Search Results
Below are your search results. You can also try a Basic Search.
(06/30/96 9:00am)
Windber, PA The University hosted Tom Stoppard, an orator, intellectual and playwright, for an exhilerating three days in February. During his stay on campus, students and faculty became enthusiastically involved with learning for the sole purpose of learning. The days Stoppard spent on campus were the final act of the 1995-96 Penn Reading Project, affecting a large portion of the University community. At the beginning of the school year, 5,000 copies of Stoppard's play Arcadia were distributed to incoming freshman, faculty and parents. For the project, freshmen discussed Stoppard's play in small groups across campus, watched scenes from the work and had opportunities to attend faculty symposia about the play. While on campus, Stoppard participated in lectures, panel discussions and classes with the University community. The excitement Stoppard generated flowed flowed into the surrounding Philadelphia community, as residents from the entire region came to hear him speak. By the close of Stoppard's three-day visit, faculty and students across the four undergraduate schools were equally disappointed to see him board his plane. "Stoppard doesn't just jump on an airplane when someone asks him to," said English Professor and Steinberg Symposium Chairperson Robert Lucid said. "He came because we kept the text alive through education." According to the English Undergraduate Chairperson Al Filreis, the entire Stoppard Dymposium transcended the boundaries of what is normally considered vurriculum and extended the idea of the "intellectual community" well beyond the classroom. After a reception and dinner for Stoppard at Eisenlohr Hall hosted by University President Judith Rodin, a proclamation from Mayor Ed Rendell was read declaring February 7 "Tom Stoppard Day" in Philadelphia.
(06/27/96 9:00am)
A federal jury awarded $500,000 to each of three MOVE plaintiffs last Monday -- Ramona Africa, the estate of MOVE founder John Africa, and the estate of Frank Africa -- 11 years after a police bomb turned a West Philadelphia block into a fire that resulted in 11 deaths. Seven jurors found that the authorities used excessive force against the primarily black, radical, back-to-nature group founded in the early 1970s. And the $1.5 million in verdicts could greatly increase after the winning lawyers submit their bills for the prevailing plaintiffs. Following three months of court testimony and nine days of deliberation, the jury of five men and two women sent a message to Philadelphia's former police commissioner, Gregore Sambor, and former fire commissioner, William Richmond, who directed the police assault on the MOVE house May 13, 1985. In an unusual decision, the jury decided that the pair of officers should be forced to think about their actions for the next 11 years -- reflecting the time it took for the plaintiffs to get their day in court. Every week until the year 2007 Sambor and Richmond might have to pay $1 a week each in punitive damages. "Miss Africa said from the beginning of the trial that she was only after justice -- and that's what was done," said Ramona Africa's lawyer, Andre L. Dennis of Stradley Ronon Stevens & Young. "The monetary value of the damages is not significant. I think that justice was done is this case." Although they were disappointed with their loss, city officials had feared a larger monetary award and have actually paid larger amounts of money to settle previous lawsuits that resulted from the disaster. Mayor Ed Rendell announced before the trial that the case could cost taxpayers "millions and millions." It is still unclear whether the police officers will have to pay damages. The city's general practice is to cover such awards against public servants, but Rendell administration officials said they are going to review the case before making a decision. Attorney John Morris, who represented Sambor, said he "was very disappointed in the verdict in its entirety." Richmond himself commented, "I say it is a loss -- a total loss." U.S. District Judge Louis Pollak still must rule on motions from Sambor and Richmond saying that they should have immunity for their actions. If Pollack would grant the two immunity, the verdicts against them would be set aside. The verdict against the city would not change, however. "This has been a very long trial and extended deliberation," Pollak said. "The trial has been marked from the outset by great diligence and perseverance. I am very thankful to both the jurors and the lawyers for all their hard work." Last Friday, the jury announced to Pollak that it had reached a verdict on only one defendant and was deadlocked on the two others. One juror, who was reportedly worn out by the trial, was dismissed, and the remaining seven returned to court to try again. Fincourt Shelton, who represented the estate of Frank James Africa believes the dismissal of the juror played a key role in the resulting verdict. "I do not believe the jury would have been able to reach an unanimous verdict if the one juror did not leave on Friday," Shelton said. "The dismissal gave the remaining jurors a chance to come up with the right verdict -- and they did. I know the officers will remember Ramona Africa, John Africa and Frank James Africa every week for 11 years."
(06/27/96 9:00am)
University students will never go hungry again. An abundance of construction throughout the remaining summer months will prepare the University community for a higher quality of food service next year according to Associate Treasurer Chris Mason. The Unimart on the corner of 40th and Locust, for example, was closed due to construction last week. Mason said the building is currently undergoing renovations that are scheduled to completed by late August. "An improved convenience store should be open and ready for students in the fall," Mason explained. "I know a lot of people depend on Unimart for daily groceries -- the renovations should further improve the store." Another construction site during the summer will be the Stouffer Triangle where a new restaurant called Salad Works should be open for business by August or September, Mason said. Plans for the inside of Salad Works are being finalized this month and construction will follow immediately. College Pizza, which had difficulties recovering profits after a fire last year, has decided to return to their original place of business between Baskin Robbins and Cinemagic 3. Mason said the smaller site is more suited to the restaurant's mostly take-out business. The University has also decided to reopen La-Terrasse, a French restaurant located on 35th and Sansom. It is scheduled to be finished during the early part of 1997, according to Mason. "I really think the community will enjoy the reopening of this fine French restaurant," Mason said. "It will add to the atmosphere of the University." The former College Pizza building and nearby Mega Video, which was also struck by fire, could both be replaced by one new store, Mason said. He added that the University will continue negotiations concerning the space throughout the summer. Mega Video did not return to campus after the fire because of "business concerns," he said. Mason added that he is "satisfied with the University's retail situation." One restaurant in the University area recently closed. The Pizza House, commonly known as "the pizza-chicken place," on the corner of 39th and Walnut shut down earlier this month and has no plans for reopening.
(06/27/96 9:00am)
Executive Vice President John Fry will embark on an analysis of how well the University's Dining Services performs during the upcoming year. The purpose of the study is to determine the level of student, faculty and staff satisfaction with Dining Services, which includes student dining, catering and other food services. Although Fry insists there are no current negotiations, University students and faculty are calling for further involvement in future proceedings. "There are absolutely no ongoing negotiations with Aramark or Marriott regarding outsourcing Penn's Dining Services," Fry said. "Also, no packages have been offered to any Dining Services employees, and none are planned." Undergraduate Assembly Chairperson Tal Golomb said he is eager to become involved with the analysis. He said he has been in contact with Fry and the Office of the Vice Provost for University Life in an effort to schedule meetings concerning outsourcing. Thus far, Golomb said UA members have been unsuccessful in their search for increased student involvement. He feels that many University groups have faced similar obstacles. "Because it is the summer, I don't think the administrators feel that students care about what is going on," Golomb said. "At the very least, the student government should already have been notified of future possibilities." Golomb feels that both the UA and students should be skeptical about changes taking place to student services. Executive Director of Hospitality Services Donald Jacobs believes the process to consider companies for outsourcing will be handled fairly by the University. Jacobs was an employee of the company that is now Aramark until 1976 when he began to manage University Dining Services. "These are not easy times for the University," Jacobs said. "But I will stay here until the University doesn't want me any more." The former chairperson of the Penn Professional Staff Assembly Ira Winston feels that the University should begin to compile information from students, staff and faculty now. Winston said he believes the University should "be careful about what companies it outsources with." He added that outsourcing services appears to be efficient and wise for the University -- if done correctly. Fry's analysis is designed to determine the level of satisfaction towards existing services, whether the services meet people's needs, the degree that University students do not use Dining Services, where people do dine when they do not use the University's dining services. It will also look at how Dining Services performs financially and how well Dining Services operates from an "effectiveness and efficiency standpoint." The study will take the form of focus groups, surveys, benchmarking the University's services against the performance of other providers and the experience of other comparable institutions and an analysis of the operations and financial performance of Dining Services. Once the analysis of Dining Services is completed, the next step for Fry will be to determine whether it is feasible and desirable to look to an external provider. "Based on the results of the analysis, we will decide whether to continue to run our own Dining Services," Fry said. "It is important to emphasize that all decisions to outsource business operations at Penn will follow this same kind of careful review and analysis."
(06/27/96 9:00am)
A large-scale project is underway to make debit cards more user-friendly in the University community. Representatives from dining, residential living and the retail community are working with students and a four-person administrative team to negotiate the details of becoming one of the first universities to use an I.D. card that contains an integrated computer chip. As part of the new plan, the PennCard is also being revised in order to make the debit card system plausible. Beginning this fall, all newly issued PennCards will use computerized pictures, said Telecommunications Director Laurie Cousart who is also the project leader for the investigative PennCard team. The new type of pictures will also use plastic cards, making alterations almost impossible, according to the Director of Student Financial Services Operations, John De Long. "The new card will prevent a lot of shady business from happening," De Lond said. "Students will no longer be able to change their birthdays to say '21'." There is currently a search for a company to provide the University with a cost-efficient integrated chip for use in the PennCard. De Long said that the chip could be used as early as November or December of this year. The PennCard will be able to be used as an electronic cash card, giving access to vending and laundry machines, Penn Student Agencies' commissaries and copy machines he said. Differing from the first proposed debit card with a magnetic stripe -- the card with a chip would not require the machines to be wired. "The first debit card was almost impossible to implement because of all the expensive wiring," Cousart said. "The card with the chip is much more practical." She added that using the chip will make it possible to provide the same services both on and off campus, without charging wiring fees. Cousart said it will be easier for both the University and venders. Eventually, the PennCard with a chip should be able to be used in innovative ways. "When we have everything working properly, students should be able to swipe their cards at residences and have their computerized pictures appear on a screen for the guards," De Long said. "This type of process will make it so much easier to apprehend unwanted visitors." No students will be required to have the new PennCards. All cards issued beginning this fall will have computerized pictures and De Long said that the chip will probably follow later this year. In order to avoid crowds, the PennCard committee is planning on organizing separate registration booths once the chip card is implemented. Cousart said she is very excited about using the new technology. "I think it will be really cool," she said. "This is really new stuff and we are right on it." Currently Florida and Michigan State are the only two schools that use an I.D. card with a chip.
(06/27/96 9:00am)
The University received a $10 million gift from Leonard Lauder last week that is earmarked for the Joseph H. Lauder Institute of Management & International Studies. President Judith Rodin announced the donation from the president and Chief Executive Officer of Estee Lauder Companies Inc. on June 27 during the annual trustee meetings. The Lauder Institute is an innovative joint MBA/MA degree program in management and international studies established in 1983 between Wharton and the School of Arts and Sciences. The gift will enable the Institute -- which is currently the only dual MBA/MA degree program in management and international studies at a major business school -- to set new standards in global manage ment education by further developing international studies, foreign language and cross-cultural aspects of the curriculum. The Institute was founded by Leonard Lauder -- a 1954 Wharton graduate, Ronald Lauder -- a 1965 Wharton graduate, and Estee Lauder, with an initial gift of $10 million in honor of their father, Joseph Lauder, co-founder of the New York-based Estee Lauder Companies, Inc. The total gift of $20 million makes it the largest endowment of any international management program of its kind in the world. "As leaders of one of the largest global consumer products organization, our family remains deeply committed to international management education," Leonard Lauder said. "Over the past 13 years, we have watched the Lauder Institute grow and mature as the leading program of its kind in the world." Lauder hopes his contribution will ensure the University's leadership in the future of the field. The mission of the Institute is to educate the global business leaders of the 21st century by providing a superior international management education. It enrolls 60 students each year and, since its first graduating class in 1984, has more than 500 graduates working in 60 countries around the world. In the international studies area, the new endowment will provide a sequence of new courses -- specifically designed for students of professional degree programs. The gift will also provide for faculty development programs in conjunction with the new classes. In the language and cross-cultural studies area, the Lauder gift will fund new high-level language programs as well as development of new teaching media. In addition, the money will provide for endowment of the Director's position at the Lauder Institute. "The entire Penn community is grateful to Leonard Lauder for this unprecedented commitment to education in management and international studies," said President Judith Rodin. "This new endowment directly supports Penn's Agenda for Excellence and our strategic goal of significantly increasing Penn's role as a global institution." Rodin added that Lauder's generosity will ensure that Penn's students will continue to receive the "finest education." The University's Agenda for Excellence is a strategic plan that proposes a series of critical priorities and objectives for Penn over the next five years. "It is extremely important to us that Penn remain at the forefront of global education," Lauder said. "We are pleased that we are able to support President Rodin's Agenda for Excellence in this way." School of Arts and Sciences Dean Rosemary Stevens described the Lauder Institute as a gem and said that the new gift will ensure that it "will shine more brightly in the future."
(06/20/96 9:00am)
Executive Director of Hospitality Services Donald Jacobs said "outsourcing certainly would affect" employees of Dining Services -- including approximately 40 managers, 125 union employees, 100 part-time employees, and 200 student employees. Jacobs and other Dining Services officials said they have no idea if or when the University would bring in an outside company to take over their services. But many employees are concerned about this uncertainty. Last week Executive Vice President John Fry said that "everything will be considered" for outsourcing possibilities at the University. Provost Stanley Chodorow explained outsourcing as one of the options the University is considering for specific administrative or business services. "The core functions of Penn are teaching, research, and many student services -- we will never outsource those functions," Chodorow said. "But there are services that the University provides or that support the core functions that might be better done by an outside company than a University office." Aramark, a Philadelphia-based company which outsources dining services for over 300 colleges and universities, has expressed interest in the University. However, after spending half his career working for Aramark, Jacobs said he does not feel outsourcing is always negative. "There seems to be a possibility of Penn going in that direction," Jacobs said. The employees have been told to be positive, especially because there are similar situations in other University departments, according to Dining Services/Hospitality Services Department Secretary Elizabeth Mehan Calter. She explained that employees have been told that whatever is most beneficial for the University is also the most beneficial for the department. "Personally, I am not that worried about my position because I have the option of retiring early," Calter said. "Whatever happens -- happens." Other people employed by Dining Services do not feel the same security. Dining Services employee Tony Cosby, a union member for 26 years, said he has been hearing rumors about the possibility of outsourcing. He said that many dining employees are among the oldest workers on campus. "My daughter graduates from high school next year. I have earned benefits, by working here for 26 years, for her to go to college," Cosby said. "If they outsource dining, my benefits will be jeopardized." Another dining employee who said she has worked for the University for over 30 years also fears outsourcing. Though she wished to remain anonymous, she said she would not be surprised if Penn decided to bring in outside companies. "We would be lucky to keep our jobs and we already can hardly make ends meet with what we make now," she said. "I guess we'll have to try to get by any way we could."
(06/20/96 9:00am)
Glass shards sprayed on Superblock fromGlass shards sprayed on Superblock fromthe 4x5 foot hole in the rooftop lounge A chair was thrown through a window in the rooftop lounge of High Rise South on Tuesday evening -- causing a large pain of glass to shatter in the Superblock. An "unknown student" is responsible for the incident, according to University Police Sergeant Laurence Salotti. And University officials say that anyone involved in the incident will be facing harsh penalties. "Now the issue is finding out exactly what happened and who was involved in it," said Vice Provost for University Life Valarie Swain-Cade McCoullum. "Any student involved will be prosecuted severely, up to and including expulsion. Also, the University will pursue all criminal and civil charges against the person as well." The window was broken at 5:42 p.m. Tuesday evening-- leaving a 4 by 5 foot hole in a window on the west side of the lounge. "No one was injured, thankfully," McCoullum said. "But it was a dangerous situation, especially because of the weather. The police handled everything perfectly." Within minutes of the glass shattering, the plaza in front of High Rise South was roped off and guarded by officers. All people entering the building were forced to use the rear entrance. The rooftop lounge was also closed as police conducted investigations and Physical Plant workers attempted to prevent further glass from breaking in the intense winds. McCoullum said that a company will be brought in to replace the pane of glass as soon as possible. She did not know, however, how long it would take for the pane to be replaced because of the unusual type and location of the glass. She also praised the Residential Advisors in the high rise for their quick action. Frank Tortorello, High Rise South's head advisor, said the advisors have posting notices and providing assistance to the students and faculty who are living in High Rise South. While many students were confused by the police barricade, some overheard the incident which lead to the broken window. "I heard a loud commotion and voices coming from above my room," explained graduate student Joe Murphy. "Then I heard a rumbling sound, which I think was the glass breaking." Many students seemed confused by the incident. Engineering sophomore Alyssa Abo said she could not find out what happened to cause the broken glass. "I don't know what happened exactly," Abo said. "I heard that a chair was thrown through a window and I know a lot of glass fell to the ground. But I am not sure." McCoullum said the police have begun preliminary work on the investigation and the University will take action as soon as possible. "Nobody knows who did it yet," Salotti said Wednesday morning when asked about the progress of the investigation. At press time, the University Police still had no suspects.
(06/20/96 9:00am)
Torch was lateTorch was latearriving in Philly dueTorch was latearriving in Philly dueto massive crowds inTorch was latearriving in Philly dueto massive crowds inNew Jersey "We're ready -- trust us we're ready," said Debbie Wright, a resident of North Philadelphia. She was one of tens of thousands Philadelphia-area residents gathered Tuesday night to await the arrival of the Olympic torch on its way to the Summer Games in Atlanta. Enticing the thick crowds, Mayor Ed Rendell explained that the torch was over an hour tardy because of the overwhelming response from the people of New Jersey. Rendell asked the citizens if they were prepared to welcome the flame. "I brought my daughter to this celebration because I feel it is important for us to be involved with this year's centennial olympic festival," Wright commented. "Since we can't make it to Atlanta -- tonight is our chance to share in the glory. And we are ready and waiting." Wright, along with fireworks, emergency crews, and cheering people, greeted the torch as it crossed the Delaware River from New Jersey at approximately 9:55 p.m. Foreboding skies did not dampen the occasion as numerous musical and dance groups tried to make the wait more bearable for the excited crowd. "The crowds have been so overwhelming along the New Jersey route that our pace has been quite slow today," said relay spokesman for the Atlanta Committee for Olympic Games David Emanuel. "We did not anticipate this type of response." While waiting for the festivities to begin, the crowd enjoyed a carnival-like atmosphere. But sounds of helicopters constantly reminded the people of what they came to see. A motorcade took the torch from Morisville down U.S. 1 to Philadelphia. At the Falls Bridge on the Schuylkill, the torch left the motorcade and 14 people took turns carrying it along West River Drive to Eakins Oval -- where the crowd began to cheer on the runners. "How could I live so close and not come to see this?," said College senior Laura Paladino. "The torch didn't go to Nebraska, so I had to come here." Minutes before the arrival of the torch Rendell explained that "instead of politicians or celebrities" community leaders will bear the torch. A lawyer who has participated in six years of community service and a police officer who is also a volunteer fireman, were part of the fifty "community heroes" chosen by the United Way and 10 former Olympians who were chosen to carry the torch. Joe Frazier, a gold medalist in boxing, and Rafer Johnson, a gold medalist and three-time world champion in the decathlon circled the crazed crowd before the final hand-off, which began the gala ceremony. "With Joe Frazier and all these Olympic athletes right here, today is a once in a lifetime opportunity," said Engineering sophomore Josh Ewing. "I wouldn't miss it for anything." By this time the torch was almost a hour and a half behind schedule, but the crowded roared as Dawn Staley, a Philadelphia native and point guard for the women's Olympic basketball team, began the final leg. She ran up the steps of the Art Museum, which flashed with red and blue lights, while the theme song to Rocky blasted over the loudspeakers. The olympic star proceeded to run down the steps to light the large torch. "This flame is the symbol of our closeness -- with our neighbors and with our neighboring countries," said Suzanne Perry of the United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvanian while the lighting took place. A laser light simultaneously followed the ceremony, which was successful but people began to slowly file out of the area due to the lateness of the performance. "We would have liked the hours to be better, but when life gives you lemons, you make lemonade," Perry said. While most of the crowd was still present, Rendell granted permission for everyone to be late for school or work on Wednesday. But the torch relay runners certainly did not take his advice. On Wednesday morning at 5 a.m. it was relit from the "mother flame" and was swiftly moved down Walnut Street. The relay passed the University of Pennsylvania campus at approximately 5:30 a.m. Nancy Schultz, the widow of slain Olympic wrestler David Schultz was one of the torch bearers in the morning. The route out of Philadelphia followed Walnut Street into Upper Darby, where it headed out to West Chester Pike. The route then proceeded down U.S. 202 to Wilmington, Delaware. Since beginning its 84-day trip in Los Angeles on April 27, the Olympic flame has traveled via cable car, steamboat, crop duster and horseback. The 1996 Summer Olympic Games are scheduled to begin in 28 days in Atlanta. A professor from Temple University, Micha Hohenberger, said he would have not missed the ceremony for anything. "I feel so lucky to be able to take part in the torch relay -- it has been a very unifying experience," Hohenberger said.
(06/20/96 9:00am)
E-mail away without concern -- three federal judges ruled last Wednesday that the Communications Decency Act violated the First Amendment. The preliminary victory was celebrated everywhere from University chat rooms to electronic bulletin boards, which sported cyber-fireworks. The panel of judges in Philadelphia struck down the CDA as unconstitutional and overly broad. The panel members issued a 175-page injunction was issued, thereby keeping the Justice Department from enforcing the law. The proposed act was designed, in theory, to protect children from indecent material on the worldwide computer network by banning anything "patently offensive" and imposing fines of up to $250,000 and prison terms of up to two years for those putting sexually explicit material on computer networks. "The Internet is a far more speech-enhancing medium than print, the village green, or the mails," a statement issued by the panel read. "Because it would necessarily affect the Internet itself, the CDA would necessarily reduce the speech available for adults on the medium. This is a constitutionally intolerable result." The University has opposed the law for similar reasons -- the restriction of the free flow of ideas and information on the Internet is "critical to Penn's mission of teaching and research," Provost Stanley Chodorow said yesterday. Last year, a group of University students united to fight limitations of free speech. One of the initial targets of the newly formed First Amendment Task Force was the CDA. The chairperson of FATS, Wharton senior Allison Miller, said the group vocalized against the law because it severely impaired first amendment rights. Members of FATS protested the CDA when Vice-President Al Gore visited the campus. The group also organized a forum on free speech last March. "The CDA affects Penn because, if upheld, the University would be held responsible for the homepages and e-mails of all students," Miller said. "Penn would not be able to continue to support our Internet use." Miller said that the group will continue to follow any appeals to the CDA. The Justice Department has until July 2 to decide whether to appeal to the Supreme Court. The department has given no indication of how it will proceed, but many legal scholars seem united in predicting that the Supreme Court will affirm the ruling if it hears an appeal. "It is contrary to the principle of free inquiry to restrict the use of the electronic media of communication, and that principle is the cornerstone of academic work," Chodorow said. "We will continue to work for a definitive judgement that the law is unconstitutional because it contains freedom of speech, is vague, and is impossible to enforce." Miller believes that there are two possibilities for the future of the Internet -- "everything will just go on as usual" or all use will be shutdown. She said the Internet should not be perceived as a broadcast medium, but rather as an opportunity for one person to communicate with another person. Immediately following the ruling, the decision was widely available on the Internet. "It is great that the CDA was struck down," Miller said. "But it will blow up again."
(06/13/96 9:00am)
Looking for something new and exciting to do this afternoon? Summerfest '96 will be celebrated today and every Thursday for the duration of the summer. Take a walk to the Houston Hall Plaza -- the area between Houston and College Halls -- between 11:30 am and 2 pm and join in the second annual festival. The summertime tradition sponsored by Summer Sessions, Houston Hall and the Vice Provost for University Life was a single day event last year, but has been expanded this year due to student response. "I am very excited about the plans in store for this summer," said Vice Provost for University Life Valarie Swain-Cade McCoullum. "We thought it would be fabulous to expand opportunities to liven up the campus during the summer when so many students, faculty, staff and community members are active." Last Thursday, June 6, was the first day that University students, faculty and community members gathered at the student union. Many people were optimistic about the extended festival. Each day vendors will be selling food and door prizes will be awarded. Music will be a weekly part of the outdoor activity. Nestea will also be present to distribute free drinks. "This is a great weekly event because it allows everyone to come together and enjoy the nice outdoor weather," said Tom Hauber, one of the directors of Houston Hall who helped organize the summerfest. "It reminds people that we are still here in the summer." Hauber said he was pleased with last Thursday's moderate turnout and believes that move people will attend the future events. Along with the various food being sold at the event, several stores located in Houston Hall set up outdoor booths on Thursdays. Several owners are hoping for more customers as the 1996 Summerfests continue. "I like being outside -- but I need more people to stop by and visit my table," said George Atkinson from Campus Jewelry Connection. "I'll be out here every Thursday and my prices will keep getting lower and lower. Come see me." Health education and summer volunteer booths will also be weekly features at the Summerfest. Director of the Program for Student-Community Involvement David Grossman said it is a good opportunity "get in touch with a lot of different people." McCoullum said they hope to continue last year's events, such as ice cream socials, movie series, volleyball games, and museum tours. Some University students also found the first '96 Summerfest an enjoyable place to gather.
(06/13/96 9:00am)
Opposing sides fought for jury'sOpposing sides fought for jury'sattention before deliberationsOpposing sides fought for jury'sattention before deliberationsbega late this week After seven weeks of testimony, the controversial MOVE trial concluded last Friday, June 7 in the U.S. District Court with opposing sides vying for the jury's attention with sound bytes and video images. The racially diverse jury of five women and three men began deliberations this week. Ramona Africa defended on Friday an obscenity-laced broadcast by MOVE hours before the fatal 1985 confrontation with Philadelphia police. The civil lawsuits contend that police used excessive force in trying to evict MOVE members from their heavily fortified rowhouse in West Philadelphia on May 13, 1985. Africa and the other plaintiffs are seeking monetary damages. The confrontation began with a 90-minute gun battle that morning. Later, police bombed the two-story MOVE compound on Osage Avenue in an attempt to destroy a rooftop bunker that MOVE members had used as a center to attack them. During the last day of testimony, Africa made a rare appearance on the stand and admitted to using "vile language" against the hundreds of police officers who had surrounded the group's compound. "We used that as a defense mechanism to back them off," Africa said. "The police thought that they could just rush in on you as defenseless, weak." Last Thursday featured a different type of clash -- one between Africa and her fellow plaintiffs. Africa called her sisters traitors and they said the same of her in the highly publicized event. "They are traitors," Africa said about the two sisters. "They went to the cops and instigated a confrontation." One of the sisters, James Johnson, says Africa is disloyal to her husband, John Africa. The defendants -- the city of Philadelphia and two former top officials -- finished playing a 90-minute police audiotape of threats that MOVE members broadcast over loudspeakers mounted on their rowhouse in West Philadelphia on the day of the confrontation. The plaintiffs -- Africa and relatives of two MOVE members killed that day -- played a videotape of police beating a MOVE member in 1978 during a clash. The 1978 battle was not very serious compared to the one in 1985. Africa was the only adult to emerge alive from the burning building on Osage Avenue. The bomb that started the fire destroyed 61 houses, including MOVE's. Six adults and five children were found dead after in the debris. It was the worst residential fire in the history of Philadelphia. In the 1978 clash, a police officer was killed in a shootout with MOVE. After the killing, police attacked Delbert Africa. He and eight other members of MOVE were sentenced to 30 to 100 years each in prison.
(06/13/96 9:00am)
President Clinton pitched a new tax credit to lower college tuition costs during his commencement address at Princeton University on Tuesday, June 4. Although the proposal is targeted at community colleges, many other students could benefit from the bill. "I believe the clear facts of this time make it imperative that our goal must be nothing less than to make the 13th and 14th years of education as universal to all Americans as the first 12 are today," Clinton said in a press release. A refundable tax credit worth up to $1,500 will be offered to offset first-year tuition expenses at any college. Students could get another $1,500 credit in their second year if they maintained a B average and avoided felony convictions for drug use. Clinton's speech was the third in a series of college commencements he is using to outline his accomplishments and second-term goals. Throughout the address he mainly focused on economic policy. He proposed to pay for his new idea partly by adding a $16 tax on each passenger leaving the country on international flights. Clinton also plans to raise taxes on exports by multinational corporations and from further auctions of the broadcast spectrum. A spokesman for Clinton, Mike McCurry, said in a press release, that one way to improve economic performance "is to expand college opportunities for the people of America." The Republican-controlled Congress is unlikely to pass Clinton's plan. It has still not approved his 18-month-old proposal to grant a $10,000 tax deduction for higher-education expenses, which he still advocates. Sen. Bob Dole quickly predicted that Clinton would end up raising taxes rather than cutting them if reelected. "Remember, he told you that in '92, and then gave you a big, big tax increase, so you'll read between the lines," Dole said in a campaign press release. White House aids say Clinton's latest tax-break proposal stems from his career-long dedication to boosting education standards. He signed a similar Arkansas scholarship program into law in 1991. Clinton's new proposal -- which he modeled after a three-year-old Georgia program -- is called America's Hope scholarships. It provides full tuition, fees and books for any in-state public college, or $3,000 toward private-college expenses, to any Georgia student who graduates from high school and maintains a B average in college. The program is paid for by revenues from the state lottery. "Clinton chose a $1,500 tax credit because that would cover costs at 67 percent of U.S. community colleges, although students would be eligible for it at any institution of higher learning," McCurry said. "Part-time students would be eligible for it at any institution of higher learning."
(06/13/96 9:00am)
Goal is for all systemsGoal is for all systemsto run smothly According to University Executive Vice President John Fry, "everything will be considered" for out-sourcing possibilities at the University. Out-sourcing is the practice of contracting private companies to render their specialty services to the University community. Though this is only his first year in office, Fry is scrutinizing the inner-workings of the University. He said a fairly elaborate process is being used to determine what sections of the University could be handled more effectively by outside sources. Fry mentioned dining services and residential living as two possibilities. "The process is not reflective, we are gathering a lot of information before any decisions are made," he said. "I need to look into outsourcing everything because I need to know what all my options are." Several companies have expressed interest in out-sourcing various departments at the University. Aramark, a Philadelphia based company, currently serves 350 colleges and universities. The University of Pennsylvania seems to be their next goal. "I have visited Penn at least once a month for the last five or six years to discuss our involvement in the University's services," said Aramark's Vice President for Marketing Development, Bill Dillon. "We definitely have an ongoing dialogue, especially concerning dining." Aramark has 19 different services they offer to organizations throughout the United States. The company already controls the management aspect for large portions of the University's housekeeping services. "Nothing is definite, but we are definitely interested in further contracts with Penn," Dillon said. Marriott is also already involved in out-sourcing contracts with the University. It offers approximately 500 services to colleges and universities throughout the nation. "We already deal with Penn for concession services," said Marriott's Director of Human Resources Jim Chnect. "In the future our company would like to expand the food services deals and look into facilities management and residential living." Although Fry promises to analyze all the major divisions of the University, he does not believe that all sections could be efficiently out-sourced. Programs such as financial aid could not be handled by a private company because it is highly specialized to Penn. Fry said he is examining the "re-engineering" of departments like financial aid. The Barnes and Noble takeover of The Book Store is an example of further out-sourcing possibilities that lie in the future. Fry said he will continue to search for further ways to save money for the University. Currently, the University spends about $640 million on goods and services per year. "My first year I wanted to focus on The Book Store merger," Fry said. "Now I can move on to other possibilities. I'll know more about what directions we will be headed within the next two months." In the meantime, Fry said he will keep waiting for "the right deal" to save the University money.
(06/13/96 9:00am)
In the fiscal battle between public and private education, Penn and eight other private colleges in Philadelphia have come across a formidable opponent -- Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Ridge. Just three years after universities won the battle to keep their state funding in the budget, Ridge announced plans to cut the 1996-97 budget in half and totally eliminate funding in 1997-98. The governor's press secretary, Tim Reeves, said that Penn has continually received direct appropriations that it did not deserve. "Historically, somehow the University of Pennsylvania and some of these other institutions were able to get the votes to get funding, and that's one of the inequalities of it," Reeves said. "There are dozens and dozens of outstanding private institutions in this state." Reeves said he questions why the eight schools -- including Penn, Drexel University and Hahnemann University -- have ever received money. He said that Ridge does not have a "philosophic problem with the funding of private institutions," but feels the state's first obligation is to its public schools. The state government has a very tight budget this year as a result of a six million cut from Washington, Ridge explained. "Pennsylvania has dozens and dozens of top rate institutions," Reeves said. "A handful of them can't receive special aid." Penn has been aware of the unstable nature of Commonwealth support for several years, said University Vice President for Government, Community and Public Affairs Carol Scheman. "We have sought to understand ourselves better and communicate clearly with the state about the purpose and uses of Commonwealth funding to Penn," Scheman said last week. Ridge has cited several justifications for the elimination of the funding -- including the likelihood of a freeze on public funding, the abundance of degree-granting private colleges, and Penn's $1.7 billion endowment. Scheman said the money is necessary to support important graduate programs, such as the veterinary school. "We are at a time when we are not able to increase funding for our public universities," Ridge said. "That makes it impossible to justify giving tax-payer dollars to a few of the state's private universities and colleges." Reeves said that the governor never planned on cutting education funding, but Ridge was faced with "tough choices." "We have no other choice than a two-year phase out," Reeves said. "It is an extraordinary circumstance that requires extraordinary decisions."
(06/13/96 9:00am)
With varying paces, the people of Philadelphia gathered to celebrate the largest professional bicycle race in the United States. During the entire weekend, the downtown area between the Art Museum and Manayunk Wall throbbed with race-related activity. Beginning on Friday, events catered to every level of cyclist, from recreational to professional riders. A handful of hard-core Philadelphians opened the festivities on Friday with the Aplus Wall Climb. "This whole weekend is really great. My family just met a group of professional riders," said Jim Klabe of Wilmington, Delaware. "We just watched all the guys climb Manayunk, which is like a 17 story building." Other brave bikers continued the events on Saturday with the Greg LeMond Time Trials and the CoreStates/Urban Affairs Coalition Amateur Bike Challenge. Of course, all these events culminated on Sunday with the Thrift Drug Family Fun Ride in the morning and the 12th annual CoreStates U.S. Pro Cycling Championship for men and the third Liberty Classic for women taking place in the afternoon. Eddy Gragus from Boulder, Colorado, became the U.S. Pro champion with a bold move in the race's final 500 meters. Gragus and eight other riders covered the CoreStates course in 6 hours, 2 minutes and 32 seconds, at an average speed of 25.82 m.p.h. "This is the greatest moment in my life right now," Gragus said after he crossed the finish line. "It's something I've dreamed about for five years." More than 50,000 spectators camped out along the race course to witness the professional riders who maintained top form despite the hot and humid weather. The director of the Navigator team, Keith Evans, said the humid weather caused at least eight people to drop out of the race. But nothing could keep the crowds of people away. "I wouldn't miss this race for the world," said Mike Pudinski from North Lancaster, Pennsylvania. "I'm here to cheer on my favorite guy, but the good music and free food aren't bad either." The day truly sported activities for all, with many spectators in the Manayunk Wall region enjoying the party atmosphere. One large and mostly intoxicated group even enjoyed a large trampoline set up near the road. Organizers hope that the increased involvement in the weekend activities will result in more awareness of cycling as a competitive sport. "What we're trying to say," Ron Ruggiero, president and founder of Tri-State Velo, a local cycling club that is helping to organize some of the events. "is, 'Hey, there's cycling here 365 days a year. Why not get out and ride your bike?'"
(06/06/96 9:00am)
Gov. Tom Ridge plans to cut in half direct appropriations to nine private Philadelphia colleges next year, and eliminate the money altogether the following year -- and the University is one of his prime targets. Vice President for Government, Community and Public Affairs Carol Scheman said the University is prepared to handle the cut in funds. "It has been clear to us for a number of years that Commonwealth support is not necessarily stable," Scheman said. "In particular, federal cutbacks of funding have seriously affected the state's budget -- all state spending has come under heavy scrutiny and virtually all programs are likely to be cut to some extent." Three years ago the University faced similar cuts, but managed to fight its way back into the budget. Ridge's proposed budget is currently before the legislature in Harrisburg. The House and Senate will most likely rule on the appropriations before July 1, the beginning of the Commonwealth fiscal year. The cuts would take more than $70 million in direct appropriations from colleges such as Penn and Drexel University. "At a time when state government is not able to increase spending for public education," the Governor's Press Secretary Tim Reeves said in a news release. "The notion of spending $70 million in a direct subsidy to a small handful of the state's private universities is difficult to justify." Although the proposed cuts in private-college funding was initially overlooked because of the heated debate surrounding Ridge's cuts in medical assistance, University administrators are seeking legislators to oppose Ridge's plan. "I can't make a strong argument for general funding," Scheman said. "I can make a strong argument for strategic initiatives. I think it's an investment." University officials say the direct appropriations are justified because Penn is the largest private employer in Philadelphia. Also, Scheman said the University needs the funding to help operate the veterinary school, which is world-class. It is the only veterinary school in Pennsylvania and agriculture is the largest industry in the state. "The vast majority of state funding goes to health professional schools," Scheman said. "Money goes to the dental school for clinical services, the medical school for education and the veterinary school, which is key to the state's largest industry." Under the new plan, the University's appropriation would drop from $35.5 million to $17.7 million. Ridge argues that the budget also freezes spending for public schools and that Penn already has a $1.7 billion endowment. The other city schools affected are the Medical College of Pennsylvania, Hahnemann University, Thomas Jefferson University, the Pennsylvania College of Podiatric Medicine, the Pennsylvania College of Optometry, the University of the Arts in Philadelphia and the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine. Any private institution receiving state money through the Institutional Assistance Grant program will also have cuts under the plan. "We have sought to understand ourselves better and communicate clearly with the state about the purpose and uses of Commonwealth funding to Penn," Scheman said.
(06/06/96 9:00am)
Company replacesCompany replacesGeorge Smith R&K; Towing has been selected to replace the University's contract with the George Smith Towing Company because of "performance issues," University Police Lieutenant Jerry Leddy said Tuesday. University Police contracts an outside towing company to keep Superblock clear of parked cars. The area has been designated a no-parking-zone because of fire regulations. George Smith Towing was fired by the University at the beginning of April, but continued to tow cars from Penn's campus until Saturday, May 4 in compliance with the terms of its contract. On the evening of April 6, University Police stopped a George Smith truck and arrested the operator, Herman Fields, for driving under the influence of alcohol as he towed a student's car from the front of High Rise South. University Police Sgt. Thomas Rambo and Residential Living Director Gigi Simeone said at the time that the University had received a number of complaints about the towing company in the past. In the past, both George Smith and R&K; Towing have been used in the campus area. Executive Director of the Physical Plant James Wargo said contracting only R&K; Towing will be beneficial to the University. "The new contract will unify the towing at Penn," Wargo said. "It will be good for the University to have one towing company." In the past, Philadelphia Police have filed auto theft charges against George Smith Towing to retrieve cars they believed the company towed illegally. In a Letter to the Editor printed in The Daily Pennsylvanian on October 27, 1995, College sophomore Danny Liang alleged that the company towed his car from Superblock even though he obtained a parking permit from High Rise East.
(06/06/96 9:00am)
A Moveable Feast has been chosen for the Class of 2000's Reading Project to orientate the incoming freshmen about vital aspects of the University -- the city, culture and, of course, Benjamin Franklin, who served as ambassador to Paris. Approximately 2,375 copies of the novel written by Ernest Hemingway are being distributed to students and faculty who will participate in discussions during the fall semester. Academic Programs in Residence Director Christopher Dennis said the Council of Undergraduate Deans chose the novel and is very excited about the selection,especially after last year's highly successful Arcadia. "A Moveable Feast was chosen mostly because it offers an insight into a city, like Philadelphia, as a site of creativity," Dennis explained. Residential Faculty Council and Steinberg Symposium Chairperson Robert Lucid, who is also an english professor, described the novel as a narrative about artists and travelers in Paris in the 1920s -- particularly Americans -- by one of the most famous of them. "The committee chose A Moveable Feast not simply because it is a very good and readable book by a very important artist," said Lucid. "But because it seemed -- especially to the students who were making the choice -- to be appropriate to people just entering their college education." According to Lucid, Hemingway's Paris represents the things that still matter to young people who are just starting out -- encountering new learning and the initiation rituals that go with it, while encountering as well the discovery of new community, new friends, new love and new loneliness. The novel was chosen from a pool of approximately 200 works. Its closest competitor was Robert Venturi's Complexity in Architecture. Dennis said that similar themes run through both works. The Residential Faculty Council formed the core of the project's planning group, but there were also two student representatives from the Student Committee on Undergraduate Education involved in the decision, Dennis said. Approximately 140 groups will be discussing A Moveable Feast September 1. "The Council is going to work throughout the summer on the follow-up to the project," Dennis said. "I think people are going to have a lot of fun with it." Some follow-up activities plan to take advantage of Philadelphia's culture, including the Cezanne exhibit that is at the Museum of Art, Dennis said. Additional activities will be coming from the Writer's House, whose organizers are discussing possibilities for celebrating the book, according to Lucid. Anyone interested in being involved with a Penn Reading Project discussion with the incoming freshmen should contact Dennis at 898-5551. A web site for the 1996-97 Reading Project is currently being constructed, Dennis said. "The idea of learning and the city was, in part, what led us to this text," Lucid said. "Penn, after all, is in a great city, and is more and more exploring undergraduate opportunities for study in great cities all over the world -- so that international studies and urban architectural studies offer attractive conjunctions."
(06/06/96 9:00am)
After years of searching and months of scientific and economic analyses, Executive Director of the Physical Plant James Wargo finally found his gem -- a paver that can effectively replace the bluestones on Locust Walk. The central walkway of the University, along with several campus structures, are scheduled to undergo major facelifts this summer. Beginning this month, the bluestones that line Locust Walk will be replaced with bitumous paver from Hastings. Wargo predicts that installing the paver will cost half as much as installing new bluestones would. Each three-by-four foot block of bluestone costs $500, he explained. The project is scheduled to be completed by the beginning of winter. Although the changes to Locust Walk will be the most noticeable renovation taking place this summer, Wargo said there are several other important projects in the works. Construction on the Paley Bridge, which is commonly called the Blue Bridge, is scheduled to begin on June 10. Because the bridge runs over an Amtrack station, the University was told it can only do repairs at night. In order to be cost efficient, the entire bridge will be lifted onto the parking lot next to Franklin Field where repairs can be completed on a normal schedule. "Anyone trying to get to Bower Field or Levy Tennis Pavilions definitely isn't going to be using the bridge this summer," Wargo said. "They are going to have a long walk on Walnut Street." Several long term renovation projects will be continued this summer. Major work will be performed on College Hall, which is slated for completion in 1998. Also, a new roof is being built on the Music Building and construction is continuing on the Perelman Quad. The University won city and state awards last month for their restoration of Logan Hall. "We are taking our time and doing all our work thoroughly," Wargo said. "If we did everything in a short period of time, we'd have what we have out there right now -- which is not good for the University or the students." Wargo hopes to do both a thorough and fast restoration of the Walk. The University installed the current bluestones in 1977, with the expectation that the material would last 30 years. But deterioration began after just 10 years. Wargo said the short-life of the bluestone resulted from several influences. "Over the years, more and more vehicles were accessing the Walk for whatever reasons," Wargo said. "But that was a problem because Locust Walk was specifically made for walking." Also, the 1977 plans called for three-inch thick bluestone, but the University used stones that were approximately two inches because of "availability problems," Wargo said. The disappointing bluestone expenditure led the University on a nineteen-year search to find the best replacement for Locust Walk. Wargo visited quarries in several states, continually searching for a solution. "I brought back samples that we performed tests on," Wargo explained. "We had University geologists do freeze-thaw simulations and tested what salt did to them." The search for the perfect rock ended when the University decided that bitumous paver was the best replacement. The paver from Hasting was placed on the 38th bridge five years ago -- Wargo said the material is holding up well. Hasting paver is a coal product that is mostly composed of tar, but also has a mixture of various stones. The University is currently producing the documents necessary for bidding and Wargo predicts that the paver will be half the cost of the bluestones. "I learned a whole lot about stones and the University definitely made an informed choice," Wargo said. "I think the paver will save the University money in the long run and it will be maintainable." Bluestone will remain in certain sections of the campus, such as the Perelman Quadrangle and the Anneberg Center. According to Wargo, future vehicular traffic will be restricted on Locust Walk.
