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(09/27/99 9:00am)
Following two years of construction, closures and office relocations, major renovations to the Annenberg School for Communication building are expected to be completed this week, officials said. During the $15 million renovation project, which has been ongoing since October 1997, older sections of the building were renovated and the Annenberg School Theater was closed to make way for the new home of the Annenberg Public Policy Center. In addition, a more visible and aesthetically pleasing entrance was constructed on the Walnut Street side of the school while the building was brought in line with the federal Americans with Disabilities Act, according to Communications Professor Larry Gross. Annenberg Dean Kathleen Hall Jamieson said all of the renovations -- including the installation of a teleconferencing link that will connect the school with the Annenberg Public Policy Center's other offices in Washington, D.C. -- will help to modernize the school's facilities. "They're helping translate the school's mission into the 21st century," Jamieson said. Renovations to the space previously occupied by the theater -- and the addition of a fifth-floor "penthouse" above the theater site -- have allowed for offices, conference rooms and research space for the Public Policy Center, which previously lacked its own central site in the school. Jamieson she was pleased that the center would finally have a home instead of being spread out across different campus locations. "It is exciting to finally have the public policy space integrated into the school," Jamieson said. Officials hope increased involvement with the center's Washington location, through the teleconferencing link, will help improve the undergraduate experience. "If we have a class here, it will be possible to invite a speaker? to come to the Annenberg Policy offices in Washington and meet with the class via the teleconferencing link," Gross said. Gross said the library also saw significant renovations during the construction, including the addition of three small- to medium-sized classrooms and several computer workstations. According to Jamieson, the improvements helped to make the facility an "electronic library." Most of the library's collection has been moved permanently to Van Pelt Library, while periodicals, reference and reserve books are being retained in Annenberg. Gross said the increased use of technology in the school is "moving the school up to the present and into the future." "The role of computers has changed since they last worked on the building," he noted. During construction, both the library and graduate student offices were temporarily moved to 4025 Chestnut Street. The graduate student offices and computer and research space located on the ground floor have been reorganized so that every graduate student will now have his or her own workstation and computer, Gross said. "The new student offices are more efficient than the offices we had in the past," Jamieson added. Renovations to the building's exterior -- which are not yet complete -- include the installation of windows, construction of a granite courtyard and creation of a more distinct entrance on the Walnut Street side of the building, as well as general cleansing of the building's facade. "This turns out to be completely consistent with the University's move in general to open up Walnut Street," Gross said. "When I look at the building walking down Walnut Street? it looks transformed." But while construction crews begin to put the finishing touches on the building and clear out of the area, Gross said future renovations are inevitable, as keeping the school on top of technology "is a never-ending process." "There is no reason to believe that this will be the last time we have to make changes," Gross said. The building, designed in the late 1950s, was last renovated in the early 1980s. On Wednesday, officials will celebrate the both the completion of the renovations and the school's 40th anniversary with a day-long series of speakers including New Jersey Gov. Christine Todd Whitman, NBC Night News anchor Tom Brokaw and David Halberstam, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and author.
(09/22/99 9:00am)
Officials held a ribbon cutting for the Silfen Study Center, which provides 24-hour space in the heart of campus. It's not often that Penn students get excited at the prospect of studying. But those who joined University administrators, faculty and staff in attending yesterday's ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new David and Lyn Silfen Student Study Center located in Williams Hall proved that it is possible to enjoy hitting the books if the atmosphere is right. A handful of University dignitaries -- including President Judith Rodin, School of Arts and Sciences Dean Samuel Preston, University Trustees Chairperson James Riepe, Undergraduate Assembly Vice Chairperson Ryan Robinson and University Trustee David Silfen, whose $2 million gift helped finance the project -- gathered outside Williams Hall yesterday to introduce the 24-hour study center as a new resource for Penn students and faculty. Calling the center an "absolutely sensational study space," Rodin explained that it will fulfill the student body's need both for late-night study space and a place to go "during the downtime in between classes." The brightly lit study center, which opened in time for the start of classes this semester, contains tables and chairs, couches and laptop connection ports to aid students in comfortable late-night studying. It, along with Irvine Auditorium's main hall, is the first major part of the new Perelman Quadrangle to officially open. A cafZ inside the study center -- which is operated by the Bon Appetit Management Co. -- serves Starbucks coffee, as well as muffins, pre-made sandwiches and salads prepared in the International House's CafZ Bon Appetit. It will be open Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to midnight. "The lounge, with its cafZ, is a great place to relax when the lights of learning need to be turned down for a few minutes," Rodin said. And Silfen, speaking to the event's over 60 attendees, explained that the suggestion for the center came from his son, who was a Penn undergraduate when the idea arose. "Our family feels very fortunate to be in a position at this time to give something back to Penn," Silfen said. "Today the multifunctional space that we have here? couldn't be a better combination of resources for students and faculty alike." Representing students at the event, Robinson praised both the aesthetics of the center as well as its importance for late-night studiers. "On behalf of all the students, I would like to say we love this building," the Wharton senior said. Robinson said that the student body will appreciate the late-night study venue, noting that the Starbucks coffee served in the cafZ will especially benefit those pulling all-nighters. "We've been hard pressed lately for quiet 24-hour study space," Robinson said. Riepe said the Trustees are dedicated to "improving the quality of student life." "It gives me great pleasure to think how much this will be used in a very positive way by students," Riepe said. All of the event's speakers hailed the study center as an important step in the completion of the Perelman Quad -- an $82.5 million project that links Irvine Auditorium with Logan, Williams, Houston and College halls and features a landscaped corridor between the buildings -- which will be home to more than 250 student organizations, classrooms, administrative offices, student study spaces and several food service organizations. "We are well on our way to a remarkable transition at the center of campus," Preston said.
(09/21/99 9:00am)
While overall most students said that the food was better, several workers complained about the management. Since the University outsourced its Dining Services operation to Bon Appetit Management Co. last spring, officials have said students would see improvements in food quality, menu diversity and customer service when they returned to school in the fall. But so far, both students and Dining employees have had mixed opinions on whether there is indeed anything different in the dining facilities this year, and some have even called the move a change for the worse. Yet according to Peg Lacey, the University's top campus dining official, the list of improvements is long. In addition to standard menu items, each dining hall already has, or will soon have, certain food options specific to that facility. "Last year we ran? basically the same menu in all of the four dining units," Lacey said. "[This year] there are items that are unique to that particular dining area." Lacey said that there are also some changes in food preparation techniques as well as the presentation of the food. For example, the recently-renovated Hill College House dining facility now includes a "noodle bar" where students can choose from a variety of ingredients before their meal is prepared, while Sunday brunches now include more personalized foods, like eggs made to order. Bon Appetit also held training sessions for Dining employees this summer in areas like customer service and food preparation, and Lacey said that such training will continue into the future. "I would say that some of the areas have gone very well and there's still room for improvement," Lacey said. Some students said that they have noticed a difference in food selection and quality, citing better juices and fresh breads, better bagged meals at Stouffer Dining Commons' Lunch Express, more nutritional information on menus and better decorations in the facilities. "The food is great," College sophomore Diya Kochhar said. "They have a wonderful selection. Last year I would always eat the pasta because there was nothing else." And Wharton junior Renos Savvides said, "I think it's better, but not by much." But others were not convinced that anything is different in dining facilities this year. "I think it's pretty much the same," Wharton junior Fernando Diamond said. "To me it's basically the same," College junior Hannah Koh said. "They just rearranged a little." Many students praised the new look of Hill House's recently renovated dining facility but complained that it is not as functional as it used to be. "It looks nice now but it doesn't seem to function as well," Engineering sophomore Geoffrey Smith said. "It's too congested." And Dining employees also expressed differing opinions on the new managerial structure. Jibreel Williams, who has worked for Dining Services for five years, said he likes the new management. "It's a lot more like a restaurant. It's more pleasant," Williams said, adding that "the management team is better." But one Dining employee, who spoke on condition of anonymity, called the new management team "very unprofessional," adding that workers are being treated "like we're nobodies." The worker said that the facility has already faced food shortages because not enough food is being ordered or prepared on time. "The students get upset at us, [but] we're just serving the food." And another Dining worker said that the department has seen a number of people quit since Bon Appetit was placed in charge. "Since Bon Appetit's been here, it's been more difficult. It was better the old way." The management switch terminated 20 positions within the department. Employees whose jobs were eliminated were given the chance to reapply for a position within the new management structure. Of those, 11 chose to apply and eight were hired.
(09/03/99 9:00am)
Years of noise, dirt and eyesores caused by the construction of the Perelman Quadrangle project are not over yet, but the end is well within sight. Parts of Irvine Auditorium and Williams Hall will open as early as tomorrow, with more openings to the student center scheduled throughout the fall, University officials announced last week. Upon completion, the Perelman Quad -- an $82.5 million project that links Irvine Auditorium with Logan, Williams, Houston and College halls, and features a landscaped corridor between the buildings -- will be home to more than 250 student organizations, classrooms, administrative offices, student study space and several food service organizations. The entire project is slated to open in time for the graduation of the Class of 2000. "Perelman Quadrangle will be a treasured academic and student activities core for our vibrant campus community, and the dramatic restorations and new structures will nurture the quality of Penn's 'University life,'" Vice Provost for University Life Valarie Swain-Cade McCoullum said. Irvine's main auditorium, which underwent renovations including the removal of the balconies and the installation of acoustic panels, will open tomorrow. The new auditorium will boast improved sound quality while preserving the look and historical importance of the old one, according to Tom Hauber, who will manage the Perelman Quad upon completion, though its seating capacity will be significantly reduced. The Silfen Study Center, located in Williams Hall, will also open tomorrow, providing a 24-hour study area for students. Hauber said the center will be accessible only to those with a PennCard from midnight to 7 a.m. It will be supervised during those hours, either by a Perelman Quad staff member or Spectaguard. "There will definitely be someone there," Hauber said. A cafe located in the study center is scheduled to open Tuesday and will be operated by Menlo Park, Calif.-based Bon Appetit Management Co. The cafe will be open Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to midnight. Also scheduled to open by the start of classes are three meeting rooms and two student activity suites containing a total of 14 workstations equipped with desks and filing cabinets. All 14 workstations have already been booked by student groups through the Perelman Quadrangle Space Allocation Board, Student Life Director Fran Walker said. The suites also include counter and locker space for student use. By September 24, several other components of Irvine Auditorium will be completed, including the Carol Amado Recital Hall, the Emily Sachs Rehearsal Room and the Class of '58 Cafe, also to be operated by Bon Appetit. And by October 18, two meeting rooms -- each with a 28-person capacity -- and 12 music practice rooms, will also be completed and open for use.
(09/03/99 9:00am)
Statistics Professor David Hildebrand, known throughout the University for his wit, intelligence and participation in University politics, died of cancer July 13 at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. He was 59. Hildebrand, who was diagnosed with the disease last summer, taught undergraduate, graduate and doctoral students throughout his 34-year career at Penn. Despite his illness, he continued teaching through the fall semester, a decision his colleagues consider courageous and honorable. "He was a very talented fellow who could do just about anything he could undertake," Statistics Department Chairperson Paul Shaman said. Hildebrand, author of a number of books, monographs and articles on statistics -- including three texts on introductory statistics used in Wharton School undergraduate and graduate courses since 1983 -- served as the chairperson of the Statistics Department from 1985 to 1990. Hildebrand specialized in models and methods for the analysis of categorical data. Hildebrand was committed to improving the quality of statistics instruction at Penn, Shaman said. He was instrumental in helping to revise core curriculum within the Statistics Department. "He was certainly a very imaginative and forward-thinking individual," Shaman said. "He had excellent vision for what we should be doing and how to get us there." As a teacher, those close to Hildebrand said he was bright, communicative and inspiring. "I certainly appreciate still to this day all the guidance he gave me as an individual," said former doctoral student Kathryn Szabat, now a Statistics lecturer in the College of General Studies. "He was always there to help students [and] always did his best to make sure they understood the material." Hildebrand was especially known for writing humorous statistics-themed limericks, which he often placed at the beginning of exams or included in class materials to ease the tension for his students. "He just had wide interests, broad talent and you just never knew what interesting thing he was going to do next," Shaman said. Hildebrand earned his master's degree and his doctorate from the Carnegie Institute of Technology in Pittsburgh. He received his bachelor's degree from Carleton College in Northfield, Minn., in 1962. Hildebrand, very active in University politics, served as the moderator of the University Council from 1989 to 1991, and again in 1997. In 1992, he was elected chairperson of the Faculty Senate for a one-year term. Hildebrand was also a member of the search committee which nominated then-Yale University Provost Judith Rodin to succeed Sheldon Hackney as University president. Describing Hildebrand as "an active University citizen," Statistics Professor Donald Morrison praised his efforts in the Faculty Senate and University Council, and also as a member of a national organization, Making Statistics More Effective in Schools of Business. "He felt very deeply that we needed to improve the quality of statistical instruction," Morrison said. Hildebrand is survived by his wife, Patricia; his two children, Martin and Jeffrey; his mother and two sisters.
(09/03/99 9:00am)
It was inspired by the light-hearted spirit of Lucille Ball, the stature of Lucy the Margate Elephant and the spunk of Lucy Van Pelt. But creators would like to see their "Lucy" do more than just achieve stardom. Indeed, they envision a reliable and convenient way for people to get around University City. LUCY, a new transportation system free to the University community that connects Penn and other area institutions with 30th Street Station by shuttle bus, began service in July. Two routes -- the Green Loop and the Gold Loop -- run opposite to each other, connecting 30th Street Station with stops at participating institutions. The system serves Penn students, faculty and staff through stops along 33rd Street, 34th Street and 38th Street. Six buses run during rush hour, with one bus leaving 30th Street station every 10 minutes, while four buses run during off-peak hours, beginning a route every 15 to 20 minutes. The seventh LUCY bus will be kept as a spare. LUCY -- short for the Loop Thru University City -- is operated by SEPTA under a contract from the University City District. Officials hope that the service, in addition to providing an affordable transportation system for University City students, employees, residents and visitors, will also encourage more commuters to utilize public transportation. "LUCY will help alleviate University City's parking shortage by converting more employees to public transportation," UCD Executive Director Paul Steinke said. LUCY serves several area institutions including Penn, Drexel University, the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, the Presbyterian Medical Center and the VA Medical Center. The seven LUCY buses each seat about 20 people and run from 6:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday, except during major holidays. Those affiliated with participating institutions need only show valid identification to ride the system, while the general public pays a fare of 50 cents per person. The system also accepts SEPTA tokens and passes as fare. Various institutional and public subsidies as well as farebox revenue help fund the system, which has an operating budget of about $500,000 a year, plus marketing expenses. A one-time federal transportation grant of $340,000 funded the purchase of the seven buses.
(09/03/99 9:00am)
With University dorms filled to capacity, many are left out in the cold. This year's unusually high admissions yield, which took in approximately 200 more freshmen than expected, brought with it a significant housing crunch that left the University with not enough beds to offer for the first time in almost 20 years, housing officials said this week. With the college house system currently operating at full capacity -- every one of Penn's 5,272 beds are occupied -- housing officials say the deficit is unprecedented. "Since 1982 we have never turned people away from a bed space," Housing Assignments Manager Donna Boyko said. Since early August, however, students still requesting on-campus housing have been turned away repeatedly. The waiting lists for on-campus housing at one point this summer reached about 200 students, and about 50 to 60 of those students received letters in August stating that they would not be able to secure on-campus housing. The others were either placed or dropped off the list to explore other off-campus options. Housing officials refused to provide exact figures for how many students applied for on-campus housing and how many have been turned away. The housing crunch has also had repercussions for this year's 221 incoming transfer students, about 25 percent of whom may spend up to all of first semester in the Sheraton University City Hotel or Sansom Place, formerly known as the Graduate Towers. Currently, about 74 transfer and international students are scheduled for temporary housing, with 58 in the Sheraton and 16 in Sansom Place, officials said. These students will be relocated to spots on campus as soon as openings appear. In prior years, even students who applied for housing as late as September have been able to secure a room, even if it is not the one they want, Director of Housing and Conference Service Doug Berger said, noting that all freshmen this year did receive on-campus housing, despite the crunch. Housing officials have tried to help all roomless students find housing by referring them to area off-campus landlords and even making calls to landlords themselves, Berger said. But while some transfer students said they would make the best of the situation, most were not thrilled with the limited options offered by the University. College sophomore Dave Easton, who transferred this year from Syracuse University, said he is not angry at Penn but that he's worried about living off campus in an unfamiliar place. "I'm going to be adapting to a new school and meanwhile I'm not going to be having the normal dorm life," he said. And College sophomore Ashley Hellinger, a transfer from Boston University, said she hopes the off-campus arrangements will not last the semester, because "it's definitely going to be a lot harder socially." Housing officials also sent out letters last month to students scheduled to live in high rise triples offering them a reduced room rate and dining incentives to take in another student. Berger said that only those students living in triples that had previously been three-room quads received the letter, and only two responses were received. The displaced students will pay a standard semester board fee and can sign up for a dining plan within Penn's dining facilities, Berger said. All students temporarily housed in either the Sheraton or Sansom Place will receive "affiliation with the college house of their choice" so that they may make use of the house's facilities and advising services, Director of College Houses and Academic Services David Brownlee said. According to Sheraton General Manager Ken Kapikian, the Sheraton will be compensated for the use of the rooms by Penn, but exactly how much money will change hands has not yet been determined. Kapikian said that since the hotel normally operates at about 70 percent occupancy, and the rooms reserved for Penn students compose about 10 percent of the hotel's capacity, the Sheraton should not suffer financially through the deal. Housing officials said they are confident that next year's housing assignment period will fare better for all students, since they have time to prepare for a larger number of residents. The biggest problem this year, Berger said, was that the large freshman class was unexpected and the department did not have enough warning. "I think we'll be better prepared [next year]," Berger said. "I think we've learned some lessons."
(09/03/99 9:00am)
Penn's year-old college house system will see some new faces in its leadership ranks this year. Officials announced last week that recently appointed Deputy Provost Peter Conn will serve as interim faculty master of Community House, a position he held from 1987 to 1994. The administration has also filled house dean positions for Spruce College House and Gregory House. Conn, an English professor, will temporarily assume the position -- left vacant when former faculty master Thomas Connolly resigned in July -- while a soon-to-be-organized search committee identifies candidates for the permanent position, Director of College Houses and Academic Services David Brownlee said. Brownlee said that by appointing an interim faculty master this year, the search committee will have enough time to find a qualified replacement. The committee will likely begin screening candidates in December and aims to fill the position permanently for next fall, Brownlee said. Conn said he and his wife, Assistant Vice Provost for University Life Terry Conn, were happy to return to the residential life system, if only on a temporary basis. "We do believe quite strongly that the college house initiative is a central mechanism for improving the education of Penn students," he said. Conn, who was appointed deputy provost by Provost Robert Barchi in July, said that while he expects fulfilling both his role as deputy provost and his faculty master position will be difficult, he will "look forward to the challenge." Conn said he plans to "push as hard as [he] can to achieve the best results from the coordination of undergraduate and graduate education," during his term, noting that they "touch each other at many many points." The college house system will also see two new house deans this year. Christine Brisson, a veteran of the residence life system at Rutgers University, will serve as house dean of Spruce College House, while 1992 Penn graduate Christopher Donovan will serve as house dean of Gregory College House. Donovan, who has worked at the University's department of Housing and Conferences Services since 1991, said accepting the position was "a logical step" in his career because it combines academics and residential life. Donovan plans to focus on integrating Gregory's Modern Languages Program and Van Pelt Manor -- recently united into one college house -- while preserving each building's unique identity. "Unifying the house and achieving a collective identity is what we're striving for this year," Donovan said. Brisson, who spent six years in the residence life system at Rutgers University, said she aims to "build on the success that Spruce College House has already been having and to look for opportunities to help [it] be an intellectual home away from home for students." Three new faculty fellows will also join the system. Classical Studies Professor Peter Struck will join Hamilton College House; Penny Fielding of the University of Edinburgh will join Kings Court/English College House and Peter Stabel of the University of Ghent in Belgium will join Gregory College House.
(09/03/99 9:00am)
With less than a week before Penn Dining Services facilities open for the semester, officials are gearing up for the first year of operation under the direction of Menlo Park, Calif.-based Bon Appetit Management Co. and are optimistic about the newly created partnership. When students return to the dining halls next week, they will find better food options, more diverse menus and improved food quality and customer service, Penn and Bon Appetit officials said. "My expectations are that students will be very pleased with the quality of the food," Associate Vice President for Campus Services Larry Moneta said. The move to outsource Dining to Bon Appetit terminated 20 managerial positions within the department. Employees whose jobs were eliminated were given the chance to reapply for a position within the new management structure. Of those 20 employees, 11 chose to apply to Bon Appetit for new positions and eight were hired, according to Bon Appetit Chief Executive Officer Fedele Bauccio. And while several of the Dining employees lost their jobs, Bauccio defended the new deal by saying the majority of those who chose to apply with Bon Appetit were hired. Only three dining services managers -- Managing Director of Campus Dining Peg Lacey, her executive assistant Pam Lampitt and Meal Contract Coordinator Adam Sherr -- were initially assured of keeping their jobs. Since the deal went into effect on July 1, officials have worked to prepare for the coming year by training both new and old staff members, Bauccio said. "The staff is very excited from what I can tell," he added. "We've done some really fun things this summer." Bauccio said that many of the dining facilities will have a "new look," including the dining halls in Kings Court/English College House and Hill College House, which was completely renovated this summer. "We're trying to display our food in such a way so that people can see that it's fresh," Bauccio said. "I'm excited about being able to offer students some really terrific quality food." Lacey, who is responsible for integrating the new managerial system with the old Dining structure, said the department has held "transitional meetings" throughout the summer and new management staff has adjusted well. "We've dealt with issues as they've come up," she said. "It's a good mix, I think, of managerial talent." Bon Appetit signed on in March 1998 to serve as the University's primary caterer and to advise Penn on Dining restructuring. The company also signed a deal to operate all food service facilities in the Perelman Quadrangle, the $82.5 million student center scheduled to open next year. Officials have stressed that the decision to outsource was based on a desire to increase the quality of food, and not to cut costs. Bon Appetit will provide tuition and benefits packages to all Dining employees similar to what they had received from the University. Those packages include extending tuition benefits to the former Penn employees for 10 years as well as standard benefits such as medical, dental, vision and life insurance. The move is the latest major outsourcing deal that the University has entered into in the past two years. In 1997, Penn announced plans to outsource most of its facilities management operation to the Dallas-based Trammell Crow Co., a highly controversial decision that affect about 160 employees, 120 of whom were rehired. That deal was estimated to save the University about $15 million a year in the facilities management costs. The University has also recently outsourced the Faculty Club and part of its benefits administration department, as well as a large deal in 1997 to outsource its entire facilities management operation to Trammell Crow Co.
(09/03/99 9:00am)
Contrary to popular belief, there is life outside of the Penn campus. West Philadelphia is not only a growing source of student off-campus living, but is also a vibrant community within itself -- and the University is working hard to repair the rocky relationship between it and the surrounding area. In fact, University President Judith Rodin and her administration have long said that forging cooperative relations between Penn and the West Philadelphia community is an important part of their agenda. The University's West Philadelphia Initiative, a five-part plan seeking to help revitalize the neighborhood, attempts to not only strengthen University-community ties but also to help make the community a better place in which to live. The plan includes measures to make the area cleaner and safer, attract retail amenities, support local businesses, improve area education and encourage home ownership. Some of the projects set into motion by the plan include the beautifying and "greening" strategies of UC Brite and UC Green, the revitalization of the 40th Street corridor through the development of Hamilton Village and the Sundance Cinema complex and the home loan and mortgage incentive programs aimed at encouraging University staff to invest in the neighborhood. "I'm encouraged and pleased that our relationship with the city seems to be improving all the time," Carol Scheman, Penn's vice president for government, community and public affairs, said earlier this year. "I think we're really moving in the right direction." The University's most recent addition to the West Philadelphia Initiative is the development and support of a new public elementary school on University-owned property at 42nd and Spruce streets. But as with most of Penn's community initiatives, the plan has been opposed by many who say that the school is self-serving and that the University is using it to attract a more affluent population to the community rather than to help existing residents. Penn has tried hard to attract its professors and staff members to the area, going so far as to offer mortgage incentive programs to employees who choose to reside in West Philadelphia. Many have taken the University up on the offer. Consultation with the various community organizations that call West Philadelphia home is an integral part of implementing all of these measures in the surrounding neighborhood. The University City District, one such organization, aims to "improve the public environment by helping to make it cleaner and safer and to upgrade the public image of University City as an interesting, vibrant and attractive community," UCD Executive Director Paul Steinke said last winter. With these goals in mind, the UCD -- whose creation was spearheaded by the University and brings together many of University City's institutions -- provides safety ambassadors to help patrol the area and a maintenance staff which cleans area sidewalks six days a week. The UCD's 3rd Thursdays campaign, which debuted last year, is a special series of events and attractions prepared by over 40 arts organizations and restaurants in order to promote University City as a fun and interesting place. "We'd really like the students to explore this neighborhood, take advantage of all there is to offer and enrich their experience while they're at Penn," Steinke said. The UCD also employs the yellow-jacketed safety ambassadors to help patrol the streets, and recently opened up a new $1.7 million headquarters on the 3900 block of Chestnut Street. Another organization, the Spruce Hill Community Association, aims to "maintain order and a quality of lifestyle in the neighborhood," said Joe Ruane, the organization's president since June 1997, in an interview earlier this year. Members of the SHCA meet monthly with Penn officials to promote cooperation and keep informed about what Penn is doing in the neighborhood. "The housing program and development of 40th Street should only be a plus for the neighborhood and University City in general," Ruane noted. Glenn Bryan, the University's director of community relations, said last winter that his office meets routinely with area community organizations to discuss a variety of matters, including education, retail and economic development issues and student-community relations. "We work a lot together with the Penn Police and the UCD to have a really coordinated response to safety in the area -- it's vastly improved," Bryan said. Bryan also credits the work of local town watch organizations in maintaining a safe environment. The presidents of all six area community organizations -- Spruce Hill, Walnut Hill , Garden Court and Squirrel Hill community associations, Cedar Park Neighbors and Powelton Village Civic Associations -- are represented on the University City Community Council. The UCCC, which also includes members of various special interest organizations, meets every two months to devote time and energy to "those issues one local community association cannot deal with alone," UCCC Secretary Mike Hardy said. All of these organizations frequently lobby the University and do not hesitate to let their opinions be known, whether about a new city ordinance prohibiting food vendors from certain areas around campus or new construction on 40th Street.
(08/05/99 9:00am)
Construction on the Quadrangle this summer has focused on historical resotations to its exterior. Renovations to the Quadrangle are proceeding according to schedule and most of this summer's construction phase will be completed by August 16, University officials said earlier this week. The renovations, part of the University's 10-year, $300 million dormitory and dining hall renovation project, began in May and are expected to take place primarily during the next four summers. The $75 million project will merge the Quad's four existing college houses into three, add new facilities and utility systems and repair and restore parts of the building's architecture. Most of this summer's renovations have focused on historical restoration of the Quad's outside architectural elements and the installation of new mechanical infrastructure inside the residence that will allow for better heat, water and electrical systems. While only a portion of the total four-year project is nearing completion, University officials believe the residence is already looking better than it has in years. "I think people will see a difference," Director of College Houses and Academic Services David Brownlee said. "I'm very, very pleased. It looks great." The majority of the renovations has been taking place on Woodland Walk -- the area between the Quad and Stouffer Triangle that extends from Spruce Street to 38th Street – and inside the "baby Quad" areas of Lower Quad. Officials are still trying to assess what work will continue into the school year and plan to continue only those renovations that will not disturb students and faculty residents. "Our intent is to identify work that we can continue with that will not be disruptive to our residents," said Al Zuino, Penn's associate director for housing and conference services. Zuino said August 16 was chosen as the cutoff for most construction work because housing officials must begin preparing for college house staff and students to move back into the residence at that time. Project Manager Kevin Kimmel of Ewing Cole Cherry Brott, the architectural firm managing the renovations, said that although work may continue intermittently through December, most of the work will take place in "areas that are not accessible to students," including basements and storage areas. Along Woodland Walk, construction crews have been cleaning and refreshing the mortar on the outside of the Quad all summer, and workers should complete that part of the project by the August 16 deadline. And inside baby Quad, the ground has been torn up and trees removed in order to install new utility and drainage systems. While a temporary landscape will be reinstalled by the time students arrive this fall, the final paving and landscaping of baby Quad will not be complete until later phases of construction. "The pathways that will be put down in the next week or two will be the final pattern, they just won't be the final material," Kimmel said, adding that trees won't reappear in baby Quad until at least next year. Workers have also been repairing the surfaces of Memorial Tower and Provost's Tower. And Brownlee said that portions of Community House and Ware College House will receive new furniture in rooms and lounges this fall. After this summer, more visible work will take place on the Quad. By the end of next summer, new security systems should be in place at the Quad's two main entrances. During the third and fourth years of renovations, the rooms themselves will be redecorated, painted and repaired. Home to about 1,500 students, the Quad's four college houses will be merged into three, each with one faculty master, two faculty fellows and a house dean -- the same number of administrators who serve the four current houses. The new layout of the college houses will include a third entrance gate and will correspond more closely with the physical landscape of the Quad. Additional classrooms, seminar rooms, office suites and computer laboratories will also be added. The project will add both private bathrooms and more single rooms in an attempt to entice upperclassmen to stay in the Quad, which has traditionally been a first-year dorm. Last November, University administrators unveiled their 10-year plan to renovate every dormitory and dining facility and construct several new residences in Hamilton Village. The $300 million project is the single-largest construction binge since the early 1970s.
(08/05/99 9:00am)
Part of Sansom Common, the six-story Inn at Penn will open officially on September 1. The 238-room Inn at Penn and Ivy Grille, part of the Sansom Common shopping complex, are gearing up for their September 1 opening, and University and hotel officials say they could not be more excited. "I'm absolutely, unequivocally thrilled," Vice President for Campus Services Larry Moneta said. "The hotel has emerged exactly as designed and intended." The six-story hotel, located at 3600 Sansom Street, offers 238 guest rooms as well as 26 deluxe, hospitality and conference suites. The guest rooms are located on the third through sixth floors, while the first two floors are home to the Ivy Grille restaurant and bar as well as to the Faculty Club, two ballrooms and other conference and meeting rooms. Access to the hotel can be gained from both Chestnut Street and 36th Street. Ever since University President Judith Rodin announced plans to build Sansom Common -- complete with retail stores, restaurants and the upscale Inn at Penn -- in November 1996, University officials have said the hotel would become a major asset for Penn faculty members, visiting parents and visitors to Philadelphia in general. "We think parents and visitors and trustees and alumni and just guests in general will find it to be a very wonderful addition to the area," Moneta said. While the hotel is not set to open officially until September 1, a "soft opening" on August 16 will give the hotel a chance to get up and running and work out any kinks in the service before a grand opening in the fall. "In the soft opening period there are no conferences, no conventions booked, no very large events," Moneta said, explaining that the hotel is "only taking accommodations of folks who just sort of walk in." On August 16, the sixth floor of the hotel will be opened for guests, with each of the other three floors opening about every 10 days, according to Inn at Penn General Manager Dave Newhart. "What we're being very cautious of is opening up a product and rushing it prior to our service being able to match the product," Newhart said. A small fitness center and a bookstore operated by Barnes & Nobles -- as well as conveniences such as valet parking, 24-hour room service and an iron, ironing board, hair dryer, coffee maker and terrycloth robes in every guest room -- are amenities that officials hope will make for a comfortable environment. But aside from making the Inn simply cozy, the hotel's planners say they want to create a high-tech facility as well. To that end, each room is equipped with a 25-inch television, two phone lines, an Ethernet connection and "Web TV." A typical room rate will range from $165 to $250 a night, depending on the room's size and the season, Moneta said. Inn officials said they are already gearing up for the return of Penn students and their families during move-in weekend in early September and expect to book about 150 rooms for the weekend. The hotel space will also likely be useful during next summer's Republican National Convention, expected to bring thousands of people and millions of dollars to the city next summer. According to hotel officials, the Inn at Penn has already booked about half of its rooms for the event. Over the next few weeks, Inn at Penn officials will be preparing for the hotel's opening by training employees, receiving and installing furniture and equipment, and putting the final touches on the hotel's motif. The Ivy Grille, located on the ground floor of the hotel on the Walnut Street side, will open on September 1 and will feature an eclectic menu, a display kitchen where customers can watch their food be prepared and seasonal outdoor seating. "It'll be a fun atmosphere," Newhart said. Newhart said the restaurant will serve both standard menu items such as burgers and pastas, as well as more creative foods like paninis and fritatas. Most entrees will not exceed the $20 mark, he said. "We're trying to make it so that the students feel comfortable bringing their parents here and the parents feel comfortable and get what they want," Newhart said. The hotel will staff about 160 employees, Newhart said, adding that many of the already-hired employees are from the West Philadelphia area. The Inn will be operated by DoubleTree Hotel Corp. under the supervision of Promus Hotel Corporation, which either operates or is currently developing 12 other collegiate facilities along the East Coast. The relocation of the Faculty Club from its former spot in Skinner Hall to the Inn at Penn has long been a source of contention between University officials and Faculty Club employees. In March, the Inn agreed to hire 70 percent of all full-time Faculty Club union workers employees formerly employed by Penn. Newhart said Tuesday that 13 of the Faculty Club workers who were offered jobs accepted and have already started work in the hotel.
(07/29/99 9:00am)
The new facility will meet the dietary needs of Muslim students. The new Kosher Dining facility, which is set to open in the warehouse near 40th and Locust streets, will now also accommodate Muslim students who prescribe to a hallal diet, Penn officials said recently. A hallal dining service is one that meets the dietary needs of observant Muslims. Officials say the addition of hallal service to the new Kosher Dining option will serve as an opportunity for Jewish and Muslim students to expand their horizons and learn more about each others' cultures. According to Vice President for Campus Services Larry Moneta, observant Muslim students have traditionally eaten at Kosher Dining --previously located in the Faculty Club -- because the diets are similar, but now the dining facility will address the needs of hallal students directly, rather than serving them by default. "What's different this time is we're going to try to make it a little more inviting for them," Moneta said. But the focus of the service is still on kosher food, Moneta said. "The immediate meal needs are for the kosher community," Moneta said. The new facility, formerly occupied by both Boccie Pizza and Saladalley, will be run as a price-fixed kosher restaurant open to the public, although dining plans will be available for students, Moneta said. The building is currently undergoing renovations to prepare the location for the opening of the restaurant in the fall. Calling it an "exciting and wonderful opportunity," Rabbi Howard Alpert, executive director of Hillel, said that by sharing meals, Jewish and Muslim students can interact in a manner not otherwise possible at Penn. "Eating together and talking together may help us overcome other issues that divide us," Alpert said. University administrators announced this spring that Kosher Dining would relocate to the warehouse spot after the facility's former location, also the site of the Faculty Club, was chosen to become the new home of the Graduate School of Fine Arts. The restaurant will cover about 8,000 square feet, making it larger than the dining facility in the current location. Another space in the warehouse, to be leased by Hillel during the construction of its new building over the next several years, will allow not only for Jewish programming, but also for possible joint-programming or discussions between Muslim and Jewish students, Alpert said. "I think Jewish students choose to come to Penn both? to live as Jews and also experience the general community," Alpert said. "Having a kosher service that is also hallal will accomplish both." A portion of the warehouse is currently occupied by Video Library, which will not be affected by Kosher Dining's move.
(07/29/99 9:00am)
With the construction of a movie theater complex, a fresh foods market and an 800-car parking garage in the works at 40th and Walnut streets, the economic growth of the 40th Street commercial corridor -- often referred to as the "Main Street" of University City -- has become an even greater point of interest with community officials. With the goal of analyzing the commercial potential of the corridor and finding ways to make the area an even greater asset to the community, the University City District this week released the results of a nine-month retail market study that presents recommendations for furthering the economic growth of the corridor. The study, began in October 1998 and finished last month, analyzes the demographics of the area and the present retail mix of the corridor -- defined as the region from 39th to 41st streets between Filbert Street and Baltimore Avenue -- and identifies potential improvements to the area that may spur further commercial revitalization. According to UCD officials, University City's international character and unique consumer mix promise to make the 40th Street corridor one of the city's most unique commercial districts. "It's that demographic diversity that really was an underpinning for this entire process," UCD Executive Director Paul Steinke said Tuesday. The study suggests many potential improvements to the corridor, including continued improvements to the street's aesthetics, creating a strategic plan for leasing space to help new retailers establish businesses in the area, creating more space for retail along the corridor and market 40th Street as a unique shopping, dining and entertainment destination. "I think that an improved corridor is to everyone's benefit in the community," said area realtor Lindsay Johnston, the former head of the 40th Street Area Business Association. Both University and community officials agree that the opening of the Robert Redford-backed cinema complex, market and parking garage will serve as a catalyst, spurring further revitalization of the corridor. Officials hope that recent renovations to the 40th Street streetscape between Walnut and Chestnut streets -- which were completed by the UCD with a grant from Penn -- coupled with future renovations on the corridor to be conducted by the City of Philadelphia, will make 40th Street a more attractive shopping and entertainment destination for people across the city and around the region. The study was conducted with the assistance of a community steering committee -- formed this past February and composed of Penn officials, community residents and area businesspeople -- and an urban retail development consultant firm, Square Foot LLC. The funding for the $15,000 study came from the Penn grant which also funded the 40th Street streetscape improvements this past spring. The UCD now plans to work with the steering committee to develop further leasing and merchandising plans for the area as well as encouraging area institutions, businesspeople and organizations to review the study and help implement tangible change in the corridor. "Our hope is that, ultimately, University City will have in 40th Street a real destination for residents, for students and for employees to meet, to shop and to dine," Steinke said. The study compiles and analyzes the results of a photographic catalog of storefronts, demographic data and a survey conducted along 40th Street and by mail that received 217 responses. According to the study, the commercial corridor has both strengths and weaknesses. Some strengths include the large student and employee daytime population, a large residential population, a central location in University City, convenient area public transportation and proximity to Center City. Among the area's weaknesses are a perception that the area is unsafe, poor merchandise selection in retail stores, numerous property owners and inconsistent store fronts and poorly maintained transportation stations.
(07/29/99 9:00am)
Several academic programs, including the Humanities Forum, will operate out of the vacated Locust Walk house. The Phi Gamma Delta house, made vacant this past spring when FIJI brothers forfeited their charter, has been committed to the School of Arts and Sciences for use by several academic programs, University officials said Tuesday. The University-owned building will house the recently created Humanities Forum and the McNeil Center for Early American Studies, Provost Robert Barchi said. "Other SAS activities may also be accommodated if space allows," Barchi said. "Detailed planning for those programs is now under way." Barchi said that the School will likely occupy the house for at least four years, at which point FIJI will have the opportunity to reapply for a Penn charter and may request residence in their former house. "We have to think about using the building for at least the next four years during which the FIJI fraternity is not part of our campus," he said. But it is not yet known whether FIJI will reapply for a charter or whether Penn will grant the fraternity occupancy of the house. The FIJI brothers forfeited their house in early April after violating alcohol and risk management policies at an alumni dinner March 20 that ended in the death of 26-year old 1994 College graduate and FIJI brother Michael Tobin. The fraternity, which had occupied the house for 85 years, was suspended by its national office shortly after the incident. The provost's office had received numerous proposals over the past several months from organizations and departments across the University vying for space in the house. The Office of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs petitioned in April that the facility be occupied by another fraternity or sorority come fall. Although Barchi said the space was designated for academic use, he noted that officials "had an open mind about all the proposals that came in," which did include "quite a number of requests" from various academic programs. Administrators considered the house's location -- which is central on Penn's campus -- as well as "broader campus planning" issues in making the decision to allot the space to SAS, he said. But exactly when the house will be ready for occupancy by the Forum and the McNeil Center is still not clear. Barchi said the needs of each program must be assessed and renovations to the building must occur before the programs will be able to operate out of the house. Since estimates are not yet complete, Barchi said he could not speculate on the length of time it would take to complete the renovations, though he said he did not expect them to take an extended period of time. "I don't see these as major renovations that are going to take years," he said. According to SAS Dean Samuel Preston, the use of the FIJI house will reduce an academic space crunch within the School, preventing new programs from being put aside or overlooked. "The wonderful new Humanities Forum, which promises to galvanize scholarship and teaching in the humanities, is currently homeless," Preston said. Preston said that if space allows, the house's occupants may include the new Center for Folklore and Ethnography created upon the closure of Penn's Folklore and Folklife department last month. "The library in the FIJI house will be the finest seminar space in the School and will be available to other users as well," Preston added. The Humanities Forum will operate out of Bennett Hall, where it has been located since its creation this past fall, until renovations are complete. According to Wendy Steiner, the director of the Forum and an English professor, the Forum will be able to have meeting rooms, lecture spaces, offices and facilities that would not be available if the program were permanently based out of Bennett Hall. "It's as central [a location] as you can imagine on campus," Steiner said. "It's just a perfect location." The Humanities Forum is a research center for students interested in the humanities. The Forum also intends to facilitate academic exchange between faculty members of different academic departments and involve the Philadelphia community in humanities-related activities and discussion. The McNeil Center is currently located at 3440 Market Street.
(07/22/99 9:00am)
Thomas Connolly, professor emeritus of music, will step down from his position by the end of the summer. Community House Faculty Master Thomas Connolly will step down from his position by the end of the summer, making him the first faculty master to resign under the one-year-old College House system, College House officials said this week. Connolly, a professor emeritus of music, served as the head of the college house for one year. He was appointed to the position last summer as the University prepared to unveil its new residential living system, which debuted this past fall. College House officials said Connolly did not specify any particular reason for his resignation. "There comes a time when you part with the job," Community House Dean Rick Cameron said. And Director of College Houses and Academic Services David Brownlee said he was not shocked to learn that one of the College House system's twelve faculty masters decided to step down after only one year, even though the maximum term for the position is three years. "People are not chained to their desks," Brownlee said. Connolly is currently out of the country and was unavailable for comment this week. College House officials praised Connolly's work in helping make Community House's first year in the College House system a success. "He brought a wonderful wealth of experience in shaping academically supportive residential communities," Brownlee said. "I'm very sad to see him go." Cameron said that Connolly "completely welcomed the energy that the? students in Community House created and let the house develop based on what those students thought." "One thing that I think that he has done is that he has allowed the house to evolve in whatever direction it needs to evolve," Cameron said. Connolly also retired as a Music professor at the end of this past academic year, but Brownlee said that his retirement was not related to his decision to leave his faculty master position. A search committee that will review applications for the position will be put together soon, although the University is already encouraging the submission of applications from tenured faculty members, Brownlee said. The committee will include Penn faculty and student and staff representatives from Community House. Brownlee declined to speculate whether a new faculty master will be in place by the fall. If the search is still vacant in the fall, the house may appoint an interim faculty master, Brownlee said. "Certainly our commitment to Community House is very, very strong," Brownlee said. "We want to make the leadership complete, but Community House is pretty darn strong right now." Cameron said he will not serve on the search committee, but will instead serve as a consultant to the group and help appoint Community House residents and staff to the committee. The house focuses on three aspects of residential living: academic, social and community service, Cameron said. "Tom was instrumental in carving out those three prongs of the house and kind of gave it a sense of where it was going after this first year," he said. "He certainly brought to the college houses a wonderfully mature understanding of what college houses can do," Brownlee added.
(07/22/99 9:00am)
Accomplished Statistics Professor David Hildebrand, known throughout the University for his wit, intelligence and participation in University politics, died of cancer last Tuesday at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. He was 59. Hildebrand, who was diagnosed with cancer last summer, taught undergraduate, graduate and doctoral students throughout his 34-year career at Penn. Despite his illness, he continued teaching through the fall semester, a decision his colleagues consider courageous and honorable. "He was a very talented fellow who could do just about anything he could undertake," Statistics Department Chairperson Paul Shaman said. Hildebrand, author of a number of books, monographs and articles on statistics -- including three texts on introductory statistics used in Wharton undergraduate and graduate courses since 1983 -- served as the chairperson of the Statistics Department from July 1985 to June 1990. Hildebrand specialized in models and methods for the analysis of categorical data. Hildebrand was committed to improving the quality of statistics instruction at Penn, Shaman said. He was instrumental in helping to revise core curriculum within the Statistics Department. "He was certainly a very imaginative and forward thinking individual," Shaman said. "He had excellent vision for what we should be doing and how to get us there." As a teacher, those close to Hildebrand said he was bright, communicative and inspiring. "I certainly appreciate still to this day all the guidance he gave me as an individual," said former doctoral student Kathryn Szabat, now a Statistics lecturer in the College of General Studies. "He was always there to help students [and] always did his best to make sure they understood the material." Hildebrand was especially known for writing humorous statistics-themed limericks, which he often placed at the beginning of exams or included in class materials to ease the tension for his students. "He just had wide interests, broad talent and you just never knew what interesting thing he was going to do next," Shaman said. Hildebrand earned his master's degree and his doctorate from the Carnegie Institute of Technology in Pittsburgh. He received his bachelor's degree from Carleton College in Northfield, Minn., in 1962. Hildebrand, very active in University politics, served as the moderator of the University Council from 1989 to 1991, and again in 1997. In 1992, he was elected chairperson of the Faculty Senate where he served a one-year term. Hildebrand was also a member of the President Search Committee which nominated then-Yale University Provost Judith Rodin to succeed Sheldon Hackney as University President. Describing him as "an active University citizen," Statistics Professor Donald Morrison praised his efforts in the Faculty Senate and University Council, and also as a member of a national organization, "Making Statistics More Effective in Schools of Business." "He felt very deeply that we needed to improve the quality of statistical instruction," Morrison said. Hildebrand is survived by his wife, Patricia; his two children, Martin and Jeffrey; his mother and two sisters.
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Penn Police hope the cameras will serve to prevent crime and help detectives apprehend offenders. In an effort to increase safety and security on and around Penn's campus, the Division of Public Safety has installed eight closed circuit video cameras on major street corners on the western end of campus that officials hope will both help Penn police prevent crime and aid police detectives in catching criminals after crime occurs. The eight cameras will connect to a closed circuit television system located inside the Penn Police headquarters at 4040 Chestnut Street, where they will be recorded 24 hours per day. In addition, trained security personnel will monitor the cameras and alert officers to crime scenes, although not all cameras will be monitored at all times, Penn Director of Security Services Stratis Skoufalos said. Security officials are currently testing the eight cameras and preparing to train the personnel that will staff the CCTV system. Officials would like to have the entire system up and running by this coming fall. Signs announcing the presence of the video cameras will help to deter potential lawbreakers from committing crime in the area, Skoufalos said. "The goal is to prevent crime, not catch criminals after they perpetrate crime," said Penn Police Chief Maureen Rush. "To that end, perpetrators realize that when they commit crimes in certain areas they will be videotaped." But Rush and Skoufalos said they recognize that the presence of cameras cannot prevent all crime, noting that the cameras will also serve as a valuable tool in helping identify perpetrators after crime occurs. "Even if the street patrol officers do not apprehend the perpetrator immediately, the detectives have an excellent leg up on their investigation if the individual is on film," Rush said. The cameras are located atop poles resembling street lamps or on buildings at 40th and Locust streets, 40th and Walnut, 40th and Spruce, 39th and Walnut, 38th and Walnut, 38th and Spruce, 39th and Spruce, and in a parking lot located at 38th and Walnut streets. The eight installed cameras are only the first phase of a project that, if successful, will include the installation of many more cameras on and around Penn's campus. The cameras, which have a field of view of about one block in all directions, can be moved mechanically from the control system in the Penn Police headquarters to focus in on any criminal activity reported to the police. That way, CCTV personnel can tell police officers what is happening at the scene of a crime before the officers even arrive there, Skoufalos said. "It's like having another cop out there," Skoufalos said."We intend to use the cameras as another set of eyes, as if an officer was monitoring the area," Skoufalos said. "I am very excited about the addition of CCTV to our patrol strategy," Rush said. Skoufalos said he is aware that the cameras may receive some criticism regarding the rights to privacy of those within range of the cameras. "There's always going to be someone objecting because it's something different," Skoufalos said. But Skoufalos said that the CCTV policy prevents the release of any information on the tapes not in use in a criminal investigation, unless approved by Vice President for Public Safety Tom Seamon. Those tapes not used in any investigations will be destroyed 30 days after recorded. "This whole CCTV policy has been developed over years of discussion, debate and agreement by members of this University community," Skoufalos said.
(07/15/99 9:00am)
In an effort to alleviate the University's persistent parking crunch and increase the amount of green space on Penn's campus, construction crews broke ground last week on a small triangle-shaped piece of land at 38th Street and Baltimore Avenue where University officials plan to construct a landscaped 34-car parking lot. The University recently acquired the property, which was formerly occupied by a Getty gas station but has been nothing more than a vacant dirt lot for years. The University has been eying the small piece of land for years, according to Landscape Project Planner Bob Lundgren. While not very large or conveniently located -- and, by extension, not particularly suited to retail development -- the empty dirt lot is the first sight many University visitors encounter upon entering the Penn community via University Avenue. And that first impression is often not very pleasant, Lundgren said. "Having acquired the property, we, along with other interests, wanted to really make it a nicer space for the entrance to the University community," Lundgren said. "We've gotten many complaints over the years about how ugly it is." Those other interests include providing some extra parking for the School of Veterinary Medicine, located nearby at 38th and Spruce streets. Taking both concerns into account, University officials decided that a landscaped parking lot would best meet both needs, and Penn's recent acquisition of the land has made that goal possible. The actual construction of the lot is being managed by Tony DePaul & Son, a local contractor. Lundgren said the project will cost about $175,000 and should be complete by late August. Then, in September, the new lot will be landscaped to include about 40 trees as well as flowering shrubbery and perennial flowers, Lundgren said. When completed, the property will be about half parking space, half green space, Lundgren said. "It's a win-win situation for everybody," said Penn Director of Neighborhood Initiatives Esaul Sanchez. "I think that is exciting, the fact that we as an institution are working toward and finding solutions that are not necessarily what one side sees as a solution, but a really good compromise." Sanchez, who is also the head of UCGreen -- a Penn initiative aimed at beautifying University City by planting trees, shrubbery and flowers in the area around Penn's campus -- said the University actively encouraged input from the surrounding community about the use of the space. "There was a lot of consultation in the community," Sanchez said. "Everybody was involved." Sanchez said that while UCGreen was not directly involved in the planning of the project, the group did help with the idea behind the parking lot, especially where the green space is concerned. "Because of the location and because of the beauty, it's going to be a very pleasant way of coming into the neighborhood," Sanchez said. The lot will be operated on a permit-basis by Penn's Parking and Transportation department. Lundgren said that the property may only serve as a parking lot temporarily, until the University completes construction on other campus parking garages, including the 800-car garage set for 40th and Walnut streets and the approximately 1,000-car parking garage complex to be constructed on the former Civic Center site. At that point, the property may be totally converted to green space or even destroyed completely, Lundgren said.
(07/15/99 9:00am)
This fall, the term "College Green" will take on a whole new meaning, as over 1,000 student environmentalists descend on Penn's campus for a three-day conference that will educate and organize student environmental activists for the new millennium. ECOnference 2000 -- sponsored by 30 environmental groups, including Campus Ecology, Earth Day 2000, Greenpeace, Ozone Action, Rock the Vote and Free the Planet! -- will draw students from college campuses nationwide to Penn from October 15 through the 17th. Students attending the conference will have the opportunity to hear speakers active in environmental causes, participate in discussion forums about key environmental issues and learn how to organize their own campaigns at their respective campuses. The conference will be hosted by the Penn Environmental Group and based in Irvine Auditorium, according to the group's co-chairperson Kristina Rencic Tuesday. Rencic, a College junior, added that many rooms in buildings throughout campus will be reserved for workshops and panel discussions as well. "Basically all the buildings on campus are going to be opened up," Rencic said. ECOnference 2000's organizers cite the need to campaign for a greener millennium as the motivation behind the conference, and expect the seminar to look towards the upcoming Earth Day and Election Day in 2000. "At the beginning of the modern environmental movement, students were at the forefront and now more than ever, it is our future that is at stake," Andrew MacDonald, one of the conference's organizers, said in a statement released last week. Penn was chosen by ECOnference 2000 to host the event after the Penn Environmental Group submitted an application in March, according to ECOnference 2000 organizer Beka Economopoulos. More than a dozen schools were invited to apply to host the conference, but Penn's prime location in Philadelphia -- the site of the 2000 Republican National Convention -- as well as its success in hosting the Free the Planet conference in 1995 made Penn a smart choice, Economopoulos said Tuesday. "It just seemed that there was a lot of interest on the Penn campus in having [the conference] there," Economopoulos said. "[Penn] did an awesome job in '95 of hosting the Free the Planet conference." Rencic said that hosting the conference will present a challenge for the Penn Environmental Group due to its small membership, but she is optimistic that the event will be beneficial to all those involved. "The reason we wanted to host it is because we do have such a small group on campus, and we want to increase our awareness on campus," Rencic said. "Our name will be out and around campus more." A major focus of the conference is the launching of a job boycott campaign where students will target employers in every job sector that abuse the environment and refuse to work for them. The conference's organizers hope the boycott will pressure "corporate abusers" into meeting environmental guidelines. "The focus [of the conference] will also be on training students how to organize and how to run successful campaigns," Economopoulos added. Rencic said she plans to invite other student groups and performing arts groups to participate in various planning and entertainment aspects of the conference. "I think we'd like to get as many student groups involved as are interested," Rencic said. Tickets to the conference are $25 per student and $50 each for non-students and are available through ECOnference 2000.
