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(12/14/95 10:00am)
Penn's new year started off with a slew of transitions -- and the pace of change only picked up as the month of January progressed. An all-time high of 15,050 applications flooded the Office of Admissions; these new faces -- prospective members of the Class of 1999 -- comprised the strongest-ever group of applicants to Penn. Buildings across campus, including the dismal Hutchinson Gymnasium, received long-awaited facelifts. The scaffolding finally came off the outside of Logan Hall, but the heavy equipment stayed firmly parked in front of nearby College Hall. Administrators were trying to firm up a $20 million pledge from cosmetics mogul and Wharton alumnus Ronald Perelman, a University trustee. The donation, which would not become final until April, was eventually earmarked for the construction of a new student center that will be named for Perelman. The student center project will involve the renovation of College, Houston, Logan and Williams Halls and Irvine Auditorium over the next three years, creating additional meeting, eating and studying space in the heart of campus. Another Wharton alumnus, Nine West Shoe Corporation chairperson Jerome Fisher, pledged $5.5 million in support of the Management and Technology program in January, which was then renamed for him. Work on the parking garage at 38th and Walnut streets was slowed by labor disputes between insulators and carpenters. But Cinemagic, the Delaware theater management company, announced plans to renovate and move into the old AMC Theater in the 3900 block of Walnut Street. Personnel changes were making news in January, too. Larry Burnley was named director of the Greenfield Intercultural Center, and Stephen Schutt, former chief of staff to Sen. Harris Wofford (D-Pa.), took on the same role for University President Judith Rodin. Rutgers Professor Susan Fuhrman was chosen as the new dean of the Graduate School of Education. At the Medical School, vice dean Frederic Burg announced that he would resign July 1. Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania Executive Director Wilbur "Bud" Pittinger also left, leading to speculation that both had been asked to leave their positions. On the Greek scene, the eight Panhellenic Council sororities gave out 386 bids to eager freshman and sophomore women. And the InterFraternity Council voted in a new "Bring Your Own Beer" policy for parties. Finally, Coopers & Lybrand, a consulting and accounting firm, recommended that the University restructure its administrative processes and staff responsibilities, cutting costs by 20 percent over the next five years and saving $25 million per year as a result.
(12/08/95 10:00am)
Committees charged with reviewing the performance of three University deans have begun their work, and are expected to issue assessments of the deans' performances at the end of next month. The committees, appointed by Provost Stanley Chodorow, are scrutinizing the work of Engineering School Dean Gregory Farrington, Medical School Dean William Kelley and Wharton School Dean Thomas Gerrity. Three faculty-student committees -- each of which includes another University dean -- have been formed to gather comment about the deans' performances from all of the deans' constituencies. Deans serve a seven-year term, according to Nancy Nowicki, Chodorow's external affairs assistant. If they agree to reappointment, they are reviewed during their sixth year. If approved by the review committee, each dean may serve an additional five-year term, for a total of no more than 12 years. The committees are charged with answering nine questions in their written reports, Nowicki said. These include how each dean has handled long-term planning, increased the quality of student and faculty scholarship, developed and managed financial resources, and acted as a leader for his school. Committee members are also asked to offer suggestions for the next five to six years, aimed at strengthening the school of the dean they are evaluating. Chodorow described the review committees' work as both discreet and thorough. "The committees solicit written comments from everyone in the school, including students, and interview some people whom the committee thinks have wide knowledge of the dean's performance or who have requested an interview," he said. "They interview the dean. Then, the committee deliberates on the materials they have collected." The committees forward their reports to the provost and University President Judith Rodin, and the Board of Trustees makes the final decision on whether a dean will be reappointed. Dean reviews are more than just formalities, Chodorow said. In the few years before he and Rodin arrived on campus, he added, most of the dean reviews that occurred resulted in the retirement of deans from their deanships. "The reviews give the deans a new beginning and are an occasion for them, the schools and the president and provost to recommit ourselves to a set of goals that will contribute to the quality of the school and the University," Chodorow said. "The review focuses on excellence," he added. "Penn's deans are expected to lead their schools to the highest levels of academic performance and standing. The review shows us whether they have met this high standard." Chemistry Department Chairperson Amos Smith, who is chairing the Kelley review committee, said the dean review process is fairly straightforward. Smith said the entire reviewing process may not finish until mid-February. Physics Professor Tom Lubensky, chairperson of the Farrington review committee, agreed that the groups face an extensive task. "We've had one meeting, we're scheduling a meeting next week," Lubensky said. "There's a lot of work, and we've done essentially nothing? We will be starting now, we have initiated the process, but the heavy work is not until the end of January."
(12/07/95 10:00am)
Dorm residents are itching for relief A rash of chicken pox cases has students in University residences scratching their heads -- and just about everything else. About six students have reported symptoms of infection by the varicella virus over the past two weeks, according to Residential Living Director Gigi Simeone. Well-known symptoms of chicken pox include itchy blisters all over the body. Although the illness is highly contagious before the blisters burst, scab and heal, chicken pox does not usually pose permanent health risks. Simeone said Residential Living takes recommendations from Student Health Services on how to proceed in cases like these. And Student Health Director MarJeanne Collins said the six cases on campus -- affecting residents of the Quadrangle and high rises -- do not appear to be related. "[It] seems like they had not been in contact," she said, adding that she has seen only one "complicated" case of chicken pox during her career. Severe complications can include pneumonia and encephalitis, an inflammation of the brain. But most of the time the symptoms are just irritating. "Itching is probably what drives people crazy," Collins said. To relieve the discomfort, she suggests calamine lotion and Aveeno or oatmeal baths. But researchers have now formulated a more permanent method of relief -- a chicken pox vaccine. The vaccine, which became available this past summer, has been recommended for children over the age of 18 months, Collins said. Young adults and college students receive two doses of the vaccine, at a total cost of about $80. Sometimes insurance companies will cover this fee, she added. But between 71 and 90 percent of adults are immune to varicella infection, regardless of whether they suffered through a bout of chicken pox in childhood, Collins said. For this reason, students looking to save money can have their blood tested for varicella antibodies for approximately $40. Of course, Collins said, if the test comes out negative, getting the vaccine at an additional charge would still be an option. Student Health recommends that incoming freshmen who have not had chicken pox get the vaccination before matriculating at the University, Collins said. This recommendation could become a requirement in the years to come, she added, "because as adults, [students] may be around children" who have been exposed to chicken pox. Vaccinations would prevent them from getting sick. In addition, shingles -- an outbreak of painful blisters on the body that results from a reactivation of the varicella virus -- can affect adults so severely that they may require hospitalization. Daily Pennsylvanian reporter Jamie Phares contributed to this story.
(12/07/95 10:00am)
With its pink tile floor gleaming and brightly-colored bags of potato chips lining its walls, Market Street Market opened yesterday without much fanfare. The new grocery store is located on the 3900 block of Walnut Street, in the storefront formerly occupied by Convenient Food Store. Convenient Food Store was destroyed in an arson fire last February, and since that time, Superblock residents have depended on the Uni-Mart at 40th and Locust streets or the commissaries in the dormitories to satisfy their cravings for late night snacks. As she bought a package of gum at Market Street Market last night, College sophomore Melanie Ried said she thinks the new store is "just like all the others," and about as far from her room as Uni-Mart. But Ried's friend Jill Resnick, a College sophomore, said she is pleased with the market's selection -- especially because it includes her favorite Ben & Jerry's ice cream flavor, coffee almond fudge. Fellow Superblock resident Elyse Dorkin, a College junior, was celebrating her 20th birthday last night, and stopped in at the shop on her way home. "A new food place on campus -- it's exciting," she said, adding that because the market is much cleaner than its predecessor, she feels better about buying her food there. Hyun Kee Hwang, the market's co-owner, said business was slow yesterday. He attributed the lack of customers to the absence of a sign outside the store. Hwang added that the store should have its outdoor sign up sometime next month. He also said the store is not yet fully prepared to cater to students' needs. "We don't have the bread," Hwang said, gesturing to the wide, empty area in front of the cash register. "We need a lot more stuff." Among the items the market plans to carry to distinguish itself from the Thriftway grocery store at 43rd and Walnut streets are gourmet products and Oriental foods, Hwang said. Market manager Ted Nicholas was waiting behind the deli counter for customers last night. He didn't have much luck. "A lot of [students] were surprised that we were open [yesterday]," Nicholas said. "We just aim to please, that's all." He added that the store plans to be "more dedicated to customer satisfaction" than Convenient Food Store. To that end, he said he welcomes suggestions from students about products the store should be carrying. "If people show up, it'll be an experience they'll remember," Nicholas said, when asked to describe what makes Market Street Market different from the Uni-Mart or the Wawa at 38th and Spruce streets. "They'll be glad to come back," he added. The Market Street Market store that opened yesterday is the third in a chain of convenience stores which Hwang and his brother own in the city. It will be open from 9 a.m. until 1 a.m. during the week, and until 2 a.m. on weekends.
(12/05/95 10:00am)
Attention campus residents: if you were thinking of catching a movie or miniseries on USA or TNT tonight, get ready to touch that dial. Residents of ResNet-equipped dormitories will lose access to satellite-fed cable channels at 6 p.m. this evening, according to Penn Video Network Coordinator Christopher Cook. The disruption in service is due to preventative maintenance work scheduled for PECO Energy's No. 2 substation, Cook said. But residents should have their cable back at 6 a.m. tomorrow morning, he added. The cable channels are beamed into dorm rooms from the satellite dish on top of the Annenberg School for Communication, Cook explained. But Annenberg gets its power from the substation, located underground near 37th and Spruce streets. Physical Plant electrical engineer Charles Boyle said power to the substation must be turned off so crews from PECO and Physical Plant are able to perform the necessary maintenance tasks. "Annenberg Center has only one electrical service," he said. "[It] happens to be the side that feeds to Annenberg is the side that needs to be shut down. "That's why we can't provide [the dormitories] with any power for a period of time," Boyle added. Annenberg Building Administrator Deborah Porter said PECO informed Physical Plant, which in turn informed her, that the work had to be completed this week. She then attempted to balance their needs with those of faculty, staff and students. "We did our best to arrange it so that people would be as [least] inconvenienced as possible," Porter said. "People who are studying [in the Annenberg Library] will be inconvenienced, which we're sorry for, but classes won't be disrupted." Cook said all of the "off-air" channels that residents receive -- including local network affiliates and Public Broadcasting Service -- will not be affected by the shutdown. All "Penn-originated" channels, including SAS TV19, UTV13 and the Penn Video Network, will also be operational, he added. Today's shutdown marks the first large-scale service interruption since the reengineering of the ResNet cable system during the summer of 1994, Cook said. When the ResNet program began, students who paid the $70 additional ResNet fee complained about consistently fuzzy transmission. As a result, administrators explored alternative network configurations and began using microwave transmission technology. The preventative maintenance project is intended to keep the system running as smoothly as it currently does, Cook said. "I know it's a little annoying to have the channels out, but if you take a look at it -- since we went to hard cable -- we've got a pretty reliable system," said Wharton junior Jeffrey Greenhouse, the Video Bulletin Board manager.
(12/04/95 10:00am)
Less than 50 students with a passion for research will have the option of living in the Center for Advanced Undergraduate Study and Exploration when it opens in the fall. CAUSE is one of the four pilot "virtual college" programs proposed by the 21st Century Project on the Undergraduate Experience. And even with its small size, Political Science Professor Will Harris said he believes CAUSE will be "a microcosm of what we think a good university should be." Harris is heading a planning committee now working feverishly to determine who will be eligible for inclusion into the center's community of scholars -- and scrambling to find them a place to call home. He said last week that negotiations for an appropriate space could wrap up this week. To have the greatest impact on intellectual life at the University, Harris explained, the center cannot be "an isolated phenomenon." Therefore, the group is considering locations that include space within an existing college house or freshman dormitory. "We wanted this organization to be connected up with other living groups on campus because we wanted to have an effect on them, too," Harris said. "The University in the modern age has tended to segregate its pieces," he added. "This house is really an occasion for attempting to put it together." Faculty members will assist with this assembly of disparate parts, Harris said, but not in a residential capacity. The professors will be selected to work with CAUSE based on their own research activities. And the faculty advisers of CAUSE residents will also be invited to participate. "The connection between research and teaching, students and faculty, is really what this house is all about," Harris said. Only juniors and seniors who will be "conducting a piece of research in which they are the primary investigator" in the fall will be able to apply for residential membership in the center, according to Harris. "We're really talking about inquiry in the largest sense, and not focusing exclusively on some narrow research area, or even the role of research assistant," said former Vice Provost for University Life Kim Morrisson, now a consultant to the 21st Century Project. "[There is] a level of autonomy here, in terms of creativity, that's important." Bioengineering Professor Daniel Bogen, who is also on the planning committee, agreed. "It's basically an exciting experiment to bring more of what's happening with the upperclassmen -- what's happening with their academic experience -- back into the center of campus," he said. While specific criteria for admission to CAUSE have not yet been determined, work on any independent study would likely qualify a student for inclusion, Harris said. "We are not focusing only on the so-called sciences, but we certainly are including them because they are a major element [of undergraduate research]," Harris said. "We see research encompassing all the major disciplines." But some students currently involved in independent research, like College junior Warren Petrofsky, expressed skepticism that juniors and seniors -- who already have established groups of friends, and often make living arrangements earlier than underclassmen -- would move into CAUSE. And for this reason, Harris said students who choose not to live within the center's walls have the option of being associated with it, through attendance at seminars, meals and presentations about research arranged by residents. "We're calling it a center because it's supposed to have a radiating effect," Harris said. However, because the focus of CAUSE is so narrow, administrators are also concerned that it could isolate students doing research -- to the detriment of the larger University community, which could learn from these students' initiative. But Engineering junior Raj Iyer, who participated in focus groups arranged by the planning committee, brushed off these worries. "People say, 'What if it's homogeneous?' " Iyer said. "The great thing about interacting with people who are involved in their own research is they understand what gets you so excited. They understand that passion." Harris said he hopes CAUSE will be a primarily student-governed organization. "We will put the basics in place for the students, but we would like for the students to decide what to do next," he said.
(12/01/95 10:00am)
Biomedical facility to be erected The Philadelphia City Council approved a change in zoning ordinances yesterday that will allow construction of Biomedical Research Building Two to proceed. Building Two is the second of three buildings slated to house basic research activities for the University of Pennsylvania Medical Center. Building One is already operational, and was renamed the Stellar-Chance Laboratories last spring. Groundbreaking for Building Two is expected to occur at the beginning of April, according to Steven Wiesenthal, vice president of architecture and facilities management for the Medical Center. Building Two should be completed by the end of 1998, he said, adding that he does not know the status of the project's funding. City and Commonwealth Relations Director Paul Cribbins said yesterday's ruling changes the zoning classification of the University-owned land on which Building Two will be constructed. The land is located immediately behind the Clinical Research Building and the Lot 44 parking garage, and across the street from Stellar-Chance. The plot had been on city maps and deeds as an area zoned for residential use because it had been part of the old Philadelphia General Hospital, a city facility that closed in the late 1980s. The council ruling means that this "parcel" is now considered part of the University's "institutional development district," Cribbins said. The ordinance change passed by unanimous vote, with all 14 council members present, according to Assistant Director of City and Commonwealth Relations Sid Holmes. Mayor Ed Rendell now has 10 days to sign the provision into law, and Cribbins said he has no reason to doubt that the mayor will do so. The City Planning Commission has supported the construction of Building Two, Cribbins added. The resolution advocating the zoning change was introduced in June, just before council recessed for the summer, he said. "We weren't able to get a hearing until November 1," he explained. University officials gave testimony to council's Rules Committee at that hearing, he said. Wiesenthal said the new building will provide space for "an expansion of the research activities that are in Stellar-Chance Laboratories," including basic medical investigation and the Institute for Human Gene Therapy. This is the second boost for biomedical research on campus this semester. In October administrators broke ground for the Institute for Advanced Science and Technology on the 34th Street site previously occupied by Smith Hall. The U.S. Department of Defense has already pledged almost $24 million to the IAST project. And Board of Trustees Chairperson Roy Vagelos and his wife Diana have contributed $10 million for the building's construction. The facility will be named in their honor.
(11/29/95 10:00am)
About 100 students gathered in the Annenberg Quadrangle yesterday morning to convince the Commission on Presidential Debates to bring the 1996 presidential or vice-presidential candidates to campus. The Penn Band played "Fight on, Pennsylvania!" and Paul Simon's "You Can Call Me Al" as Janet Brown, executive director of the commission, made her way into the plaza in front of the Annenberg School for Communication. Brown was all smiles as students sporting blue-and-white "We're Great for a Debate" stickers welcomed her with cheers. "I love marching bands," she said. "I think this is great stuff. I just want to know, if we come here, do I get to take them home with me?" Attendance at the rally was hurt by low post-Thanksgiving Break publicity, organizers admitted, but helped by the unseasonably warm and sunny weather. College senior Eric Tienou said he was pleased with the turnout, considering that the event was scheduled for 10:15 a.m. -- a time when most students are either still asleep or in the middle of class. And College senior Lance Rogers, chairperson of the Undergraduate Assembly, said he thought Brown's visit went very well. "I don't want to get anybody too excited yet, but our chances from what I saw look very good," he said. Rogers added that Brown seemed to really appreciate the enthusiasm students displayed at the rally. Before the rally, Brown met with University President Judith Rodin. Brown had lunch with a core group of administrators, including Provost Stanley Chodorow, Public Safety Managing Director Thomas Seamon, University Secretary Barbara Stevens and Vice President for Facilities Management Art Gravina. During her visit, Brown looked at the two possible campus sites for a debate -- the Zellerbach Theater, with nearby Gimbel Gymnasium designated for the national press corps, and the Palestra, with Hutchinson Gymnasium being used for the press. Yesterday afternoon, at an on-campus reception planned for Brown's benefit, Philadelphia Mayor Ed Rendell proclaimed November 28 "Janet Brown Day" in the city. "Debates have become a perennial part of ascension to the presidency," he said, adding that he is confident Philadelphia has the facilities needed to impress the commission. Rodin said that having the debate at Penn would put the University "on a roll for the year 2000." "It's a good thing for the region and a terrific thing for the country," she said. "We hope together we can accomplish this." Brown also received a call from Pennsylvania Governor Tom Ridge, who urged the commission to hold a debate at Penn. Ridge sent his deputy chief of staff to read a proclamation to that effect in person yesterday. Ten schools and cities are in the running for the four commission-sponsored events, and Brown's site visit yesterday was only her third of this season. Brown called Penn's facilities "impressive," and said she appreciated the kind welcome and wealth of information she was offered. Stevens said she provided a CD-ROM with virtual, three-dimensional pictures of the campus and possible debate sites to Brown to share with her executive producer. But Brown said she does not yet know how Penn will ultimately stack up. The final decision, which will be made in January, will depend on both the available facilities -- including nearby hotel space -- and the attitude of the groups promoting each site. But administrators do not seem worried about the outcome. "The whole day was enormously successful," said University spokesperson Barbara Beck. "We knew what all the questions were going to be and we came up with all the answers well before she got here." Vice President for Government, Community and Public Affairs Carol Scheman agreed. "I was really thrilled?and more importantly, Janet was thrilled," she said. "She just thought it was a really special visit."
(11/29/95 10:00am)
About 100 students gathered in the Annenberg Quadrangle yesterday morning to convince the Commission on Presidential Debates to bring the 1996 presidential or vice-presidential candidates to campus. The Penn Band played "Fight on, Pennsylvania!" and Paul Simon's "You Can Call Me Al" as Janet Brown, executive director of the commission, made her way into the plaza in front of the Annenberg School for Communication. Brown was all smiles as students sporting blue-and-white "We're Great for a Debate" stickers welcomed her with cheers. "I love marching bands," she said. "I think this is great stuff. I just want to know, if we come here, do I get to take them home with me?" Attendance at the rally was hurt by low post-Thanksgiving Break publicity, organizers admitted, but helped by the unseasonably warm and sunny weather. College senior Eric Tienou said he was pleased with the turnout, considering that the event was scheduled for 10:15 a.m. -- a time when most students are either still asleep or in the middle of class. And College senior Lance Rogers, chairperson of the Undergraduate Assembly, said he thought Brown's visit went very well. "I don't want to get anybody too excited yet, but our chances from what I saw look very good," he said. Rogers added that Brown seemed to really appreciate the enthusiasm students displayed at the rally. Before the rally, Brown met with University President Judith Rodin. Brown had lunch with a core group of administrators, including Provost Stanley Chodorow, Public Safety Managing Director Thomas Seamon, University Secretary Barbara Stevens and Vice President for Facilities Management Art Gravina. During her visit, Brown looked at the two possible campus sites for a debate -- the Zellerbach Theater, with nearby Gimbel Gymnasium designated for the national press corps, and the Palestra, with Hutchinson Gymnasium being used for the press. Yesterday afternoon, at an on-campus reception planned for Brown's benefit, Philadelphia Mayor Ed Rendell proclaimed November 28 "Janet Brown Day" in the city. "Debates have become a perennial part of ascension to the presidency," he said, adding that he is confident Philadelphia has the facilities needed to impress the commission. Rodin said that having the debate at Penn would put the University "on a roll for the year 2000." "It's a good thing for the region and a terrific thing for the country," she said. "We hope together we can accomplish this." Brown also received a call from Pennsylvania Governor Tom Ridge, who urged the commission to hold a debate at Penn. Ridge sent his deputy chief of staff to read a proclamation to that effect in person yesterday. Ten schools and cities are in the running for the four commission-sponsored events, and Brown's site visit yesterday was only her third of this season. Brown called Penn's facilities "impressive," and said she appreciated the kind welcome and wealth of information she was offered. Stevens said she provided a CD-ROM with virtual, three-dimensional pictures of the campus and possible debate sites to Brown to share with her executive producer. But Brown said she does not yet know how Penn will ultimately stack up. The final decision, which will be made in January, will depend on both the available facilities -- including nearby hotel space -- and the attitude of the groups promoting each site. But administrators do not seem worried about the outcome. "The whole day was enormously successful," said University spokesperson Barbara Beck. "We knew what all the questions were going to be and we came up with all the answers well before she got here." Vice President for Government, Community and Public Affairs Carol Scheman agreed. "I was really thrilled?and more importantly, Janet was thrilled," she said. "She just thought it was a really special visit."
(11/28/95 10:00am)
Some student groups seeking office space in the new Perelman Quadrangle student center are already angry about the recommendations of a student-faculty space usage committee. But the recommendations are not scheduled for official release until later this week. "I don't think anyone's happy with what they're getting," said College senior Miae Oh, chairperson of the Undergraduate Assembly's Facilities Committee and a member of the space allocation group. "So far, there isn't a specific room for a certain organization," she added. "There are groups in rooms, and no one gets their own." A complete draft of the preliminary space usage plans will be available later this week, according to Vice Provost for University Life Valarie Swain-Cade McCoullum. But the plans will probably not be finalized until the committee's next meeting, the week of December 14, she said. Because the full draft has not yet been released, many student groups are uncertain of where they stand -- or where they will be sitting, meeting, rehearsing or taking telephone calls when the Perelman Quad is completed. Some groups have consulted with the committee about their needs. Although the committee has already responded to them with proposals, group members are still not pleased. At the moment, for example, the plans include the relocation of the UA and Graduate and Professional Student Assembly offices -- as well as the Office of Student Life -- to the area that is now 200 Houston Hall, Provost Stanley Chodorow said. These rooms currently house the Program for Student-Community Involvement, and have also served as office space for the Vice Provost for University Life. But College senior Lance Rogers, chairperson of the UA, said he is under the impression that all student government branches -- including the Student Activities Council, Social Planning and Events Committee, Student Committee on Undergraduate Education, Nominations and Elections Committee and Class Boards -- are going to share the 200 Houston Hall space. "I have reservations about us all fitting there," he said. Oh said that at the least, two groups are slated to share office space. Administrators hope these arrangements will provide the best use of the available space while improving communication between student groups. "Just because it's not what they have right now doesn't mean it's not possible, it's not workable," she said. "It's not bad, either -- it's just different. People are going to have to adjust." Some student leaders agreed that it is too early to make a judgment on the space allocation plans. College senior Graham Robinson, chairperson of SAC, said that he believes the construction of the Perelman Quad will provide "a tremendous improvement in student space." "I am not concerned with exclusive office space for groups, as that space is often wasted or inefficiently used," he said. "I am interested in seeing an increase in common space, as well as performance space for performing arts groups. Perelman will create dramatically more space in both areas."
(11/21/95 10:00am)
Off-campus students who want their UTV13 may soon be able to get their wish. Currently, UTV13 is only available in campus dormitories wired for ResNet. But the broadcasts of student-run television stations at neighboring Drexel and Temple universities are available to cable subscribers living off campus in University City. Administrators have consistently raised concerns that a student-run television station could be irresponsible and abuse public access air time purchased with student funds. Officials have also worried that the content of unsupervised broadcasts might reflect poorly on the University. But after years of informal discussion, the University Council Committee on Communications will formally take up the issue of whether to offer access to UTV13 outside of ResNet at its December 18 meeting. The committee had planned to deal with questions about UTV13 getting public access air time earlier in the semester, co-chairperson Ira Winston said yesterday. But members were not able to find a mutually agreeable time to meet. Winston, who also serves as director of computing for the Engineering School, said the committee will be looking seriously at "the feasibility and desirability" of making UTV13 available to a viewing area outside of the University. There are a number of weighty issues to consider when thinking about beaming UTV13's signal into the wider West Philadelphia community, according to Vice President for Government, Community and Public Affairs Carol Scheman. "UTV is not the same thing as [The Daily Pennsylvanian]" she said. "It is part of the University, and the question is, can they get the kind of [financial] support and advice that they need to make it reasonable?" To that end, Scheman said she would support the development of a firm editorial policy governing the station's programming and aid in shaping a schedule that responds to what audience members want. She added that she would also advocate the appointment of a faculty adviser for UTV13 -- although "it would be utterly inappropriate for the faculty to be in a position of censorship." "There needs to be a process that allows those people who are involved to feel accountable, and in fact be accountable," Scheman said. But UTV13 Sports Director Jon Teitel, a College senior, said the thought of having an adviser worries him -- especially if the University asked the station to choose from a list of candidates selected by the committee. Teitel said the list might prove to be a problem if the faculty or staff members on it wanted to determine UTV13's news content or the tone of sports stories. "Right now, if I say 'fucking shit' on the air on ResNet, I don't think anyone can penalize me physically, emotionally, financially, judicially or otherwise," he said. On the other hand, Teitel added, if the adviser simply offered suggestions for improvement, creating such a position could have a positive impact on UTV13. "It's do you want to be responsible for what you do, and have total independent control, or do you want to have a viewing audience beyond your wildest dreams?" he asked.
(11/17/95 10:00am)
Now that the seven-day Jewish period of mourning for slain Israeli prime minister Yitzhak Rabin is over, Penn students studying abroad in that country have begun to sort out their feelings. College juniors Julie Simons and Stephanie Dubitsky, who are spending the semester at Tel Aviv University in Ramat Aviv, said they "were so stunned that [they] didn't know what to do" when they heard about Rabin's murder on the radio. Their Israeli roommate had to translate much of the news broadcast for them, they said, and they were unable to reach their families because all of the telephone lines to the United States were busy. After Rabin's death was confirmed Saturday night, both students participated in an impromptu candlelight vigil at Rabin's apartment, located several blocks from their campus. "We lit memorial candles and stood amidst hundreds of other shocked Israelis," Simons said. "It seemed as if Israelis temporarily put aside their political differences and united to honor and show their final respects to Rabin." Dubitsky traveled to Jerusalem the next day to stand in front of the Knesset and view Rabin's coffin as it lay in state. Rabbis led the mourners who had gathered on the street in prayers. "It was such a powerful sight," she said. "Israelis were grieving as if they had lost a family member of their own." Along with 250,000 Israelis, Simons said she attended last weekend's peace rally in the newly renamed Rabin Square, where Rabin's widow Leah spoke. "Although I did not understand everything that was said in Hebrew, I was still moved by the quiet, somber atmosphere of the evening," she said. The assassination has not faded from the Israeli national consciousness, Simons and Dubitsky said. Discussion about it continues on busses, in newspapers and in classrooms. Still, the students said, they do not feel unsafe in Israel. "It is amazing to be able to witness a historical event and its repercussions firsthand," Dubitsky said. "We have been having the time of our lives in Israel, and will always remember this semester as one of our best experiences." And despite the sadness and fear the assassination has caused in the United States, Penn students who were considering taking a semester in Israel this spring have not been arriving in droves to change their plans, said Office of International Programs Overseas Programs Manager Annabel Belgaumi. But last Monday, one student came in to explore other options because her parents had decided they would not let her go to Israel, Belgaumi said. Still, no Penn parents have called International Programs to express concern for their children's safety. Belgaumi attributed this to the fact that Hebrew University did not release an advisory statement in the wake of the assassination. The school did issue an advisory last spring when a Brandeis University junior was killed in a terrorist bus bombing. The assassination, Belgaumi said, "is a different kind of situation than Arab on Israel violence. It will provoke a lot of introspection, but will not affect the overall security situation."
(11/15/95 10:00am)
WASHINGTON -- Union Station is quiet just after 8 a.m. November 1, with Capitol Hill staffers and other political insiders only beginning to stream in from their homes in suburban Maryland and Virginia. One man, however, has traveled a few more miles than most. David Morse, the University's associate vice president for policy planning, arrived on the 6:45 a.m. Amtrak Metroliner from Philadelphia. Dressed in a dark suit and bow tie, Morse looks like an attorney, academic or business executive. He describes himself as a "staff member" -- a representative of University President Judith Rodin who divides his time between Philadelphia and the nation's capital. But don't be fooled by Morse's title. He is a lobbyist, and his efforts help the University bring in -- and retain -- more than $200 million in federal support each year. Morse gained an extensive knowledge of the federal process during years as an aide to former Senators Robert Stafford and Jacob Javits. Now he uses his expertise to help the University on a multitude of issues -- ranging from the federal tax code to immigration regulations for international scholars. "A modern university depends very substantially on the federal government," said Terry Hartle, vice president of the American Council on Education's governmental relations division. "In an era of rapid political change, places like Penn need people like David Morse more than ever before," Hartle added. Morse is "well-known and well-respected" because of his history on the Hill, according to Hartle. Because they receive substantial federal funding for student aid and scientific research, most large research universities employ someone like Morse, Hartle added. Within the Ivy League, Morse said, Princeton and Harvard universities have permanent offices in Washington. Cornell and Brown universities are among the schools that send a representative on an as-needed basis, often two to three times per week. "You don't just read The Washington Post to find out what's going on -- you have to be down here," Hartle said. "It's an expensive and extensive undertaking." During a recent day on the Hill, Morse ran into colleagues from a number of schools, including the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the University of Wisconsin. But with the Republican party firmly in control of Congress and the nation's purse strings, the halls of power have not been hospitable to higher education this year, according to Hartle. "A lot of things we thought would always be there are suddenly in jeopardy," Hartle said. Still, Morse and his peers are obliged to keep plugging away, meeting with the committee staffers, aides and counselors who make things happen on the Hill. In fact, Morse said, it is relatively rare for him to meet with House members and Senators -- except members of the Pennsylvania delegation, whom he sees when they visit Philadelphia. "My job is to understand the issues, convey the interests of students and faculty," he said. But when funds for science-related programs are in jeopardy, Rodin and University Board of Trustees Chairperson Roy Vagelos may be called in to see members because of both their positions at the University and their expertise in the field, Morse said. "You never know from day to day what's going to be at the top of the agenda," Hartle said. On this day on the Hill, though, funding for student aid was at the top of Morse's list of issues of concern. From Pell Grants to Perkins Loans, many programs that make college a reality for low- and middle-income families across the country had been candidates for elimination, to achieve a balanced federal budget within seven years. As House and Senate conference committees engaged in the reconciliation process, inching closer to agreement on what would be slashed and what would remain intact, Morse was busy trying to gain perspective on what legislators' decisions would mean for the University and its students. He met first with Sally Stroup, majority director for higher education of the House Committee on Economic and Educational Opportunities. Chaired by Pennsylvania Republican Bill Goodling, this committee was working to iron out a position on direct lending, a program that allows students to borrow money for education directly from the government. Supporters of the program said it saves students time and money, while detractors claim it is a business in which the government should not be directly involved. The government shutdown that occurred yesterday was only a nebulous possibility at the time of Morse's visit, and even Republican staffers like Stroup expressed hopes that Congress would approve -- and President Clinton would sign -- a continuing resolution to raise the debt ceiling and keep budget talks and federal programs going. Research funding was on the agenda before lunch, when Morse met with Tony McCann, staff assistant for the House Appropriations Labor, Health and Human Services and Education Subcommittee. McCann reassured Morse about the status of funding for the National Institutes of Health, and agreed with Stroup about the uncertainty reigning on the Hill -- but also temporarily confused Penn with Penn State. Morse shrugged that off; he said it doesn't happen much. Lunch was a quick bite in the Rayburn House Office Building Cafeteria. This day, Morse was joined by New York Republican Rep. Sherwood Boehlert's chief of staff, who is on leave from Penn's graduate program in history. On other days, Morse said, he meets over a meal with the "Ivy Plus" groups of lobbyists and public relations officers to exchange ideas. The pace of Morse's appointments sped up during the afternoon. He checked in with staffers on the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education -- again in an attempt to obtain some solid knowledge about the budget. "We've got $800 million less to spend, and I don't see how we get there," said one staffer, who asked that his name not be used. After pressing his case at Republican offices all day, Morse headed to the Senate Committee on Labor and Human Resources, where he found a friendly face in Chief Education Counsel Clayton Spencer. Before catching the Metroliner home, Morse met with David Warren, president of the National Association of Colleges and Universities. Warren's group has spear-headed the Alliance to Save Student Aid, a grass-roots advocacy group with chapters on many campuses across the country. With darkness falling on damp Washington streets, Morse updated Warren on what he had heard on the Hill. The men agreed that although the situation was better than they could have anticipated last year, nothing could be taken for granted.
(11/13/95 10:00am)
Rogue financier-turned-philanthropist Michael Milken kept a capacity crowd entertained in Irvine Auditorium Friday afternoon, with tales of the activities that occupy his post-prison life and his computer-driven vision of America's future. Milken received an MBA from Wharton in 1979, and is credited with developing the high-risk field of "junk bond" investing while working for the investment banking firm of Drexel Burnham Lambert during the 1980s. But Milken pleaded guilty to six counts of securities law violations in 1990, the year Drexel collapsed into bankruptcy. He served two years in prison for his crimes, and paid a $1.1 billion fine. Milken's speech, which was sponsored by the Zweig Executive Dinner Series, focused on the importance of education and knowledge -- what he called "the scarce resources of the 21st century" -- for the nation's overall stability. Milken used examples from the business world to encourage the audience of primarily graduate students to recognize the power of their own ideas. The point of college and graduate school, he said, is to rekindle students' "belief in why." "It's easy to look to the past, but what about the future?" Milken asked, encouraging students to take risks. "What are you sure today will be in the newspaper 10 years from now?" By understanding society's needs, students can succeed, he said, listing cable television, cellular telephones and prescriptions-by-mail as examples -- all ventures in which Milken has participated. Milken, who according to the Forbes 400 is worth more than $500 million, was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 1993. He has invested much of his personal wealth into charitable causes such as cancer research and innovative educational techniques for inner-city children. He said he is also a tireless advocate of technology, which he said presents "an enormous opportunity" -- especially for institutions like the University, which have large amounts of knowledge stored and available in one place. "What [professors] are attempting to share with you now could be shared with the whole world," Milken said. "You don't need to come here." Yet even as the United States is recognized as a world leader in higher education and learning, as well as medical care and technology, the country's boundaries are becoming more and more blurred. Before taking questions, Milken challenged the students in the audience to get involved in the West Philadelphia community. "To me, if you don't care about society, you don't have to care about making money," he said. "You won't have a society to make money from." Students asked the former Wall Street tycoon about everything from the schedule of his typical day to the risks and potential problems of the information age to how he would go about hiding money overseas. "I don't know, I don't have any experience with it," he quipped. Milken also said that had he had known he was going to be forced to defend himself against the charges of violating securities laws -- on his own behalf and not as the head of Drexel -- he would have left earlier. Second-year MBA students Jose Achaval and Justin Ryan were enthusiastic about Milken's address. Ryan said he enjoyed Milken's forthrightness and "crystal ball analysis." "It was awesome," Achaval said. "I was surprised by the breadth of his activities. It seems that he's trying to do things at a better and slower pace."
(11/10/95 10:00am)
Tali Aronsky might have been mistaken for Frosty the Snowman as she typed a paper Tuesday night, when this winter's first burst of bitter cold weather hit campus. Although the College junior was wearing gloves and multiple sweatshirts, she still shivered as she completed homework assignments in her bedroom. Among off-campus residents, Aronsky was not alone in her situation. But after two weeks of waiting in the cold, Aronsky's landlady finally dropped off a space heater yesterday afternoon at her house on 41st Street between Locust and Walnut streets. According to Mihaela Farcas, assistant director of the Office of Off-Campus Living, city codes state that in buildings with two or more apartments, landlords must supply heat at a temperature of at least 68 degrees from October 1 until April 30. During May and September, landlords are required to have heat available when the outside temperature falls below 60 degrees, Farcas added. "If a tenant has constant problems with heating, they need to address the problem in writing," she said. To increase the chances that they will get prompt attention, tenants need to inform their landlords by certified mail of the specific nature of the problems they are experiencing. And problems need to be addressed in a timely manner, Farcas added. Students who come to her office seeking to break leases because they did not have heat all last winter -- and are now out in the cold again -- are pretty much out of luck. Students should turn to their landlords for help. Many have 24-hour emergency maintenance telephone lines, Farcas explained, adding that the Office of Off-Campus Living also provides assistance. And if those options do not work, the city's Gas Commission can be reached at 686-0910, and the Department of Licenses and Inspections Heat Hotline can be reached at 686-2590. Employees at two of the biggest apartment management companies near campus, University City Housing and Campus Apartments, said yesterday that all of their properties' heating systems are operational. Despite the current cold snap, UCH received more calls during the month of October when systems were first being turned on, division manager Bill Groves said. The steam boiler system in the Hamilton Court "A" building on Chestnut Street between 38th and 39th streets -- which is owned by UCH -- was installed last year. So most of the problems reported by residents of the complex this fall relate to radiation units in individual rooms, Groves said. The radiation units are operated by thermostatic control valves that automatically sense the air temperature and turn the units on or off accordingly, Groves explained. "It isn't really intuitively obvious how to operate them," he said. "They get knocked off all the time." UCH plumbers are working on resolving these problems, Groves said, adding that he expects all of them to be taken care of within the next week. Meanwhile, College senior Katie Portnoy -- who lives on the top floor of the Hamilton Court "A" building -- said she has not received any satisfactory explanations from UCH for her apartment's erratic heat. "It's been in the 30s [outside], so clearly it should be on on a regular basis, and it isn't," she said. Wharton junior Justin Faust also said he cannot escape the cold. When he walks to the bathroom every morning with his bare feet, he said, "it's freezing." Faust said he thinks the individual residents of Hamilton Court, and not a central thermostat, should control the temperature in their units. Campus Apartments General Manager Dan DeRitis said half of the company's 92 buildings in the area have new heat control systems this fall, so there have not been many glitches yet. But the biggest issue for some tenants has been setting up heating service themselves. Waiting for a Philadelphia Gas Works representative can occupy a full day, since the company does not give customers the specific time that the technician will arrive. College and Engineering senior Ava Dadabhoy said she had to wait for three days before a PGW employee finally arrived. "I found it irritating that they don't come when they're supposed to," she said. "My roommate waited for hours and hours and missed a lot of class waiting for them to arrive. We called Campus Apartments for help and they weren't able to do much for us, either."
(11/08/95 10:00am)
City Councilwoman Jannie Blackwell looked like a kid with a new toy. Last week, in a City Hall conference room across from her office, Blackwell turned a clear plastic backpack over and over in her hands, nodding with satisfaction. "As education chair, I'm always trying to find ways for us to be more effective in what we do in public schools," said Blackwell, a Democrat who yesterday won a second term as the City Council representative from District 3, which includes University City. With 96.4 percent of the precincts reporting last night, Blackwell garnered 93.7 percent of the vote, defeating Republican Kelly Dutton. The transparent backpack may be part of the answer to the violence plaguing Philadelphia's schools. According to Blackwell, it would make any contraband students were carrying -- such as illegal weapons or drugs -- readily visible to security personnel. But Blackwell knows that one change -- be it see-through backpacks, or so-called "magic wands," the hand-held metal detectors now used in some buildings -- will not by itself eliminate the problem of kids hurting and killing their peers. She knows this because she was an English teacher in the same school system she has been working to reform -- before winning the Council seat her husband, former U.S. Rep. Lucien Blackwell, had occupied. Still, Jannie Blackwell perseveres. "All of it's a deterrent," she said. "There's no foolproof system? You have schools with 16, 20 and 30 exits and entrances, very old buildings?there's no way to stop it all." Blackwell said she fought during her first four-year term to make the Philadelphia public school system accountable for its spending, since many of the taxpayers who fund school operations no longer have children in school. She has encouraged schools to take advantage of the volunteers available in their neighborhoods. She noted that parents and retirees have much to offer students. Blackwell has also worked to bring educational programs about AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases to city schools. Somewhat controversially, she has pushed for on-campus condom distribution -- which, by law, can only be done through independent health centers located within schools. "I called on the city agencies to work together to share resources," Blackwell said. Budget cuts had forced some schools to choose between hiring additional teachers to cut class sizes, or hiring specialists like librarians. If schools used community libraries instead of paying for a school librarian, the city could afford to pay for more teachers, Blackwell explained. She also praised the University's involvement in the community through programs like the West Philadelphia Improvement Corps, an umbrella organization that oversees many school-centered tutoring and mentoring activities. "There are many, many programs and many ways that the University of Pennsylvania is helping and that are needed and that make a big difference in the lives of children," Blackwell said. Ira Harkavy, director of the Center for Community Partnerships, said he has known Blackwell for a decade in a variety of contexts. He praised her ability to bring diverse communities together and her genuine interest in the welfare of West Philadelphians. "She has also played a crucially supportive role in the work that we've done in the public schools in West Philadelphia," Harkavy said. He added that Blackwell believes schools can be centers for rebuilding communities. "She has been someone who has advocated for the best interests of the community and has seen the ways that Penn could both contribute to the West Philadelphia community and also advance its own teaching, research and service missions," Harkavy said. City and Commonwealth Relations Director Paul Cribbins said Blackwell has helped the University by pushing for changes in city zoning ordinances necessary for the construction of Biological Research Buildings I and II, which are part of the Medical Center. "Our overall relationship with the councilwoman has been very positive," he said. "She's been a good supporter for the University and has worked with us closely on problems of concern to the University and the community." Among these problems, in Blackwell's view, are housing and homelessness. She has fought for the placement of outdoor, European-style public toilets everywhere from the new Avenue of the Arts on Broad Street in Center City to 52nd and Market streets. She has also urged the construction of more homeless shelters. The Rendell administration has not always taken Blackwell's side, though. "Sometimes it takes a while before you learn how you work together, and you learn to trust one another," she said. "I think we've reached that point in this whole fight to help the homeless." Blackwell has also worked to increase the availability of affordable housing. And she has supported street vending and other economic enterprises that benefit local residents. She is proud of the extra chairs outside her office, which hold the overflow of residents seeking help on a daily basis. "I think that an elected official has to not only vote on legislation but to try to come up with legislation to service the district, and I think that an elected official should also work hard on constituent services, which I do," Blackwell said. Her mottos -- "Politics is an open-ended opportunity to make life better for others" and "There's a solution to every problem" -- may seem oddly idealistic to veteran politicians. But Blackwell sticks by her unique approach, choosing to view what some would call urban scourges -- such as street vending -- as opportunities. "Realistically, we know that we're not going to always satisfy everybody, but we try, and that's what you have to do," she added. "I find that if a person knows that you're trying, that's all they expect. They know you can't always win."
(11/08/95 10:00am)
City Councilwoman Jannie Blackwell looked like a kid with a new toy. Last week, in a City Hall conference room across from her office, Blackwell turned a clear plastic backpack over and over in her hands, nodding with satisfaction. "As education chair, I'm always trying to find ways for us to be more effective in what we do in public schools," said Blackwell, a Democrat who yesterday won a second term as the City Council representative from District 3, which includes University City. With 96.4 percent of the precincts reporting last night, Blackwell garnered 93.7 percent of the vote, defeating Republican Kelly Dutton. The transparent backpack may be part of the answer to the violence plaguing Philadelphia's schools. According to Blackwell, it would make any contraband students were carrying -- such as illegal weapons or drugs -- readily visible to security personnel. But Blackwell knows that one change -- be it see-through backpacks, or so-called "magic wands," the hand-held metal detectors now used in some buildings -- will not by itself eliminate the problem of kids hurting and killing their peers. She knows this because she was an English teacher in the same school system she has been working to reform -- before winning the Council seat her husband, former U.S. Rep. Lucien Blackwell, had occupied. Still, Jannie Blackwell perseveres. "All of it's a deterrent," she said. "There's no foolproof system? You have schools with 16, 20 and 30 exits and entrances, very old buildings?there's no way to stop it all." Blackwell said she fought during her first four-year term to make the Philadelphia public school system accountable for its spending, since many of the taxpayers who fund school operations no longer have children in school. She has encouraged schools to take advantage of the volunteers available in their neighborhoods. She noted that parents and retirees have much to offer students. Blackwell has also worked to bring educational programs about AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases to city schools. Somewhat controversially, she has pushed for on-campus condom distribution -- which, by law, can only be done through independent health centers located within schools. "I called on the city agencies to work together to share resources," Blackwell said. Budget cuts had forced some schools to choose between hiring additional teachers to cut class sizes, or hiring specialists like librarians. If schools used community libraries instead of paying for a school librarian, the city could afford to pay for more teachers, Blackwell explained. She also praised the University's involvement in the community through programs like the West Philadelphia Improvement Corps, an umbrella organization that oversees many school-centered tutoring and mentoring activities. "There are many, many programs and many ways that the University of Pennsylvania is helping and that are needed and that make a big difference in the lives of children," Blackwell said. Ira Harkavy, director of the Center for Community Partnerships, said he has known Blackwell for a decade in a variety of contexts. He praised her ability to bring diverse communities together and her genuine interest in the welfare of West Philadelphians. "She has also played a crucially supportive role in the work that we've done in the public schools in West Philadelphia," Harkavy said. He added that Blackwell believes schools can be centers for rebuilding communities. "She has been someone who has advocated for the best interests of the community and has seen the ways that Penn could both contribute to the West Philadelphia community and also advance its own teaching, research and service missions," Harkavy said. City and Commonwealth Relations Director Paul Cribbins said Blackwell has helped the University by pushing for changes in city zoning ordinances necessary for the construction of Biological Research Buildings I and II, which are part of the Medical Center. "Our overall relationship with the councilwoman has been very positive," he said. "She's been a good supporter for the University and has worked with us closely on problems of concern to the University and the community." Among these problems, in Blackwell's view, are housing and homelessness. She has fought for the placement of outdoor, European-style public toilets everywhere from the new Avenue of the Arts on Broad Street in Center City to 52nd and Market streets. She has also urged the construction of more homeless shelters. The Rendell administration has not always taken Blackwell's side, though. "Sometimes it takes a while before you learn how you work together, and you learn to trust one another," she said. "I think we've reached that point in this whole fight to help the homeless." Blackwell has also worked to increase the availability of affordable housing. And she has supported street vending and other economic enterprises that benefit local residents. She is proud of the extra chairs outside her office, which hold the overflow of residents seeking help on a daily basis. "I think that an elected official has to not only vote on legislation but to try to come up with legislation to service the district, and I think that an elected official should also work hard on constituent services, which I do," Blackwell said. Her mottos -- "Politics is an open-ended opportunity to make life better for others" and "There's a solution to every problem" -- may seem oddly idealistic to veteran politicians. But Blackwell sticks by her unique approach, choosing to view what some would call urban scourges -- such as street vending -- as opportunities. "Realistically, we know that we're not going to always satisfy everybody, but we try, and that's what you have to do," she added. "I find that if a person knows that you're trying, that's all they expect. They know you can't always win."
(11/07/95 10:00am)
College students are often considered the constituency with the most at stake in American elections. This is especially true for students attending classes on urban campuses -- like the University's -- in the current era of increasing crime and decreasing federal spending. But recent trends show that these same students are apathetic and disinterested in the political process. Still, some native Philadelphians now in school at Penn would beg to differ with that attitude. "I just usually vote so I'm voting," said Matt Molloy, a College freshman from Northeast Philadelphia. "The candidates are okay. I'm just picking the lesser of two evils, I guess." And Engineering freshman Lou Camaratta, who said he is not yet able to vote because he has not turned 18, said he would "definitely" be casting a ballot if he could. But Molloy and Camaratta diverge when it comes to the lever they would pull in the voting booth. Molloy, impressed with Mayor Ed Rendell's efforts to pull the city out of near-bankruptcy in 1991, said he plans to throw his support behind the incumbent. Camaratta, a resident of the city's Southwest section whose father is a police officer, said he would support Republican challenger Joe Rocks because of Rendell's poor relationship with the Fraternal Order of Police and other municipal unions. "Do I think has a shot?" Camaratta asked rhetorically, referring to polls that have shown Rocks as an underdog throughout the campaign. "I think if a lot of Rendell supporters -- a hell of a lot of Rendell supporters -- don't show up because they think he's going to win, Joe has a chance." The Rendell campaign is not taking any chances. Campaign coordinator Patricia Pisauro said two people are assigned to knock on college students' doors and remind them that today is Election Day as part of the "Get Out The Vote" program. But to some students, personal appearances on campus by either candidate would not make a difference. "I could vote, but I really don't have much of a background," said Wharton freshman Matthew Barrett, a Southwest Philadelphia native. "Whether I vote or not, Philadelphia's basically going to stay the same. It's been the way it is for all these years -- it's not really going to change much." Barrett said he and his friends are planning to leave the city for the suburbs as soon as they graduate from college. "When I was growing up, it seemed alright, but now I'm really glad I'm out of it," he said. "My neighborhood turned so bad so fast." And Mario Ferrante, a College freshman from South Philadelphia, said Rendell "worries too much about his own image than the city." College freshman Stephen Shaheen, on the other hand, credits Rendell with turning things around in his neighborhood -- the Fox Chase section of the city, where Eddie Polec was beaten to death by a gang of youths last year. Polec died of his injuries because problems with the city's 911 dispatch center delayed the arrival of emergency medical services. Both mayoral candidates were scheduled to vote in their home districts at about 7 a.m., when the polls opened. Neither released a detailed schedule of events for today. In addition to the mayoral race, all 17 City Council seats and positions on various city and state courts are up for grabs.
(11/02/95 10:00am)
Kevin Sassett has worked in local politics for 20 years. The 27th Ward Democratic leader is familiar with the way things work at City Hall, and he knows what actions need to be taken to get things done in his University City neighborhood. But it took suggestions from Penn students new to the Philadelphia political scene to get Sassett to change his thinking on where to put polling places within the ward. Sassett said he and other members of the 27th Ward Democratic Executive Committee are working to consolidate voting stations in five of the ward's 23 divisions -- the five where most students reside. He said he hopes they will be merged in time for next April's primary election, when voters will choose Democratic and Republican presidential nominees. With the students' suggestions in mind, the committee sought to create a single on-campus polling place for next week's general election. However, such changes must be approved by Philadelphia city commissioners, who are also up for re-election next week. Sassett explained that because the commissioners are involved in the upcoming election, they would have been forced to defer a decision on the polling-place matter to a judge, and the process probably would not have been completed in time. Residents of the divisions that will be consolidated currently vote in one of three locations: High Rise East, High Rise South or Irvine Auditorium. Often, when students register and then move the following year, they will arrive at the incorrect polling place on Election Day, and will be sent to another location, Sassett added. Their frustration with the organization of polling places can lead students to refrain from casting votes altogether, Sassett said. "What we're hoping to do by consolidating the polling places is eliminate the run-around that a lot of these voters get," said Jeff Pokras, a College junior who is also a member of the committee. If the University and the city agree to the student committee members' proposal, all of these voters will cast ballots in one place next year -- most likely Houston Hall's Bodek Lounge. The eventual choice of location will depend on a number of factors, Sassett said -- including whether voting machines can be delivered and removed in a timely manner, and how far voters would then have to travel to cast their ballots. Sassett added that he does not want to help students at the expense of neighborhood residents. "I thought that we would lose votes that way for folks who live eight blocks away, but my students tell me everyone pretty much passes Houston Hall on a given day," he said. Pokras said he hopes that by consolidating the three polling places into one, students will become more involved in the welfare of the community. If more students vote, "our interests as students at Penn will be more considered throughout the city and state," he explained.
(11/01/95 10:00am)
Penn is one of 10 universities being considered by the Commission on Presidential Debates to host a presidential or vice presidential debate in the fall of 1996. Janet Brown, executive director of the Commission, confirmed yesterday that the University has emerged successful from the first round of site selection discussions. Four of the 10 finalists will be chosen as hosts, Brown said. Three institutions will host presidential debates on either Sept. 25, Oct. 2 or Oct. 16, 1996. The remaining institution will host the vice presidential candidates on Oct. 9, 1996. The other institutions and cities in contention for a 1996 debate are Furman University in Greenville, SC; George Washington University; Trinity College and the city of Hartford, Conn. and Michigan State University. Also on the short list are the University of South Florida and the cities of Tampa and St. Petersburg, Fla.; the University of Maryland at College Park; the University of Oklahoma at Norman; the University of San Diego and Washington University in St. Louis. Brown said each institution will be considered on its physical merits -- without regard to high-profile professors or administrators whose marquee names can attract national attention. More than 40 institutions and cities had applied to host a debate by submitting written proposals to the Commission this fall, Brown said. The proposals detailed the accommodations these schools were willing to provide to the candidates, their staffs and the media. Brown said the next step in the selection process is a site visit to assess the available facilities at each institution and the level of community interest in a debate. On campus, the commission is considering two venues, one of which is the Annenberg Center's Zellerbach Theater. During the site visits, Brown said she and her team will be examining each proposed location to see "whether it looks like it would be a good fit." The visit to the University will probably occur in late November, although it has not been scheduled yet, according to Vice President for Government, Community and Public Affairs Carol Scheman. She added that the University's student body may be the deciding factor in the Commission's choice. "We have a student body who I think would be very interested in this, find it a very worthwhile sort of thing," Scheman said. Because most students only experience one presidential race during their college years, it would be especially exciting to have an on-campus debate, she said. Scheman added that University President Judith Rodin is also very interested in bringing the eventual candidates to campus. The Commission on Presidential Debates is a non-partisan, private corporation that coordinated candidate debates in the last two presidential elections.
