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(03/19/91 10:00am)
Nora Magid's legend at the University results from more than her role in running the University's unofficial, one-woman journalism department. Magid, whose work has appeared in a legion of magazines and newspapers, admitted she gained more pleasure from editing her students' essays than in writing her own. They praised her ability to put them at ease both in her classroom and in her office. Students said she encouraged them to drop by her office and her house and said she had gone out of her way to make them part of her life. Former students, who number among the top magazine writers and editors in the nation, often asked for her guidance in their decisions, saying her clear thinking helped them immensely. Magid, who would have been 66 today, died last Thursday after a month-long bout with the flu, during which she refused to see a doctor. Magid, who was born in Montreal, came to the University in 1970 after a career which included college teaching, advising the Kennedy Administration, and working for 14 years as literary editor of the now-defunct Reporter Magazine. Magid had also contributed to several magazines and newspapers, including The New York Times, The Philadephia Inquirer, The New Republic and The New Yorker. She had been named the top student in Quebec upon graduating high school. She started teaching freshman English but was "arm-twisted" by two of her freshman students into teaching an advanced non-fiction writing course. Students said her unique manner of teaching her classes gave them confidence in their writing abilities. "For all of us she had a huge impact," Philadelphia Magazine Senior Editor and College graduate Stephen Fried said yesterday. "Besides teaching us how to write very well, she gave us an incredible ammount of confidence. . . . She taught us to think like writers." During class she would sit cross-legged on her desk, smoking thin cigars which she would stamp out either on the soles of her shoe or on the cigar case. She could be found during office hours sitting on the floor writing comments on essays with felt-tipped pens she carried in a basket. Students said she molded her classes to remind her of the magazines she had worked for -- she edited stories rather than graded them, giving students little impression of their progress in the class. "Class was not unlike the best editorial meetings at the most ambitious [publications]," Fried said. "She edited papers. She took what the students wrote very seriously. She treated us like we were already professionals." Unlike most professors, students said, she was very demanding, often asking students to revise their weekly non-fiction essays up to three times. But she dispensed criticism with a "loving touch" and treasured the "one funny line" in a sea of grammatical mistakes. But students also pointed to her eccentricities, such as her casual dress and her collection of hippopotamuses. They said she made many people feel comfortable but other students would literally run out of her class after their first encounter with her. Gentlemen's Quarterly Managing Editor Eliot Kaplan said last night that Magid sent his wife a birthday card every year because it coincided with her own. He said Magid kept a note he left her telling her about his first magazine job. Kevin Vaughn, 27th Ward Democratic committee chairperson, said when he was in a car accident, Magid appeared on his doorstep with bread and jelly to make sandwiches for lunch. She became entranced with photography after she was given a camera as a gift, and Fried said a group of "Noraites" came together after her camera was stolen to buy her a new one. She was proud of her photography, Vaughn said, having won two city awards for it in the early 1980s. Her office is lined with Polaroid snapshots of many of her students. As a result of her dedication, her students battled with the University to get Magid's teaching abilities recognized. In 1988, the University created the Provost's Teaching Award, to honor distinguished teaching from non-tenure-track faculty. Magid was the first recipient of the award. Former students say they want to organize some kind of memorial of Magid during Alumni Weekend. English Professor Robert Lucid described Magid as "irreplacable," adding most faculty in the department were in awe of the following she had with her students. Plans are not certain for who will take over her classes.
(03/07/91 10:00am)
But Goodman said she could not give details of the settlement because the students involved -- co-hosts Richard Rothstein and Vincent Fumo -- would not give her permission to discuss details of the case. College senior Rothstein refused to comment on the case last night, and Wharton senior Fumo's phone number has been unlisted since the show aired. UTV Station Manager Kirk Marcolina said Monday their settlement would likely include a broadcast apology on UTV, adding he would receive a letter of reprimand from the JIO that would not appear on his permanent record. Marcolina, a College junior, did not comment further on the settlement on Monday. President Sheldon Hackney called for a JIO investigation of Pig Penn one week after its October 2 airing, asking Goodman to concentrate on one part of the 45-minute show where the hosts identify freshman women by their name and Freshman Record pictures. During the show, the hosts also traded shots of tequila, discussed oral sex in graphic detail and showed pictures of nude men and women. Staff writer Kenneth Baer contributed to this story.
(03/07/91 10:00am)
And to address privacy concerns that may result from the new technology, the Registrar's office is encouraging students to change their access code to PARIS immediately. The grade-listing function, which was installed on the computer system last semester, will list a student's course number, section number, and grade by alphabetical order for the last two semesters on record. Registrar Sanders said he expects students to use the grade-listing option almost as much as course-listing options. But Sanders said he is concerned with the problems that lie in the simplicity in getting access to records through PARIS. To enter the system, a person only needs to enter an identification, or Social Security, number, and a personal access code, normally a birthdate. Under federal law, people may only receive personal student records, including grades, from the institution if they have written permission from the student. Sanders emphasized it is easy for other people to learn those two pieces of information about students and illegally obtain their grade reports. Students will be able to change their personal access code as often as they wish and can change the code immediately. Sanders added that students should come to the Registrar's office with a valid PENNcard or another form of valid photo identification and complete a form to change the number. "We don't want to make this difficult," Sanders said. "We do want to make [students] aware [of security risks] . . . and keep their documents private." The registrar said that his office has mailed a letter detailing the new function to students. Sanders said the University decided it wanted grade-listing when it chose PARIS software from American Telephone and Telegraph, but that the basic program did not contain grade-listing abilities. Sanders said his office would be testing the PARIS's limits with the new grade-listing option over spring break, saying when they tested the system initially over winter break, it could not handle the increased demand. "We're trying to see if it will stand up to the expected volume of activity that it will receive from students," Sanders said. PARIS was installed in the fall of 1989 to both praise and criticism. Students have lauded the system as helpful, but said that there have been too many breakdowns and difficulties with the computerized system. Students have also complained that the system is impersonal.
(03/05/91 10:00am)
The apology will be part of the punishment handed down by Judicial Inquiry Officer Constance Goodman later this week for the show, which was criticized as "offensive and blatantly dehumanizing" even by station officials. President Sheldon Hackney called for a JIO investigation of the show one week after its October 2 premiere, asking Goodman to pay particular attention to the section of the show where hosts identified freshmen women by name and picture in the Freshman Record. Also during the 45-minute show, the co-hosts split a bottle of tequila, showed pictures of nude women and men and discussed oral sex in explicit detail. The co-hosts, who also produced the show, were fired by the UTV Executive Board the night after the show aired. Goodman said last night she would have a ruling on the case by the end of the week, but declined to comment further about the completion of her investigation, saying she could not comment without permission of the students involved. Rothstein was not available for comment, and Fumo changed his phone number after the show aired. UTV Station Manager-elect Kirk Marcolina said last night Rothstein contacted him less than two weeks ago, saying the JIO will require that he and Fumo tape an apology to be aired over UTV as part of his punishment. Marcolina said he talked with Goodman yesterday about the specific requirements of the apology and other measures the campus station, which can only be received in Superblock, must make. Marcolina, who was UTV Production Manager during the incident, said he would also receive a letter of reprimand from the JIO "to make UTV managers -- including myself -- aware of how important our responsibilities are." Marcolina said the letter would not appear on his permanent record. Marcolina said Goodman approved of subsequent policy changes UTV enacted which prohibits alcohol on the set, establishes stricter requirements for producers to receive approval for a new show, and requires a member of the UTV executive board to sit in on the taping of a new show. Marcolina also said representatives from UTV would apologize to University Council, where President Hackney called for the JIO investigation, and would explain the station's revised policies. Marcolina said last night he has learned a great deal from the incident. "I think personally I have learned a lesson because the way UTV is run -- it's a very laid-back organization and we usually allow, and still allow, a lot of leeway," Marcolina said. "Now I realize there are certain points where management must step in." Goodman said she completed her investigation nearly a month ago and has been working on a resolution since. She said that for her investigation, she interviewed Marcolina and Station Manager Diane Rekstad and viewed the show on tape. Marcolina said he explained to Goodman how Fumo and Rothstein outlined the show to him as well as background about the station itself.
(03/04/91 10:00am)
A University employee was the victim of an attempted rape on 36th Street near Locust Walk early Saturday morning, prompting University Police to increase patrols on campus during early-morning hours, University Police Commissioner John Kuprevich said last night. The victim was was walking on 36th Street between Locust and Spruce streets at 7:20 a.m. when she was grabbed from behind by a man she did not know, Kuprevich said. The man, who was unarmed, attempted to rape her, he said, but the woman managed to escape. A HUP security officer notified University Police and the Philadelphia Police Sex Crimes Division of the incident, Kuprevich said. Detectives from both units are conducting an investigation, the commissioner added. The woman is receiving counseling from Victim Support Services, Victim Support Services Director Ruth Wells said last night. Kuprevich said he did not know whether the victim intends to press charges. The commissioner said the victim described the assailant as a black male, approximately 5 feet 8 inches tall, clean shaven, and in his early 30s. Because of the attempted rape, Kuprevich said, University Police will increase patrols on campus during early-morning hours. Kuprevich said yesterday that under normal circumstances, many police patrols stretch from Spruce to Chestnut streets. But under the revised schedule, the area of two foot patrols will be cut to concentrate more officers between Spruce and Walnut Streets. He added that vehicle patrols will be increased to maintain the usual level of coverage for the northern part of campus and some officers will work overtime to staff the revised patrol areas. Kuprevich cautioned that revised patrols are no guarantee against another incident occurring. "People have to realize that we could put 100 more officers on the street and that wouldn't guarantee that nothing will happen," Kuprevich said. Kuprevich said everyone on campus should be cautious, recommending that people walk in groups, take Escort Service or call police dispatch if they need to travel after dark and call University Police at special emergency phones if they feel uncomfortable.
(02/28/91 10:00am)
But Whittington did not focus her arguments only on the University, which is scheduled to lose $18.2 million, almost half its state aid, next year. Whittington spoke on behalf of all 14 private schools that receive money from the state government at the hearing, which was set up for state legislators to consider restructuring how Pennsylvania funds higher education. Whittington was joined on a panel by representatives from four other schools, each of which fall into different funding categories than the University. The University is classified as a non-state-related school. Gov. Robert Casey proposed earlier this month cutting funding for all of these schools roughly in half. Whittington also appeared at the hearing in an indirect attempt to restore or at least maintain the University's own funding. But she did not directly defend state funding of the University during her testimony. Even though House Education Committee Chairperson Ronald Cowell (D-Allegheny) said earlier this month the legislature would have to review the University's "special treatment" in higher education funding, none of the legislators suggested this yesterday. Committee members instead discussed ways to make institutions accountable to the state, to increase the number of students at the state's schools and to standardize how the state funds schools. Whittington told the committees there are several misconceptions about the increasing costs of colleges and universities, saying schools have to spend increasing amounts of money on non-classroom services. She said tasks like keeping up with technology, helping students who are unprepared for college-level academics, maintaining financial-aid as federal support decreases, and keeping pace with increasing governmental regulations all take money away from traditional educational goals. Whittington said after the session she was pleased with the joint hearing. "It was clearly constructive day," Whittington said. "No one came in with their own agenda." In his closing remarks, House Appropriations Committee Chairperson Dwight Evans called the day productive, although he said he disputes claims that the system is satisfactory. "Some things in this state -- some things in Harrisburg -- need to change," Evans said. "We're beginning to lay a foundation to change how we do business." The hearing was structured so committee members could hear an overview of how other states handle higher education funding. In addition to the panel, two out-of-state education experts and Drexel University President Richard Brelin gave presentations. During the morning session of the seven-hour hearing, Kent Caruthers, an educational consultant, outlined national trends and nationwide problems in funding higher education. Caruthers said the biggest trend in funding higher education is performance-analysis funding, in which states set up criteria to judge schools' success. Brenda Albright, Deputy Executive Director of the Tennessee Higher Education Commission, presented her state's performance-analysis program, where colleges and universities can receive up to five percent over their appropriation if they meet certain minimum acedemic standards. Albright also presented how Tennessee approached higher education funding. This program includes a state endowment for funding professorships and a "centers of excellence" program to fund a a select number of high-quality programs. The legislators suggested using the Tennessee plan as a model for Pennsylvania, but panelists said the Tennessee plan could have several possible problems. In a subtle attack on the state's proposed cuts, Whittington suggested to the committee such a system needed "predictability of funding."
(02/27/91 10:00am)
Medical School students and faculty criticized security practices and the University's handling of an alleged sexual assault at the Medical School during a two-hour forum last night. The forum was sponsored by the Medical School in response to the alleged sexual assault last month of a freshman by a University-hired building guard at the Med School complex. It presented information on rape and sexual assault while panelists asked the audience to offer advice and comments on how to combat the problem. The guard was fired after the incident for "administrative reasons." The student has not filed criminal charges. Students at the discussion told the panelists they had lost their sense of safety because of "lackadaisical" security practices both in medical buildings and around campus. They added that they particularly had lost faith in the security guards. "I feel absolute terror when I work [alone] on weekends," one medical student said, describing her fear when she would see two guards pacing the hallways. "I'd feel safer with women -- or no guards at all." Women's Center Director Elena DiLapi said during her presentation that feelings of distrust between men and women after incidents of alleged sexual assault are typical. "[Incidents such as these] pull apart the community," DiLapi said. "They damage trust relationships, affecting the way men and women relate." Other faculty members criticized the University administration for not spending enough money or showing enough commitment to the problems of sexual assault, saying the University has never stated "rape is unacceptable -- ever." Microbiology Professor Helen Davies, a member of the University Council Safety and Security Committee, said although the University reacts better than almost every other school to security problems, she and other tenured women faculty are forced to continually push the University. Students charged that they have never received correct information about the incident since the University has not released a statement. Forum participant Gordon Williams, vice president of the Medical Center and executive director of the Medical School administration, apologized for the lack of information available about last month's incident. He suggested a "crisis-management team" be set up to deal with situations such as last month's incident. This crisis management team, which he said Provost Michael Aiken's office was looking into, could include public relations people who would "get the information to the correct places," Williams said. Other forum participants included Students Together Against Acquaintance Rape executive committee member Nick King and Victim Support Services Director Ruth Wells. About 30 people attended the forum. Participants and audience members praised the forum saying they were pleased Williams wanted to hear other viewpoints. They said they hoped other schools would follow his lead. "I thought it was wonderful," University Life administrator Barbara Cassel said afterwards. "The panel said it all. [It's constructive] just being able to talk about this and clarify the issues."
(02/26/91 10:00am)
Foreign policy experts said last night that the Iraqi radio announcement of a withdrawal from Kuwait was probably a move for Iraqi President Saddam Hussein to retain political power. Baghdad Radio interrupted normal broadcasting at 5:35 p.m. local time to announce the immediate withdrawal of Iraqi troops from Kuwait under a Soviet peace initiative, reportedly telling them not to fight even if they are attacked. And although the Bush administration brushed off the proposal, claiming they had no direct confirmation of Saddam's intentions, Daniel Pipes, director of the campus-based Foreign Policy Research Institute, said he believes the announcement from Baghdad is legitimate because it undermines his previous efforts to bolster the morale of his troops. "What Saddam has been doing is telling the troops it has been doing wonderfully and 'keep up the good work,' " Pipes said last night. "To [make this announcement] completely undermines it." However, Political Science Professor Alvin Rubinstein said the American-led coalition will not quit fighting in the Middle East until a "formal, authentic announcement" from the Iraqi government saying it will withdraw from Kuwait. "In a sense, the political outcome is being decided on the battlefield," Rubinstein added. Pipes added, however, that the U.S. may have an interest in making sure that Saddam does not fall from power too rapidly, adding that this could be achieved by accepting an Iraqi pullout. He said that the situation may turn into a "nightmare" if Iraq becomes leaderless too fast. "[If Saddam] falls too quickly, there's chaos and we -- the allies -- find ourselves responsible for maintaining order in Iraq and maintaining Iraqi territorial integrity," Pipes said. Pipes, a nationally renowned Middle East expert, added that although he does not in any way approve of Saddam, his fall from power would further destabilize the Middle East. However, Rubinstein said there is no way to determine whether or not Saddam will remain in power after the the fighting is settled. But he stressed the Saddam may be more prone to side with the Soviets after their diplomatic assistance to him in the war and because of a "long-standing" relationship between them. Both said that the Soviet move was a play for political advantage in the region, but disagreed over specific aims from the Soviet involvement. Pipes asserted that the Soviets were brought into the crisis by the Iraqis, who were looking for a power sympathetic to their side. "The Iraqis are saying . . .'Who is sympathetic? Who would argue our case? Who would say it with some strength?' " Pipes said. "That's the Soviets." Pipes added the Soviet involvement is an effort by President Mikhail Gorbachev to divert attention from unrest in the Soviet Union's Baltic states. Rubinstein said, however, the Soviet Union is more motivated by the events in the Gulf, adding their aim is to continue to hold power in the Gulf region after the war ends. Rubinstein said Soviet goals include enhancing prestige in the Arab world and retaining Iraq as a customer of Soviet-made armaments.
(02/22/91 10:00am)
News last night of a proposed Soviet-Iraqi peace initiative did not hit home on campus with the same impact as the start of the war. Across campus, students reaction to the Soviet-Iraqi peace initiative, like their reaction to most issues surrounding the war, was mixed. The spectrum of views ranged from support for President Bush's caution to ones of frustration with his unwillingness to negotiate. Many students, however, had not yet heard of the peace proposal, and at many places on and around campus, students were watching NBC's Thursday night sit-coms or televised hockey rather than news broadcasts. The Soviet plan -- outlined in eight points -- included a bilateral cease-fire, a complete and unconditional withdrawal of Iraqi troops from Kuwait, and a release of all prisoners of war. The Moscow plan did not include demands that Iraq pay Kuwait for war damage and also ignores previous Iraqi demands for "linkage" of a resolution of its attack to the Israeli withdrawal from the occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip. Several students said they hoped the plan would stave off a seemingly imminent ground campaign. "[Bush] is sitting with a fragmented coalition and a war no one really wants," Wharton and Engineering senior Marcus Causey said last night. "[The offer] is at least a starting ground." But others said Bush should not negotiate a peace where Saddam remains in power. "Hussein has got to get out of power in Iraq and he's got to get out of Kuwait," said College sophomore Steve Kavic, a Stouffer College House resident. "The U.S. should stay there until that happens." Francis Mataac, a Wharton sophomore, agreed, saying that Bush "has got to go ahead with what he's doing." "We should continue fighting until Saddam is removed from power." But College sophomore Jeremy Fisch said he thinks Saddam would simply be replaced by another dictator. "Saddam Hussein is just one of many dictators in the Middle East," Fisch said. "He is certainly the worst, with the possible exception of [Syrian President Haffez] Assad. If he goes, another puppet government [will be established.]" College freshman David Becker said if the U.S. allies accept the proposal, Bush must also. "If Kuwait and especially the Arab countries in the region, support it," the Community House resident said, then "we shouldn't [wage war] anymore if we're all alone." Bart Prins, a Wharton sophomore from the Netherlands, said there is support for the American actions in his country. "In Holland, they pretty much also support Bush's standpoint," he said. But he cautioned against hoping for a quick end to the war. He said many in Europe, like himself, foresee the conflict lasting up to two years. Several students also spoke out against the continuing American presence in the Persian Gulf. "I think any diplomatic solution is the way to go," said College freshman Cherie Gerstadt. "If it's going to save people's lives, [Bush] should make every attempt to do so." But Fisch said he feared Bush would make his decision based on maintaining American power in the Middle East and winning re-election in 1992. College sophomore Reshma Memon said last night Bush should accept the proposal, but the American people may not want to compromise. She pointed to an impromptu survey of one of Political Science Lecturer Adam Garfinkle's classes where she and only five other students said the U.S. should accept the peace proposal, while about 90 percent of the class said they would advocate fighting until Saddam was killed. "I was really surprised and shocked," Memon said. "I thought everyone else valued lives on both sides as much as I did, but I guess not." Progressive Student Alliance member David Saries said the proposed peace plan fulfills the objectives of the United Nations and the U.S. should accept it. "I think that the resolution is that Iraq must withdraw from Kuwait," the College sophomore said. "If they move out, we know they've been weakened." Saries also questioned the apparent desire by U.S. officials to seek the removal of Saddam from power in his beseiged Arab country. "He's certainly not the greatest threat in the region," he said. With a powerful military and nuclear weapons, "Israel is the largest threat." Wharton senior Kevin Malcarney said Gorbachev's diplomacy in bringing about the proposal should not weigh highly. "The idea that the Soviet Union is negotiating a peace settlement doesn't hold a whole lot of merit," Malcarney said. "They haven't done anything but talk to [Iraqi Foreign Minister] Tariq Aziz." "If its the only thing they do, how can we take them seriously?"
(02/19/91 10:00am)
The University is making progress against its measles outbreak even though another "probable" mild measles case was diagnosed yesterday -- raising the number of students infected to seven, Student Health Director MarJeanne Collins said last night. "If anything, [the situation] is better or at least the same," Collins said, adding the last three cases Student Health has diagnosed have been very mild. The outbreak's stability -- along with the near-complete immunization of all athletes -- has prompted Student Health and Athletic Department officials to rule tentatively that all weekend athletic contests will proceed without attendance restrictions. However, Collins did not rule out the possiblity that other competing schools may request restricted entrance to contests or may cancel their events. Philadelphia's Deputy Health Commissioner Robert Ross said yesterday he is "very concerned" about the University's measles outbreak, saying he will contact Collins this morning for an update on the situation. He added the city was concerned about future outbreaks in colleges and universities in the Philadelphia area and said the University "had better move on it" or else face an outright epidemic. "There's been lots of measles in colleges over the last year," Ross said. Ross also said the city's outbreak -- which has claimed at least five lives -- may last for another year. Collins said the undergraduate that Student Health diagnosed yesterday was advised to go into isolation to keep the virus from spreading, and has since left the University. Student Health has also contacted the students' roommates to tell them about the diagnosis, Collins said. Student Health does not have time or the ability to reach other possible "contacts" who may have received the virus, she added. This case brings the number Student Health has diagnosed to seven -- six undergraduates and a graduate student, Collins said. It is also the third case diagnosed unrelated to the Alpha Tau Omega fraternity and the wrestling team, Collins said. The first four students diagnosed are members of ATO and the University wrestling team. Collins emphasized the need for everyone under 35, including faculty and staff, to check their immunization records to make sure they are immunized twice, adding she is unaware of any faculty or staff diagnosed with the measles. "I think a lot of young faculty and staff may not be in compliance with [measles regulations] and need to be aware of them," Collins said. She also emphasized that students who plan to travel -- as an individual or as a member of a student group -- should check on their immunization records and set up appointments with Student Health should they need to be immunized. The Center for Disease Control recommends everyone receive one live-virus measles-mumps-rubella vaccination after their first birthday. The University changed its policy in summer 1989 to require two vaccinations before being on campus two semesters. This policy, which Deputy Health Commissioner Ross called a "good one," combats problems with the dead-virus vaccination which had been administered to people aged 13 to 34. However, Student Health has not enforced the policy for students already on campus, taking the students' word on their immunization record without requesting proof from their physician. Students should not, however, call Student Health for immunization information, Collins added, saying they cannot handle all the requests -- especially with Student Health employees themselves sick staying home from work. "The phones are ringing off the wall," Collins said, adding a special line will be installed by the end of the week or the beginning of next week to handle immunization appointments. Student Health is scheduling extra hours for staff members to combat the outbreak, Collins said, adding that the University Life Office has authorized them to spend extra money. "At the moment, we have to do what we have to do," Collins said. Students needing to be immunized should either call early in the morning or come to Student Health to make an appointment, Collins said.
(02/18/91 10:00am)
Student Health diagnosed a sixth case of measles in a student living off-campus Friday, Director MarJeanne Collins said last night. The student is the second student infected with the virus who is not a member of Alpha Tau Omega fraternity or the wrestling team, Collins said. Although the virus originally seemed to be restricted to ATO brothers who are on the University wrestling team, a case diagnosed Thursday and Friday's case, indicate the virus has spread. Neither student was a friend with the wrestlers or the ATO brothers diagnosed, Collins added. "It makes me fearful that we're going to continue to get cases," Collins said last night. However, no cases have been diagnosed over the weekend, Collins said. The director said Student Health has seen some of the early symptoms of mild measles cases, including conjunctivitis -- commonly known as pink-eye -- sore throats and colds in a number of people in the past few days. Because it is difficult to test for the virus, diagnosis is not possible until a rash appears, Collins said. The cases seen, Collins said, have not been severe. "Our feeling is since everyone has had at least one [vaccination], we have people who have at least partial protection," Collins said. Collins urged students to call their hometown physicians to find out the exact dates of any measles immunization, adding that Student Health is not equipped to handle a lot of calls from students asking about their immunization records. In order to meet University requirements, students must have two measles-mumps-rubella vaccinations. This requirement was adopted in 1989, but Student Health did not ask physicians to verify records for students already on campus, Collins said, leaving some students not protected against the virus. Students also need this information in case they are identified as having contact with a student diagnosed as having measles. In preparing to deal with the outbreak, Student Health will likely set up extra hours during the evening to immunize students. It will also immunize students in the lobby of High Rise South from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday. Student Health immunizations cost $30. People who have cold symptoms with a fever should come in to Student Health to be checked, Collins said, adding students who think they have measles should call ahead so "we woudn't leave them sitting in the waiting-room." The University has not decided to close any public gatherings, Vice Provost for University Life Kim Morrisson said last night. Collins said such measures would be premature, but said the University may cancel events should more cases appear. Collins also said any student groups planning to travel need to contact Student Health so members may be immunized if necessary. Collins said Student Health workers have been logging overtime hours to keep up with immunizations and examinations.
(02/15/91 10:00am)
A fifth case of measles has been diagnosed on campus in a student who was thought to be immunized, Student Health Director MarJeanne Collins said last night, prompting concerns that some students who thought they were properly innoculated are not. Unlike the first four students diagnosed, this student, whose symptoms were diagnosed yesterday afternoon, is not a member of either Alpha Tau Omega fraternity or the wrestling team, Collins said. All five of the students have been, or are still in quarantine. Other members of the wrestling team and ATO were quarantined early this week and were innoculated. Collins said last week that even one case of measles on campus is considered an epidemic. The student told Student Health that he had been immunized, but upon checking the student's records, officials discovered the student had received only one dose of immunization, Collins said. The University changed its immunization policy in 1989 to require students to prove they had been immunized twice in their life by the time they have spent two semesters on campus. This change was prompted by recommendations by the Center for Disease Control. Collins said earlier this week that some juniors and seniors may not be fully innoculated because they enrolled before the new regulations took effect. Students immunized before their first birthday may also not be protected because the immunization would not be effective that early in life, Collins added. Collins said many students were not careful in telling Student Health about their immunization record. She said many put down information from memory, rather than calling their doctor, so exact dates are not in Student Health records. Additionally, students only submit their latest immunization date for Student Health records, leaving Student Health without dates of students' first dosage. Collins said Student Health will soon be sending out forms asking students to update their immunization records to include all immunization dates and to check the dates with their physician. Collins also urged all students who need second innoculations to come to Student Health, where they will be provided at cost.
(02/14/91 10:00am)
Senior Vice President Marna Whittington will testify before a state House committee reviewing higher education funding later this month. The experts' reports will be delivered to the committee early in the day. Whittington will be joined by up to five other college and university administrators in her analysis. It is not known what stance the experts will take on funding for private schools like the University. The committee, headed by Representative Dwight Evans, is seeking to improve the accountability, budgeting, and financing of higher education in Pennsylvania, Shada said. The committee will be examining a system which is radically different from most state's funding of higher education. "It's purpose is to look at funding in a macro way . . . instead of [reviewing] individual institutions," Shada said. Whittington said last night she will argue for higher education in Pennsylvania as a whole in her testimony. Pennsylvania divides colleges and universities into two categories, state-related and non-state-related. The University of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania State, Temple, and Lincoln universities are state-related, while 12 private colleges and universities, including the University, Drexel, Thomas Jefferson and Hahnemann universities are non-state-related. Whittington said last night that regional politics may also have prompted the review. Eleven of the 12 private colleges funded by the state are in Philadelphia, and legislators from other parts of the state have historically been accused of an anti-Philadelphia bias. "[The review] is an element of Philadelphia politics," Whittington said. Whittington and Shada also said the state's worsening fiscal condition prompted the appropriations committee to examine higher education funding. While Shada is not certain whether or not the University would lose any funding because of this review, Whittington said last night she "absolutely defends" funding of the University. "I hope it's not going to be that parochial of a discussion," Whittington said. House Education Committee Chairperson Ronald Cowell (D-Allegheny) said Tuesday the legislature should examine the "special treatment" the University receives because of the state's fiscal problems. However, Whittington yesterday defended the University's state appropriation because of the historical role the University has played in the state. The state first provided funding for the University -- then named the University of the State of Pennsylvania -- in 1790. The state has continually funded the University since 1903.
(02/13/91 10:00am)
The University should have expected severe cuts to its state funding, and in the future may not receive any money from the state, the chairperson of the House Education Committee said yesterday afternoon. The state legislature will have to review the "special treatment" it has granted the University and other private colleges and universities when it debates the state budget, Education Committee Chairperson Robert Cowell (D-Allegheny) said. "Part of the debate that will go on this year, in the context of the tight fiscal situation, will be on the question of the state's responsibility to fund a very limited number of private institutions," Cowell said. "Most private institutions in the Commonwealth, many of which have outstanding programs, receive no such preferential treatment," Cowell added. While he would not speculate on the outcome of such a review, he said the legislature's decision on University funding may set a precedent for years to come. Senior Vice President Marna Whittington and Assistant Vice President for Commonwealth Relations James Shada, who lobbies for the University, were unavailable for comment. In his annual budget address last week, Casey proposed slashing the University's state appropriation from $37.6 million to $19 million. Administrators and local state representatives have denounced the proposal, calling it "disastrous" and "outrageous and unfair." Casey proposed 40 to 50 percent funding cuts to non-state-related colleges and universities while freezing funding for state-related schools. Cowell said if the legislature decided to stop funding any schools, the non-state-related schools would be the first to go. Cowell added the University would need to cooperate extensively with Philadelphia area representatives if it were to have "any hope at all" of increasing its appropriation over Casey's proposal. Cowell also said Casey's budget address cannot be compared to previous budget proposals due to the severity of the state's fiscal problems. "Typically in the past we have had debates about how much appropriations would be increased," Cowell said. "Never in my recollection have we been confronted with proposals to cut higher education proposals." But Cowell -- as well as several other state legislators -- emphasized the budget proposals were new and subject to change, especially since Casey has proposed the largest tax hike in state history. He predicted it would be difficult to restore the University's appropriation to this year's level without tax increases. Last year, the University received the same state appropriation as the year before, even though Casey proposed a four-percent cut.
(02/12/91 10:00am)
In an effort to strengthen interfaith relations at the University, Archbishop Anthony Bevilacqua spent the entire day on campus yesterday talking with Catholic and non-Catholic students, faculty and administrators. The archbishop, who oversees the Philadelphia diocese, spent his day explaining Catholic tenets and participating in debates over them both in small informal discussions and larger group settings, including over lunch with President Sheldon Hackney at his home at Eisenlohr Hall. During lunch, Bevilacqua discussed with Hackney ways to "promote civility in discourse" on campus, Newman Center Director James McGuire said. "We talked around the problem without solving it," McGuire said. Earlier in the day, Bevilacqua discussed the nature of Jewish-Catholic relations at Hillel, explaining to the approximately 20 people present the Catholic document Nostra Aetate, which absolves the Jewish faith of guilt for Christ's death and apologizes for Catholic anti-Semitism. Bevilaqua also told students -- answering his "most asked" question by Jews -- that while the Catholic Church recognizes Israel, the Vatican has not established diplomatic relations with Israel because of concerns over both the Palestinians and over Church holdings in Jerusalem. "We strongly support the state of Israel," the archbishop said. "Why no diplomatic relations? The time's not right." While discussing the Persian Gulf war at the Christian Association, Bevilacqua told students and campus Protestant ministers the most difficult, yet most successful, way to work for peace is to be kind to other people. "If Hussein could look at America and say, 'Look how [Americans] love each other,' he may not have attacked," Bevilacqua said. The archbishop also praised the CA for its strong relationship with the Newman Center, emphasizing that "the message you give must be cooperative." During the afternoon, Bevilacqua spoke at forums held by the Medical School and the Law School discussing ethics in medicine and law. "The exchanges were direct and substantive," McGuire said. "We saw [discussions of] genuine, sincere differences of opinion." The archbishop, a member of the bars of the U.S. Supreme Court and the Philadelphia federal court, ate dinner at the Newman Center and spoke individually with over 50 people in a receiving line afterward. Bevilacqua said last night he was impressed by the "friendly manner" of the discussions even though people did not agree with him. "I enjoyed the interaction with students," Bevilacqua said. "[They were] willing to listen." Bevilacqua and McGuire both said the days' events were important for opening dialogue on campus and for "breaking the ice" between the archbishop and the University. "[The day] was very successful," McGuire said last night. "The goal was for him to meet people. . .the reception was warm."
(02/11/91 10:00am)
Governor Robert Casey's proposed cuts in University funding would cripple the Veterinary School's already-stretched abilities to teach and perform research, students and faculty said last night. Faculty and students added Casey is practicing "political terrorism" -- using the Vet School, as well as other colleges and universities, as a pawn in a political struggle over higher-education funding. In his budget proposal last week, Casey requested that the state legislature cut the University's funding almost in half, from $37.6 million to $19 million. Hardest hit by the cuts would be the Vet School, which gets 40 percent funding from the state. The Vet School's allotment would be slashed from $8 million to $5.6 million, and three other programs related to the Vet School would be cut as well. "The magnitude of the [proposed] cuts is so devastating to get everyone's attention," Vet School Dean Edwin Andrews said last week. "If the cuts would stay, the school wouldn't be here in five years." Were Casey's recommendations to pass the legislature, Andrews added, the school could fire all 100 faculty members and still not close the gap caused by the cut. Students said last night Casey's proposal would continue a trend over the last few years in which the Vet School's quality has decreased due to financial constraints. Third-year Vet School student Melanie Newman said yesterday the Vet School already suffers from financial limitations -- especially in the laboratory. "Professors have advised us to be thrifty with supplies," Newman said yesterday. "The quality of education has been affected since I've been at school." Vet School financial problems in the past have already lessened the scope of a University Vet School education, third-year student Douglas Fraser said yesterday. As an example, he pointed to the axing of an exotic animals clinic the school used to run. "I think it's something that has been observed over the past three years," Fraser said. "[There are] limited opportunities. If you are interested in some programs, you're at a disadvantage." Andrews also said the cuts were particularly threatening because of the school's "lean" financial situation. The school is still recovering from a $537,000 cut in this fiscal year's state appropriation. Due to an estimated $1 billion shortfall in this year's budget, Casey cut the University's state funding for this school year by 3.5 percent last month. Because of the cut, Andrews said, the school had to lay off new faculty and ask the University for financial support. During his budget address last Wednesday, Casey also proposed cutting the school's New Bolton Center's state funding from $3.9 million to $1.5 million and proposed a 57 percent reduction in funding for both food and animal clinics and for the Center for Animal Health and Productivity. Students say cuts to the New Bolton program will limit students' opportunities to do field service -- going to farms at a farmers' request and treating farm animals. Though Casey's proposals are "short-sighted," the statehouse's decision will be far more important, Microbiology Professor Robert Davies said yesterday. "What really matters is 'what will the final decision be?' " Davies said. "This. . .is a very poor beginning." Staff writer Melissa Fragnito contributed to this story.
(02/08/91 10:00am)
U.S. News and World Report may say the University is in the cellar of the Ivy League, but as of January 1, President Sheldon Hackney is leading it. For the next two years, Hackney is chairperson of the Council of Ivy Group Presidents, where he will oversee both the Ivy League's athletic and academic policies, serve as spokesperson for the League and set the agenda for the biannual meetings of the eight schools' presidents, Ivy Group Executive Director Jeff Orleans said. The council's chair changes every two years, Orleans said this week, passing to the president of the next member school alphabetically. Harvard President Derek Bok should have held the chair, Orleans said, but Harvard's term was passed when Bok announced this summer he would resign at the end of the year. Hackney said this week that chairing the Council is a necessary -- but not time-consuming -- duty. "It's my turn to arrange things," Hackney said. He added that the Council will spend most of its time discussing Ivy League athletic policies, adding that it is "distressing" that the presidents cannot spend more time on other issues. "The group is good," Hackney said. "I learn a lot from the group about common problems." Hackney's experience with the National Collegiate Athletic Association should aid him in athletic affairs, Orleans said. Hackney represents the Patriot League and the Yankee Conference as well as the Ivy League to the NCAA Presidents' Commission. Hackney added that the Council will also talk about the Persian Gulf war and the federal budget.
(02/08/91 10:00am)
The University is facing either large tuition increases or drastic program cuts if Governor Robert Casey proposed cut of $18 million in state aid to the University passes the state legislature. Wednesday, Casey proposed nearly halving the University's state funding for fiscal year 1992, reducing last year's $37.3 million appropriation to $19 million. University officials yesterday called the recommended cuts a catastrophe, saying their first plan of action is to try to convince the state to restore the aid. "In a word, it's disastrous," Senior Vice President Marna Whittington said yesterday. "We're right now looking at everything to figure out what to do." In an annual presentation of budget proposals, Casey requested slashing general funding to the University from $16.6 million to $6.6 million. Casey also suggested substantial cuts to the Veterinary School, the Dental School, and the Medical School. The University uses the general aid throughout the budget. Whittington said last month the funds have helped keep tuition increases down in the past. President Sheldon Hackney could not be reached for comment yesterday. Both Whittington and the University's Harrisburg lobbyist James Shada said the proposal, if passed, would have wide-ranging effects for the entire University. Whittington said the loss of revenue would either represent "substantially" shrunken programs or increases in tuition. These cuts would affect tuition for next year. Whittington said she did not know how much tuition or programs would be affected. "We don't have that many vacancies, and we don't have that much discretionary [funds]," Whittington said. "[This loss in funding] would impact the quality of the Penn experience." The Vet School lost the single largest amount of any program at the University. Casey recommended that the state cut $2.4 million dollars -- 30 percent -- from its appropriation. Last year, the school received nearly 40 percent of its funding from the state. Edwin Andrews, dean of the Vet School, could not be reached for comment yesterday. In the past year, the University has been hard hit by federal and state budget cuts. In Fiscal Year 1990, the state froze the University's funding after Casey proposed cutting it by four percent. Last month, Casey cut $1.2 million from this amount, prompting fears at the University of a potential $1 million budget deficit. Earlier this week, proposed federal budget cuts left several financial aid programs in jeopardy. These cuts came in grant and work-study programs but the proposal also called for an increase in some types of loans. Shada said it will be difficult to convince legislators to restore the aid because of the state's own worsening fiscal health. Casey also proposed Wednesday the largest tax hike in state history. "The tinkering is complicated by the potential need for taxes," Shada said. "If additional monies are to be spent, they will have to increase the tax package even more." The University plans to increase lobbying efforts in Harrisburg, Shada said yesterday, making its presence "a little broader, a little more intense, have a longer shelf life, and involve more people" than in past years. Shada predicted that Hackney and Whittington will be meeting with statehouse representatives "when necessary, and where it is proper." Shada said he and fellow lobbyist Paul Cribbens will meet with members of two congressional subcommittees in hopes of improving the vet school's apportionment. Shada emphasized that Casey's budget requests are a rough draft of the final budget. He added that while modifications are certain, the extent of change is unknown. Area state representatives and senators said they were deeply discouraged by Casey's proposals, saying the cuts to the University would reach farther than the edge of campus. "The University is an important institution for West Philadelphia, an important institution for the city -- its largest private employer -- and an important institution for the state and country," said State Representative Vincent Hughes (D-Phila.), whose district includes the University. "Very significant work gets done there." House Minority Leader Matthew Ryan (D-Phila.) said he would fight for more money for the University, calling Casey's proposals "outrageous and unfair." "It's going to make it . . . very, very difficult if not impossible to adjust their budgets so that the students and the University can be treated fairly," Ryan said. State Representative Hughes added that budget cuts might cause high tuition increases, making it more difficult for minority students to attend the University.
(02/07/91 10:00am)
Tonight the University will celebrate the Furness Building's restoration -- one hundred years to the day after its dedication. The celebration, the Furness Centennial Gala, will honor both the completion of a five-year, $16.5 million renovation project and the vision of its architect, Frank Furness. The event features a black-tie dinner celebrating the full restoration of the building and a preview of an exhibit on Furness called, "Frank Furness: The Flowering of an American Architecture." "[This exhibit] establishes Frank Furness as the man most in touch with the ideas . . . of modern American architecture," said George Thomas, exhibit curator and the restoration's historian. The exhibit will include architectural drawings and pictures of buildings Furness designed, Thomas said. It traces the influence of Furness' father and of his father's close friend and American writer Ralph Waldo Emerson on Furness, and it includes portraits of both painted by Furness' brother. The exhibit also features a dozen pieces of furniture Furness designed including, Thomas said, a crib that every child who slept in fell out of. Also included are a saber that Furness carried in the Civil War and a photograph of the architect taken the day before he earned a Medal of Honor in a Civil War battle. The restoration of the Furness building, Thomas said, has been exciting because the building is a "central building in American architecture" as well as one of Furness' major accomplishments. "It's a central building of [Furness'] mature career," Thomas said. "It's a great building with great spaces to go into." President Sheldon Hackney will be hosting the dinner, to be held in the reading room on the first floor, along with Leonard Lauder and Willard Rouse, the co-chairpeople of the restoration oversight committee.
(02/06/91 10:00am)
The Bush administration's budget proposal for Fiscal Year 1992 would make attending the University more difficult for undergraduate students, University administrators said yesterday. The White House budget proposal, released Monday, would cut annual federal funding for supplemental grants and work-study programs while increasing the amount of money students could borrow from the federal goverment. The budget proposal also includes increasing Pell Grant funding -- educational money which the federal government targets for the lowest income groups -- by $401 million to almost $6 billion. While the administration stated in the proposal that it aims to help the lowest-income groups fund higher education, it is unclear how middle-income students receiving aid might be affected by the proposed budget. And administrators said yesterday that they are not sure how the Bush administration's education budget package might affect the University's aid program or students' aid awards. Student Financial Services Director William Schilling said that the University will have a fuller understanding of the budget proposal's affects within two weeks. Approximately 600 undergraduates receive suppplemental grants from the federal government, while about 1500 students receive Pell Grant funding, Schilling said yesterday, adding that "many more" students receive work-study funds. Although it is likely that Congress will modify the budget, Schilling said he is worried about the proposed funding decreases to work-study and grant funds. "[Should this proposal pass], we would be concerned about the impact to students abilities to attend colleges," Schilling said. While annual funding for supplemental grants -- which are non-Pell Grants issued at the federal level -- would decrease, the Bush proposal maintains that the actual supplemental funds available would increase next year by $48 million. This projection is due to non-federal funding of supplemental grants. The budget proposal asks Congress to cut next year's funding to these grants by $173 million to $347 million President Bush also proposes to cut the amount of work-study money available to students by $72 million to $710 million. In Monday's budget requests, Bush asked for authorization to increase federal loan limits from $2,625 to $3,500 for freshmen and sophomores, and from $4,000 to $5,000 for other undergraduates. Senior Vice President Marna Whittington said last night that the increases in loan limits concern her, saying that graduates should not have to take loan obligations into consideration when planning what to do after leaving the University. "[The University must] work hard to make sure the indebtednesss of students when they leave here is handleable," Whittington said last night. Schilling said he did not yet know the how the University would be affected by passage of a Bush Administration plan to increase the amount of federal loans undergraduates could take out. Schilling said the Bush budget package was a "starting point" for budget discussions and that in the past, presidential budget proposals have gone through substantial changes once presented to Congress.
