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(09/27/96 9:00am)
Penn's College Democrats and College Republicans squared off in their annual debate last night -- but this year, their audience stretches far beyond the boundaries of campus. The debate, aired on UTV13, will be shown on national cable by C-SPAN at a later date. This year's debate also had special significance because of the ongoing voter registration effort that will culminate Monday with a visit to Penn by MTV's "Choose or Lose" bus. Two panelists from each side alternated posing questions on a variety of topics discussed throughout the presidential campaign. The panelists included College Democrats President Adrienne Klembara, a College junior, and College Republicans Chairperson Tony Andreoli, a Wharton senior. The presidential candidates were each represented by four students, who took turns giving two-minute responses to the panelists' questions. To kick off the debate, College senior Michael Olsky, representing President Clinton, praised the president's record on crime. He noted that Clinton signed a crime bill that put 100,000 new police officers on the streets and supported the Brady Bill, which Olsky said has prevented 60,000 criminals from obtaining guns. Wharton sophomore Jason Auerbach, College Republicans treasurer, responded by noting that Republican presidential nominee Bob Dole supports block grants, which give states federal money to fight crime more effectively at the local level. The debators also addressed Dole's proposed 15 percent tax cut "Automatically, everyone in this country will be better off," Auerbach said. "People will have more money that they will spend and invest and the economy will grow." But College Democrats representatives countered, saying that Clinton cut the deficit in half and citing Clinton's economic plan, which offers more modest tax cuts and promises to balance the budget in seven years. When the debate turned to affirmative action, Engineering sophomore Michael Bressler said Dole favors leveling the educational playing field with a voucher proposal to allow middle- and lower-class families to send their kids to private and parochial schools. "Dole is committed to a color blind government and society," Bressler said. But College senior Christina Finello of the College Democrats said while the gap is closing, minorities still have a long way to go before they have equal opportunity. "Clinton sees the need for affirmative action -- not forever, but until the job is done," Finello said. The two sides also clashed on issues of defense. College and Wharton sophomore Jason Herman, a member of College Republicans, advocated Dole's anti-ballistic missiles program, which he said would "defend America from missile attack and protect American citizens." College sophomore Chad Pimentel, a member of College Democrats, praised Clinton for maintaining a strong military presence while cutting back on defense spending. "Clinton wants America to be respected as the world's greatest peacemaker, not feared as an international policeman," he said. At the end of the debate, each side had one minute to respond to audience questions, which ranged in topic from abortion to the environment to character issues. After the official program, Klembara deemed the debate a success, saying she hoped it helped to clarify some of the major campaign issues. "Hopefully it? contributed to voter registration by being on national television," she added. Andreoli commended the participants for being "very well prepared." "Our debators? hit the issues right on the head," he explained. "I hope we were able to sway people in the right direction, literally." College sophomore Joanna Conte, a member of College Republicans, said she was impressed by the debate. "Both sides did a good job adding a student perspective to the same rehashed issues," Conte said.
(09/26/96 9:00am)
The Undergraduate Assembly voted to support a new campus recycling program at a meeting Tuesday night. The recycling proposal, developed by UA member and College junior Josh Rockoff, calls for wastebaskets to be placed in each dorm room for recycling paper. According to Rockoff, each wastebasket would cost about $4. The total cost of the pilot program would be approximately $400. The proposal is modeled on tests conducted at Princeton University in 1986. Princeton administrators put wastebaskets in one dorm to measure student response and found a 175 percent increase in paper recycling. Rockoff noted that these dramatic results were confirmed by later research in other dorms. "The research at Princeton demonstrates that it is a cheap and convenient way to cut down on waste," UA Chairperson and College junior Tal Golomb said. "It's a small thing that the UA can do in response to student concerns about the environment." Rockoff said various administrators have offered support for his proposal, which he called "past due." If the pilot program is successful, Rockoff said it will be expanded to other dorms. At Tuesday's meeting, the UA also voted to amend its constitution to dock other branches of government for late budget allocation requests. Each year, the UA Budget Committee reviews budget proposals from various student government organizations and allocates money to them. UA Treasurer Steve Schorr explained that the constitution requires the budget meeting be held prior to spring break. But late budget requests have made this impossible in recent years. Schorr, a Wharton junior, said the UA adopted the 1 percent rule last year. Under this rule, the UA cuts 1 percent of a branch's budget for each day their request is late. Last year, budget requests came in on time, Schorr said. He attributed the improvement to the new rule. Tuesday night's vote means the 1 percent rule will become a permanent guideline for future UAs. "It puts pressure on groups to get their budget proposals in so that the Budget Committee has time to look them over and dole out the money fairly," Golomb said.
(09/23/96 9:00am)
College Democrats and College Republicans to debate Thursday A debate between the University's College Democrats and College Republicans will air in its entirety on the Cable Satellite Public Affairs network. C-SPAN plans to televise the debate as part of its First Vote series that focuses on the election as it relates to young people and college students in particular, according to Social Planning and Events Committee Treasurer and Wharton senior Gil Beverly. The debate -- part of the MTV Choose or Loose voter registration effort -- will take place on Thursday Sept. 26 from 8 to 9 p.m. in the UTV-13 studio, UTV's vice president of Production Programming and College senior Lisa Raphaeli said. C-SPAN contacted University spokesperson Sandy Smith to discuss the possibility of covering a political event at the University, Beverly said. Raphaeli said she was surprised C-SPAN chose to cover the event and speculated that the station was attracted by the involvement of students at the University in Choose or Loose and other political projects. According to Beverly, the debate will begin with a short segment on the MTV Choose or Loose voter registration effort. During the debate, four members of College Democrats will represent Democratic presidential nominee Bill Clinton while four members of College Republicans will represent Bob Dole, the Republican nominee, Raphaeli said. There will be two students from each club acting as journalists and asking prepared questions to the debaters, according to Wharton senior Tony Andreoli, chairman of College Republicans. Members of the audience will also be able to ask questions, he added. Raphaeli noted any of the four students representing each candidate will be able to respond to the questions. Andreoli said he wants questions to focus on the major issues in the campaign, such as balancing the budget, taxes, and crime. "We will hopefully demonstrate that students are not as apathetic as people believe by coming off as intelligent students who are aware of the issues in the campaign," Andreoli said. A moderator has not been chosen for the debate, however Beverly speculated that it will probably be an administrator or a UTV anchor. Depending on the level of student interest in the debate, there may be a lottery for tickets because the UTV studio can only seat approximately 50 people. However, Raphaeli said that about 50 additional students can fit into the lounge area outside the UTV studio. "I hope the fact that C-SPAN sees our debate fit to cover will get people excited about the election," Beverly said. The main objective of the debate is to make people aware of the major campaign issues and to spur students to register, according to Beverly. "It's great that C-SPAN is trying to get more young people involved in the election," Raphaeli said. "Hopefully the strong interest at our campus will spread to other campuses," he added.
(09/20/96 9:00am)
The Class of 2000 can soon breathe a collective sigh of relief. The Student Committee on Undergraduate Education will release "A Roadmap to Penn" next week -- a guide to academic life on campus that is specifically geared toward freshmen. The 60-page booklet is a follow-up to SCUE's previous publication, "The Practical Scholar," according to SCUE Chairperson Ben Nelson, a Wharton senior. The book provides a chronological guide, beginning with how to use the Penn Automated Registration Information System and concluding with advice on reserving a hotel room for family and friends attending the student's graduation ceremonies, Nelson said. He noted that at least a dozen students -- along with faculty and administrators -- contributed to the guide, which was written primarily by students. According to Nelson, the newest publication to hit the University differs from the annual "Practical Penn" because the latter focuses on Philadelphia and campus activities. Carrie Angoff, a 1995 College graduate, began the project three years ago, Nelson said. According to 1996 Nursing graduate Tasha Cabot, the students who put the guide together attempted to compile information from the University's various publications. "We looked at the materials put out by the different schools and presented it in a manner that students will hopefully find more interesting than other publications," Cabot said. She noted that the guide contains jokes and humorous comments to make the publication "fun and easy to read." The guide was developed as a response to complaints about inconsistent undergraduate advising, Nelson said. He noted that students often have trouble getting answers to their questions, while the answers they do receive frequently contradict one another. Nelson said that "A Roadmap to Penn" is designed to function like a good peer advisor, dealing with everything from choosing classes and declaring a major to studying abroad and popular University myths. "We wanted to give students an academic roadmap to help them structure their academic careers at Penn," he said. He added that he hopes the guide will allow students to avoid asking their advisors minor questions, noting that advisors could then spend more time counseling students on more important issues. But the publication is not meant to replace the advising system. "It is not the be all and end all," Nelson said. "It is intended to supplement to the existing advising system." In the future, the guide will be sent to incoming freshmen before they preregister for classes over the summer. The "Roadmap to Penn" is funded by the School of Arts and Sciences' Board of Overseers, the Admissions Department and the Trustees' Council of Penn Women.
(09/19/96 9:00am)
Through a more visible and expanded legal services program, the Undergraduate Assembly is trying to reach out to students who need help but do not want to turn to the University's official legal resources or to outside sources of information and guidance. According to UA member and College junior Meredith Hertz, the service has existed for several years. But most students interviewed said they did not know about the option for free legal counseling through the UA and Graduate and Professional Student Assembly. Hertz said students did not truly take advantage of the offer until last year, when the UA began to get an average of seven calls each week about legal services, Hertz said. Over the summer, UA member and College junior Josh Rockoff worked to make the legal services program even more visible. Rockoff created a legal services homepage, which can be found at "http://dolphin.upenn.edu/~legalsrv". In addition, legal services now has an e-mail account, at legalsrv@dolphin.upenn.edu. Hertz said she hopes many students will find out about the services by word of mouth. In order to receive free legal advice, students must fill out a form, providing information about the nature of their problem. The service cannot be used for disputes between landlords and tenants or suits involving the University. Rockoff said the application process is more convenient now because the form is available on line. Students can either print out the application and return it to the UA or GAPSA offices in Houston Hall, or submit the application electronically. "Students can contact us any time, anywhere as long as they are affiliated with Penn," Rockoff said. UA or GAPSA representatives will then set up a free 30-minute consultation with a representative of the Philadelphia law firm Fineman and Bach. The legal services' homepage includes an electronic schedule so students can check their appointment times. If the attorney and student decide additional legal aid is necessary, the lawyer will help the student in finding competent outside counsel. The UA and GAPSA pay Fineman and Bach $1,800 per semester for the service, Rockoff said. He noted that about 70 percent of those who use the service are graduate students. Rockoff said he would like to see more undergraduates use the program in the future. According to Rockoff, students use the service for a variety of legal issues ranging from parking tickets and garbage fines to starting corporations and paying proper taxes. "A lot of students have legal problems and don't understand aspects of how the law works," Rockoff said.
(09/17/96 9:00am)
"Choose ot Lose' bus hits campus next week for first East Coast stop The MTV circus is coming to town. When the network's "Choose or Loose" voter registration campaign hits University City next week, the campus will become a carnival, student organizers said. The registration effort will begin Monday, September 23 and culminate with a block party September 30. Alternative rock band Gravity Kills will perform, radio station Q-102 will broadcast live and national candidates have been invited to attend, according to Social Planning and Events Committee Treasurer Gil Beverly, a Wharton senior. The Clinton, Dole and Perot campaigns have all been contacted, but no candidates have committed to the event, Beverly said, adding that attracting a national candidate is a "long shot." "We're keeping our fingers crossed," Beverly added. Despite Beverly's doubts, Drexel Student Activities Director Adam Goldstein said the event may easily attract a national candidate, because there are 50,000 students within a 10-block radius in University City. Local politicians, including U.S. Rep. Chaka Fattah (D-Pa.), who serves West Philadelphia, have also been contacted, but have not responded, Beverly said. MTV's stop in Philadelphia will be its first on the East Coast. The tour will bring with it registration and promotional materials and possibly a well-known MTV personality, Beverly said. But Goldstein noted that MTV has been "non-committal," about specific plans. He speculated MTV would support the event more if a national candidate appears. While registering voters is the event's primary focus, Goldstein said entertainment, including virtual reality games like a surfing simulator and a FunFlicks booth where students can make take-home MTV videos, will make the event more enjoyable. Student groups will also have the opportunity to distribute materials at the event, Beverly said. Between September 23 and 30, Beverly said various Penn student groups, such as the College Democrats, College Republicans and Undergraduate Assembly, will sponsor voter registration on Locust Walk. The College Democrats and College Republicans will also conduct an issue-oriented debate on September 25, which will be televised on UTV13. MTV is coming to the area through the efforts of Drexel students and administrators, who contacted the network requesting support with the university's voter registration drive. Drexel then approached Penn to help bring MTV to University City. "When Drexel and Penn work together, we can attract bigger, better names than we could get on our own," Goldstein said. Drexel's Campus Activities Board, its president's office and SPEC will each cover one-third of event's cost, which is as of yet undetermined. Although Beverly said communication between Drexel and Penn has been "excellent," Assistant Director of University Life Kim Allen noted that coordinating the event has been complicated by the conflicting schedules of the two universities. Drexel was in session until August, while Penn students were on vacation. And now, Drexel students will not return to campus until Thursday.
(09/16/96 9:00am)
An innovative new program this semester will give professors and students the chance to discuss subjects of interest -- in a formal classroom setting -- without the pressure of grades and papers. The pilot program, sponsored by the Student Committee on Undergraduate Education, includes four "preceptorials" in subjects ranging from political science to biochemistry. These informal discussions will begin within the next two weeks, and each will meet several times during the semester. "The preceptorials are designed to give students the opportunity to engage in intellectual interaction with truly brilliant professors outside of a normal classroom setting," SCUE Chairperson and Wharton senior Ben Nelson said. Nelson said when SCUE approached professors with the idea of preceptorials, they "ate it up." "This is a testament to some Penn professors who care so much about students that they are willing to give up their valuable time for no credit and no payment," Nelson said. Music Professor Norman Smith, who is conducting a preceptorial on music and literature in the 19th century, said he "heartily approves" of the project. And Political Science Professor Henry Teune is teaching a preceptorial about media campaign coverage. He said he hopes these discussions will be stepping stones to similar projects which could involve more students. Teune said he would like to see a program where juniors spend a semester traveling, conducting research, or working on a project in an area of interest. "Students should have the opportunity to break out of the rigid organization of knowledge into semester classes," Teune said. Courtney Woolridge, a College junior who plans to take Teune's preceptorial, said it will be a welcome break from her regular class schedule. "It seemed like a good chance to meet in a small, informal setting and have genuine interaction with a professor," she said. An interest in learning me about Philadelphia's history led College junior Adam Eisner to sign up for Urban Studies Professor George Thomas' preceptorial. "As an American History major, I thought it would be interesting to find out how Philadelphia affected the early development of the United States," Eisner said. Eisner also noted walking tours of the city will differentiate the preceptorial from his other classes. The opportunity to take part in this program appealed to College sophomore Aaron Levy, who will participate in an American poetry preceptorial led by English Professor Al Filreis. "It seemed like it would be an ideal learning environment," Levy said. "You don't have to worry about grades and course requirement, so you can just enjoy learning for the sake of learning." Teune said although he is uncertain if the program will be ultimately successful, he feels it is important to support it in its initial stages. Nelson said SCUE will evaluate the pilot preceptorials at the end of the semester and may offer more in the future.
(09/11/96 9:00am)
Undergraduate Assembly members are trying to set well-defined, realistic goals for the upcoming year, in hopes of accomplishing something "tangible," according to College sophomore and UA Student Life Committee Chairperson Samara Barend. Four UA committees and two task groups made this their priority during a retreat Sunday. In an example of the UA's new efforts, UA member and Engineering junior Chris Hyzer will form a student group to aid professors in developing World Wide Web pages. But some committees are still focusing on the overarching issues at the University. The Academics Committee, for instance, will concentrate on the 21st Century Project and the Agenda for Excellence -- two of University President Judith Rodin's major projects, according to Chairperson and College sophomore Mark Sagat. The Academics Committee will also evaluate undergraduate advising at the University. Sagat said the committee will compare the advising systems of the different undergraduate schools to determine the best possible system. They also plan to conduct a student survey on the subject. The Facilities Committee will primarily assist Vice Provost for University Life Valarie Swain-Cade McCoullum and the Residential Advisory Board in evaluating residential facilities, according to Chairperson Noah Bilenker, a College sophomore. According to Bilenker, the Facilities Committee will also work with the Athletics and Recreation departments. He called the Hutchinson Gymnasium weight room "completely inadequate" and said he would like to see a completely new weight room for those who participate in club sports, or do not take part in athletics at all. In addition, Bilenker said his committee will be working with the Performing Arts Council to help performing arts groups get more rehearsal space. The Safety Committee will focus on improving the quantity of streetlights in the area around campus, particularly on Walnut Street between 40th and 41st streets where several sorority houses are located, according to Safety Committee Chairperson and College sophomore Courtney Fine. Fine said the committee will also check all blue light phones to find out where they are and if they work. The Safety Committee also wants to see the security kiosks permanently and officially used as information booths so that the security guards who currently occupy them can patrol the campus instead. According to Barend, the Student Life Committee will conduct an informal survey of students to find out what would improve their experiences at the University, in order to "continue the enthusiasm and unity of freshman year." Their goals include extended library hours, cheaper and more convenient ways for students to print assignments in computer labs, a Dining Services debit card system and the creation of a Lunch Express at Class of 1920 Commons. They also plan to work with Philadelphia historical sites to get student discounts. The committee will also work with administrators and Liquor Control Enforcement to confront underage drinking at the University, in an attempt to stop random LCE visits to campus. A UA task group, headed by College junior Meredith Hertz, the UA's University Council steering representative, will focus on developing the area beyond 40th Street with shops, restaurants and other attractions. The other task force, lead by UA Treasurer and Wharton junior Steve Schorr, hopes to obtain information on the University's budget and continue investigating where general fee dollars are spent.
(09/05/96 9:00am)
In a break from recent tradition, this year's Undergraduate Assembly members are hoping to build on work started last year, while implementing a new committee and liaison structure to improve their communication with student groups. At the end of last year, the UA divided into six committees, including the Steering Committee and committees on academics, student life, the budget, safety and facilities, said UA Chairperson Tal Golomb. They also created workgroups focusing on technology and legal services, the College junior added. The committees will meet during the UA's retreat this Sunday to develop specific goals for the upcoming year. Each UA member will serve as a liaison to specific administrators and student organizations. "We didn't have liaisons to student groups last year," Golomb explained. "It is another part of our communications strategy to bring the UA in touch with student government and interact with a large cross-section of students." UA Treasurer and College junior Steve Schorr said UA needs the liaison structure because of its common interests with many other student groups. "I think the UA will be taking a similar direction to last year but putting more emphasis on working with other student groups," Schorr said. "Most issues that concern the UA also concern other student groups, so we can all benefit from working together." Golomb agreed, noting that the UA's concern about safety is shared by student organizations such as the Panhellenic Council and PennWatch. According to the UA's University Council Steering Representative Meredith Hertz, a College junior, the new structure will make the UA more effective. "A lot of UA members start out eager to get things done but get frustrated because they don't know how to go about accomplishing their goals," Hertz explained. "We are going to work with members to help them? best represent the students."
(05/17/96 9:00am)
Bruce Montgomery is a Renaissance man, according to his sister Elizabeth, who toasted her brother during a gala celebration earlier this month. Elizabeth Montgomery Thomas said the University performing arts legend could have done anything from composing Broadway music to painting Maine landscapes. But Montgomery -- affectionately known as "Monty" -- chose instead to spend the past 40 years of his life directing the Glee Club. And on Saturday night, the club and its alumni group honored Montgomery's 40th anniversary as its director with a gala celebration. The evening began as the Glee Club performed a choreographed medley of songs that Montgomery had arranged over the past 40 years. The program continued with a chronological series of speeches, presentations and performances by Glee Club members who have known Montgomery in different eras of his career. Philadelphia Mayor Ed Rendell appeared at the event to recognize Montgomery officially on behalf of the city. He noted that, while the Glee Club has brought the spirit of the University to 35 countries on five continents, it has also brought joy and excitement to the people of Philadelphia. Other speakers included LaRue Olson, a college friend of Montgomery's who has sung with him since 1946. Both were members of the Pitch Pipers quartet of Bethany College in Kansas. Director of Student Life, Activities and Facilities Fran Walker praised Montgomery for his ability to recognize and nurture talent and to enrich the lives of the students with whom he works. "I may not be able to fully appreciate his technical talent, but I know how to recognize love when I see it, and that is what is happening in this room tonight," she said. Legal Studies Professor and Glee Club fan Nicholas Constan echoed Walker's sentiments. "Nobody has had a positive effect on more students at the University of Pennsylvania than Montgomery has in his time," Constan said. The event ended with Montgomery conducting a combined chorus of Glee Club undergraduates and alumni in traditional Glee Club favorites. "It was incredible to see so many people on stage and to know that they were all there for one reason and that was this man," explained Glee Club President-elect Amol Dixit, a Wharton junior. "It made me realize how many people he has affected." Montgomery said he was deeply touched by the tribute. "I can't possibly explain what this evening and the 40 years preceding it have meant to me," he said. "I am the luckiest man in the whole wide world to love my job and the people with whom I perform my job as immensely as I do." Glee Club member and College freshman Matthew Seneca said Montgomery's reaction made the event worthwhile. "The amount of work we did in rehearsal was unbelievable, but seeing Monty's face as he was conducting us was very fulfilling," he said. And Glee Club member and College freshman Eduardo Placer said the event made him realize what the Glee Club is all about.
(04/23/96 9:00am)
Imagine being able to talk to anyone, anywhere in the world without having to worry about running up a long-distance phone bill. With newly developed software, it is possible to make phone calls over the Internet with an Internet connection, a sound card, speakers and a microphone. Those who invest in this new technology only incur costs for equipment and the flat rate for the Internet connection. Internet phone software uses the networks that make up the Internet to transmit conversations, instead of the telecommunications networks used by long distance companies. The technology works by sending digital waves describing the voice of the person on the other end rather than transmitting an analog signal, or sound waves, like phone companies do. According to Wharton sophomore Melissa Ulbrich, who uses Internet phone software to talk to her boyfriend at Duke University, both parties need to have the same brand of software. Ulbrich said she bought the software after her boyfriend began to use it. They have been communicating using Internet phone software for about two months. "It's great because you can talk for a long time without having to worry about expensive phone bills," she said. Wharton senior Richard Ahrens, who developed his own program for Internet voice communication, agrees that low cost is the major benefit of Internet phone software. "The advantage is that you pay a flat rate for an Internet connection and there is no per-minute or per-hour charge," he said. "You pay the same price to talk to anyone anywhere in the world for as long as you want." College freshman Ruth Lowenstein, who is from California, said she had never heard of Internet phone software, but added that she thought it would be useful for students whose families are far away. However, there are also disadvantages to Internet voice communication. Because the digitized voice is transmitted through the Internet rather than through telecommunications networks, it may have to pass through a number of servers before reaching the other computer. "The Internet is not really designed to support continuous data like speech," Ahrens said. "As a result, there can be breaks in speech and you can loose part of the message." Other problems include delays in transmission and freezes in the connection, according to Ulbrich. "The connection is generally good, but it doesn't feel as personal as talking on the phone," Ulbrich said. And Lowenstein voiced similar sentiments. "It would be cheaper to use an Internet phone than to call California, but it would also be more impersonal because you're talking over a computer," Lowenstein said.
(04/17/96 9:00am)
Nelly Toll still vividly recalls the day she says changed her life forever. "I remember standing with my cousins on the balcony watching the Nazis march in with their shiny boots," she said. "It was a beautiful, warm June day." Toll, a survivor of the Holocaust, shared her story and art with more than 50 people gathered in Houston Hall's Bowl Room yesterday night as part of Yom HaShoah, or Holocaust Memorial Day. Toll, currently a graduate student in the School of Education, teaches creative writing at Rowan College in New Jersey. According to College junior Abigail Lindenbaum, co-chairperson of Hillel's Holocaust Education Committee, Toll approached Hillel about speaking at the University. The committee, which sponsored the event, decided she would be an appropriate speaker. Hillel Program Associate Amy Meltzer noted that the committee thought Toll would offer an "interesting perspective" on the Holocaust. Toll used passages and slides of paintings from her book Behind the Secret Window: A Memoir of a Hidden Childhood, to tell her story. The book has won many awards, including the International Reading Association Award. Toll and her mother survived the Nazi invasion of Poland by hiding in a two-room apartment in Lwow, a town now called Lvov that is considered part of Ukraine. Toll said she and her mother faced many close encounters when they were almost discovered. When they were in danger, she and her mother would hide in a secret spot behind a blocked-off window. It was there that Toll kept her diary and paintings. She explained that there is no sadness or evidence of what was happening to her in her paintings, which provided Toll with an escape to a fantasy world. Her art contrasts with her diary, in which she recorded the frightening reality of her life. Although her father, brother, and cousins were all killed in the Holocaust, Toll said she considers herself lucky because she survived and was not separated from her mother. "Being with my mother saved me physically and psychologically," she said. "While so many were orphaned and hidden in sewers, I was always with her." Toll showed slides of her paintings, including a piece called "Queen of Freedom" painted when Soviet troops liberated Poland in 1944. Toll said the painting was inspired by Greek mythology. She also showed a series of paintings detailing her fantasy of going from kindergarten to junior high school to college and other artwork representing a family running away, finding a kind woman to help them escape across a river. Lindenbaum said she was impressed with Toll's art. "The use of color is fabulously mature for such a young age and the detail and shading are incredible," she said.
(04/09/96 9:00am)
More than 30 students participated in a spring cleaning of the Spruce Hill community just west of the University Saturday morning. As the group assembled before splitting up to perform a variety of community service projects, Spruce Hill Community Association Vice President Sharif Ali spoke about the history of the area. Ali also discussed the importance of taking pride in the Spruce Hill community and preserving its historic landmarks. He said the event represented a merging between students, residences and businesses. "People view the campus as separate from the community, but we are all members of the same community," he said."The more we realize that, the more we can work together to improve Spruce Hill." Undergraduate Assembly member and College sophomore Meredith Hertz planned the event, along with College sophomore and UA member Tal Golomb and West Philadelphia Improvement Corps (WEPIC) co-chairperson Dave Slarskey, also a College sophomore. The students divided into several groups, going out to various sites in West Philadelphia. They spent the afternoon doing community service that ranged from picking up trash and sweeping sidewalks to painting fences and whiting out graffiti. According to College freshman Melina Begun, an event coordinator in the Office of Community Relations, the purpose of the event was to bring the University and the surrounding community together. "Penn students have to realize that we do live in a community," she said. "The University is part of Spruce Hill, and all students should participate in cleaning up because we are residents of the community." The students who participated said they hoped to give back to the community what they had already received. College sophomore Karen Man heard about the cleanup through the Chinese Students Association and thought it would be a good way to help clean up the area around the University. "It's a good project because you can feel like you are giving something back to the community for once instead of just taking from it," Engineering and Wharton sophomore Peter Chowla said. And College freshman David Futer called the event a "good cause." "But it's too early in the morning to say anything coherent," he added. Hertz and Golomb said that they were pleased with the event's turnout. "It was great to see so many groups collaborating to clean up the area and take responsibility for cleaning up our community," Hertz said. "We did a lot of good and I hope we can plan more activities like this in the future." The UA, United Minorities Council, Kite and Key Society, WEPIC, Penn Friends and Students for Neighborhood Involvement and the Senior Class Board co-sponsored the project.
(04/01/96 10:00am)
Bill Kristol has often disappointed audiences expecting to be entertained by popular comedian Billy Crystal. But the more than 30 people who gathered in Bennett Hall's Penniman Library last week waited to hear Kristol, editor of The Weekly Standard, talk about the serious subject of the Republican view of the humanities. English Department Chairperson Wendy Steiner began the discussion with her own questions and then solicited others from the audience. In her introductory remarks, Steiner said the English Department brought Kristol to speak as part of a series of lectures on how literary thinking can be used in various professions. "We wanted to educate ourselves about what the Republican Party thinks about higher education and the humanities," she said. Kristol, who used to be a Political Science professor at the University, said he enjoyed his homecoming. "It was fun to come back and get beat up a little bit," he said afterward. Both Steiner and the audience members focused their questions on Kristol's view of intellectuals. "Intellectuals have a lot to answer for," Kristol said. "They enjoy loosening ideas on the world without being held for the consequences of these ideas." Calling for "less theory and more common sense," Kristol cited communism and fascism as intellectual theories which have had harsh consequences in reality. He also discussed his ideas on public education. Kristol suggested that the quality of public education at the university level could be improved by giving more money to fewer institutions. "One good Ph.D. program is better than five second-rate Ph.D. programs," Kristol said. "I think that's something state legislatures and governors should look at when considering how to make cuts." He talked about the prevalence of political correctness in higher education, especially at public institutions which receive state funding. "There are formal and especially informal pressures for political correctness," he said. "However, the main assault on political correctness has come from within the universities themselves." He also noted that most people go to public elementary and secondary schools, specifically focusing on the overcentralization of the public school system. "Kids who could learn much more don't get to," he said. "We should decentralize and pluralize, and use vouchers to give parents more control." Kristol also discussed how personalities like Rush Limbaugh can transcend the gap between intellectuals and the common man. "Limbaugh takes the ideas of The Wall Street Journal and George Will and uses humor and cult appeal to translate them for the general public," he said. In addition, he talked about his views on organizations like the National Endowment for the Humanities and the National Endowment for the Arts. He suggested that the government should not fund art, for example, in order to avoid controversy over what types of art should and should not be supported. English Professor John Richetti said he admired Kristol for speaking to the generally liberal crowd. "Kristol was brave to come into a lions' den because he was obviously speaking to an audience that would by definition be hostile," he said. "There aren't a lot of Republicans in the English Department."
(03/22/96 10:00am)
The Annenberg Center was transformed into a virtual cyberworld as the American Music Theater Festival presented Crosswaves, a "festival of performance of technology" that began yesterday. The exhibit will continue through Sunday. Graduate students from the University's Center for Human Modeling and Simulation -- a lab within the School of Engineering and Applied Science -- demonstrated how to capture human motion using a virtual computer model known as "Jack." According to Engineering graduate student Sean Sheridan, the Jack Project began at the University about 20 years ago, when students developed the model of a human combining computer graphics with realistic motion. The students currently working on the project became involved with Crosswaves when AMTF contacted them looking for local graphics expertise and computer ability, Sheridan said. In yesterday's motion-capture demonstration, six magnetic sensors were placed on certain points on a human volunteer's body. As the subject moves, Jack also moves through a process called inverse kinematics, Engineering graduate student Rama Bindiganavale explained. Harold Sun, also an Engineering graduate student, explained that a large magnet creates a magnetic field, and the computer tracks the movement of the sensors in relation to the large magnet. The tracking process allows the movements of the virtual human to reflect those of the actual subject. "It's a good platform for experimenting with human models," Engineering graduate student Barry Reich explained. "It's the best software for accurately representing human movement." Sheridan explained that Jack's frame is made up of many polygons that each took a long time to create. "He doesn't look as human as he could because we are limited by technology," he said. "We can create a human that looks extremely realistic, but he couldn't move. "To make him move, we need to keep the polygon count as low as possible," Sheridan added. The graduate students are now in the process of creating an improved Jack who moves, yet looks more human-like, Sheridan said. But he added that they are still several years away from creating a "truly realistic human." The Jack Project has many practical applications, according to Sheridan. For example, Jack can be used to train surgeons. By performing virtual operations using Jack, doctors can perfect their surgical skills without actually working on a person. "By tracking motion and studying on a computer, you can become better at whatever you do," Sheridan said. Sheridan noted that a major automobile manufacturer has also used Jack. The computer model can be scaled to different heights, so the company can determine before building a car whether someone who is 6'5" could fit into the vehicle without hitting his head. "It saves money to study things in a virtual world," Sheridan explained. In addition to the motion-capture demonstration, Crosswaves includes other exhibits such as a "noise floor" and a Cyber Loft where experts help visitors explore the World Wide Web. There are also performances, including Graham Nash, of Crosby, Stills and Nash, singing with digital puppets portraying historical and imaginary characters.
(03/19/96 10:00am)
For the next month, the Social Planning and Events Committee will be busy planning and publicizing Spring Fling weekend. But SPEC does much more than simply organize Fling. From a crafts fair on Locust Walk and Asian Pacific American Heritage Week to lunchtime concerts in the Hall of Flags and Irvine Auditorium movie showings, SPEC's 10 committees plan a variety of events throughout the year. According to SPEC President Mosi Bennett, a College junior, the organization was founded six years ago as an alternative to the alcohol-based Greek social scene. "SPEC provides low-cost, non-alcoholic social programs for the Penn community," said College senior Gil Beverly, who serves as co-director of the SPEC Spring Fling Committee, as well as being the Undergraduate Assembly vice chairperson. "We are the social planning arm of student government." Bennett, who became involved with SPEC when he was the UA's liaison to the organization during his sophomore year, said that most students do not realize everything that SPEC encompasses. "Most students can't name all our committees or don't know that the committees are associated with SPEC," he explained. Most students know that SPEC organizes Fling because its Spring Fling and Concerts Committees collaborate to bring a major band to campus each year, according to Mike Parker, a College senior and Concerts Committee co-director. Beverly, who has been co-director of Spring Fling since his sophomore year, said he enjoys planning the event and seeing everything come together. "I've never seen anything so huge with so many people having so much fun," Beverly said. In addition to the main concert during Fling, the Concerts Committee also brings musical groups to Irvine Auditorium and holds lunch hour concerts in the Hall of Flags, according to Wharton sophomore Allison Rosen, who will be co-director of the committee next year. "SPEC Concerts is neat because you can choose your level of involvement," Parker said. "There are some of us with definite interest in going into the music industry, and others who just want to help choose the bands or set up the sound." Most recently, Connaissance, which used to be under the auspices of the Student Activities Council, joined SPEC as its 10th committee. Connaissance works to bring speakers like Vice President Al Gore and film director Oliver Stone to campus. "SPEC gives us the flexibility we need when we bring lectures to campus," Connaissance co-Director Rich Archer said. "It is easier to get contracts signed, agents called and money transferred than it was when we were working with the SAC Finance Committee." Archer, a Wharton junior who has been involved with Connaissance since his sophomore year, said he enjoys the atmosphere SPEC creates. "With SAC, everything was very removed, but SPEC is a tightly knit family," he said. "I love how relaxed SPEC is because it makes being part of my club more fun." The group's other committees demonstrate the diversity of SPEC's activities and programming. SPEC's Crafts Fair Committee organizes fairs where students can buy jewelry, pottery, candles and artwork on Locust Walk, according to the committee's director, College junior Ilene Epstein. "It is a unique opportunity to explore my interests and get to know artisans," she said. The Penn Film Society, which shows cult, classic and popular movies on Thursday and Friday nights, is also part of SPEC. And the SPEC Special Events Committee brings comedians and hypnotists to campus, while also planning a variety of other programs. SPECTRUM, the branch of SPEC which plans minority activities, co-sponsors events such as Asian Pacific American Heritage Week, Festival Latino and events in coordination with Black History Month. Penn Jazz, SPEC Sound and Student Art Gallery also contribute to SPEC's year-round presence at the University.
(02/29/96 10:00am)
Three students stood near a table covered with signs proclaiming, "This peace is killing us," in a protest of the Israeli peace process on College Green yesterday afternoon. The small group handed out flyers to those who walked past, many of whom paused to read the signs or talk with the protesters. According to College freshman Dave Crystal, who organized the rally, the event was originally intended to take place in response to Sunday's bombings in Israel. But the group postponed the protest because they did not want it to interfere with Monday night's memorial vigil for the victims of the bombings. "We did not want to turn such a solemn moment into a political rally," said Crystal, a Daily Pennsylvanian columnist. While the protesters said they are in favor of peace, they added that they disagree with the goals of Israel's Labor Party, which is currently in power. College freshman Sarah Polon, one of the protesters, said she does not believe that giving up land will prevent more incidents of Palestinian violence against Jews, like the recent bombings. "The people responsible for the bombings won't be satisfied if we give them the West Bank," she said. "They want us off the map." But Polon added that she would not be against giving up land for peace at a slower rate. "I am definitely pro-peace and not anti-giving up some land, but too much is going too fast," she explained. Crystal said he believes that the Labor government has betrayed the Israeli people. One of the flyers handed out by the group quotes the assassinated Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin as supporting Israeli control of the Golan, currently an area of contention in the Israel-Syria peace talks. "It is inconceivable that even in peacetime we should leave the Golan," Rabin said, according to the flyer. "Anyone proposing to leave the Golan is abandoning Israel's security." The flyer claims that Rabin made this statement in October, 1992. But according to Crystal, Rabin used the Golan in peace negotiations just two months later. "The Labor Party was elected on the premise that it was not going to leave the Golan, not going to establish a Palestinian state and not going to divide Jerusalem," he explained. "So far, they've been doing just that in contradiction to their promises." The protesters said they want the right-wing Likud Party to take power. "[Likud leader] Bibi Netanyahu must be elected as prime minister because, unlike Peres, he has the courage to be a tough bargainer in the peace talks," Crystal said. Polon agreed that there should be a change in the Israeli government. "I want the Labor government out and the Likud government back in because they will reevaluate the peace process," she said. Crystal said Israel should adopt a policy of retaliation. "We must set up a system whereby there is true peace through mutual fear," he said. "If the Arabs fear attacking us, they won't. "If there is a terrorist from Gaza, we should bomb his house and all houses adjacent to it," Crystal explained. "That way, the community takes responsibility for its terrorists." Some of the students who stopped to talk to the protesters, like College junior Jared Miller, said they did not agree with the protest's message. "While I may just be a liberal American Jew who is not in the midst of the conflict, I can't see how killing an Arab will save a Jew," Miller explained. "If violent retaliation is a last resort, they haven't searched hard enough."
(02/27/96 10:00am)
A college without an application process or tuition seems too good to be true. But at Internet University, a new site on the World Wide Web, the only requirement is access to Netscape or a similar Web browser. Internet University, located at "http://www.internetuniv.com", was designed by 1995 Wharton graduate Doug Levy, who also founded Campus Text. "Starting Campus Text got me in the mode of providing value for students," Levy said. "As a busy student at Penn, I realized the need for a resource with all the information I needed in one place." Visitors to Internet University can explore 12 departments, ranging from travel to sports. Students can link to a variety of other Web sites, ranging from libraries to companies offering spring break packages. "Internet University is geared toward college students and their interests," Levy explained. "It has the best tools in each category so that students can get the material quickly and make the most of their time." And Levy noted that the number of hits to the site has doubled every week since it came on line in mid-January. Although most Penn students seemed not to know about Internet University yet, several who recently surfed the site found a vast array of resources. "It has so many different options that there is something to offer everyone," Engineering freshman Bree Goldman said as she visited "iPizza" -- an electronic pizza kitchen. According to Levy, iPizza is one of the most popular sites at Internet University because students can create virtual pizzas with toppings like Spam, fried eggs and cash. They can then send the pizzas to friends, who receive e-mail telling them where to pick up their pizzas. While exploring Internet University, Goldman made a virtual pepperoni and fortune cookie pizza for a friend at the University of California at Berkeley. "There's a lot of fun things to relieve stress," Wharton and Engineering freshman Aaron Yap said after exploring the Lifestyles and Arts and Entertainment departments. "I've never seen anything like it before." The information in Lifestyles covers topics ranging from Chinese alternative medicine to home beer brewing. It even includes a dating service. The Fashion section includes links to everything from haute couture to L.L. Bean. And in the food area of Internet University, there are recipes that can be made in 15 minutes with ingredients from 7-11. The Arts and Entertainment section includes an on-line art history library and hundreds of images of Gothic cathedrals. There are also computer versions of popular games, such as Battleship and Connect Four and a virtual frog dissection kit. While some of the sites are only entertaining, others are also educational, Levy said. For example, the Career department includes employment opportunities and on-line resumes, while the Money section has stock market statistics, money management tips and information regarding financial aid and scholarships. "It's educational and entertaining, and the career and money management information could be useful to the college student," Engineering freshman Yazil Santoyo said. In addition, Internet University includes a Knowledge for College department with links to colleges and libraries across the country. There is also a section with links to the latest issues of newspapers and magazines, as well as information on political and environmental issues. College freshman Kevin Chin said he liked the Sports section, which has the latest scores for everything from professional sports to more obscure ones like broomball. "The sports site allows me to easily find the scores of my favorite pro and college teams in a lot of different sports," Chin said. Engineering freshman Pear Musikabhumma said she was particularly impressed by the colorful graphics that fill the site.
(02/20/96 10:00am)
History graduate students hung signs from their necks and proclaimed slogans like "Boycott Davis, Boycott Yale," as they lined the hallway outside of the History Department Lounge yesterday afternoon. More than 10 students participated, protesting a speech by Yale University History Professor David Brion Davis. The students handed out fliers encouraging people to boycott Davis' speech and support the right of graduate students to unionize. According to the protesters, Davis wrote a letter to Yale Graduate School Dean Thomas Applequist complaining that his teaching assistant Diana Paton refused to turn in grades as part of the recent Yale teaching assistant strike. Davis also testified against the third-year Yale History graduate student at the hearing which occurred as a result of the strike. In spite of the controversy surrounding his appearance, only about 25 people turned out to hear Davis speak as part of the Annenberg seminar series. Davis spoke about his paper entitled "Exodus, Black Colonization and Promised Lands," which discusses the efforts of the American Colonization Society, or ACS, to send emancipated slaves to Liberia. He also talked about the ACS's influence on black nationalists like Marcus Garvey, who envisioned building Liberia into a strong black nation and inspired both Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr. But protesters were not interested in what Davis had to say regarding his paper. "Since a member of the Yale faculty has been invited here, it seemed like an occasion for us to protest treatment of Yale TAs generally, and specifically to target his action against his TA," explained Penn first-year doctoral History student Brian Caton, who planned the protest. Fourth-year History graduate student Michael Kahan, who boycotted the speaker, said the Yale administration's conduct during the strike was "outrageous." "I hope to draw attention? to Davis as a representative of that behavior," he added. According to Caton, the protest reinforced an American Historical Association resolution which condemned the Yale administration and urged Yale officials to allow the TAs to unionize. "I hope to send a message to Davis and to the faculty and administration at Yale and here at Penn that graduate students have the right to organize," fourth-year History graduate student Mark Santow said. "It is important for freedom of expression and academic freedom not to be interfered with by professors or administrators." After he spoke to the small crowd, Davis said the protesters did not understand the "complex" issue. He claimed that Paton "hijacked" student grades by refusing to turn over the midterm results he needed to calculate final grades for the many seniors in his class who were applying to graduate school. He also said she showed the grades to the group of graduate students who wanted to unionize, violating Yale's rules and objectives, especially as they relate to confidentiality. "It is my course, not her course," he said. "Wholly apart from whether there should be a union, graduate students have no right to withhold grades from students and show them to outsiders who have no right to see them." A group of Penn undergraduates wrote a letter and attended the lecture in protest of the boycott. College senior Thor Halvorssen, who participated in the counterprotest, characterized the boycott as "amusing nostalgia for the '60s." But others who attended the lecture said they were there specifically to hear Davis speak. In her introductory remarks, History Department Chairperson Lynn Lees made reference to the boycott. "We have an independent group of graduate students here, and even if we don't agree with what they think, we respect their right to free speech," she said.
(02/05/96 10:00am)
Five Penn students received a special Hanukkah gift from the Steinhardt Jewish Heritage Program when they had the opportunity to spend their winter vacation touring Israel and meeting with Israeli leaders. The trip also included students from the University of Pittsburgh, the State University of New York at Binghamton and New York University, which also have Steinhardt chapters. While in Israel, the group spent six days in Jerusalem, where they had the chance to meet with Ehud Ohmert, the city's mayor. They also discussed the peace process with representatives of the Kenneset -- Israel's parliament. They also talked to Natan Sheransky, a Zionist activist who helps Russian Jews immigrate to Israel. When Russia was under Communist rule, Sheransky was followed by the KGB and imprisoned in Siberia for nine years. According to 1995 College graduate Stephen Zelkowicz, who went on the trip as an undergraduate two years ago and accompanied the group this year, the Steinhardt Program heavily subsidizes the cost of the program, requiring students to pay only $500 for the whole trip. Students can only take the trip once, so people who have never been to Israel before can visit the country. Rabbi Ephraim Levin, Steinhardt's advisor, explained that "the trip is best for students who have never been to Israel because it enables them to get an idea of the geography and terminology of the region, increase their political knowledge of the country and develop a connection to the land of Israel." College junior Laurie Moldawer explained that the trip "gave people a chance to see Israel who might not otherwise have had that opportunity." "The program is for students who want to increase their Jewish identity and become more connected to their religion," Zelkowicz said. "It affects people in different ways, but it always has an impact." The trip also gave participants a better grasp of the issues that are affecting Israel. According to Moldawer, the trip "opened up my eyes to the other side of the world and gave me better perspective on what is going on in Israel. "Sometimes people try to close their eyes to what is going on in Israel and pretend it's not happening," she said. "But seeing the controversy makes you realize how important America is to [its] future." Wharton junior David Chalom said after going on the trip, he understood why so many people want to live in Israel permanently. And College sophomore Melissa Oppen said going through the experience brought the participants closer together. Many of the participants returned from the trip with a desire to become more involved in the University's Jewish community. Oppen noted that she hopes to study in Israel next year and to become more involved in Steinhardt. Levin describes Steinhardt as "an internship where the students make social and educational programs for their peers." The group has weekly meetings and meets with Jewish professionals in New York and Washington in addition to holding events on campus, according to Levin. Their next event will be the group's annual Purim party in March.
