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(09/09/99 9:00am)
The graduate student group mostly abided by its new alcohol policy. Just days after three graduate student organizations issued a statement announcing support for the University's new alcohol policy -- promising to serve alcohol only in closed-off areas and to enforce strict ID monitoring -- one of the groups sponsored an event where the new stringent guidelines were upheld with only minor glitches. The statement, issued jointly this week by the Graduate and Professional Student Assembly, the Black Graduate and Professional Student Assembly and the Graduate Student Activities Council, pledged that beer from kegs and hard alcohol would be withheld from those groups' on-campus social events and that on-campus functions would be held in enclosed areas, whether inside or outside. The statement also stipulated that steps would be taken to ensure more efficient proofing of over-21 graduate students. Yesterday's GAPSA-sponsored event, a welcoming party attended by several hundred graduate students, was organized in two parts: the first, an indoor reception in the lobby of the Annenberg Center; the other, an outdoor party in Annenberg Plaza. At both events, attendees were served bottled beer and wine, rather than beer from kegs or hard liquor. A Daily Pennsylvanian reporter at the indoor reception observed many attendees making their way into the event freely and obtaining alcohol while offering only a graduate PennCard as proof of age, rather than the requisite PennCard and over-21 ID. Upon learning of the leniency, GAPSA officials acted quickly in reminding the hired bartenders to check for both forms of identification. "We are very committed to using the 21 ID-PennCard policy," GAPSA President and third-year Graduate School of Education student Deborah James said. Later, as the forum for celebration shifted from the indoor lobby to the outdoor plaza, security tightened. Spectaguards and other officials were posted at entrances to ensure that only graduate students were permitted entrance to Annenberg Plaza, and all those without the required identification were asked to leave. It was unclear at the outdoor bar if ID was required once again, as some bartenders asked just for graduate PennCards and others asked for nothing at all. The event occurred at the same time as hundreds of undergraduates walked by the area on their way to the Freshman Performing Arts Night at the Zellerbach Theatre. The undergraduates were diverted by security guards to the Annenberg Center's 37th Street entrance around the block. According to GAPSA Vice Chairperson/Treasurer and second-year School of Social Work graduate student Kendra Nicholson, the organization had taken numerous steps in conjunction with Cavanaugh's Restaurant, which catered the event, to ensure that alcohol was properly monitored and undergraduates were kept away. "We are being careful about roping things off and checking for IDs," Nicholson said. "We're well-secured with Penn security and Spectaguards and I think things are going well." Despite the fact they were serving alcohol while a major undergraduate event was taking place nearby, the event organizers said they were confident that they had maintained a role model image for the younger undergraduates. "We're a mature, over-21 group who is legally allowed to drink and who is doing so responsibly," James said. "I think we're providing a good role model for all undergraduates -- those who choose to drink and those who don't." And at least one undergraduate whose route to Performing Arts Night was diverted didn't seem to mind the inconvenience. "Good for them," College freshman Julia Blank said. "They should party just like everybody else."
(04/21/99 9:00am)
Two agents from the State Police Bureau of Liquor Control Enforcement spoke and answered questions last night in Meyerson Hall in an effort to promote awareness of alcohol issues and related student responsibilities. The LCE is the branch of the state police which deals with the enforcement of liquor control laws, specifically as they pertain to the importation of alcohol into Pennsylvania, as well as the possession and consumption of such beverages by minors. The agents, Lloyd Knight and Mike DiCardona, spoke for approximately 1 1/2 hours, discussing their roles as agents as well as the rights of those facing citation for alcohol-related infractions. While the discussion was generally well-received by those present, most of the 15 students in attendance did not come to learn about how these issues affect the greater student population. Rather, they attended to find out about the possible repercussions of their own Spring Fling-related actions or those of their friends. "I was pleased with the way the presentation went, but I wish there was more student participation," said College junior Alvena Galaria, president of the Drug and Alcohol Resource Team, which organized the the presentation. Galaria added that the majority of attendees seemed to be concerned solely with "a citation they received or their friends received and they thought they didn't deserve." Knight and DiCardona, each of whom has spent considerable time enforcing alcohol laws within the confines of West Philadelphia, answered questions regarding personal legal rights -- including the right to accept or refuse a Breathalyzer test -- and the effects of signing or not signing an alcohol citation. The agents explained that it makes no difference which option one chooses as the citation will carry the same penalty. "I think it went very well. It humanized the LCE and helped people see them as the police, an equal people," said Carolin Helbing, a second-year student in the Graduate School of Education and an intern in the Office of Student Health Education. Others shared different views regarding the agents' comments. Abel Avila, a College sophomore, offered a mixed response to the presentation. "I thought that it was cool what they did tonight," he said. "But I think what they did this weekend was harsh on certain students." All in attendance were in agreement, however, that the agents were straightforward in their concern for maintaining public safety and protecting collective rights. Engineering senior Matthew Van Kouwenberg commented that "it was great that they came out here to try to explain some of the laws." Students in attendance said that their perceptions of the LCE were somewhat changed following the presentation. Rather than displaying the tough, enforcing side of the LCE, the presentation helped show that, in the words of Knight, "everybody is trying to show they care by exercising some control."
(04/14/99 9:00am)
In a move intended to bring the issues of municipal government closer to the people of Philadelphia, City Controller Jonathan Saidel appeared at the University Bookstore last Thursday, speaking briefly and signing copies of his recently released book, Philadelphia: A New Urban Direction. As controller, Saidel is the city's chief financial officer, overseeing the auditing of Philadelphia's fiscal records and monitoring its investments in an attempt to run the government in a cost-efficient manner. The presentation, which lasted only 15 minutes, focused on the various issues highlighted in the book, including financial responsibility, fiscal policy and long-term planning designed to develop the city's economic well-being. Afterwards, the small crowd of only 15 was invited to purchase copies of the book for the author to sign. Saidel wrote the book along with several other members of the controller's office to help Philadelphians understand the various financial matters affecting their city and develop the local economy for the future. Proceeds from the book will go to the City of Philadelphia and St. Joseph's University Press, the publisher. "This book has been a collaborative effort for me and everyone around me," Saidel said. "I'm very proud of everyone who worked on it and very proud of the book." A professor at St. Joseph's and Drexel universities and a lecturer at Penn's Fels Center of Government, Saidel focused primarily on the steps necessary to enhance the city's financial attractiveness in the year's to come. "We have to accept who we are and what we are about [in order] to maximize the situation of being here in the City of Philadelphia," he said. Reaction from attendees, several of whom were Saidel's staff members and associates, was primarily positive. "I thought it was a great presentation," second-year Penn Law student Steven Ebert said. "What's great about the book and the controller is that they both take a long-term vision -- we know where we're coming from and we know where we're going to go."
(04/14/99 9:00am)
Mortal enemies on the basketball court, the football field and even in the halls of academia, Penn and Princeton haven't always shared the closest of friendships. But in a concert Sunday night before a crowd of about 80 people at the Annenberg Center's Harold Prince Theater, performers from both institutions proved that they can be brought together by a common bond: jazz. The concert, which featured the University of Pennsylvania Jazz Ensemble, the Princeton University Concert Jazz Ensemble and Princeton's Miles Davis Ensemble, marked the first occasion in years that jazz performers from the two schools have come together to display their talents. "I think it was a great evening, very successful," Princeton Jazz Director Anthony Branker said. "It's wonderful that both universities can get together and do something in the name of jazz." For over two hours, the two main groups performed a number of popular jazz charts written by such legends as Duke Ellington, Stan Kenton and Josef Zawinul. The Miles Davis Ensemble, Princeton's award-winning small ensemble, also delighted the audience with its interpretation of two pieces from Davis' repertoire. The show marked an important step in the rebirth of the jazz program at Penn, which was almost non-existent just three years ago. Currently, PennJazz consists of 19 saxophone, trombone, trumpet and rhythm players. College junior and lead alto sax player Adam Warshafsky, the president of PennJazz, said he was very encouraged by the evening. "It was an amazingly successful performance," he said. "The future for PennJazz looks like more growth -- we're getting better with every rehearsal." When the concert drew to a close, performers from Penn and Princeton alike had nothing but praise for the performances of their counterparts. "Princeton was really, really amazing," Wharton freshman and trumpet player Adriano Savelli said. "I was shaking backstage before we came on." Princeton junior Eli Asher, the featured trumpet player, was also quick to praise the performers from Penn. "It was a great time," he said. "It's great to get together like this and hear two great bands playing some terrific music." Both ensembles expressed their hopes to perform together again soon, with the desire that other Ivy League jazz bands would join them. The audience, which included a broad mix of students, family members and jazz lovers in general, was enthusiastic about the evening's performance. "I was really impressed," Wharton junior John Baker said. "Both the Penn and Princeton groups put on a great show. They played a lot of great music and I'm really glad I got to see them."
(04/12/99 9:00am)
Before an audience of undergraduate and graduate students last Tuesday, a team of noted experts, student activists and University officials convened at the Moore Building for an interactive discussion on the heated issue of sweatshop labor. Entitled "Profits, Development, Activism and Your Clothes," the forum was organized jointly by the Society for International Development, the Progressive Activist Network, the Wharton Management Club and the Perspectives in Humanity program. In recent months several large universities -- including all eight Ivy League institutions -- have been taking positions on the issue, signing on to become part of the Fair Labor Association, a highly criticized organization designed to enforce worldwide standards for the treatment of garment workers. The discussion, moderated by Sociology Department Undergraduate Chairperson Robin Leidner, was designed to publicize the different issues related to sweatshops and awaken student awareness to the human rights implications of the matter. The nearly 40 individuals in attendance heard from speakers that included Louis Berneman, Penn's managing director of the Center of Technology Transfer; Dina Siddiqi, a cultural anthropologist from the New School for Social Research; Legal Studies Lecturer Nicholas Rongione; and Management Professor Daniel Raff. Each of the speakers discussed the various dangers involved with sweatshop labor and shared their ideas with audience members on the possible methods for eradicating such practices in the future. The atmosphere changed dramatically, though, when one audience member rose and offered a very different perspective on the issue. "I was manager of a sweatshop and I am very proud of that," second-year Wharton MBA student Mariusz Gawronski said. Immediately, any sense of agreement in the room turned into one of heated debate, with members of the panel and audience engaging in an argument with Gawronski over the dangers of sweatshop manufacturing. Gawronski, who discussed his time operating a factory in China, defended his operation by saying he was manager of a company that "provided poor people with so many opportunities." "It was a good deal for them," he said. At one point, he also lashed out at the opponents of sweatshops, saying, "You American progressives, you have no idea how people who are born into poverty think. I think that your main goal may be just to get rid of cheap competition." Those comments were then followed by a barrage of retorts from the panelists on the moral and practical concerns related to Gawronski's practices. "I guess this depends on how you view human beings," Rongione said. "I don't think anything you're talking about is anything to be proud of." College junior Miriam Joffe-Block, an event organizer and member of PAN, said she was pleased with the results of the discussion. "I thought that everything that was discussed was discussed well," she said. "I don't respect anybody that would operate a sweatshop but I can't really bring myself to judge the way [Gawronski] looks at this issue because I haven't had his experiences." Some thought Gawronski's display helped exemplify the different factors involved with the issue. "I guess it just proved to us all how complicated this issue really is," Wharton freshman Brian Kelly said. "We have to keep in mind what's really best for the workers."
(03/19/99 10:00am)
Scream, yell, cheer, jump, even cry. And if you do them all right, you just may be on your way to $25,000. That's what nearly 100 Penn students learned yesterday afternoon as they assembled at the University Museum for the first round of a contestant search for the popular syndicated game show Wheel of Fortune. The search, organized by WPVI-TV, Philadelphia's ABC affiliate, was designed to scout out possible contestants for an upcoming local "College Week" of Wheel of Fortune shows. Penn students anxious to show their "Wheel spirit" started showing up first thing in the morning -- some as early as 8 a.m. -- to get a guaranteed place on the audition line. Their lack of sleep would prove unnecessary, though, as search organizers only distributed approximately half of the 200 tickets that were available. When the prospective contestants did finally get their shot at an audition, they quickly discovered that a simple knowledge of consonants and vowels wouldn't cut it. "We are looking for nothing less than rampant enthusiasm," said search coordinator Caroline Welch, WPVI's director of creative services. "It's sort of like an acting class," she added. "You may look or feel like you're showing excitement or sadness but you really have to overdo it in order to communicate that to an audience of millions." With these instructions, most of the excited contestant-hopefuls launched into a huge variety of emotional outbursts as they participated in short interviews and then mock "wheel spinnings," each vying for one of a number of Channel 6 giveaways. Screaming "Big money!" or "Come on, $25,000!" students tried to demonstrate the extent of their enthusiasm. "They wanted to know what I would do if I won the big prize -- the $25,000," College freshman Jonathan Adler said. "So I proceeded to scream and run to the cardboard standouts of Pat Sajak and Vanna White. I then proceeded to kiss Pat and knock over Vanna," he added. Others showed just as much fervor for the game show, as well as for their own prospects for being selected. "I guarantee I'm going to be on the show," said College sophomore Ray Valerio, the Sophomore Class president. "I want it all," he said. "The glamour, the money, the fame, the ladies -- everything." Despite the enormous turnout at contestant searches all over the Delaware Valley -- including a 15,000-person audition earlier this month at the King of Prussia Mall -- only 30 lucky individuals will have the chance to spin the wheel when the show comes to Philadelphia next month. Two weeks of programs will be taped with the college-themed shows scheduled to run the week of May 10. WPVI officials will review the audition reports from yesterday and a number of applicants may be called back for a second tryout sometime next month. If they pass that hurdle, it's on to the show -- and a chance for the "big money" when the program tapes at Temple University's Apollo Theater on April 18. The slim odds, however, didn't seem to deter the Wheel hopefuls from showing their enthusiasm. "I watch the show all the time and I love it," College sophomore Madeleine Fersh said. Others had different reasons for trying out. "I love Pat Sajak," College senior Liz Weinstein said. "He's a hunk, a little short maybe, but he's a winner. I really want to meet him."
(03/18/99 10:00am)
For once, modern technology has to take a back seat to more basic practices. That was the general consensus Tuesday night in Logan Hall, as the second annual Forum on Complementary and Alternative Medicine kicked off. Sponsored by the Multiculturalism Committee of the Graduate Students Association Council, the three-day forum brings several of the world's leading research and clinical experts to Penn this week to share their findings and discuss ideas related to the very controversial field of alternative medicine. The event, which was organized entirely by members of Penn's graduate student community, is expected to draw interest from students and faculty because of its relevance to various areas of academic study. "There's a lot of interest in alternative medicine across disciplines, especially among many of the groups represented by GSAC," forum organizer Jerome Bauer said. GSAC President Ina Warriner echoed those sentiments, saying, "One of the strengths we can get from this program is really bringing people together from across the disciplines, from folklore to mythology to the medical studies." Alternative medicine is commonly defined as those treatments which are generally not taught in medical schools, not practiced in typical hospitals and not reimbursed by most insurance carriers. Highlights of the forum's first day included presentations by Patrick Lariccia, director of acupuncture at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, and Narayan "Anil" Patel, one of the world's most well-known practitioners of "Ayueveda," a traditional Indian medical practice. Over the course of the three days, approximately 30 experts, clinicians and students are expected to present their research on various topics such as spirituality, aromatherapy, energy medicine and homeopathy. In addition, the final day of the event has been designed to honor the 25th anniversary of Penn's Women's Studies Department. Presenters on that day will discuss topics including home birthing and the various midwifery practices around the world. Yesterday's audience, a mixed group of approximately 30 graduate and undergraduate students, responded to the presentations with great interest, at one point delaying the agenda slightly with a constant flow of questions. College junior Elizabeth Jacobson, who is considering entering medical school upon graduation, was interested in the topic for its relevance to her field of study. She said that the forum provided "an excellent chance to get an overview of alternative medicines." This year's program was patterned on another conference on alternative medicine last year, which was also sponsored by GSAC's Multiculturalism Committee. "We've been committed to making sure that different kinds of the world's cultures are covered here at the university," forum organizer and School of Arts and Sciences graduate student Margaret Magat said. "We are hoping to build a popular base with this topic for years to come."
(02/18/99 10:00am)
In celebration of its 25th year of broadcasting, Penn's UTV13 kicked off its new series of "student-oriented" specials Tuesday night with a program on student internships and summer jobs. The Internship Show, which was broadcast live at 7:30 p.m. and repeated throughout the evening, featured two career counselors from the School of Arts and Sciences' Office of Career Services. Peggy Curchack and Barbara Hewitt joined moderator and College junior Adam Thomas for a half-hour of discussion and took phone calls from students about preparing resumes and finding the "perfect" internship. The program was the first in a special series designed by UTV13's Director of Publicity and Promotion Sherry Deckman. "This whole year, we're going to try to focus on Penn students and the needs of Penn students," said Deckman, a College junior. Highlighting tasks such as preparing resumes, writing cover letters and speaking with potential employers, Curchack and Hewitt gave a broad overview of the entire internship-seeking process, from "drop-boxing" -- leaving resumes in employers' collection boxes in on-campus recruiting -- to using family friends to find the right connection. "I think lots of us learn what to do by actually doing things," Curchack said when asked if an internship was truly important in establishing a clear career path for life after college. "Employers want to see internships," she added. "You can show a good work ethic, good quantitative skills, positive customer service skills and lots more." Guided by viewer phone calls, the pair also discussed the most popular means of finding internships -- including the Internet, library resources and connections with family members, professors and even Penn alumni. They specifically focused on the World Wide Web sites of the various career service offices here on campus. During the half-hour show, Curchack and Hewitt received about four or five phone calls, but due to time constraints, they only fielded three. When asked by one caller if a student should be nervous if he hasn't yet found a job for the summer, Curchack said "not to worry." "Our survey [of recent Penn graduates] showed that a very small number of students had their internships in January and February," she said. "Many got them in March, and a good number reported finding a job in April or even May." In response to another caller's question, Curchack said sophomores should not be discouraged from applying for internships even though juniors and seniors often get preference. The pair also discussed a new program coming to Penn next month. The Career Exploration Group will be a three-session series of exercises to help interested students learn the "ins and outs" of the job search process. The counselors urged students to stop into their respective schools' career placement offices for information or just for help with resumes, cover letters and internship plans. Hewitt said she was happy with the way the program turned out. "I think it was a really great way to reach people who may not have made it into our office yet," she noted. "I just thought it was a lot of fun as well."
(02/02/99 10:00am)
In an address yesterday evening in the Towne Building, U.S. Rep. Curt Weldon (R-Pa.) called for the creation of a huge communications network between local governments and research institutes. Weldon, who represents Pennsylvania's 7th Congressional district, was the year's first speaker in the Technology, Business and Government Lecture Series, sponsored by the School of Engineering and Applied Science. The presentation, jointly organized by the Engineering School and the Fels Center of Government, was entitled "Technology and Business in the 21st Century: A Congressional Perspective." Weldon, a senior member of the House Science Committee and chairperson of the Subcommittee on Science, Research and Development, spoke to a crowd of several faculty members and graduate students on the relationship between business and research initiatives. He focused specifically on the Delaware Valley, where he noted there is potential for technological expansion. Weldon also discussed the potential dangers posed by "cyberterrorism" -- or electronic theft or destruction of information -- offering a solution that would protect the nation's information resources while providing a huge economic boost for the region: a massive, secure communications network to extend over the "four-state region" of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware and Maryland. "If you look at the history of [research and development] in this nation, much of it has come from the defense budget," Weldon said, explaining that one method of bolstering the local economy is through military spending. Meanwhile, Weldon condemned the practice of offering financial incentives to large corporations in order to entice them to relocate to the area. His proposal, which calls for an increase in the military budget for civilian-research purposes, rests on an effective relationship between the government and research universities. "We take [U.S. Defense Department] money and we simply send it out to the schools and say 'Do some basic research in information technology,'" he said. "A lot of our spending in the Defense Department is for those programs that provide for basic research." Some observers asked how increased military spending was going to be diverted to non-weapons research functions. In a follow-up statement after the presentation, Weldon said, "That's the critical issue.? That's what we're going to work on." He added that, "Whoever can manage data will become the world's economic leader in the 21st century." Reaction to the presentation was generally positive. Interim Engineering Dean Eduardo Glandt praised Weldon for his foresight, knowledge of detail and support of scientific research. "I think he has a very compelling vision, based on the bringing together of academic and non-academic institutions in the area," he said. "This is where America's creativity is being expressed."
