even offers any benefits. From an employee standpoint, restructuring has caused overload and a sense of job insecurity, which may counteract the increased efficiency that restructuring plans sought. The program has never been considered easy by administrators either --EExecutive Vice President John Fry called it "a bad situation" in 1995. But while most administrators maintain that the program is necessary, many of the workers who could be affected disagree. Librarian Jim Gray -- who serves as tri-chair of the African American Association of Faculty and Staff and as vice president of Local 50 of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees -- said restructuring not only demoralizes workers, but it also "makes them mad as hell." "Restructuring is tremendously bad for the morale of the workers here on campus," Gray said. "Every year there is some kind of layoff process under whatever is the current industrial fad name. The process has left people with this insecurity which is unfair, especially for career employees who have already given a life of service to the University." For some workers, restructuring has taken on a racial dimension. Tom Henry, another tri-chair of the AAA, said job cuts affect a disproportionately large number of African American employees. This, combined with the fact that his group has not been asked to participate in any discussions on restructuring, has caused African American employees to feel they are under-respected and undervalued. But workers' criticisms of the restructuring process go deeper than fears of job losses. The layoffs have also burdened remaining employees with more responsibilities -- an unintended consequence of the drive for efficiency. Fry said last year that layoffs would aim to eliminate work that doesn't add value to the system, but workers complain that they are still performing such "unnecessary" jobs -- in addition to the duties they already had to handle. Vice Provost for University Life Valarie Swain-Cade McCoullum said the 15 jobs cut from the VPUL have forced her staff members to work overtime and take less vacation, while purchasing agent Thomas Leary said he is "having a difficult time keeping pace" after job cuts in his department. But Purchasing Director Robert Michel said workers in his department -- which lost more than half its employees in the past year --Eare not unhappy or any busier than in previous years. University President Judith Rodin acknowledged that restructuring causes some insecurity problems among workers, explaining that the University aims to make the process as quick as possible to ease the difficulties. "Our goal is to have the most well-qualified and well-trained and well-motivated people," she said. "When there is uncertainty and times have changed, it is hard to do that, so we are trying to get through this period of uncertainty as quickly as possible." But could the feelings of insecurity and overload associated with the process impact the University further down the road? Rodin said she does not think such effects will last, adding that increased workloads are temporary and will level off as workers get used to the new systems and technology added as part of the restructuring program. "Always in the early stages of process reengineering, as people are getting retrained, people do feel overloaded," Rodin said. "We are doing a lot of training and, when that works, people will not feel overloaded." But restructuring is not over yet, and while employees adjust to the first stages, there could be future shocks to come. Further job loss could be relatively minor or more significant than in the first stages, depending on future decisions regarding departmental outsourcing and major overhauls. Fry explained that while downsizing is not the focus of restructuring, he will consider outsourcing certain departments if a private company can provide cheaper services and better quality. Officials have instructed the consulting firms studying both Dining and Residential Life to consider all possibilities for those functions, including outsourcing them. Fry said the University has an obligation to ensure that students get the most for their tuition dollars. "We will continue to [consider outsourcing], not because we are going to outsource everything, but because we believe that unless we ask that question, we are clearly not doing to the students and faculty a service," he said. But Vice President for Finance Steve Golding emphasized that the University prefers to cut costs in areas where workers are not affected. Nonetheless, Golding conceded that the University must have a smaller workforce if it is to lower tuition, which has been a priority of students, parents and Trustees. While administrators list lower tuition increases and better services as the benefits of restructuring, Gray said the benefits of the plan are unclear and certainly do not apply to University workers. "The reasons for restructuring are hazy and somewhat unreal and not that beneficial," he said. "I read The Daily Pennsylvanian one week about restructuring and the need to save, and I read the next week about how the administration is building new buildings everywhere. It is demoralizing, and it makes you angry as hell, especially if you are losing a job or don't know how long you will have a job." And Henry said the claim that restructuring will lower tuition is merely a way of playing student concerns against those of workers, adding that salaries aren't high enough to impact tuition significantly. Administrators said they are aware that employees feel insecure and even resentful, but they insist these changes are both necessary and beneficial to the University. "Obviously, when there is uncertainty it affects people," Rodin said. "The answer is not not to change, but to do it fairly, openly and as quickly as possible."