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(03/03/95 10:00am)
Former University student Lisa Topol, who has accused former Assistant English Professor Malcolm Woodfield of sexual harassment, must turn her diary over to the court, U.S. District Court Judge Anita Brody ruled earlier this week. Topol filed suit against the University in March 1994. In the suit, she claims the University violated her rights by failing to resolve her complaint for an extended period of time. Her federal case is scheduled to begin in April. "Since I conclude the diary is relevant and nonprivileged and that disclosure will not cause undue annoyance, embarrassment, or oppression, I will grant defendants' motion to compel discovery and deny plaintiff's motion for a protective order," Brody wrote in her opinion. Topol's case is currently in discovery, a period before a trial in which the prosecution and defense exchange information they may use as evidence in the case. Topol's attorney Alice Ballard argued that a law, the psychotherapist - patient privilege shields, protects Topol's diary from discovery. But Brody ruled that the patient privilege "fails to shield information relevant to a patient's mental state where the patient's mental state is in issue." Brody further explained that because Topol alleged that her sexual relationship with Woodfield caused her to become "depressed, anxious, and fearful" her mental state is an issue and that Topol waived her rights to the diary. Mary Kohard, outside counsel for the University, said the case is proceeding along well. "I haven't seen the diary," Kohard said. "We wanted to see the diary. She identified it as a relevant document." Topol is also suing Woodfield in Philadelphia Common Pleas Court and has filed a suit against Bates College in Maine. Woodfield has admitted that he had sex with Topol and that this was unethical under the University's policies. He resigned last April amidst hearings investigating the matter. Topol's suit against Bates College claims administrators withheld information about sexual harassment charges allegedly made against Woodfield by students at the liberal arts college where he taught for two years. Alice Ballard, Topol's lawyer, could not be reached for comment.
(03/03/95 10:00am)
The smoke has cleared, but it still reeks of controversy in Hill House. Students on a second floor suite of Hill are questioning the actions of three graduate fellows who accused two students of smoking marijuana in their rooms Sunday. And as a result, the three GFs will have to face questions from a senior staff disciplinary review board, according to Assistant Dean of Hill House Steve Feld. "Emotions are running fairly high," Feld said. "The behavior the students are relating to me [about the GFs] is not acceptable." College freshman Sarah Davies said she was studying with a friend Sunday night when three GFs knocked on her door. Although Davies gave the GFs permission to enter her room, they instead "stormed" in and told the students they heard an illegal activity was going on in there. Then, she said, they asked to see their PennCards. Davies added that third year Wharton and Engineering graduate student and GF, Prasad Veluchamy, did not say why he entered her room, but informed Davies that the police were on their way. She added that Veluchamy said she and her friend would have to take a breathalyzer test. Veluchamy said he was responding to reports from Lance Dunlop, a first-year Psychology graduate student and GF for Davies' suite, that there was marijuana smoke in the area of Davies' room. Veluchamy said he expected to find the students using drugs in the room, but was shocked with what he found instead. "They were both just sitting on beds with books in their hands," he said. However, Veluchamy, and other students in the suite, maintain that someone was smoking pot. "We treat it not with levity," Veluchamy said. "It affects other people in the community." But Davies said that she is very upset and angered by the way the situation was handled both during the incident and afterwards. "It got sort of out of hand," Davies said. "The three of them were out of control. That was the scariest part; the GFs didn't realize what they did was wrong. "Did anyone give us a chance to be innocent?" Davies asked. "Did we do something wrong? We got busted for something we didn't do." Veluchamy admitted that he went to the dorm room with the attitude of guilty until proven innocent, and that he trusted Dunlop's information. "I did not have any grounds to doubt Lance's veracity," Veluchamy said. "I have had four successful busts. I didn't occur to me that Lance was wrong." The students also complained that after a heated argument among the GFs and the two students, the GFs left, leaving the students to wait for the police to show up. Davies said she repeatedly asked Dunlop, her next door neighbor, when the police were coming, but he would not give her an answer. Veluchamy said he used the line about the police to try to coerce the students into telling the truth -- even though University Police were never contacted. "The motives beyond using such credible threats is to tell us they're smoking pot," Veluchamy said. "There were mistakes made and I'm sorry about them." Instead of answering her questions, Davies said Dunlop came back into her room and said, "Cut the bullshit Sara, you know you were smoking pot." Davies said she became furious with this accusation and promptly kicked Dunlop out of her room. "They took their little scheme too far," Davies said. "It was a complete violation. I want to make sure people realize the magnitude of it. They didn't feel like they had done anything wrong." On Tuesday night, Dunlop held a suite meeting to discuss the incident. But students said that the meeting became a screaming match between themselves and the GFs. On Wednesday night, Feld met with the students. "If we had to do it again, we wouldn't go into the room without knowing what the hell was going on," Veluchamy said. "I'm not abandoning any culpability on my part." Many students in the suite are still bitter, and said that the GFs had gone overboard in the handling of the ordeal. "We wanted to make sure this wouldn't happen again," College freshman and Hill House resident Gordon Gochenauer said. "They accused them of doing it first, rather than asking them." Engineering freshman Ernest Poon, also a resident of Hill House in Davies' suite, agreed. "It was totally unjustifiable and unreasonable," Poon said. Tammy Lefcourt, a doctoral student in mathematics, was one of the GFs involved and says she is sorry the anything ever happened. Lefcourt added that her role in the incident was minimal. "I definitely feel the women involved were at the short end of some stick," Lefcourt said. "But you have to take action in a way that seems the best course of action at the time," she added.
(02/28/95 10:00am)
For most elementary school children, recess is a time for see-saws, swings and slides. But children at Locke Elementary at 46th Street and Haverford Avenue have been deprived of this youthful pastime. Instead of teetertotters, they are confronted with crack vials and broken glass on the empty black pavement. But for Locke students, there may be hope yet -- a few University Engineering students are working hard to design and build a playground for the West Philadelphia children. Engineering seniors David Mays, Andrew Kluter and Jim DeNave are the three students responsible for bringing the first new school playground to Philadelphia in 10 years. Members of the American Society of Civil Engineers, the three seniors decided last spring to design a playground for their Systems 471 senior Engineering project. Through their hard work, the students have come to the realization that designing a playground is no easy task. They have fought an uphill battle ever since they started. Mays said that his first two sites for elementary school playgrounds "fell through" and that the Locke school was a third choice. He added that he also had to resolve many legal issues stemming from the building and design of the playground. Although he was disappointed by these events, Mays and his partners have persevered and hope to build the playground on the weekend of March 25. Several Greek organizations will aid with the construction. "We want to put something tangible in the community that will give a long lasting service to the folks out there," Mays said. "A lot of folks at Penn have an attitude that West Philadelphia is the end of the world. "I think part of this project is trying to address that feeling that it's worthwhile and possible to do socially relevant projects," he added. But College senior Jason Straus, the group's self-proclaimed spokesperson, said the students are still facing some financial stumbling blocks, including the fundraising of about $13,000. Straus said the group has elicited corporate funding for the project. He is also holding a raffle to raise funds for the playground through Ware College House. The raffle tickets will be available until tomorrow. According to Mays, Locke students have been particularly enthusiastic about the playground. And Kluter said he is extremely proud to be a part of project that is so meaningful to him and the children. "Building a playground is something which has longer-lasting value than donating money or books," Kluter said. "There is a physical tangible result, which shows what we did for the kids, the school and the community. "When I see the Locke school kids run out and play on that playground on opening day, I know I will have a great deal of satisfaction and happiness, knowing I made the 'kids' feel happy," he added.
(02/28/95 10:00am)
The fire that destroyed the Convenient Food Store at 39th and Walnut streets will be officially ruled arson today, according to Lieutenant Harry Young of the Philadelphia Fire Department Fire Marshall's office. Although the case was not ruled arson until today, the owners of neighboring businesses, such as College Pizza and Baskin Robbins, as well as the manager of Mega Video said they were informed Friday about the cause of the fire by the Fire Department. College Pizza owner Ulysses Lancellotti said he was angered by news of the arson. His store suffered severe damage from the fire with costs totaling an estimated $50,000 to $60,000. "People like that don't belong in this country," Lancellotti said of the arsonist. "This country wasn't made for people like that. "It's so unfair because we all work so hard for our businesses," he added. Lancellotti said that the fire was the most traumatic experience he has undergone in 30 years. The store has been closed since the fire and Lancellotti hopes to open in about a week. He added yesterday that a private investigator from an insurance company is also looking into the Convenient Food Store fire to search for clues as to its cause. And Baskin Robbins owner Eric Yates said that although the incident caused little damage to his store, it has upset him. "It's definitely arson," Yates said. "[And] if it was arson the whole block was put at risk. If it wasn't for the Fire Department's quick actions, we could have all lost our businesses." Yates recalled receiving a phone call from Lancellotti telling him that his store was on fire. "I thought for sure it was a bad dream," Yates said. Rodney O'Neil, vice president of Superior Restoration Services, the company that is working to refurbish the former AMC movie theater, said the theater also suffered smoke damage. He added, however, that the new theater will be ready for its opening date of April 1. "It's not going to affect the target date at all," O'Neil said. Mega Video suffered severe smoke damage, as well as damage to its computer system and video tapes. Orest Hrabowy, manager of Mega Video, said last week that the store would be opening in a few weeks.
(02/27/95 10:00am)
The Red and Blue archives, estimated to be worth over $100,000, disappeared from their storage location in Irvine Auditorium this weekend, and were thrown away, according to The Red and Blue spokesperson Thor Halvorssen. Halvorssen, a College junior, said some of the issues and bound volumes that were removed from the office -- which the magazine shares with other student organizations -- dated back to 1889. So far, only a few issues have been recovered, some of which were found Friday night in a nearby dumpster. He added that the magazines are valuable because The Red and Blue was the first college magazine in the Ivy League. College junior Jennifer Lynch, co-chairperson of Penn Musicians against Homelessness, which shares the office, said that some members of her organization along with Houston Hall employees threw away the papers. Lynch said that last Thursday, magazines from The Red and Blue, Punch Bowl and other campus publications were placed in a hallway. Lynch explained that the magazines and papers were later removed Friday because they were creating a fire hazard by blocking the hallway. The hallway need to be cleared immediately because an environmental conference was being held in the building. But she added that three copies of each magazine were saved, two for University archives and one for The Red and Blue Editor-in-Chief Christopher Robbins, a College junior. "It was a misunderstanding," Lynch said. "We were under the impression they were no longer in that space. I'm completely shocked by Chris [Robbins] calling police at three o'clock in the morning. I had no idea this would be a major dispute." And Lynch said she had no intention of purposely harming The Red and Blue. "There was no malicious intent whatsoever," Lynch said. "We just wanted a musical rehearsal space. There was no political agenda as far as I know it." Kevin Chun, information coordinator for student life activities and facilities, said his supervisors authorized the removal of the papers. "This thing is getting blown out of proportion," Chun said. "I encouraged [PMAH] to keep things for posterity. I don't think this was at all malicious." Lynch said she had been in contact with Robbins, asking him to remove his materials from the office. "We asked them to please move papers out of the office," she said. "We delayed working on the office for several months, waiting for Robbins to move the stuff." And Chun said he thought The Red and Blue had no access to the room for the past two years. Halvorssen disagreed with Chun, stating that The Red and Blue has keys to the office, and has gone into the facility periodically to access their archives or supplies. In addition, he said that no one on the magazine's staff had been notified to remove their belongings, or that they could not use the office. Lynch said that she expected The Red and Blue to vacate the room after it was given to PMAH and the Curtis Organ Restoration Society for use as a musical practice space. Halvorssen said that 477 issues dating from 1889 to 1938 were missing. He said the documents also included more recent issues of the magazine, stationary and office supplies. "It's really sad," Halvorssen said. "Why did this have to happen? It's just really appalling. "It was a complete and total disappearing act," he added. "There's no trace of The Red and Blue ever having been in that office." Halvorssen said he searched through a dumpster behind Irvine and recovered about 15 percent of the missing magazines. He also said that he definitely suspects foul play due to recent incidents with The Red and Blue. He cited such episodes as the Student Activities Committee refusing to fund the group. "We demand Penn Police and the administration carry out an exhaustive investigation against the deliberate and malicious attempt at sabotaging The Red and Blue. "As far as we're concerned we're going to pursue this farther," Halvorssen added. "Everything right now points to foul play." Halvorssen said he made a report with University Police, and contacted Physical Plant officials, who had no knowledge of work being done in the room.
(02/24/95 10:00am)
The 3900 blocks of Walnut and Sansom streets were closed for about an hour yesterday morning when Philadelphia Fire Department officials discovered a freon leak in the Convenient Food Store. Five fire trucks, two ambulances and the hazardous materials unit from the Fire Department responded to the leak. No one was hurt yesterday at the store, which had been previously gutted by a fire early Saturday morning. And Kinko's Copy Center, located next to the Convenient Food Store, was evacuated as a precaution. "It's pretty routine for the Fire Department to send that level of response initially," a Fire Department spokesperson said. "You get the works, send everything and worry about it later." Fire Department Chief George DelRossi said freon can be toxic if inhaled and is also hard to detect because it is an odorless, colorless gas. "You don't want to inhale it in large quantities," DelRossi said. According to DelRossi, the freon leak started after someone broke into the back entrance of Convenient Food Store Wednesday night. He said the intruder attempted to steal copper tubing from refrigerator pipes causing the freon to escape. Firefighters "kinked" the pipes to stop the freon from leaking further, DelRossi explained. Ed Datz, an official of University City Associates -- the subsidiary corporation of the University that owns the property -- said the back door was locked and secured prior to the incident. He added, however, that the door will be welded shut. "A lot of people just go ahead and don't want to leave things alone," Datz said. In addition, Philadelphia fire marshals were investigating the cause of the Convenient Food Store fire when they realized the freon was leaking. The fire is still currently under investigation, but no cause has been determined. Students at the scene yesterday said they were inconvenienced by the evacuation of Kinko's because they needed to use the copiers. Second year Law student Tanya Galuszka said she was in a rush to get copies done for a moot court session when she was told to evacuate Kinko's. "Last night I had a premonition that I shouldn't put it off because Kinko's might burn down," Galuszka said. "That's what I get for being a procrastinator." And Kinko's employee Ibrahim Balogun said he was afraid his customers would be disappointed because their work had not been completed. "It's affecting my business," Balogun said. Local businesses such as College Pizza and Mega Video have been closed since Saturday from the recent fire. College Pizza owner Ulysses Lancellotti estimated that the Convenience Food Store fire caused between $50,000 and $60,000 in damage. "The smoke is so bad it's unbelievable," Lancellotti said. He added that he hopes to re-open College Pizza in about a week. And he said that when the store re-opens, there will be all new fresh food. "I'm going to throw everything out, even the soda," Lancellotti said. Orest Hrabowy, manager of Mega Video, said he hopes his store will re-open in a few weeks. Mega Video suffered severe water damage, as well as damage to its computer system and video tapes. Hrabowy said he can not estimate the cost of the damage because the insurance adjuster has not yet surveyed the store. The Fire Department responded to the freon leak at shortly after 10:30 a.m. and had reopened the streets by noon.
(02/23/95 10:00am)
"America's Mayor" held a campaign kick-off at his campaign headquarters in Center City yesterday. Amidst cheers, the 70 volunteers and campaign staffers piled into the the office in the Suburban Station building to greet Mayor Ed Rendell. The workers were also treated to traditional Philadelphia fare, including hoagies, pizza and pretzels. And although many political observers say Rendell is a shoe-in for re-election, Rendell said campaigning is still crucial. Currently Rendell faces no challengers in the Democratic party, which will hold its primary in May, but Michael Rocks announced his candidacy for mayor on the Republican ticket last week. One possible challenger had been Republican attorney Richard Glanton, who was investigating the possibility of switching his party affiliation to run against the mayor in the primary. But Glanton announced this week that he would stay out of the race. The mayor said that while television commercials are an important medium for his message, going out on the streets and talking to people is the most effective method. "People get people out to the poles," Rendell said. And although many supporters said Rendell is unstoppable, they cautioned against being overconfident about his chances. "I think you can never say it's all over," Chris Dwyer, a volunteer, said. "His chances are fantastic, but you don't want to take anything for granted." The mayor said one of his greatest achievements was not laying off city workers or cutting their pay. "We were able to accomplish a financial miracle without laying off people and having pay cuts," Rendell said. After Rendell finished his brief address, one man began to chant "four more years" and the crowd erupted into applause. Wharton and Engineering sophomore Eugene Huang, a Rendell campaign worker, said the mayor's accomplishments will serve him well in his re-election bid. "Rendell has done fabulous things for the city," Huang said. "He rescued the city from insolvency in an incredibly short time. He's Philadelphia's biggest cheerleader." John Ross, a resident of West Philadelphia, said the mayor has done a lot for the University City area. "I think he will do well," Ross said. "He's an accessible mayor."
(02/20/95 10:00am)
Convenient Food Store at 39th and Walnut street gutted A raging fire tore through the Convenient Food Store in the 3900 block of Walnut Street early Saturday morning. The fire completely gutted the convenience store, leaving only a charred exterior structure and damage to nearby stores. As of yet, the Philadelphia Fire Department still has not determined the cause of the fire, which began shortly before 4 a.m. Although the store was closed at the time of the fire, there were several people in the area, and many witnesses on the scene reported hearing explosive sounds coming from the store. Drexel University junior Chad Glover said he was in Kinko's Copies -- which is adjacent to the Convenient Food Store -- when he heard a series of noises and ran outside to see what had happened. "It sounded like a whole bunch of bottles and cans jumping out of the window," Glover said. "It started real small and kind of blew up, and the whole thing ignited and came rushing out the windows." Glover said the fire blew through the front windows of the Convenient Food Store within seconds of the first flames. Glover then went back into Kinko's to alert the late-night employee to the fire next door. Philadelphia Firefighter Scott Ulshafer said the fire spread unusually fast. "It's not a normal fire," Ulshafer said. "This took off too quick." Many students in High Rise North said they could smell the fire from the building. Wharton senior Jim Maceiko said his friends thought someone was burning something in the hall, or had burned food in the microwave. College junior Chris Nelson said he heard noise coming from outside his room. "There was a crash before the flames," Nelson said. "I thought a car blew up." Initially, the police responded to the store after a reported burglar alarm in the store, but upon arriving found the store in flames. Police radioed the fire department which dispatched three fire engines, two ladder trucks, a rescue unit and an ambulance to the scene. Firefighters spent nearly three hours extinguishing the fire while Philadelphia and University Police sealed off Walnut Street from 39th to 40th streets. And although the fire did not spread from the Convenient Food Store, Mega Video, College Pizza and Baskin Robbins did receive smoke and water damage. The Convenient Food Store's neighbor, Kinko's Copies, was left unscathed due, in part, to a firewall separating the two stores. Sam Patel, owner of Convenient Food Store, said he was disturbed by the sight of his charred store. He added that he was upset to see his hard work go up in flames after opening the store in September. "After seeing this, I don't know what I'm going to do," Patel said. "I put myself out and worked hard to build the store. "This is the first time I've seen a store burnt like this in my life," he added. "It's like losing a son -- a part of your life." Patel said he has several other stores in Center City Philadelphia, and is planning to open another store in March. He added that he hopes to rebuild the Walnut Street store, but was unsure of a timetable. Vaughn Barnes, of University City Associates -- the subsidiary corporation of the University that owns property in the area -- said he estimated the damage to the Convenient Food Store to be between $500,000 and $1 million. Charles Thomas, an employee of UCA, said the store could be rebuilt by the summer. "We'll salvage anything that can be salvaged," he said. "The basic structure is still there." Firefighters from the station at 43rd and Market streets were driving near the scene when the fire broke and arrived within seconds. The fire was under control by 4:55 a.m., according to a Philadelphia Fire official. To alleviate the intense heat and smoke, the firefighters had to cut holes in the roof of the building. They also broke through the front windows of Mega Video and a small section of the wall, along with the doors of College Pizza, Baskin Robbins and the former AMC movie theater. Philadelphia Fire Department Lieutenant Robert Buckley said that all of these stores sustained smoke damage. Orest Hrabowy, manager of Mega Video, said extensive damage was done to the store. He added that the store will be closed for at least a week to restore the video stock, get the computer system functioning and clean-up the water damage. Eric Yates, owner of the Baskin Robbins ice cream shop, said there was slight damage to the ventilation system and ceiling, but he would be back in business by today. "I was lucky," Yates added. Over the weekend, work crews boarded up the Convenient Food Store in addition to much of Mega Video. A fire marshall is expected to survey the remains of the store tomorrow to try to determine the cause of the fire.
(02/17/95 10:00am)
CAMDEN, N.J. -- As students here at Rutgers University walked to class yesterday, everything seemed normal. But inside the school buildings, about 20 students were protesting, waving signs and shouting demands at Rutgers President Francis Lawrence. Lawrence had come to the Camden campus to meet with faculty, administrators and the Black Law Students Association. And in spite of Lawrence's efforts to open dialogue, black and Latino groups have joined together to protest what they consider racist comments by Lawrence. These remarks have prompted protesters to call for his resignation or ouster. Yesterday's confrontation was just the most recent in a series of student protests that have called for Lawrence's resignation. It all began January 31, when it was revealed that in a November faculty meeting Lawrence stated that blacks performed poorly on standardized tests, such as the Scholastic Aptitude Test, because they are "genetically inferior." "The average S.A.T. for African-Americans is 750," he said in the November speech. "Do we set standards in the future so we don't admit anybody with the national test? Or de we deal with a disadvantaged population that doesn't have that genetic, hereditary background to have a higher average?" Since the incident, Lawrence has repeatedly apologized for his remarks, and said that his remarks were misunderstood. In addition, Rutgers' Board of Governor's unanimously voted continued support for Lawrence's presidency last week. But the students awaiting Lawrence's visit yesterday didn't share the Board's view. The first students appeared at about 9 a.m. and stayed until late in the afternoon, with many missing all of their classes. Other protesters took shifts, switching to attend classes. And when the students caught their first glimpse of Lawrence leaving a bathroom, they chanted "You must go?you must go?Fran must go." Students also touted signs ranging from "R.U. Wants U Out!" and "Lawrence Must Go," to "Genetically Inferior I Don't Think So." One student even carried a sign asking students to boycott the Coca-Cola Company because they provide most of the beverages for the urban campus. Most Rutgers' students, however, went about their daily business, lounging on couches in the Campus Center, lunching in the cafeteria, and engaging in conversation. But the protesters were willing to put all else aside until they achieved concessions from the Rutgers' administration, including Lawrence's resignation. Cal Maradonna, Rutgers' dean of students, said that student protest was increasing in intensity. "I don't know if there would be this much activity if the President wasn't here," he said. And some demonstrators planned to travel to the main Rutgers campus in New Brunswick to stage a sit-in at the Rutgers-Temple basketball game last night. Last Tuesday, a Rutgers–University of Massachusetts game was postponed at half-time after upset students took over the court and refused to leave. That rally was sponsored by the Black Students Union and the Latino Students Organization. The remainder of the game will be played at a later date at a location to be announced. Even though Latino students were not explicitly mentioned in Lawrence's remarks, many Latino protesters felt Lawrence had slighted them also. Rutgers sophomore Evelyn Montanez said Lawrence was not doing enough for minorities at Rutgers Camden campus, including Latinos. One of Rutgers' Latino leaders, Carlos Ilarraza, agreed, demanding more Latino administrators and faculty, as well as a Latin-American Studies or Puerto Rican Studies major. Montanez and Ilarraza refused to accept the apology Lawrence made last week. Not all students shared their sentiments, however. Rutgers senior John Antoni, who was not involved in the protest, said he recognizes Lawrence made a mistake in his speech, but accepts his apology. "Most of the people agree he shouldn't resign," Antoni said. Nonetheless, it appears that the controversy is still brewing. Recently, rumors have spread that faculty members conspired to release hundreds of tapes of Lawrence's infamous comments. This may have been in retaliation for Lawrence's plan to review the performance of tenured professors. But Rutgers sophomore Ophelia Singleton, a vocal demonstrator in yesterday's protest, said the conspiracy theory is not the issue. "Whether or not it's a conspiracy is irrelevant," Singleton said. "He's determined his own fate." Singleton added that although Lawrence has a good record of hiring minorities and accepting minority students, it is not a reflection of his personal feelings, but the law. "President Lawrence has to hire a certain percentage of minority students by law," she said. "It's not about personal sentiment -- he has to do that. It's more out of necessity. "I don't want him to retain any dignity because what he did was not dignified."
(02/15/95 10:00am)
Will Old Philadelphia Be 'Disneyfied'? While Independence National Historical Park is often referred to as America's most historic square mile, few visitors spend more than an hour visiting the district which contains Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell. Trying to reverse this trend, Mayor Ed Rendell and park officials have released plans to enhance the tourist experience for visitors and city residents alike. And recently, everyone from architects and city planners to historians and academics have engaged in dialogue over the fate of the historic area. Currently on the table are six alternative plans devised by the National Park Service. One of the six plans or a combination of the plans will be tentatively accepted in late spring, but will remain open for public discussion. By December of 1995, however, the National Park Service will announce its final plan, which will be implemented in the next 10 to 15 years. Last month, the city and Mayor Ed Rendell unveiled their favored proposal. It calls for a $170 million high-tech Constitution Center to be built on Independence Mall. In addition, the plan recommends relocating the Visitor's Center. If Rendell's plan is accepted, the Liberty Bell would move to the north side of Market Street and would be enclosed in a new glass and steel pavilion. Rendell said he hopes to have Constitution Center plan completed by 1998. Under the Rendell plan, the Constitution Center would run above and below ground and be filled with the newest in museum technology, including multi-media exhibits, television town meetings, discussion theaters, educational galleries and a "Signer's Hall" where visitors can sign the Constitution with a laser pen. Political Science Professor William Harris said he vigorously endorses a home to celebrate the Constitution because it is the foundation and backbone of the United States. "This was the place where the nation was really founded, not by writing documents but by creating institutions," he said. "We need to try to recapture what it is like to make this constitution work in the first phase of its existence. That's the moment to focus on." He said that a constitution center should have the mission of educating the public, especially children. But he cautioned that a center should not be treated as a "shrine." "I don't see this just as commemoration," he added. "If it works, it works because it teaches citizens the capacity to deal with the kinds of problems the framers dealt with on their own terms." · The city's favored proposal -- the sixth proposed by the National Park Service -- has received the most attention, and has caused the most controversy. And although it is the city's plan that received the lion's share of publicity, the final decision will me made by the National Park Service. Independence Mall, the proposed home of the Constitution Center, was created between 1952 and 1969 as Independence Mall State Park by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the City of Philadelphia. In the process, three city blocks, containing 143 building dating from the 19th and 20th century, were demolished. And in the early 1970s, Pennsylvania turned the mall over to the National Park Service. Ann Marie DiSerafino, spokesperson for Independence Park, said that the National Park Service will not publicly endorse a plan yet, but is considering all the alternatives. She added that the overwhelming public response to the issue has been extremely helpful. While some architects favor the idea of a Constitution Center and increased building on Independence Mall, others are vehemently opposed to the idea. Former City Planning Commissioner Edmund Bacon, who is responsible for the design of Independence Mall, said he loves the idea of an underground Constitution Center. He added, however, that he strongly opposes proposals for buildings in the center of the mall area. "The purpose of the mall is to give dignity and a setting to Independence Hall," Bacon said. "There is no way you can put a major building in the center of mall, without making it overshadow the importance and dignity of Independence Hall." Bacon was passionate in describing the potential experience of an individual walking through the below ground Constitution Center and rising up a stairway to stare in awe at Independence Hall. He added that artificial light in the exhibit, will greatly add, rather than detract from the experience because the lighting can be controlled. "It will change this area from one which is dark and forbidding to one that is a magnet and very attractive." He also advocated the relocation of the Liberty Bell north of Market Street. But John Lawson, one of the designers of the original Liberty Bell pavilion, said he would be sad to see the Bell moved. "I thought it would be there forever," Lawson said. "I'm very upset about using the Liberty Bell as a pawn in a private individual's hand?" He said that from the beginning in 1974, he and his colleagues had envisioned the view of the Liberty Bell with Independence Hall in the background. George Thomas, professor of historic preservation and Philadelphia historian, strongly disagrees. Thomas, who lectures at the University, said there is no connection or "link" between the Liberty Bell pavilion and the history it is trying to portray. The real problem with Independence "Maul," as Thomas referred to it, is that it is a big open space with a "little tiny" 18th century brick building at one end. He added that some of the buildings that were demolished to create the mall were historically significant. "It's a sterile, never, never land shrined in green open space," he said. Deidri Gibson, a landscape architect for the National Park Service, said the problem is not with the mall itself, but with the surrounding buildings. "Classic ingredients for failure of a public space," Gibson said. Many officials agreed, and some cited the U.S. Federal Court House as an architectural disaster. Thomas stressed that the focus on a Constitution Center is placing the emphasis in the wrong area. It should be focused on the city of Philadelphia, Thomas said. He added that the Constitution is a "big yawn" and "has nothing to do with our day to day existence. "The tragedy of it it that they have such a small view of what's important about Philadelphia," Thomas said. "It is not just the Constitution, it's a whole series of revolutions. The modern world was invented in Philly and that's the tale their missing." · In comparison to Philadelphia, one of the most successful and educational tourist attractions in the country is Colonial Williamsburg. Thomas said that while Williamsburg had to be completely recreated, Philadelphia does not need to be rebuilt in this manner because it's home to many 17th and 18th century buildings already, with a huge collection in Society Hill. Milton Mark of the Preservation Committee agreed with Thomas, saying that other historic sites in Philadelphia are being slighted if they are not given more prominence by the city. He said the 19th century was a vital time in Philadelphia history, yet gets little attention. In addition, he said tourists should visit West Philadelphia, Germantown, and Eastern State Penitentiary. · One of the most controversial aspects of the new park plan is the prospect of commercialized history. When Mark heard rumors of the Constitution Center being "Disneyfied" like an attraction at Disney World, he said he was very disenchanted. "I was a little horrified at the the thought of it," Mark said. "I have a problem with contrived patriotism." The whole "Disney" issue has come to the forefront of the debate in the last week. Some see the the idea of glitzy Constitution Center as a move that will attract thousands of tourists to Philadelphia, increasing city revenues and spurring job growth. While others believe the Constitution Center should be less jazzy, and more on substance and meaning. Stuart Feldman, senior vice president of the National Constitution Center, has dedicated the last few years to the creation of a Constitution Center. He said the Disney argument is an attempt to dismantle his idea. And no arguments concerning Disney had been mentioned at the public forums. "We're not here to present Disneyland east," Feldman, a University alumnus said. "The Disney argument is a red-herring that is ridiculous." Feldman, like Harris, said the Constitution is a living document that must be examined for its impact not only on the past, but on present and future. "Those documents are not from ancient history, but affect us every day in our lives," he said. "The mall is largely deserted and we have to find a way to make this area be one of the best public spaces in the world." In order to fulfill these goals, there are plans for a massive television bulletin board with a constant flow of news emanating from it and for a public town meeting. Feldman is confident that his Constitution Center will be a reality. "We're confident the leadership of the Park Service will seize the significance of what were trying to do." Even though the Constitution Center has a price tag of around $200 million, he thinks fundraising efforts, similar to the $415 million raised for the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, are plausible. The Constitution Heritage Act of 1988 also provides the Constitution Center with $250,000 a year. And challenge grants and federal funds could also be raised. "We believe Republicans will be as sympathetic to this project as the democrats," Feldman said. He stressed the importance of a new Visitor's Center to attract tourists and tell them about the wonders of the rest of the city, and added that he hopes to put restaurants and shops outside of the many "unsightly" office buildings. "I want to make this place come alive," Feldman said. But Craig Eisendrheh, former executive director of the Pennsylvania Humanities Council, is worried about the "Disneyfying" of the Constitution Center. "If were talking about $200 million we better know what we are doing," Eisendrheh said. "Simple building a glitz temple for the Constitution is not idea of what to do. "The Constitution is in somewhat of a crisis now," he added. "This is a time where we have to be taking seriously the mission of the Constitution." Harris agreed, and said that, "anything that makes it silly or cute is radically inconsistent with the Constitution." Eisendrheh worked at the National Constitution Center in 1987, but by 1990 had left along with other colleagues because of a difference in opinion over which direction the Constitution Center was headed. "We wanted to have some permanent legacy after the confetti," Eisendrheh said. He added that the Constitution is a complicated issue and has to be dealt with seriously. And issues that Congress is currently debating, such as the First and Fourth amendments, should be addressed. Like many other scholars and officials, Eisendrheh pointed to the U.S. Holocaust Museum as an example to be followed. And Ralph Appelbaum, leading designer of the Holocaust museum, is working on the effort. Karen Butler, an official working on the project in the Mayor's office, said she sees problems with teaching the Constitution. "We're not giving people the right kind of context," Butler said. "There is no common ground from which to absorb things." The Constitution center will fill that void and make that connection, Butler said. As for the Disney issue, Butler said many cities across the country are working hard to attract visitors, and Philadelphia should be no exception. "It's a matter of balance," Butler said. "I think we can use it to help us enhance the story."
(02/13/95 10:00am)
Although the City of Philadelphia has only recently asked the University to pay taxes, universities across the country have been doing so for decades. And with 25 percent of the city's land classified as non-taxable property, Mayor Ed Rendell is looking toward non-profit organizations, including the University, to contribute to the tax base. Currently, the city is asking the University to pay about 30 percent of the real estate taxes it would owe if it were a for-profit institution, as part of a Payment in Lieu of Taxes/Services in Lieu of Taxes program. Although there has not yet been any agreement on the issue, the University and city are currently negotiating. "Like other charitable institutions within Philadelphia, we are talking with the city and we have not reached any conclusion at this point," said Stephen Golding, the University's vice president for finance. He added that the University has historically wanted to be a good citizen, but at the same time does not consider itself a taxable operation. "Penn believes it is a charitable institution and will do whatever it takes to maintain its charitable status," Golding added. In addition, the city has threatened to take the University and other non-profits to court if it refuses to comply with the city's wishes. "Litigation is the worst case scenario," Deputy Mayor for Policy and Planning Greg Rost said. "No one wants to see it ever get to that point." Rost added that cities like Pittsburgh have had to pursue litigation against non-profits, but said he "doesn't want to go down that path." The controversy, which could come to a head in the next few weeks, began last year when the mayor devised the PILOT/SILOT program. The city feels non-profits should pay for such municipal services as fire, police and street cleaning. "We think we have created a kinder and gentler program," Rost said. "We clearly have no intention of harming any of the city non-profits. They are tremendous community citizens." For the 1995 fiscal year the city is projecting contributions of money totaling approximately $8.4 million. About $3.78 million will go to the city and $4.62 million will go to the school district. According to Rost, 55 cents out of every dollar would go to the Philadelphia school district and the rest will go to into the city's general fund. The University is not alone in grappling with this issue. Other universities are also confronting the topic. Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology were the first academic institutions in the country to use the PILOT program, beginning in 1928. According to MIT's Assistant for Government Relations Sara Gallop, MIT uses a formula based on the square footage of its tax-exempt property to calculate its payment to the city of Cambridge. Last year MIT had to pay $925,000, Gallop said. In addition, Gallop said MIT provides numerous services to the city, including community outreach, "heavy" involvement in public schools and other volunteering projects. Gallop said there has been no real opposition to the payment, but she added that the City of Boston and Harvard are currently debating the issue because the city wants universities to pay 25 percent of the tax rate. Other schools are also fighting tooth and nail to avoid PILOT payments. Cornell University and the City of Ithaca are currently embroiled in a battle over PILOTs. Ithaca Mayor Ben Nichols said that Cornell has a "moral" and "ethical" obligation to contribute money to Ithaca. He added that he wants Cornell to make payments on dormitories, fraternity houses and the campus store because they are non-academic places. "We have a rather marked difference in views with [Cornell]," Nichols said. "We strictly believe the health of the city depends on Cornell paying its fair share." Nichols' proposal includes asking Cornell for an additional $2.5 million in payments. He said that unlike the Philadelphia proposal, the plan does not threaten legal action against Cornell. But Cornell sees the situation very differently. Cornell Vice President for University Relations Henrick Dullea said that an increased financial burden would be very detrimental to the university. He added that Cornell has been giving voluntary payments to the fire department since 1967 and also to the school district and other municipalities. Dullea said an increase of 700 percent is "out of the question" and would cause numerous faculty lay-offs and would increase students' tuition rates. "We are under extraordinary pressures as a result of state reductions in funding," Dullea said. "One only has to walk downtown during a Cornell break to see the lack of people in restaurants and stores to get a vivid picture of the economic impact the institution has for this particular community." In Washington, D.C., universities have been the latest targets for the PILOT program. But the presidents of Georgetown University, George Washington University, Gallaudet University and Howard University have all spoken out publicly against the proposed payments. Horace Dawson, a spokesperson for Howard, said the school cannot afford the proposed $8 million payment. He added that the Howard likes to be a "good citizen" but simply can not bare the brunt of a tax. In response to the new taxes, Howard projected a $25 million budget deficit before the start of the 1994–95 academic year and laid off about 400 people in October. "We are really in no position to pay taxes," Dawson said.
(02/09/95 10:00am)
Philadelphia City Council President John Street was a no-show yesterday at a forum entitled "The Role of the Afro-American Collegiate in 1995" held at the W.E.B. DuBois College House. But the program, which was sponsored by the Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity, continued despite the absence of Street. However, the roughly 15 students who came to hear Street ended up hearing Arthur James, a Philadelphia attorney, instead. James' son is a Wharton sophomore. James stressed the need for blacks to be educated, and added that he was annoyed that more students had not shown up for the event. He said that if the rapper Tupac Shakur -- whom he referred to as a "faggot punk" who degrades women -- had come, hundreds of students would have attended the speech. "It's embarrassing to be a black man in America," he yelled. "In 1995 we have become a liability, [and] we've got to strive for academic excellence. "You guys are the tomorrow," he added. "But you scare me. I'm scared to death of tomorrow." James said blacks must not look to past figures like Malcolm X for inspiration, but must rely on themselves. "Find the Malcolm in you," James said. And James said blacks should not be getting a University education to merely get a job, but also to be the head of a law firm, or own a corporation. "If your education only allows you to think about a job, then you missed the boat," he said. "You must say to yourselves, what am I gonna own, [and] what am I gonna contribute to the community. We must take back our neighborhoods." James also said he is fearful of the current government and what they are going to do to blacks. He said blacks must be educated to understand what's really happening in government. "They're getting ready to turn this whole country around," he said. "If the people that are in power now get what they want, your ain't even gonna understand what America is." He added that blacks should not be angry with Koreans who own stores in the black community, but should rather learn a lesson from their example. And he stressed that blacks must interact with whites and stop blaming whites for black problems. "Don't turn your back on whites, it ain't about race, it's about your people, your business," he said. "In order to take back our neighborhoods you're gonna have to deal with a whole lot of people." College sophomore Obinna Adibe said he was not surprised at the turn out, but added that he enjoyed the speech, even though Street was a no-show. "It's a shame," Adibe said. "Nobody comes when something valuable is on tour. It was an excellent speech. It was real. I got enough there to take with me and tell my friends."
(02/08/95 10:00am)
The area around 40th and Market streets is slated to undergo a major facelift this summer, thanks to a joint effort by the University, the city's Commerce Department, and the Philadelphia City Planning Commission. Beginning this July 1, the Commerce Department will inject $25,000 into the area, followed by an additional $125,000 next year, PCPC Executive Director Barbara Kaplan said. The money is designed to help refurbish the area, which is suffering from years of urban decay. Kaplan added that although the Commerce Department is funding the effort, it will allow area merchants to choose where the money is spent. And she said that the area around 40th and Market streets is ripe for revitalization because it is home to popular ethnic restaurants. University Project Coordinator Nathaniel Popkin said the University has also been involved with merchants in the area for the last several months, helping to decide how the money should be spent. He added that the Elwin Institution and the Presbyterian Hospital are involved in the project. Popkin said he hopes a rejuvenated 40th and Market streets corridor will not only increase student and faculty traffic in the area, but bring visitors from outside the region. He said he wants the neighborhood to be a cultural and entertainment district. Some of the proposed improvements include better street lighting, increased security, improved marketing and street cleaning, Popkin said, adding that SEPTA has displayed an interest in renovating the 40th Street subway station. Popkin said the key to a revitalized region, however, is building a strong business association. He stressed that urban redevelopment in West Philadelphia is a "collaborative" effort between the University, local businesses, and the city. And he added that the 40th and Market streets concept is only in its "infancy" and is a part of a larger effort to enhance the Spruce Hill neighborhood. "The University will continue to be involved in a variety of ways through participation in projects such as this and as well as academic service and beyond," Popkin said. "It's part of the University's priority to make West Philadelphia a better place to live." And Popkin said that people passing through the commercial district around 40th and Market streets will see a dramatic change for the better within five years. In addition, students from the Graduate School of Fine Arts are taking an active role in the urban renewal effort by looking into landscape and architectural ideas. Robert Hanna, professor of land architecture and regional planning, is leading the design project. He said the plan is in its initial "analysis" phase because he and his students have only been working on it for three weeks. "We thought it would be a very good student problem," Hanna said. "We don't know what were going to come up with. It may be utopian or practical, but it's too early to tell." The local business community is also a rallying around the idea of a revitalized West Philadelphia. Glenn Ellis, a University alumnus and owner of University Herbs on 40th Street, said he is very enthusiastic about the proposed renovations because he said they will bring new life to the area. He added that this effort will build a "bridgeway" between the University and the surrounding community. But added that initially merchants were "shocked" when they heard news of the plan because they saw the relationship with the University as "non-existent." But Ellis said he believes the University is acting in good faith. "There's a willingness to see this kind of thing happen," Ellis said. "It's a good intention on the part of the University to be part of a community. It's a very integral part for that ultimate growth."
(02/07/95 10:00am)
Jack Frost's efforts did not hinder Physical Plant's snow crews from cleaning streets and sidewalks on and near campus Saturday morning. The crews worked through the night Friday and well into Saturday, starting just before midnight and finishing up at about 7 p.m., Director of Environmental Service Norman O'Connor said. And the 35 Physical Plant workers were well prepared for the snow storm -- better prepared than last year when the University was bombarded with a series of ice and snow storms. "Last year we were pressed harder than any year before that," O'Connor said. He also said his workers did a "heck of job" plowing and shoveling after the storm that dumped about nine inches of snow on Philadelphia. But O'Connor said there was one trouble spot. A fraternity, which he refused to identify, pelted his employees with snowballs causing them to avoid the area. In addition, he said that this year the University had bought more heavy equipment, including a front-end loader and three bulldozers in anticipation of snow storms. And Physical Plant had contractors lined up in advance, to help with the clean-up, and had access to a bigger salt supply than in previous years. As for future blizzards, O'Connor said his crew is willing and ready to meet any challenge. "We can't wait," he said. "We get better as we go. People in Syracuse are probably very good at it because they do it all the time. It's good to keep us in practice." In addition to the Physical Plant workers, house keeping and automotive employees put in extra hours on the weekend, O'Connor said. Superintendent of Hardsur-face/Athletic Grounds Mike Ferraiolo said his crews were also more prepared than last year. "We been really fortunate so far," Ferraiolo said. "We're prepared to take on as many storms as possible this year. We don't want to be caught up like we did last year." Even the City of Philadelphia seemed to have its act together. Cynthia Brooks, a spokesperson for the Streets Department, said the city had received a lot of praise from citizens and the press for its handling of the snow "It makes us feel good and we're gonna let our folks know what a great job we did," Brooks said. The city had about 435 employees working on the clean-up effort over the weekend.
(02/07/95 10:00am)
A South Street symbol has fallen. The two-story Tower Records sign broke off from the building and fell to the street at about 5 p.m. Saturday because of the weight of the snow, Tower Record's employee Kathleine Diange said. As a result, Tower, one of the largest record stores in Philadelphia, was closed for the rest of Saturday and did not reopen until 9 a.m. Sunday. Diange said that in addition, some of the sign fell onto the roof of Tower's neighbor, Foot Locker. When a crane was brought in to fully dismantle the sign, police blocked off the 600 block of South Street for over five hours. No one was hurt by the incident, Diange said, adding that a lot of spectators came to witness the fallen symbol. "I had a bad day until the sign fell off," she said. "Usually all the good things happened when I'm on shift. Diange added that she predicted the sign would come down one day because of the stress put on it through seven Philly winters. And she now has a memento of Tower history, thanks to a small piece of the sign she acquired after the collapse. She joked that she was annoyed, however, because her shift ended at 5 p.m., and the employees on the late shift were paid even though they did not have to work. Tower Sales Manager Joe Pile said he was shocked when he received a phone call telling him the about the fallen sign. "It was horror, shock and surprise," Pile side. "I'm really glad nobody got hurt and there was no property damage to speak of." Pile added that he was not sure when the company would get a new sign because Tower's parent company is headquartered in California.
(02/06/95 10:00am)
Wilbur "Bud" Pittinger's sudden departure from the University's Medical Center has caused a flurry of rumors to spread throughout the University. Pittinger, former executive director of the Hospital of University of Pennsylvania and senior vice president for Health Services, left the University after five years of service last month. Medical Center spokesperson Rebecca Harmon said Pittinger left because he could not agree on a new contract. "The parties involved were not able to come to terms," Harmon said in January. "Bud's going to pursue some other professional interests." But others say this is not the case. One source, speaking on the condition of anonymity, claimed that Pittinger's quick departure is connected to an embezzlement scandal. Both Pittinger and medical officials deny this accusation, and Pittinger has responded to the rumors which have spread amongst medical students and throughout the administration. Pittinger said rumors of "misappropriation, embezzlement, malfeasance," are completely untrue. He added that he is very proud of his accomplishments while at HUP because HUP is one of the national success stories in the "turnaround" of teaching hospitals. "It's important to get the facts correct and they stand for themselves," Pittinger said Friday. "There has been no wrongdoing on my part. I'm glad to have been able to serve the University." When Pittinger came to the University in 1989, HUP had lost $28 million, but in the last fiscal year HUP had $96 million in its operating budget, according to Pittinger. Pittinger said he is proud of his record of employee recruitment and employee morale. He added, though, that he is uncertain of his future professional plans. Medical Center spokesperson Lori Doyle said Pittinger was escorted out of his office by security guards. But she added that this is a common security practice. Harmon said she "assumes" Pittinger was able to take his personal possessions with him upon his departure. Pittinger would not respond to inquires into why rumors have been spreading concerning his departure. HUP Deputy Director Donald Snell was appointed as interim director of HUP, Medical Center Chief Executive Officer and Medical School Dean William Kelley announced last week. Harmon said the Medical Center will be recruiting a new senior vice president for Health Systems. She added that Pittinger's job will be split into two separate offices. Harmon also said the University made a strong effort to explain Pittinger's sudden leave through a Medical Center statement and a presentation given by Kelley to top Medical Center officials last month. Prior to joining the University, Pittinger spent ten years at the University of Michigan Medical Center as chief operating officer of the department of internal medicine.
(02/02/95 10:00am)
Graduate students at the University's School of Dental Medicine had an unexpected visit yesterday when about 25 children of migrant workers arrived for the first dental screening of their lives. Although the free visit was scheduled as part of the Dental School's ongoing community service program, the students were kept in the dark so that the children's arrival would be a pleasant surprise. Once in the building, the children squirmed playfully in the big blue dental chairs as dental students examined their small teeth. The real problem the students dealt with was not the children's teeth, according to Associate Dean of the Dental School Herman Segal, but the language barrier they faced. The parents of the children spoke only Spanish. There was an interpreter from Headstart Rural Opportunities Inc., however, to bridge the communication gap. After examining the children, the students realized that many needed dental work. Segal said some of the children were suffering from baby bottle syndrome, a condition which is caused by babies going to bed with bottles and which causes decay. "It's marvelous, it's incredible," Segal said. "Many of them are in dire need of care. We'll do anything within our power to help. "Kids are a lot of fun to work with and it's so much fun to see the children," he added. "The reaction from the parents is great, too." But Segal stressed that the free dental care was just one of many community service programs the Dental School sponsors. Clinical Director of Pediatric Dentistry Howard Rosenberg said some of the children will need special care after their first visit. He added that the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia could be a possible sight for further care. And Rosenberg said the free dental care was great not only for the children and their parents, but for the University as well. "It's a win-win situation," Rosenberg said. "Our students win through exposure, through experience in the dental realm and it's a win situation for the children and their families and the University." Clinical Associate of Pediatric Dentistry Stan Brown -- called an "unheralded" champion of community service by Segal -- said it is a travesty that government does not provide dental care to migrant workers. "This is ridiculous that we have to do this," Brown said. "These poor kids have to fight to get dentistry." Andrew Rudnicki, a dental student, said that free screening was a good idea. "I guess this will continue and it should," Rudnicki said. "They [the children] need the work." But after three hours, the migrant workers and their children were brought back by the University to Coatesville, Pa. The workers make their living picking mushrooms.
(02/01/95 10:00am)
Teachers learning from students Teachers learning from studentsFunding from Merck and the National Science Foundation is taking University Engineering students to West Philadelphia schools to work with teachers to make science more accessible to inner-city students Imagine this. University students teaching Philadelphia Public school teachers how best to stimulate interest in science for young, inner-city children. Sound like a pipe dream project of an Urban Studies major? But this vision has become a reality thanks to Merck & Co., Inc. and the National Science Foundation. Starting last summer, Merck, along with the NSF, founded a five-year partnership called the Penn-Merck Collaborative for Science Education. The goal of the Penn-Merck project is to instruct inner-city school teachers in methods to make science accessible to students who attend South and Southwest Philadelphia schools. And who is teaching the teachers? Students at the University's School of Engineering and Applied Science. NSF has already pledged $1.8 million towards the project, and Merck $360,000. In addition, the University's Graduate School of Education will contribute funds to the program while administering it. And the Engineering School will provide the laboratory space for the training sessions. Currently the program has 48 teachers, but officials plan to involve 64 more by this summer. The teacher training sessions --in which the Philadelphia school teachers learn from University students -- consist of a three-week seminar this summer, and another one next summer. Following this training, teachers are monitored for about 12 months by the administrators of the program. Carlo Parravano, director of the Merck Institute for Scientific Education, said he chose the University to implement the project because of its solid record of community involvement. "I think that a technologically based company needs to have a pipeline that is rich in talent and diversity," Parravano said. "We can continue to discover new medicines well into the next century." University Trustees Chairperson Roy Vagelos, the former chief executive officer of Merck, said he believes science education at the elementary level is very important. Vagelos said Merck realized over six years ago that young people are inadequately prepared in science and math education. Like Parravano, Vagelos stressed the need for a "pipeline" of future scientists. He also stressed that there is a specific need for more black scientists. "We are committed to doing this because it will upgrade the children so they will have a basic fundamental understanding of science," Vagelos said. "We think we can have some impact, but we can't change the United States." Merck's initiative in West Philadelphia with University students follows programs that have sent volunteer scientists to the city's schools. Penn-Merck Project Coordinator Jane Horwitz said the scientists play the part of major role models for the children. · In last summer's session, six Engineering students designed and presented "discovery" labs to the elementary school teachers under the guidance of Mechanical Engineering and Applied Mechanics Professor Jacob Abel. The "hands-on" projects tried to demonstrate scientific and engineering principles in everyday objects, such as studying the strength of materials by using spaghetti models to exploring electricity by wiring a doorbell or taking apart a hair dryer. The purpose behind the lab is to give teachers models that they can replicate in their classrooms. And Merck, along with other sponsors, are providing the materials and resources to supply the schools. Abel stressed that "hands-on" activities, in contrast to dull lectures tend to spark more of an interest in students. "We want them exploring and investigating," Abel said. "Hands-on is the way to do science. That is the way to get children interested and excited about science." Horwitz said that many of the Engineering students were wary about teaching teachers, but by the end of the three weeks' training, they said they had realized their fears were unwarranted. "The teachers were just so impressed with what the Engineering students had done," Horwitz said. "And the fact that the Engineering students were willing and able to get up in front of these teachers was pretty awesome as well." At the end of the three weeks, the teachers presented the University students with a handmade card, signed by all, thanking them for their time and effort. Able said he keeps the card in the top drawer of his desk amidst the remnants of last summer's experiments. Engineering junior Jennifer Cheng said she enjoyed the program because the students "clicked" with the teachers. Engineering senior Alaina Cerini agreed. "It was a really good experience," Cerini said. "We could use the stuff we learned at Penn and put it on an easier level and make it fun." And because of the overwhelming success of the summer program, Horwitz said there are plans for University students to actually go into classrooms and assist teachers during this semester. "I think to have students talking to students provides this continuum that says to a young child, 'Hey, I can do this, you know this is something I'd like to aspire to,' " Horwitz said. · University and city officials alike stressed the importance of the Penn-Merck project for strengthening their own relationships. "I think it is a very important partnership for Penn and West Philadelphia, and is a good model for universities around the country," University Director of Community Partnerships Ira Harkavy said. Superintendent of Philadelphia Schools David Hornbeck said the Penn-Merck program is consistent with the goals of his program for city schools, called Children Achieving. "They identify the high standards that they want to achieve and then they provide the kind of time and professional development that equips teachers to help achieve more," Hornbeck said. The first session, which met last summer, concentrated on chemistry and physics, while the session next summer will focus on biology and earth science. Horwitz said he has lofty expectations for the joint effort. "It would be really nice if we had some impact in all of the schools," Horwitz said. "I'd like to touch every teacher in the program." Associate Dean of the Graduate School of Education Nancy Streim said the magnitude and impact of the project could potentially be enormous. In five years, about 250 teachers will have been taught science by the University students. In addition, these "master" teachers are encouraged to teach their co-workers at the schools. Streim emphasized the importance of this endeavor because of the lack of science education in elementary schools across the country -- and in Philadelphia. Horwitz agreed, and said that Merck is setting a precedent by supporting science education from kindergarten through the fifth grade. She said that although a lot of companies finance science education, it is usually only at advanced levels. "They [at Merck] decided this is where there is a gap and where they wanted to focus their attention," Horwitz said. Horwitz added that the initial reaction to the program has been extremely positive from both teachers and the University. "It's those human moments, watching people connect with what you love," she said. According to Horwitz there is also a lot of interaction between University officials and the elementary school teachers. She said she plans to observe all 48 teachers for at least one hour. · According to recent statistics, the schools involved with the Penn-Merck program face some of the largest challenges in the city. Being in constant contact will local schools, Horwitz says she gets a first-hand view of the problems affecting Philadelphia's public education system. Horwitz said she has mixed feelings on the city's public schools, but does not see as many systemic problems as some officials report. She said it is very difficult to assess science education within the schools because there is no standardized test that serves as a barometer. She said that while the main problem in the schools is large class size, the schools are rich in their greatest assets -- their teachers. "I have all together wonderful teachers in my program," she said. "They are motivated and they are interested in what they are doing." Carol Young, a teacher in the program at the Leidy School in Southwest Philadelphia, characterized the experience as "fantastic." She said she has seen a dramatic change in her students' awareness and interest in science. And she added that her students are particularly excited when the Merck scientists visit. The scientists, some of whom are black and female, have changed the children's perception of scientists, Young said. "I think we will definitely have some scientists in later years," Young said. "The summer component was very rewarding for me and I'm looking forward to coming back this summer."
(02/01/95 10:00am)
Is Philadelphia up to the $50 million challenge? That was the question on everyone's mind as Wallis Annenberg, daughter of millionaire University alumnus Walter Annenberg, presented the Philadelphia public schools with a $50-million pledge at the Stoddart-Fleisher Middle School in North Philadelphia yesterday. The money is actually a challenge grant, however. The city will only receive the money if it can raise another $100 million over the next five years, with $50 million coming from the private sector and $50 million from the public sector. While Mayor Ed Rendell said he feels the city will be able to secure the private sector money, he said the real challenge will be public sector funding. Rendell said he expected non-profit organizations, such as universities, to foot some of this bill through his Payment in Lieu of Taxes program, which he announced last year. This week, Rendell's chief of staff, David Cohen, said the city is still in negotiations with the University to determine what the University's tax burden will be. [See story, page 2.] Philadelphia School District Superintendent David Hornbeck, however, said he already has about half of the $100 million secured. While there is a large task ahead for the city, the atmosphere was very upbeat. Wallis Annenberg, vice president of the Annenberg Foundation, made the presentation as part of the Annenberg Foundation's $500 million gift to reform public education across the nation. "Welcome home Ms. Annenberg," Philadelphia Public School/Business Partnership for Reform Chairperson Terrence Larsen said. "You could not have arrived at a more auspicious time for the future of our children." Students representing a variety of city neighborhoods sat quietly in the audience as the symbolic check was passed from Annenberg's hand to the nervously shaking hands of five children. The $50 million allocated from the Annenberg grant will not buy books or repair schools, however. It is slated for administrative and teaching reform. Hornbeck, who formulated a plan called "Children Achieving," said this is consistent with his goal of citywide and "systemic" reform of public schools. He also said he is grateful for the pledge because it gives Philadelphia a "challenge" to meet on the path to improved education. "It gives us a huge shot in the arm," Hornbeck said. "It tells us that we are on our way. It tells us this is a can-do moment and that in fact, we are going to create teaching and learning conditions in which children do achieve." Hornbeck added the city must not take small steps to meet the challenge. He said, rather, the system needs "bold" and "radical" leaps for fundamental change. Rendell, who also attended the announcement, said the challenge of improving education is one of the most important issues facing the city. And he promised to do whatever he could do to help meet that challenge. "I pledge?and we pledge unequivocally, that we will meet our share of the this grant," Rendell said. "The education of our children is so important that we will find this money, somewhere, somehow, someplace."
(02/01/95 10:00am)
Philadelphia Police protect students off-campus, the Streets Department cleans the streets and, if there's a fire, the Fire Department responds. And now the city of Philadelphia and Mayor Ed Rendell want the University to pay for it. Traditionally, non-profit institutions located in the city have not paid taxes, even though they use city services. And although it has been just under a year since the city asked the University to pay about one-third the property tax it would owe if it did not enjoy tax-exempt status, the two organizations have not yet come to an agreement. The controversy started last year when the mayor devised the Payment in Lieu of Taxes/Services in Lieu of Taxes program to make non-profit entities like the University pay some of the tax burden in the form of some tax or payments or services. The goal of the program is to raise an additional $33 million a year in revenue and free services from normally tax-exempt agencies which are not "purely for charitable use." This includes about $8.5 million from area colleges. The University would also be able to deduct services that benefit the community, such as University Police, from their assessed tax burden. The money and services will then be used in the city's school districts. But if the University refuses to make such an agreement, the city could take action in court -- possibly causing the University to pay 100 percent of its would-be taxes, eliminating in all but name the University's tax-exempt status. Paul Cribbins, the University's director for city and commonwealth relations, said the city and University are currently deliberating over the PILOT/SILOT program. But even though the city has been slow to take action against non-profit organizations, it is clear that the mayor considers the program important, and plans to follow through with its implementation. Just last week, Rendell mentioned PILOT/SILOT during his re-election announcement. The mayor singled out and honored Fred Dibona Jr., an official of Independence Blue Cross/Blue Shield, for being the first non-profit company to pay its share through the PILOT/SILOT program. He added that Dibona stands as an example of big business reaching out to help the city. "That is an extraordinary step for a corporation to come up and say that they're willing to pay an addition tax load," Rendell said. "But they did it for the city."
