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(06/08/95 9:00am)
The University lost one of its most revolutionary alumni ever on Saturday, when J. Presper Eckert -- one of the inventors of the world's first electronic digital computer, ENIAC -- died at the age of 76. Eckert, of Gladwyne, Pa. died on Saturday at Bryne Mawr Hospital after a long struggle with cancer. Unfortunately, this death came only six months before ENIAC's Fiftieth Anniversary Celebration at the University, for which Vice President Al Gore will be serving as an honorary Chairperson. Eckert, along with co-inventor John Mauchly, invented the Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer in February 1946, which some experts believed to be the beginning and catalyst for the computer age. School of Engineering and Applied Sciences Dean Gregory Farrington knew Eckert personally, and called him a"truly engaging and fascinating man." "It was fun to be around him," he said. "His partnership with John Mauchly in creating ENIAC, is the stuff of legend, and ENIAC is widely credited with giving birth to the computer age and the now the information age. "While many creative people contributed to the development of computers, it was ENIAC that captured people's imagination and gave them a glimpse of the future," Farrington added. "From it, the computer industry began its exponential development, which continues to this day." Eckert began work along with Mauchly on ENIAC in 1943, as a 23 year old research associate at the University. The impetus for the gigantic computer was the U.S. army, who wanted to speed up calculations in order to aim their big guns. At the time it took about 12 hours to plot the flight of each projectile. But with the invention of ENIAC, a trajectory could be done in 30 seconds, 1,440 times faster. And on April 9, 1943, Eckert's 24th birthday, the Army gave the University $150,000 to start building the mammoth calculator. Two and a half years later, after 200 people spent sometimes 16 to 20 hours a day working on the project, it was finally completed on February 14,1946. The ENIAC weighed more than 30 tons and was comprised of 40 panels arranged in the shape of an 80 foot "U." The colossal machine contained 18,000 vacuum tubes, 500,00 soldered joints, 70,000 resistors and 10,000 capacitors. According to Paul Shaffer, curator of the Eniac Museum in the Moore Building , many scientists and engineers mocked the idea of using vacuum tubes. But, he added Eckert and Mauchly would not be dissuaded. "Eckert and Mauchly had the courage to proceed in what was obvious to many people at the time, a foolish task," Shaffer said. "They proved it could be done, and there was no turning back from there." Shaffer credits the ENIAC for the development of the space program and many other facets of people's daily lives. After ENIAC was completed, Eckert and Mauchly stayed at the University for a year before being fired over a dispute concerning the commercial rights of the machine. Later in 1946 the two founded the Eckert-Mauchly Computer Corporation. In 1950 Remington Rand took over their company and eventually after a few mergers the company became known as the Unisys Corporation. Eckert, who was granted 87 U.S. patents, remained vice president of the Unisys Corp until 1989, when he retired. Some of the awards Eckert received over the years include the National Medal of Science awarded, which was given to him by Lyndon Johnson in 1969,the Distinguished Alumnus Award from the University and the Howard N. Potts Medal of the Franklin Institute and the Philadelphia Award. Services were held yesterday at St. Christopher's Episcopal Church in Gladwyne. Burial followed at Valley Forge Memorial Gardens. Eckert is survived by his wife Judith and a daughter, three sons and 3 grandchildren.
(06/01/95 9:00am)
Harvard University was struck by severe tragedy last Sunday when a student viciously stabbed her roommate to death and then hung herself in the bathroom. Another student was also stabbed in the incident. Harvard junior Sinedu Tadesse stabbed her roommate, junior Trang Ho 45 times. Tadesse also stabbed Thao Nguyen, a 26 year old resident of Lowell, Massachusetts who was visiting Ho at the time of the stabbing. According to Martin Murphy, the first assistant district attorney of Middlesex Count, Ho woke up during the ordeal and tried to block the knife, as evidenced by wounds to her hands. Police have been trying to piece together this extremely violent crime, deemed the worst in "at least two decades" by the school newspaper, The Harvard Crimson. Some officials and Nguyen believe the attack may have been planned as evidenced by a cryptic note that was sent to the Crimson last Tuesday. Along with the note there was a photograph of Tadesse. "Keep this picture," the note said. "There will soon be a very juicy story involving the person in the picture." The Crimson received the note, which had no stamp or postmark. After the events of Sunday morning, the Crimson contacted the Harvard University Police Department, which dispatched investigators to search through a garbage dumpster outside the school newspaper's building. The police recovered the envelope and photo. One possible motive that family and friends have been speculating about is the recently soured relationship between the two roommates, who had lived together for the past two years in the Dunster House dormitory. The relationship tensed up when Ho decided that she wanted to room with someone other than Tadesse next year. A letter sent by Tadesse to Ho last month echoes backs this theory up. "I thought we were going to do stuff together, you'll always have a family to go to and I am going to have no one," Tadesse wrote, the Boston Globe reported. Both Ho and Tadesse went through intense struggles to finally get to Harvard as pre-med majors. Ho, a native of Vietnam, had fled Vietnam on a boat along with her father and older sister about ten years ago. And Tadesse, the daughter of provincial school administrator in the poverty-stricken Ethiopia, won a scholarship to attend Harvard. A 1993 Boston magazine article listed Ho as one of the "25 Who Can Save Boston."
(06/01/95 9:00am)
Generally when things appear to be to good to be true, they are. And the University, like the 300 other organizations that stand to loose millions from the Foundation for New Era Philanthropy "ponzi" scheme, have also learned their lesson. Currently the University has a total of $1,550,000 invested in New Era, according to a letter written by Vice President for Development and Alumni Relations Virginia Clark to alumni over the Alumni Weekend. The $1,550,000 is awaiting matching funds, which the University will never see since New Era filed for bankruptcy on May 15. Although the University, stands to loose over $1 million, compared to other institutions, the University sustained little damage. The University did not even appear on a list of New Era's twenty largest creditors. "From the beginning, it was clearly recognized that the New Era program was out of the ordinary," Clark wrote in the letter. "On a continuing basis, the University reviewed the foundation's track record with other institutions, its tax returns and available financial statements. "The experience of other institutions was quite positive," she added in the letter. "Even so, Penn's involvement was strictly limited – as was intended." In a new development, the Philadelphia Inquirer reported on Sunday that some of the money meant for charity went to the family of the organization's founder, John Bennett Jr. Bennett loaned his daughter and future son in law $227,000 less than a month before the bankruptcy so they could buy a new home, the newspaper said. And Bennett owned a $57,000 Lexus and took home about $27,000 a week this year in consultant fees, money that was earmarked for charity. New Era, which is based in Radnor, Pennsylvania, and has offices in London and Hong Kong, promoted itself as an innovative new charity capable of doubling nonprofit institutions' money by soliciting matching funds from a pool of anonymous wealthy donors who supposedly relied on the charity to find worthy causes. Along with the University, thousands of nonprofit organizations deposited their money with New Era, which said it would hold the funds for six months in brokerage accounts – rather than in escrow – and claimed to be investing it in certificates of deposit or treasury bills while finding matching donors. But according to New Era's attorneys, Bennett admitted to his staff that the anonymous wealthy donors, which were supposed to act as the source of funds for the charity, do not really exist. Bankruptcy Trustee John Carroll III verified last week that the anonymous donors never existed, estimating that the foundation had debts of $175 million to $200 million and assets of $30 million. The Pennsylvania Attorney General Office, the U.S. Attorney's Office in Philadelphia and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission are now investigation whether New Era is anything more than an elaborate pyramid scheme. Pyramid or "Ponzi" schemes promise victims huge returns on their investments and produce the illusion of financial success by paying off early investors with the money donated by later victims. The scheme eventually collapses when no more investors can be found – or the operator disappears with the pooled funds.
(05/25/95 9:00am)
Aggravated Assault ·May 23 – A University Police Officer was assaulted by a person in front of High Rish East around noon after responding to a report of a fight in progress. The suspect was arrested and taken to the 18th District Police Station. Assault ·May 19 – A University employee was approached by 12 juveniles near the Bio Pond behind Leidy Laboratories and struck by a 12 year old male at about 6:25 p.m. Robbery ·May 21 – A male student was attacked by another male from behind, knocked down and had his wallet stolen on 4055 Sansom Street at about 2:04 a.m. Credit cards and other materials were taken. No arrest was made. Theft ·May 19 – 22 – A computer was taken from an unsecured room on the fourth floor of David Rittenhouse Laboratories at about 11:46 a.m.
(05/25/95 9:00am)
Gall bladder surgery has been on the rise since a less evasive procedure for gall bladder removal was introduced in 1989, according to a new study done by University Medical Professor Jose Escarce. The study, published yesterday in the Journal of the American Medical Association, reports that gallbladder surgery has increased 22 percent since the new procedure was implemented in 1989. The procedure, called laparoscopic cholecystectomy, is less evasive because it uses a scope inserted into the abdomen, rather than an open incision. And the newer method is less expansive and less painful than the traditional surgery, allowing patients to recover faster. According to the article, the procedure is cheaper because the surgery is less expansive and the incidence of disease following surgery is greatly reduced. Escarce focused his research on Medicare claims for patients aged 65 years or older who lived in Pennsylvania and had their gall bladders removed between 1986 and 1993. "We found that cholecystectomy rates (rates of surgery for gall bladder removal) among elderly Medicare beneficiaries in Pennsylvania were stable in the years immediately preceding the introduction of laparoscopic cholecystectomy in 1989, but subsequently increased rapidly," the authors of the article wrote. "The 22 percent increase in the annual cholecystectomy rate is only slightly lower than that reported for younger populations." But the ease of the new technique has caused some patients to throw caution into the wind and opt for surgery when it is not necessary, an editorial in the journal warned. "It is important that physicians and patients not be tempted into doing surgery just because the surgery now seems easier and because the patient has some symptoms that 'might be related to gallstones," wrote David Ransohoff of the Department of Epidemiology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Charles McSherry of the Department of Surgery at Cornell University Medical College. "We need to save the procedure for persons who can really benefit."
(05/25/95 9:00am)
A Japanese film crew visited the Moore building yesterday to film the world's first digital computer, the Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer -- also known as ENIAC. T.V. Asahi came to the University to get footage for a documentary they are filming about early computers in the United States. They are traveling around the country obtaining footage for their documentary. The film will air in July, but only in Japan. The crew toured for about three hours, under the watchful eye of ENIAC curator Paul Shaffer. Shaffer answered the crew's questions, mentioning that ENIAC was 1400 times faster than Harvard's IBM Mark One. And Shaffer said that ENIAC was truly revolutionary because it " proved that large scale vacuum tubed computers are practical or at least possible." He added that ENIAC really spawned the computer craze.
(05/25/95 9:00am)
State high court refuses PILCOP appeal The long-standing Mayor's Scholarship controversy has finally ended after the Pennsylvania Supreme Court refused to hear an appeal of the case last Thursday. Michael Churchill, an attorney for the Public Interest Law Center of Philadelphia -- the group that has fought to gain more scholarships for Philadelphia students -- said he was very disappointed by the court's decision. "I think it's very unfortunate that the Supreme Court would not even hear a case that was obviously as important as this matter," Churchill said. "The concept that no-one except the mayor can seek to enforce a city ordinance seems to be a terrible rule that leaves no independent force to guard against corruption and negligence in an important public matter." University President Judith Rodin was happy with the court's decision. "We are pleased that the Supreme Court has finally resolved this matter, and that the legal position we and the city took upheld," she said. "What is critical now is that our strong commitment to Philadelphia be recognized. "As a measure of that commitment, we are aggressively implementing the mayor's scholarship program and we have intensified our recruitment of students from the community," she added. The case has been in litigation for over three years and it took an unprecedented three re-arguments before the Commonwealth Court ruled in December four to three in favor of the University and the City. According to an agreement signed in 1977, a set number of scholarships are to be awarded to Philadelphia residents by the University in exchange for 50 acres of rent-free land. Mayor's Scholars are selected by the Mayor's Scholarship Committee, whose members are appointed by Mayor Ed Rendell. The average Mayor's Scholarship package includes $18,806 in grants from the University. PILCOP sued the University in 1991, claiming that the 1977 agreement provided for 125 scholarships per year, for a total of 500 scholarships. But the the University contended that the 1977 agreement was for a total of 125 scholarships throughout the school, not for each incoming class. Judge Nelson Diaz ruled in favor of the University in February 1993, but also stated that the University must provide complete support for scholarship recipients. In PILCOP's appeal to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court they asked the court to reverse the Commonwealth Court's decision "on its merits" and also to look into a possible conflict of interest on Chief Judge James Colins part in the four to three decision. PILCOP claims that Colins has a close relationship with both plaintiffs. Churchill alleges that Rendell appointed Colins to head his Riverfront Gambling Commission and that Colins attends all the Quaker home basketball games. Also, Colins has been active in University Alumni activities, according to PILCOP. PILCOP asked Colins to recuse himself because of his association with the University and the city, but Colins refused. But not everything Churchill said about the University was negative. "I'm heartened that the University has been making progress in rectifying the terrible record they had in early 1980's," Churchill said.
(05/25/95 9:00am)
Their road to graduation may have taken a little longer, but for Wharton evening students graduation is just as sweet. And in celebration of their accomplishments, a reception was held at the Double Tree Inn in Center City on Sunday featuring speeches by Philadelphia Mayor Ed Rendell and Channel 10 anchor Renee Chenault. Approximately 85 parents, graduates and friends gathered on the third floor of the hotel to eat, drink and reminisce. Chenault told the graduates that she shares a certain "kinship" with them because she is a University alumna. She gave the audience some words of advice. "I'm here to congratulate you, but I'm also here to challenge," Chenault said. "It's important to give back." She also gave the students some background on her life, so they could see how she got to where she is today. After graduating from the University's Law School in the early 1980's, Chenault joined a New York law firm, but decided that law was not how she envisioned it. Growing up in the 1960's during the Civil Rights movement, Chenault wanted to be an agent for social change. She said she saw law as her opportunity to further that end. But after three years of practicing, she said that law was not accomplishing what she thought it would. So she went back to college, earned a degree in journalism and made a third of the salary she was paid as an attorney. But she said she had no regrets because she "absolutely positively loves" journalism and its ability to send important messages to the public. After Chenault's speech, Rendell briefly congratulated the Wharton students. He then switched the format of the event to a question and answer session. Topics raised ranged from Quaker basketball to Rendell's re-election campaign. At one point, he told the audience how he had recently been asked to be in a Top Ten segment of The Late Show with David Letterman. Mayors from all across the country were called upon to respond to New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani statement that "Our city can kick your city's ass." For Rendell's response, he stood in front of the Liberty Bell and said, "Ring this." Unfortunately, the bit never appeared on the show because of election rules limiting the air time a candidate can receive. After Rendell's question and answer session, graduates and guests were treated to a scrumptious brunch.
(05/19/95 9:00am)
and Gregory Montanaro University Police Commissioner John Kuprevich is on the University of New Mexico's short list of candidates for the next commissioner of public safety, according to UNM Police Lieutenant Steve Lewis. "He was my top choice," Lewis said, adding that Kuprevich is one of four finalists for the position. "I thought he was outstanding." Kuprevich confirmed this week that he "applied to a number of opportunities," and he said that UNM is "a fine institution." He added that no decision had been made and that several qualified applicants were in the running. He also said that the job "happened to open at the right time." Kuprevich announced on April 13 that he would resign his position at the University on July 31. At the time, he said he had accomplished all he had wanted to do at the University, and was ready to pursue new challenges elsewhere. "[Kuprevich] had a lot of experience on college campuses and good credentials and a good understanding of the issues universities [face]," Lewis said. UNM has 42 officers and is currently looking to upgrade their security officers to police status. Lewis said the the job became available when the current police chief left to work for a municipal police department. He described the crime situation at UNM as mainly "property crime." One hundred bicycles were stolen last year, partially because of a lack of education in the community about properly locking unattended possessions. Lewis said there were also a lot of auto accidents, auto thefts and two murders in the past four years. Kuprevich was the University's first commissioner of public safety and oversaw the University Police department and the Victim Support and Special Services unit since assuming the post in December 1990. Since his resignation, Kuprevich has maintained that he will stay involved in campus law enforcement. University officials have said that a replacement will be found in time for Kuprevich's departure this summer. Under the direction of Executive Vice President John Fry -- who received Kuprevich's letter of resignation -- a national search was initiated to identify people interested in working at the University. Details of the search were not available. Before coming to the University, Kuprevich headed Brown University's police and security department for nine years. At Brown, Kuprevich was credited with expanding the university's police department and improving relations between Brown and the state and local police. He also helped create a volunteer program to help female crime victims. Kuprevich's career began as a Pennsylvania State University police officer. He then worked at Wayne State University in Detroit for 11 years.
(05/19/95 9:00am)
With hushed and saddened voices, friends of 1993 University graduate Kathleen Sullivan gathered earlier this month in Houston Hall to talk about the poverty crusader's contributions to society and her tragic death. Sullivan was killed on April 11 when a drunken driver hit her as she rode her bike along Larchwood Street, near 47th Street. Those in mourning spoke of Sullivan's tireless work in fighting poverty in Philadelphia and across the country. Her friends and co-workers also said Sullivan will be missed not only by her friends and family, but also by the many lives she touched in Philadelphia's impoverished neighborhoods. Sullivan, a leader of the Kite and Key Society and founder of the Penn Volunteer Network, was always involved in community service at the University, even after she graduated, founding the Active Community Coalition Efforts Sponsored by Students. College sophomore Erika Leslie, head of Penn Volunteer Network, said Sullivan was the inspiration for her own volunteer efforts. "Kathleen was my role model," Leslie said. "She spent hours tirelessly and selflessly aiding victims of poverty. "Kathleen dedicated her short life to the betterment of humanity," she added. "She was passionate about learning, studying and understanding the world around her, both locally and internationally, so as to change the world." College friend Heather Conahan said Sullivan influenced her and others at the University. "She was the most compassionate person I'll ever know," Conahan said. "She touched my life the way no one else has." A memorial fund in Sullivan's name has been set up to continue to support the work to which she dedicated her life. Contributions made to the fund will benefit the Annie Smart Foundation, which addresses the resource needs of organizations working to combat poverty.
(04/28/95 9:00am)
Over 75 attend forum Images of the Oklahoma City bombing have blanketed television, front pages of newspapers and magazines for the last week and will probably not fade from the collective memory of Americans for years to come. In a response to the Oklahoma City bombing and a bomb threat last week that forced the evacuation of the Penn Tower Hotel and Stemmler Hall, the University wants to take a more proactive approach to suspicious packages and bomb threats. A symposium entitled "Bomb Threats and Suspicious Packages in the Workplace" was held yesterday to inform managers, supervisors and building and business administrators about what to do when confronted with bomb threats and suspicious packages. Victim Support and Special Services Director Maureen Rush and Security Service Director Christopher Algard conducted the seminar in front of an audience of about 75. Rush and Algard explained what to look for in suspicious packages and letters and how to deal with bomb threats. In addition, they handed out fliers which outlined what questions to ask when a bomb threat is received. Some of the telltale signs of suspicious packages and letters include addresses where the name or title may be incorrect, return addresses that may be fictitious, addresses that are labeled "personal or private" and distorted handwriting or pasted label writing. Other signs of suspicious packages include protruding wires, aluminum foil, oil stains or even a peculiar odor. Also questionable are cancellation or postmarks different from the return address, excessive postage, rigid feeling packages or a ticking sound. Algard warned that people should only open packages that are addressed to them and should not open others' packages. Instructions for dealing with the suspicious package include not opening the letter or package, evacuating the immediate area, not turning on or off lights in that area because they might trigger the bomb, and not using two-way radios or cellular phones. In the case of a suspicious package or threat, the police have the responsibility for determining whether a building should be evacuated. As far as bomb threats are concerned, Rush said the individual who receives the initial call is the most important person in the situation because they can provide the most details. Some of the most crucial questions the the recipient should ask are when is the bomb going to explode, where is the bomb and what kind of a bomb is it. They should also pay special attention to the tone of the caller and background noises. A person could also dial "257" after they hang up to trace the call. Algard said people should definitely take elevators during an evacuation for a bomb threat. Algard stressed that individuals should not be afraid of false alarms. But Algard warned that people should not pull fire alarms during a bomb threat because people will be hesitant to use the elevators when they really should not be. After Algard and Rush finished speaking, they opened the forum up for questions. One of audience members, an administrator in the Medical Center, explained that some of the employees in the Medical Center did not respond to the call for evacuation last week because they believed it was a false fire alarm. Algard answered that the key is to have good communications between all the buildings at the University. He said that communication has been enhanced in recent days.
(04/27/95 9:00am)
The Burger King at 40th and Walnut streets was robbed at gunpoint last night by two men who escaped with $1,500 from the restaurant's vault. No one was injured in the incident, which occurred just under an hour before the restaurant's closing. After entering the fast food restaurant, a man with a gun leapt over the front counter, pointed a gun at the manager and forced her to the rear of the store to open the vault. While the gunman was retrieving money from the vault, the other suspect held customers and employees at bay in the store's eating area. The gunman, who wielded a 9-millimeter weapon, was described as a 5-foot-8-inch, 160 pound black male in his twenties wearing a black ski mask, black cap with red lettering, black pants and a black shirt or sweater. The other man was described by police as a 5-8, 175 pound black male in his twenties wearing a brown jacket and blue jeans. The two suspects fled Burger King in a red 1989 Ford Escort on 41st Street north from Walnut Street. A few customers attempted to enter the store during the robbery, but were told by one of the suspects that the store was closed, according to Burger King Training Manager Jane Rossi. The men also ripped the store's phones from the wall, forcing the manager to make calls from public phones outside. The restaurant had a closed circuit camera that recorded the incident, but Rossi said she didn't know if the men were recorded. Rossi, who has been working for Burger King for the last 20 years -- many times in West Philadelphia -- said she has never been robbed before last night. "This never happened to me, until now," Rossi said. "Probably tomorrow I'll freak out." Burger King was also robbed two years ago in October by two men.
(04/26/95 9:00am)
In a cramped law office at 44th Street and Baltimore Avenue, Joe Rocks, the Republican candidate for mayor of Philadelphia, addressed about 20 members of the University City Republican Committee last night. Rocks -- who grew up in a house at 58th Street and Baltimore Avenue -- is running unopposed in the May 16th primary. "I have stepped forward to carry your banner," Rocks said. Many political pundits have already said that Rocks faces an uphill battle in the November election against incumbent Mayor Ed Rendell, a Democrat. Rocks, however, believes he has new ideas to bring to the table. He said rebuilding neighborhoods is one of his priorities. He also said that although he respects Rendell's accomplishments, fixing neighborhoods is more of a pressing issue than the Avenue of the Arts in Center City. Rocks said he believes the city's police and fire departments are inadequate and some of the various city taxes -- like the wage, business and occupancy taxes -- are too high and unjust. Rocks said that if elected, he would fight the Democrat-controlled city government which he described as laden with political infighting, wheeling and dealing, patronage jobs and a large bureaucracy. "You and I pay everyday of our lives a political tax that, if you'll make me mayor with a new team, new faces, new ideas, new imagination and new direction -- will change Philadelphia overnight," Rocks said. "Everything in our lives in Philadelphia has become a deal," he added. "And Ed Rendell's rapped into this. He sounds right, he looks good, he's got a nice public personality, someone's given him the tag 'America's Mayor,' but he's in the deal. And he'll never change our future." Rocks' voice grew passionate when he discussed electoral reform in the city, citing last year's corrupt Second State Senate District election, in which Bruce Marks challenged William Stinson. "The Second Senate District of last year was a national disgrace that was hoisted on the city of Philadelphia by a Democrat machine in this city that attempted to take away from the people of this city their basic freedom, their right to vote," Rocks said. "Rendell's campaign spent $50,000 to get Stinson elected and the rest of the money came from [State Senator Vincent] Fumo," he added. "That's who funded that race." Rocks said one of his first priorities would be to revamp the city's afflicted school system and increase law enforcement, especially in West Philadelphia. Wharton senior Raul Madrigal came to hear the mayoral candidate with four other students for part a political science class. "I think Joe Rocks was wonderful," Madrigal said. "I thought he was a great speaker." Event organizer Matthew Wolfe -- also leader of the city ward which includes the University -- said Rocks is a very viable candidate for mayor. "I think Rendell should take Rocks seriously," said Wolfe, a University alumnus. And Bill Roper, vice chairman of the UCRC agreed, saying Rocks is a "real threat" to the mayor. "I would not want to be a Democrat running for anything, anywhere in the country," Roper said. Other Republican candidates who spoke at the ward meeting included Councilwoman-at-large Joan Specter, Michael Barrasse and Sandra Schultz Newman, both candidates for the State Supreme Court, and city controller candidate Joe Duda.
(04/24/95 9:00am)
Follows national trend The University of Pennsylvania Medical Center and Health System and the Presbyterian Medical Center announced Friday that they will merge within the next year. Although Presbyterian has existed for 125 years, there has been much talk over the years of a union of the two hospitals. The deal was sealed Friday with the signing of a letter of intent. The actual merger will not take place for at least three to six months, according to William Kelley, the chief executive officer of the University Medical Center and dean of the School of Medicine. "We've been flirting for 125 years and now we're finally getting married," University Medical Center spokesperson Rebecca Harmon said. The name of the merged hospital has not yet been decided, Kelley said. Presbyterian President Donald Snook said he did not believe that Presbyterian would be dropped from the new name. Snook said that changing times in the medical field have made the merger imperative. "It isn't reasonable, nor is it prudent, nor should any hospital go into the future standing alone," Snook said. "It's just not responsible. "This hospital and its mission is going to stay in West Philadelphia and continue to serve 125 years and you can't do that alone," he added. The joining of the University Medical Center and Presbyterian follows a nationwide trend in which many smaller hospitals are merging with larger institutions. Snook said the merger plans have been discussed for the past 35 years. Kelley added that although the University Medical Center and Presbyterian have always dreamed of merging, until recently the possibility of actually signing a deal was sketchy. The Scheie Eye Institute, located at Presbyterian, has housed the University's department of ophthalmology since 1972. "The merger we announce today is of a scope seen only by the best visionaries of those past days," Kelley said. "This merger is proper and appropriate for the 1990s and beyond." And James O'Dell, chairperson of Presbyterian's Board of Trustees, said both parties -- as well as the community -- will fare well in the merger. "It's good for Presbyterian," O'Dell said. "It's good for the University of Pennsylvania and its Health System. Most [importantly], it's good for the people of West Philadelphia and to the broader community." The merged hospital system will offer an increased focus on care for the elderly. The University and Presbyterian will form a joint venture company to own and manage nursing homes and to increase the number of beds available in the Philadelphia area. The merger will also consolidate many of the programs and services performed at the two hospitals, cutting costs and making the system more efficient, Kelley said. Some of the services rendered at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania will move to Presbyterian, and vice versa. The two hospitals -- which are among the busiest in the city, according to Snook -- have competed for patients in the past. But Snook said the merger ends any type of rivalry. "This a shaking of the hands that says 'No more competition, we're working cooperatively together,' " he added. City Councilwoman Jannie Blackwell, a member of Presbyterian's Board of Trustees, said she "never, never" expected a merger between the two hospitals. Blackwell added that she has seen a dramatic shift in the University's relationship with the local community with President Judith Rodin's administration. "Penn, since Dr. Rodin has come aboard has just been great in its community-outreach concerns," Blackwell said.
(04/21/95 9:00am)
In a highly symbolic gesture, University President Judith Rodin announced a new partnership with West Philadelphia businesses that could bring $2.8 million into the community. Standing between two photocopy machines and a banner that read "Penn and the Community, a Tradition of Partnership," Rodin announced the University is embarking upon partnerships with three local businesses, Telrose Corporation, Xtec Office Systems and Tri-R Incorporated. Standing before business owners and politicians, including City Councilwoman Jannie Blackwell, State Senator Hardy Williams and Black Clergy President Joseph Patterson, Rodin said she is determined to help the community in which she grew up. "As the largest private employer in this city, I am committed that Penn do all we can for the future that we share with West Philadelphia," Rodin said. "Penn and our neighbors in West Philadelphia share the same dream -- an economically, educationally and culturally vibrant community. Rodin also said the key to sparking improvement in the community is economic development, which will help not only the community but also the University. She added that the new partnerships will "provide a high level of service, without extra costs." "It's good business for Penn and it's a good investment for West Philadelphia," Rodin said as the crowd erupted into applause. Although the University's relationship with the city and West Philadelphia has been strained in the past, the speakers' sentiments indicated a change. "This is a new era in University government relations," Blackwell said. "This is a new era in University community relations. And this era started when we had a new President Dr. Judith Rodin come to us." Todd Rose, owner of the Telrose Corporation, said it was refreshing to see the University acting to aid West Philadelphia. "It is not often that talk is transformed into actions," Rose said. "Now expectations will be transformed into satisfaction." Patterson agreed, saying he never expected the community and the University to have such a close relationship. "I can't believe that President Rodin had the courage to extend support to the Afro-American community and minority business ventures," Patterson said. Patterson compared Rodin's efforts to the biblical tale of Cain and Abel, which asked the question "Am I my brother's keeper?" "Dr. Rodin has answered that question with her endeavors since she has been here at the University of Pennsylvania," he added. "Whatever you send into the lives of others will someday come back to your own." Williams expressed his past speculation with the community and the University. "Never in my life did I ever think that there would be a relationship with this outstanding University." Director of the Office of Community Affairs Glenn Bryan said he was amazed by the diversity of people in the room. He added that before Rodin's presidency, one would have never seen such a group in one room because of the historically strong animosity between the University and the community. And Ralph Maier, associate director of purchasing, who was referred to as the "mastermind" of the partnership said this project was not new, but was actually started eight years ago. "We realized that if the University was going to be successful, the community had to be successful," Maier said. "This program has been set up as a model for the country."
(04/20/95 9:00am)
Tragedy struck Oklahoma City yesterday when a car bomb blew through a nine-story federal office building, killing at least 31 people. At press time, the Associated Press reported that at least 12 children were among those killed and 200 people were injured, with 58 listed in critical condition. Two hundred people were still missing. The attack is being called the deadliest U.S. bombing in 75 years. Witnesses said vibrations from the blast could be felt 30 miles away, but the shock waves from the bombing have reverberated much farther than that. They have reached Philadelphia and other cities around the country, where security has been heightened. At the Federal Court House and Federal Building at 6th and Market streets, security has been beefed-up, according to Mike Maille, captain of the Federal Protection Service. "We're are on a heightened state of alert," Maille said. But Federal Bureau of Investigation Agent Linda Vizi said that security has been tightened ever since the Gulf War crises began four years ago. Regional Science Professor Stephen Gale, an expert on terrorism, said there is speculation that possibly the Branch Davidians or Islamic fundamentalists were involved in the bombing. Yesterday marked the second anniversary of the Waco incident, in which Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms agents raided a Branch Davidian compound in Waco, Texas. Gale also said that there are a lot of Islamic fundamentalists living in Oklahoma City, but there has been never been any conflict between the fundamentalists and others in the city. "The style of action is something that fundamentalists Islamic groups have done in the past," Gale said. "If I wanted to do something to throw [investigators] off the trail, I would use someone else's signature. "There were no amateurs doing that," Gale added. "They were people who knew what they were doing." But Gale cautioned against making any judgment about the identity of the terrorists at this early of a stage. He said the key lesson to be learned from the Oklahoma tragedy is not that security should be heightened, but that the U.S. has to become "pro-active" in terrorism issues. He added that currently, the government does not take terrorism seriously enough. "We can't protect everything, we're not set up," Gale said. "We're way behind the learning curve on this one." He added that the United States should follow Israel's example in dealing pro-actively with terrorism. We have to design systems to prevent terrorism, he said. In addition, Gale said President Clinton's message about finding and prosecuting the perpetrators is a strong and symbolic one. But it is not the best message. Gale said the government should focus its energy on preventing further acts of terror while they are searching for the culprits in yesterday's blast. Gale speculated that the bombing in Oklahoma City could be seen as a symbolic effort by terrorists to target the heartland of America, a place usually thought to be immune from international attacks. Most would expect such attacks to be restricted to cities on the East or West Coast, he added. "By going to the heartland, you're saying nobody is safe," Gale said. "It's a statement that no one in the U.S. is far enough removed from what's going on in the world."
(04/19/95 9:00am)
Baltimore Avenue has seen better days. And if the plans of Cynthia Brey and Maurice Walden come to fruition, the once proud avenue could be bustling with activity again. Brey and Walden are the founders of Green to Green: Visions for Baltimore Avenue, a project that aims to revitalize and redevelop Baltimore Avenue. Brey, a University alumnus and architect, said Green to Green is planning a design competition in which architects will develop ideas and plans for a new Baltimore Avenue. The Green to Green organization is a collaborative venture between the West Philadelphia Community Development Corporation and Environs Development Group. Green to Green was able to get off the ground after Brey and Walden won a National Endowment of the Arts grant, which currently provides them with $25,000. But the two organizers must also raise between $50,000 and $60,000 in matching funds. The group held a kick-off meeting a few weeks ago, but some community members in attendance became upset because they felt they had not been consulted about the endeavor, according to Alan Levy, a University architecture lecturer. "There was some confusion about purposes and aims of competition and confusion about how much had been decided without [the community's] participation," Levy said. "The community has a long history of things that have failed and they are a bit cynical and with good reason. "At least there was a dialogue going on, even if it was contentious," he added. Brey said she hopes her organization can bring many of the various autonomous community groups like the 52nd Street Business Association, Cedar Park Neighbors, Spruce Hill Neighbors Association and others. "The objective of this design project is to serve as a catalyst for community involvement and neighborhood revitalization," Brey said. The design competition entries will be accepted starting next spring, while the scope of the project will stretch from 38th Street to Cobbs Creek Parkway. There will be several town meetings between now and next spring to get community input, with the next meeting to be held on May 25th. The urban planning and design competition will focus on commercial and residential revitalization, Brey added. The commercial areas will be concentrated in two or three spots between Baltimore and 52nd streets, around 48th Street. Part of the project is also looking at possible community centers in the area, while Levy and other University professors and students are working in a studio designing a community center for 51st and Baltimore streets. Levy stressed that the design study was completely "theoretical" and would probably not be used in the actual design competition. Linda Blythe, president of the Spruce Hill Community Association, said the Green to Green project was a good concept. "I'm very enthusiastic about it," Blythe said. "I think it's a great idea."
(04/17/95 9:00am)
The real world is crashing in on many college students today. People across the country will be dashing to their local post offices to send away their tax forms to the Internal Revenue Service. And to their chagrin, many students are discovering that as young adults, they are not excluded from this yearly ritual. College and Engineering senior Amon Seagull said he filed his taxes last week. "It's something I definitely didn't want to do," Seagull said. "I was glad I hadn't waited longer." College senior Eric Stock also sent away his tax forms last week. He added that has mixed feelings about the IRS getting becoming more strict with their auditing. "The best thing about finishing was realizing you don't owe any more money," Stock said. "Too many people cheat on their taxes. It's okay, as long as they don't audit me." Stock also said that even though the IRS has changed the forms to make them easier, he has not seen much of a difference. And when asked if he had a party to celebrate paying his taxes -- as did many tax filers nationwide this year -- he responded that taxes are not something that puts him in the partying mood. "Anything with taxes doesn't really excite me," Stock added. College freshman Emiko Yohimatsu said that most taxes are taken out of her paycheck. She added that she is not worried about getting a refund because it would be miniscule. "It's not much of a problem," Yohimatsu said. "I don't have to write a check. If I were to get a refund it would be for about $5, so I don't ask for a refund." Engineering sophomore Ryan Crowell summed up a common observation about taxes. "Taxes are a necessary evil," he said. But some students are still sheltered from the bane of IRS forms. Several students interviewed said their parents filled out their taxes, so they really had no first-hand dealings with tax forms.
(04/12/95 9:00am)
One month before his expected graduation, a Yale University student was expelled from school after being accused of fraudulently accepting $61,475 worth of student grants and loans from the federal government. Lon Grammer, a 25-year-old from Brentwood, Calif., was arrested Thursday by Yale University Police on charges of first-degree larceny. According to Yale Police Sergeant Michael Pattern, Grammer could face between one and 20 years in prison. As a junior, Grammer transferred to Yale from Cuesta Community College in San Luis Obispo, Calif. He is accused of forging and altering several of the documents in his Yale admissions file. Grammer's admissions file at Yale contained two different copies of his transcript, according to police reports. The copy he sent to Yale showed a grade point average of 3.91, while the transcript from Cuesta Community College indicated a 2.07 GPA. In addition, Grammer's file contained several forged letters of recommendations signed by nonexistent Cuesta Community College professors. Norman Pattis, Grammer's attorney, told the Yale Daily News that Grammer would enter a plea of not guilty at his arraignment which was originally scheduled for yesterday. But Grammer was not arraigned and his case received a continuance until April 20. Yale officials declined to comment on the case. Some of Grammer's friends said they were surprised by his arrest, but others felt that there had always been something suspicious about him. The Yale incident is similar to last year's arrest of a man who tried to gain admission to the University Law School using false identification. Jorge Chambergo, who allegedly sought admission to the Law School under an assumed name, was arrested in California in January by United States postal inspectors. A federal grand jury indicted Chambergo on seven counts of mail fraud and one count of attempting to a use a false social security number. Chambergo could face up to 40 years in prison and a $2 million fine. He is accused of altering his name in January 1990 in an attempt to pass off the LSAT scores of another individual, Dae Kyung Seu. And the indictment also charges Chambergo with submitting a financial aid statement with a false birth date. The Yale Daily News contributed to this article.
(04/11/95 9:00am)
The strike lasted for 14 days After 14 days without public transportation, the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority strike is over. SEPTA's buses, trains and trolleys hit the streets yesterday afternoon, and by 3 p.m., the Market-Frankford and Broad Street subway lines were operational, although providing limited and often delayed service. Clarence Brangman, assistant general manager for surface operations, and Juan Torres, assistant general manager for the subway-elevated division, both said they expect the entire system to be 100 percent operational by tomorrow morning. As for the University faculty, staff and students who had to depend on contingency travel plans, yesterday was their last ride on alternate routes. University Vice President for Business Services Steve Murray said the special buses were scheduled to stop running as of last night. In addition, the message on the 898-MELT hotline is announcing that the strike "appears to have been settled." "We very happy it's over and that things will be back tomorrow," Murray said. "The University community, faculty and staff have done a terrific job of pulling together and finding ways to get to work. Because of their efforts, the strike had fairly minimal impact on University as a whole." SEPTA Deputy General Manager Howard Roberts said he shook hands with union President Harry Lombardo at approximately 4:30 a.m. yesterday morning after several grueling hours of negotiations in the in the Wyndham/Franklin Hotel. But he added that at about 11 p.m. Sunday night, he had little confidence and was ready to give up. "Suddenly something seemed to break and things started to move rapidly," Roberts said. He added that the two-week mark was imperative so that permanent riders would not be lost. He said that SEPTA estimated losing $30 to $60 million in revenue if the strike was prolonged. "We are about to go into the killing zone for ridership," he said. During the strike, Mayor Ed Rendell came under harsh criticism by Lombardo and SEPTA strikers for not getting involved in the strike. Roberts said, however, that the strike would not have been settled without the help of the mayor. "The mayor and the chief of staff [David Cohen] were absolutely instrumental in bringing about this particular settlement," he said. The terms of the agreement include a 3 percent "backloaded" wage increase for each year of the contract which will begin on December 15, 1995. An additional 3 percent increase will take effect on December 15, 1997. The union originally asked for a 3 percent wage increase effective immediately that would have cost SEPTA $36 million. Under the settlement, however, SEPTA will only have to pay $21 million. Septa General Manager Louis Gambaccini stressed that the money for the increase came from "savings." Other terms of the contract include raising the cap on yearly pensions from $35,000 to $40,000, an increase in sick pay from 39 percent to 45 percent and an increase in the union's dental benefits. SEPTA plans to finance the increase by restructuring the workers' compensation system and reducing accident-related personal injury claims. SEPTA sales offices are providing credits for unused weekly and monthly passes purchased for travel during the last two weeks. And SEPTA will continue to accept Transpasses through April 15 for regional rail trips to and from the 51 railroad stations in Philadelphia. During the SEPTA strike, the city's transit system was crippled, shutting down all bus, train and trolley service and affecting over 400,000 riders. Only portions of the regional rail lines remained unaffected.
