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(01/17/95 10:00am)
About 350 University community members participated in the African American Association of Administrators, Faculty and Staff Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Program in the Penn Tower Hotel yesterday. The program -- which featured a speech from Philadelphia City Councilwoman Augusta Clark -- stressed the value of the black community's youth. "If we don't support the young, we can't expect them to support us," Clark said. Students from Grace Temple Christian Academy Choir sang various selections including "Lift Every Voice and Sing," the African American National Anthem. Malik Culberath, a student at the Barry Elementary School and the winner of the AAAFS Essay Contest, read an essay urging the black community to concentrate on protecting its civil rights and continuing King's dream. Speakers also stressed that the community should celebrate Martin Luther King Day every day, not just on the holiday. "[We should] fight the good fight," said Jim Gray, Tri-Chair for Staff, AAAFS. "Don't let anything divert your eyes from the prize." Clark's keynote speech criticized many governmental practices and issues, including the election of Newt Gingrich -- whom Clark termed "Newt the Brute." "He wasn't appointed," Clark said, adding that she is appalled that black voters contributed to Gingrich's win. "Newt stepped in the breach that we created when we didn't act." Clark also pointed out that the struggle ahead of the African-American community will be difficult -- although she said it cannot compare to past barriers. "Maximize the power of one," she said. "What will you do with the one person you are?As bad as things are today, this ain't nothing compared to getting out of slavery." Participants said they found the program to be a rewarding experience. "It was just what we needed to hear," said Financial Services Officer in the Office of Student Financial Services Linda Taylor-Burch. "We were just talking about how inspired we felt hearing the program." Human Resources Records Assistant Katrina Neely agreed. "I'm really glad they have this commemorative service," she said. "With today's devastation of urban community, we need to take time out and say that the dream does continue and everything that Dr. King said still holds true." Neely said that some of the problems she worries about are inequality in getting jobs and being promoted. However, she said she does not see iniquity in the classroom. Many black University employees attended yesterday's commemorative program. According to Vanessa Dorsey, the chairperson of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Committee, this was due to a request from the President's Office asking each University department to give their employees an extra hour to celebrate the King holiday. Other activities in the King series were better attended by students of many races. Black Student League President and College senior Robyn Kent gave one explanation for this phenomenon. "It's more of an opportunity for non-black students to show their support, while black students don't have to prove their respect for Dr. King," she said.
(01/17/95 10:00am)
Imagine taking a nude 'posture' photo as part of your freshman orientation program. From the 1940s to the 1960s, Yale and Harvard Universities, and Wellesley and Vassar Colleges required entire freshman classes to pose nude to supposedly judge their posture, according to an article published in the New York Times Magazine on Sunday. The 'posture' studies were used as part of somatype theorist W. H. Sheldon's studies on the correlation between body type and intelligence. Among those photographed include Hillary Rodham Clinton, George Bush, George Pataki, Meryl Streep and Diane Sawyer. The article also states that nude photos of the University's Class of 1951 are part of Sheldon's collection -- which is currently housed at the National Anthropological Institute in Washington. But, alumni from the class of 1951 said they do not remember being photographed nude. "I don't recall anything like that being required for freshman," said Class of 1951 Alumni President Bernard Lemonick, a former All-American football player. "While I was an undergraduate at Penn I wasn't aware of pictures being taken, nor while I was working there from 1965 to 1987," added Helen Artigues, who also graduated in 1951. Artigues later worked in the University's campus development office. Although Lemonick said he does not remember being photographed naked, he said he considers the project an unfair violation of privacy. "If they didn't give permission, then it is a personal violation," Lemonick said. "If they did indeed give permission then, with the way things are in today's society, then who cares." According to the Times Magazine article, the photos were not only used for identifying posture problems. Sheldon was given permission by universities to use the photos in his studies of body types. The pictures were also used to illustrate his book Atlas of Men -- which hypothesizes that a person's body type determines his character. Sheldon also asked women's colleges for nude photos to print in his book Atlas of Women, which was never completed -- in part because of the objections raised by female students at the University of Washington who were also photographed for his research. When colleges began discontinuing the posture photographs in the 1960s and 1970s, photos were burned at Harvard and Brown Universities. "You always thought when you did it that one day they'd come back to haunt you," journalist Sally Quinn, who graduated from Smith College in 1963, told the Times Magazine.
(01/17/95 10:00am)
With the Republicans now controlling the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives, experts at the University say that the nature of American politics and entitlements could change dramatically. Assistant History Professor Thomas Sugrue said that because Democrats now find themselves fighting to maintain their power, they are focusing too much on responding to Republican trends. Many Democrats have shifted to the right, hoping to win Republican constituencies, Sugrue said. "What we risk in the '94-'96 period is the Democrats trying to get one up on the Republicans and putting themselves in real political danger," Sugrue said."When voters are faced between real Republicans and pseudo-Republicans, the real Republicans are going to seem more consistent." During the first 100 days in Congress, Republicans have proposed several ways to cut spending -- targeting Medicaid, education and the arts. One of the senators' and representatives' major efforts is overhauling the welfare system, which would include limiting the time a person could receive aid and eliminating aid to unmarried minors with children. Congressmen are also debating adding a Constitutional amendment requiring a balanced budget. Some Democrats' leap to the right is most evident in the conflict over welfare and health care, Sugrue said. Given the fierce opposition Democrats encountered when trying to reform the health care system before the Republican sweep, it will now be even harder to achieve significant change. The prospects for welfare are also grim, Sugrue said. "Real reform -- which would mean more jobs and day care -- costs a lot of money," he said. "The Republicans aren't going to cough up the money and the Democrats won't push for it." Despite the Republicans' proposals to drastically reduce spending, History Professor Bruce Kuklick said they will not pass their initiatives without compromise. "The Republicans are dealing with a small majority in the Senate and a Democratic president," Kuklick said. "We are not going to see the kind of movement and radical change that it's touted up to be."
(01/16/95 10:00am)
Thirteen Phi Sigma Kappa fraternity members were arrested by Tredyffrin Township Police last month after attempting to chop down an 18-foot Colorado Blue Spruce tree and steal a number of Christmas ornaments from residences on the Main Line, Tredyffrin Police Sergeant Peter Gangl said this week. Phi Sigma Kappa President Raphael Garfield confirmed last night that all 13 students are associate members or pledges of Phi Sigma Kappa. Gangl said College freshman Avi Benus and Engineering sophomore Michael Greenspan were the two individuals caught trying to chop down the tree on a residence's lawn in Wayne, Pa. They were charged with disorderly conduct and criminal mischief. College freshmen Jared Glick, Frederick Hardt, James Loughran, and Jess Rosenthal, Engineering freshmen Daniel Boren and Ashley Grissom, Wharton freshman Paul Nathanson, College sophomores David Braffman, Christopher Jones and Anupam Mohanty and Wharton sophomore James Frazier were charged with disorderly conduct, Gangl said. Garfield said the actions of the associate members were not sanctioned by the fraternity. He added the incident started when one of the associate members volunteered that his pledge class would get a tree to decorate the fraternity house, located at 3615 Locust Walk. The decision to illegally cut down a tree was "spur of the moment" and "an extreme example of mob mentality," Garfield said. "They really weren't thinking," he added. "As a group they just built on each other's intensity. Everybody does something stupid in their life, and hopefully this is their one thing." The associate member class has begun to make reparations for their conduct by publishing a letter of apology in a local newspaper, performing community service, and reimbursing the owners of the tree, Garfield said. But the fraternity and the associate members may not be off the hook. A report of the investigation was sent to University Police by Tredyffrin Township Police, Gangl added. University Police Commissioner John Kuprevich said the report has been forwarded to the Student Dispute Resolution Center. SDRC Director Steven Blum said he was prohibited from commenting about the incident. Garfield said the SDRC has begun interviewing the parties involved and the investigation is in the "preliminary stage." In addition, Interfraternity Council President David Treat, a Tau Epsilon Phi brother, said the IFC would also conduct an investigation of the incident.
(01/16/95 10:00am)
Members of the West Philadelphia Tutoring Project are calling on University students to increase their involvement in community schools. Throughout last semester, over 300 students volunteered their time to tutor at West Philadelphia elementary, middle, and high schools. For one hour a week, they were bussed to one of 21 area schools to work one-on-one with local students. The tutoring project has had to turn away children because there are not enough tutors. WPTP members hope to see a greater number of University students involved this semester. But for those who feel they are unable to give the time necessary for tutoring, the WPTP is asking for donations of math books. Because West Philadelphia schools are so severely underfunded, students at University City High School do not even have mathematics texts, according to College senior Jeff Zilberstein. Zilberstein, who is the team leader and coordinator for the program at University City, asked that University students donate any math books from the past semester they will no longer be using. He said texts ranging from basic arithmetic to calculus are needed. They can be delivered to the Program for Student-Community Involvement Office at 3601 Locust Walk. WPTP members stressed the importance of participating in the program in any capacity. "Every little bit and each student that you touch?is special," Zilberstein said. Wharton freshman and elementary school tutor Jodi Kimelstein agreed. "It is important to share what you know with the people who have not had the same opportunities you have had," she said. College senior Joseph Olivieri, who has been tutoring high school students for the past two years, said he has not only given to the program, he has also gained from it. "It's an amazing thing to do?and an incredibly rewarding experience," he said. "You are inspiring them and you get inspired by them. "And when you get a lesson across, it's incredible -- it's worth the frustration," Olivieri added. Orientation sessions for students interested in tutoring will be held at Houston Hall on Jan. 23 and 26 at 7:00 pm.
(01/16/95 10:00am)
Marketing Professor Scott Ward, arrested during the fall of 1993 for allegedly soliciting sex from minors, will not be tried on civil charges before his criminal trial begins, Judge Joseph O'Keefe ruled last week. O'Keefe upheld an injunction that prevented the civil suit from going forward until after the criminal proceedings. The civil trial will begin on March 27. Ward's criminal trial is slated to begin March 6. But Sidney Ginsberg, one of the lawyers representing "B.M."-- a pseudonym for the man who filed the civil suit against Ward -- said one of his witnesses had died of AIDS. He said he fears further delays will weaken his case. "We want to move forward while we have witnesses to depose," Ginsberg said. "We want to go forward with the civil case which has been pending since the beginning of October." Ginsberg also argued that Ward's attorneys had no constitutional right to be granted the injunction. The civil suit against Ward alleges that B.M., an 18 year-old male, had sexual contact with Ward between 50 and 100 times from the time he was 13 or 14 years old. The suit charges Ward with counts of assault and battery, intentional infliction of emotional distress, negligent infliction of emotional distress, negligence and fraud. B.M. claimed he was paid between $20 and $25 to perform oral sex on the professor -- first in hotel rooms and later at Ward's home in Ardmore, a suburb of Philadelphia. He also alleges that Ward asked him if he knew of other boys who would be interested in being paid for sexual acts. The suit claims that because of both his age and dysfunctional emotional state, B.M. was legally and mentally unable to consent to the sexual acts in which he engaged with Ward. Criminal complaints pending against Ward include statutory rape, indecent assault, indecent exposure, corruption of minors, criminal solicitation to commit prostitution and involuntary deviate sexual intercourse. Ward's attorney in the civil case, Michael Mustokoff, refused to comment. Ward, who is not teaching any courses this semester, also refused to comment. Daily Pennsylvanian Staff Writer Lisa Levenson contributed to this story.
(01/16/95 10:00am)
The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority bowed to student pressure Friday, and voted unanimously not to raise fares on student tokens and transfers. About 60 sign-toting students packed the SEPTA office building at 7th and Market streets in Center City to protest the proposed fare increase. One sign read "Hell no, we don't care, we won't pay your stupid fare." In a last minute compromise, the SEPTA board decided to raise the base fare from $1.50 to $1.60, making it the highest base fare in the country. The original plan would have increased the cost of transfers and student tokens, as well. The cost of standard tokens will increase 10 cents from $1.05 to $1.15. The fare increase will go into effect on January 22, a move some officials believe might cause customers to hoard tokens. Transfers will remain 40 cents. "Good things do happen on Friday the 13th," SEPTA General Manager Louis Gambaccini said. The SEPTA board's decision not to raise fares for students was greeted with thunderous applause from the students. Lai Har Cheung, a self-proclaimed student activist, spoke in front the SEPTA board. "This is nothing less than a victory," Cheung said. "But the cost of student tokens is still too high." The fares for students will remain at 90 cents because of an agreement between the city, the School District and SEPTA. Other students said it was difficult to pay $400 a year for transportation to school. "We're happy that we won the victory," Philadelphia student Maly Chap said. "This is just the beginning, though. Why do we have to pay $400 a year when we should be getting our education for free?" Student protests began after SEPTA unveiled a plan last November to increase fares in response to a $27 million dollar deficit. Officials said they will now lose about $1 million for this year because of the compromise with students. Although the SEPTA board unanimously agreed not to raise fares that affect students, some members said SEPTA should not be responsible for providing school transportation. "It cannot continue to be off-loaded onto a public authority," Andrew Warren of Bucks County said. In addition, the cost of weekly and monthly rail passes will also increase. Lance Haver, educational director of the Consumers Education and Protective Association, was enthusiastic about the students victory. "It protects the most vulnerable people in the city from a fare hike," Haver said. "It's the best of a lot of bad alternatives."
(01/16/95 10:00am)
University Police Officer John Washington did not use unnecessary force while arresting a student who took part in the confiscation of nearly 14,000 copies of The Daily Pennsylvanian in April 1993, Arbitrator Thomas DiLauro ruled last month. After the confiscation by a group claiming to represent the "black community," Washington was suspended for three days without pay by University Police Commissioner John Kuprevich. At the time, Kuprevich said that Washington acted in poor judgment when he struck then–College senior Khalil Muhammad with a mini-baton on the upper thigh. DiLauro, a member of the American Arbitration Association, ordered the University to compensate Washington for any loss of pay and benefits incurred by the discipline, and to remove the incident from his personnel record. "[T]he conclusion is inescapable that [Washington], except for his use of profanity, acted in an extremely professional manner in a situation which could have easily been avoided had Mr. Muhammad identified himself and explained what he was doing," DiLauro wrote. "[Washington] exercised considerable restraint in his attempt to subdue an uncooperative and unidentified person." In his testimony, Washington said he struck Muhammad after struggling with the student for almost 10 minutes while attempting to arrest him. Washington expressed satisfaction with the arbiter's ruling. "I'm certainly pleased with the decision," he said. "I was justified in not only stopping [Muhammad], but in counteracting what I considered a threat in his attempt to punch me. I don't regret for a moment the actions I took." Kuprevich defended his handling of the case. He said he set up a special inquiry panel, made up of both police and civilian representatives, to investigate Washington's use of force. The panel, headed by University Police Chief George Clisby, recommended a five-day suspension for Washington, according to Clisby's testimony before the arbiter. "We responded to a complaint as we would with any complaint," Kuprevich said. "We did what we thought was the right thing to do. We took appropriate actions. "We are going forward from here," he added. "We accept it. It's not something we are going to sit and worry about." Washington, however, said he harbors resentment towards the individuals connected with his suspension. "No doubt there are some ill-feelings," he said. "I have lost some respect for Commissioner Kuprevich, Chief Clisby, and [former University Associate General Counsel] Neil Hamburg due to the way they testified against me." Washington said that during the hearings he was "painted as a discipline problem, a disgruntled employee and as a racist." In a legal brief submitted to DiLauro and obtained by the DP, Hamburg wrote twice that Washington may have used the mini-baton "because he had a racial animus against Mr. Muhammad." University Police Officer and Vice-President of the University's chapter of the Fraternal Order of Police Bill Kane said the union will try to rebuild relations between the FOP and University Police management. "[The FOP is] happy with the decision," Kane said. "We are disappointed with management because they played dirty pool. We want to put it behind us. Hopefully we will start a new relationship with management."
(01/16/95 10:00am)
It may seem like the fall again as packs of well-dressed, nervous freshman and sophomore women will be be seen roaming around campus this week. The most important month of the year for the Panhellenic Council has once again arrived -- only this time without the blistering cold and snow that plagued the Council's rush last year. And 606 women will be spending much of their time during the next two weeks learning about sorority life, and perhaps, trying to get a bid from a sorority. Groups of rushees, each led by a rush counselor or "rho chi," will attend open house parties at eight sororities Tuesday and Wednesday nights. This first stage of rush involves walking from house to house and meeting hundreds of sisters in a matter of hours. It may be stressful -- but the women say it is worth it. "The main reason, as any freshman will tell you, is just to meet more people," said College freshman Jennifer Park, who plans to rush. Rush has become an important social event even for those who drop out before the end of the process. Still, anxiety of the unknown plagues many women -- especially as classes begin today. "I was really nervous," said Panhel Vice President of Rush and College senior Liz Shain, a member of the Delta Delta Delta sorority. "[But] I would tell them to relax and try to have fun." Shain and other Panhel coordinators have worked ensure that the next few weeks will be very organized for the participants. And many are breathing a sigh of relief as the weather appears to have improved from last year. "Last year was really hard, [the weather] kind of messed up our whole schedule," Shain said. Panhel Publicity Vice President Melissa Barkan, a Kappa Delta sister and a College senior, said she hopes the warmer weather this year will put more of a "happy face" on the women rushing on Tuesday night. "They don't have to worry about shivering in their heels, or running to Lee's to get something to drink because they're so cold," she said. Without subzero temperatures, many rushees said they will be better able to concentrate on the process itself. "The only thing is, I don't understand why [rush] is so different for guys and girls," College freshman Melissa Bernstein said. "[Panhel rush] so structured. "I think it's nice, it just seems kind of hectic," she added. "[But] I appreciate their organization." Shain said Panhel has made changes this year to reduce the stress of the entire rush process. "Each rho chi group will have their own place on campus," Shain said. "It's a little less hectic that way." Those rushing signed up last semester and paid a $10 fee. Since then, each rushee has been assigned a rho chi and has received some helpful hints from coordinators. "Ignore anything you've heard about any one sorority," Bernstein said. "Go in with an open mind." For the sororities, rush is also a time for the sisters to come together, organizers said. "The sororities here are so big," Shain said. "This is really the only time of the year the whole house comes together." The deadline for transfer students interested in sorority rush is today. Applications may be picked up at the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs in High Rise North.
(01/16/95 10:00am)
Moskovits 'lacked remorse' Former Wharton student and convicted drug trafficker Alexander Moskovits was sentenced to 20 years in prison last week. Citing Moskovits' lack of remorse for his crimes and his perjury during the original trial, Judge Clarence Newcomer extended Moskovits' original sentence by three years. Moskovits will receive credit for the seven years he has already served. But, he must serve at least seven additional years before he will be eligible for parole, according to Assistant United States Attorney Kristin Hayes. William Kunstler, Moskovits' attorney at the sentencing hearing, said he was shocked by the ruling. According to Kunstler, the probation board had recommended that Moskovits be sentenced to twelve years in prison, with credit for time already served. "The judge was just cruel," he said. "I expected him to give him the twelve years." Although Kunstler expressed anger at the length of the sentence and describes the case as "an American tragedy of enormous proportions," he said he blames Moskovits for the sentence. "I am terribly angry at him, I'm not even sorry for him," Kunstler said, referring to the fact that Moskovits had repeatedly gone against the advice of his attorneys throughout the history of the case. "It wasn't the system who destroyed the client, it was the client who destroyed the client," he added. Kunstler said last week's hearing appears to be the final chapter in a case which has been bizarre from the outset. Moskovits was originally convicted in 1988 on 18 federal drug counts -- including a conspiracy to sell drugs on the University campus. Moskovits' 15-year sentence was increased by three years because of a previous conviction for drug possession in Mexico, where Moskovits was convicted without the benefit of an attorney. Citing ineffective counsel by Moskovits' original attorney -- who advised Moskovits not to testify on his own behalf -- Judge Louis Pollack granted Moskovits a new hearing. Prosecutors had offered to drop all but one charge against Moskovits in return for a guilty plea. Against Kunstler's advice, Moskovits refused to accept the deal -- although it would have allowed him to leave prison. In October 1994, Moskovits chose to represent himself at his new trial and was convicted by Newcomer.
(01/16/95 10:00am)
Although the wind and rain extinguished the flames of their candles, the participants' voices rang clear in yesterday's Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemorative Candlelight Vigil. In an effort to continue King's legacy and to call the University to action, approximately 50 students of many races participated in activities across the University. More than 30 University and Drexel University students marched from the W.E.B. DuBois College House to the Christian Association singing "We Shall Overcome." "[King] was a fraternity brother of ours and we take a lot of pride in being able to host this vigil," said Kristofer Love, a College senior and president of Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity. "We want to show the University that someone is remembering him and his achievements." Drexel students shared similar feelings. "If it weren't for people like Martin Luther King, I wouldn't be in college right now," Drexel sophomore Monica Wheeler said. "We should pay a little respect." The procession was led into the auditorium of the Christian Association where speakers expressed their sentiments about King and his ideas. Their speeches illustrated the theme of the series of activities, "In a word?NOW!" In his speech, Bicultural Inter-Greek Council President and Wharton senior Wayne Wilson urged participants to attack apathy and take a stand. Black Student League President and College senior Robyn Kent echoed Wilson's sentiments. "It's time to stop dreaming, it's time to stop complaining," she said. "It's time to act." Earlier yesterday, students kicked off the Martin Luther King Day celebration by making banners that will be displayed on Locust Walk this week to form "King's Walk" -- a tradition created to remember and commemorate King's ideas, according to Christian Association Director Rev. Beverly Dale. "King's Walk is a visible presence of some of [King's] powerful messages that we dare not forget," she said. About 20 students of different ethnicities from more than 13 different campus organizations participated in banner-making. "This [activity] is a means of bringing together student organizations who don't normally come together," said David Grossman, director of the Program for Student-Community Involvement. Sponsors also said they hoped the activity would raise awareness about the festivities held for the holiday. "We hope more students will be aware of it next year and participate," said Michelle Davis, Americorps Intern at PSCI, one of the sponsors of King's Walk. "We want this to be a student-run activity and we want the banners to reflect how the students feel."
(01/16/95 10:00am)
For the second time in three years, Penn's Way did not meet its goal. When kicking off the charity campaign in late October, Penn's Way coordinators said they hoped to raise $400,000. According to Comptroller Barbara Murray, the campaign only produced a total of $390,800. But coordinators of the project say they are still pleased with the results, noting an increase over last year's $370,000 total. Last year, they did not set a goal for themselves. "It is slightly short of the goal but it is well ahead of last year," Co-Coordinator Steven Murray said. Steven Murray, the University's vice president for business services, said the campaign differed from past years, with more personal contact between the facilitators and coordinators. "We purposely did a relatively low-key campaign this year," he said. "We made the campaign a little more personal and less mass media [oriented] and that proved to be successful." Co-Coordinator Helen Davies said the campaign attempted to lessen the pressure placed on employees to donate. "Things are not great financially for many people," said Davies, who is also the associate dean of student affairs for the Medical School. "We think it's?friendlier?to not run a pressured program." And despite Penn's Way's failure to meet its goal, coordinators said they thought the lack of pressure worked successfully. "It's a real testament to the people at Penn that that much money was able to be raised for worthwhile causes," Steven Murray said. Sixteen umbrella organizations will receive the money raised during this year's Penn's Way -- although it has not yet been determined how much money will be given to each group.
(01/16/95 10:00am)
The Public Interest Law Center of Philadelphia has filed a petition seeking permission to appeal the Mayor's Scholarship case to the Pennsylvania State Supreme Court, according to PILCOP attorney Michael Churchill. PILCOP first sued the University in 1991, claiming that the University was not fulfilling a 1977 agreement with the city to provide 125 scholarships annually. But in December 1994, the University's policy of providing a total of 125 scholarships at a given time, as opposed to 125 for each entering class, was upheld by a 4-3 vote in Commonwealth Court. A previous appeal filed by PILCOP was rejected in 1993 when a judge ruled that the group did not have proper legal standing in the case. According to Churchill, the recent petition was filed to challenge both the decision of the Commonwealth Court and the 1993 ruling regarding PILCOP's lack of legal standing. "We believe that the dissent in the previous case is right," Churchill said. "This is the last avenue of appeal." University General Counsel Shelley Green disagreed. "Their position is that the Commonwealth is incorrect," she said. "We think that the Supreme Court should not permit the appeal." Both attorneys refused to speculate about whether the Court will allow an appeal. Throughout the case's history, several city politicians stressed the importance of the scholarships to many local students. Pennsylvania Legislative Black Caucus Chairman Harold James of Philadelphia said he supports the appeal. "I am encouraging the plaintiffs and their attorneys to continue this fight for our young people," he said in a statement. "It is a shame that we must struggle so hard to provide an opportunity for city students to attend a world class institution that is in their own backyard." The Mayor's Scholarship controversy stems from a 110-year old agreement between the city of Philadelphia and the University in which the city provides rent-free land to the University in exchange for a set number of scholarships to be awarded to Philadelphia high school students. An amended agreement signed in 1977 called for the University to provide 125 "annual" scholarships. scholarships to area students. Although the Common Pleas Court of Philadelphia ruled in favor of the University in 1993, it admonished the administration for failing to provide full support to scholarship recipients. Under a separate 1992 agreement between the University and the city, the University "substantially enhanced" its commitment to the Mayor's Scholarship program. The average Mayor Scholarship package includes $18,806 in grants from the University.
(01/16/95 10:00am)
The English Department is leaping into the future -- and taking its 2,200 students along for the ride. According to Undergraduate Chairperson Alan Filreis, the department will automatically create course listservers for every English course, including freshman writing classes and the undergraduate, graduate and College of General Studies programs. "When a student enrolls in a class today, the least we can give them is the ability to communicate with other students," he said. "Since among majors, 90 percent have [electronic mail] accounts, it would be silly not to offer them this service." For the last several months, the department has worked in cooperation with the University's computing facilities and the School of Engineering and Applied Science to establish the new service -- which gives all English students the ability to send messages to their entire class and professor. "I'm not really part of this generation which has grown up sitting in front of the console," English Professor Robert Regan said. "But today, I had a student who couldn't come to my class to take the last quiz. So she sent it to me over e-mail and I graded it. "I still haven't figured out how to download," he said. "But that's my next project." English Professor Bob Perelman said that "at their best, [listservers] can be a very good adjunct to the classroom." "Some students who are shy about talking in class, in fact, will write very thoughtful things," he added. "I've seen very intense discussion sparked on the listserv which I used for the first time this semester." Many students agree that the new system will offer a unique forum outside of the classroom. "I think its going to do wonderful things in terms of extending class dialogue outside of the classroom," said College senior Liz Fekete. "It can bring more students closer to the professor. "You don't have to worry about office hours," the English major added. "You can actually be in class at two in the morning." But Filreis said that not all professors will be receptive to using the available listservers. "We're not dictating that all classes use them," he said. "It's simply an option." Filreis added that the applications for the new system are nearly limitless. "If I want to communicate with all students taking freshman English courses, now I can do it," Filreis said. "We can send them information about options for following up freshman English courses and urge those interested in declaring the major to do so early." The department hopes to create the fall 1995 listservers before the summer begins, he said. "In this way, you can handle?pre-semester business very conveniently," Filreis said. "I can only imagine that this will aid students' preparation for our courses as well as, possibly, cut down on the traffic of late droppers and adders." Regan said he is excited by the prospects for the program. "It's wonderful to be in a department which is leading the way," he said. "It looks to me like a wonderful, cutting-edge development."
(01/15/95 10:00am)
The Graduate Student Association Committee distributed flyers urging students to "cut for King." And at the conclusion of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemorative Candlelight Vigil, Black Student League President and College senior Robyn Kent urged participants to skip classes in order to celebrate the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday. Martin Luther King Day is a national holiday, for which all public institutions must close. But to the dismay of many students and faculty members, the University, a private institution, remains open. University policy dictates that although classes are not canceled, instructors must allow students to celebrate this holiday and certain others, including the Jewish holidays Yom Kippur and Rosh Hashanah and the Christian holiday Good Friday. "In consideration of their significance for many students, no examinations may be given and no assigned work may be required on these days," the University's Policies and Procedures Handbook states. "If an examination is given on the first class day after one of these holidays, it must not cover material introduced in class on that holiday." Although most classes will be held, some instructors will cancel their classes today in order to celebrate the holiday. "I was surprised and shocked that [the holiday] would not be celebrated," Assistant Professor of Political Science Kerry Haynie said. "I won't be holding class on Monday. It's a holiday and I plan to attend some of the events." Assistant Professor of Political Science Marissa Martino Golden shares similar sentiments. "I don't understand it," she said. "People fought very hard and very courageously so that the holiday would be created, and it sends a message when the holiday is not observed." This year especially, protesters felt that it would have been a relatively simple calendar change for the University to recognize the holiday. "It seems like such an easy change to start the semester on Tuesday instead of Monday," Haynie added. Former Interim Provost Marvin Lazerson wrote in the May 3, 1994 issue of the Almanac that the Martin Luther King holiday is enriched by programs and activities and in-class discussions on pertinent issues, "not by absenting itself through closing." University President Judith Rodin declined to comment on the University's position on the holiday.
(01/15/95 10:00am)
Renovations to the Hutchinson Gymnasium are currently underway, Recreation Department administrators said this week. Repairs are expected to be completed by April 1. Until then, students will have to wait for floors to harden and the ventilation system to be put in place. The renovations are expected to cost the University $220,000, Vice President for Facilities and Management Arthur Gravina said yesterday. And over the semester break, non-varsity athletes had no place to work out because Gimbel Gym was closed. The varsity weight room was also closed to those who do not participate in varsity sports. Last semester, equipment was moved into the hallway adjacent to the weight room because insurance could not cover costs of damage to the old floor. Over break, the area was closed while renovations began. But today, the hallway weight area will open and it will remain open until the repairs are completed. According to Recreation Assistant Director John Hamrick, the repairs will take a long time primarily because the newly poured concrete floor will take about 60 days to dry. Once the curing process is completed, rubber flooring specifically designed for weight rooms will be put down, Gravina said. Hamrick added that contractors have begun demolishing the old ventilation system, and will replace it as soon as possible. Director of Support Services for the Athletic Department Larry Lauchle gave April 1 as a tentative target date for opening the new weight room. "You won't see the final product until then," he said. "Hopefully students will understand and everything will work out. It will be an improvement." College junior and Undergraduate Assembly member Eric Tienou said he was willing to wait. "As long as they get it fixed, I don't have a problem with the timetable," he said. "If it's done before I leave for the summer, I have no problem with it." Because Physical Plant is knocking down a wall between two smaller rooms in the basement, the square footage of the weight room will increase by almost 1000 square feet. "It's going to be as large as the varsity weight room," Hamrick said. He added, though, that there are no plans to add new equipment to the weight room in the near future. "As our budget dictates, we'd like to add more equipment but it depends on how much money we have," Hamrick said. He added that currently, no money has been directed at that purpose. Although Tienou said he thinks the weight room needs new equipment, he said he does not plan to deal with the issue until the actual facility is repaired. The repairs follow months of student complaints about the equipment, air circulation and overall environment in Hutch's basement. In October, students developed and signed a petition requesting better facilities, equipment and environment. Although officials originally had no definite plans to repair the weight room, Athletic Director Steve Bilsky later said he and his department would work to assess and improve the situation. At the time, Vice President for Government and Community Affairs Carol Scheman became involved as a representative from the president's office. Scheman said administrators debated whether to include the situation in immediate or long-term plans, finally deciding to make it an immediate project.
(12/15/94 10:00am)
Who can make the sun shine for students buried in their books at 2 a.m.? According to many students, the pizza man, the WaWa man -- or even the candy man can. Students said they eat whatever is convenient, as long as it prevents them from falling asleep. "My roommate and I eat anything in the room," College freshman Mandy London said. "The other night we were so hungry we went searching in our room and we found two loaves of bread that we bought parent's weekend. "Yes, one was green, but the other one was fine. So we ate it with peanut butter and jelly," she said. "We ate it just to keep us up." College freshmen Adam Falkowitz and Timothy Wexler said they will eat almost anything late at night -- including stale food from fall break and leftover Halloween candy. They added that occasionally, they like to indulge in delicacies such as Korean specialties and pastrami sandwiches. Other students said they go to even greater lengths to satiate the "studying munchies." Wharton freshman Jason Pike said he creates food that alleviates his hunger and also keeps him awake. "Vivarin burritos," he said. "I put the Vivarin in the burritos." But while some students said they will go as far as cooking macaroni and cheese and cupcakes at one or two in the morning, most agreed that convenience determines their snacks. "[I eat] the same thing every night," College sophomore Josh Klein said. "Wings, Powelton's. There are four of us [and] we order 12 to 24 for each of us every night. And a lot of coffee." College freshman Nicole Kornitzer found a practical solution for her late night hunger. "I have chocolate cravings that I can't [satisfy]," she said. "So I eat Hot Tamales. Hot Tamales pep you up because they're so spicy. "Peppermint stimulates your brain -- it's chemically proven," she added. "But I prefer Hot Tamales over peppermint. They give you a little more click."
(12/15/94 10:00am)
The alternative band Phish will not come to campus next semester. That was the only thing the Social Planning and Events Committee and the Junior Class Board could agree on at a meeting this week. According to SPEC and College senior Lissette Monge, the Junior Class did not even attempt to contact the band to see if it was available for a concert this spring until after the Office of Student Life prohibited them from planning a concert without SPEC's approval. "This was unrealistic –– the biggest thing is that Phish will not be coming," Monge said. "They are not going to be in America –– they're touring somewhere in Europe." She added that the reason for Phish not coming to campus has no bearing on SPEC's intentions or actions, despite what Junior Class Board members may say. "We were not even consulted about it," Monge said. Junior Class member Jon Slotkin, a College student, said that although he is the Class Boards' contact for the band, he is unable to confirm that the band is touring in Europe. Monge said the Junior Class's method of trying to plan a concert was flawed. She said the Board should have obtained all the necessary information before publically disclosing the name of the band. "There was a lot of misinformation on behalf of the Class Boards," Monge said. "They should have done that before they got students all excited. "That's not the way we do things ––not SPEC Concerts [Committee]," she added. "We won't release the name of the bands for that reason." Slotkin said he hopes the Junior Class will still pursue the plan to bring Phish to campus in the future if not next semester. But because OSL recognizes SPEC as the body responsible for concert planning, it will not assist the Class Boards in this endeavor. Therefore, a co-sponsorship would be necessary for the Junior Class to be officially involved in bringing bands to campus. "The Class Boards put effort into this band and we want to pursue the possibility," Slotkin said."We want to continue to work with SPEC, but they think co-sponsorship is irrelevant at this point [and are] prematurely shutting down the operation." But Monge said SPEC is not ruling out the possibility of a future co-sponsorship. It plans to wait until next semester to discuss the issue further. Undergraduate Assembly Chairperson and Wharton junior Dan Debicella said the problem is a lack of communication between the two groups. He said both SPEC and the class boards will meet with the UA in the spring to work out "theoretical" differences and clarify both groups' roles at the University.
(12/15/94 10:00am)
Only half of the available seats were filled at The Red & Blue Society's political symposium in Houston Hall yesterday. But this did not dampen the convictions of the four attending panelists. U.S. Senator Arlen Specter, Mayor Edward Rendell, Pennsylvania State Senator Vincent Fumo and City Councilman Joseph Vignola -- all former University graduates -- each outlined their personal visions of the afternoon's key question:"Why Go into Government?" Associate Professor of Regional Science Stephen Gale moderated the discussion, which drew an audience of about 150 students. "Today we have one of the most remarkable occasions at the University," he said. "And considering finals, [we have] a turnout which is second to none." Gale then reiterated the discussion's central focus -- namely why each of the panelists chose to make public life their profession. Fumo said the most important attribute of a government official is a willingness to get things done, citing his own office's motto, "WGST -- We Get Shit Done." "It takes a lot of guts to stand up and do the right thing," he said. "Fewer and fewer people are willing to take those courageous positions." Rendell agreed that politicians must be willing to protect themselves from the media and take a strong stand on the issues, urging interested students to vote and strengthen their communication skills. "The best thing a politician can do to try to control their own destiny is to do their jobs and try to make decisions that are goal-oriented," he said. "And they need to do what's best for the people -- and then try to fight back." Specter, who recently announced he is considering running for president in 1996, said he wanted students to understand that every one of them could make an impact. "My participation in government originated in a number of different ways," he said. "One was, while an undergraduate at the University of Pennsylvania, I attended a forum one day at Houston Hall on the topic of 'Why Go into Government' -- and I've [done] that. "The basic point is that there's a tremendous impact on the lives of everyone in this country if you're in governments," Specter added. Vignola, the self-proclaimed "cleanup batter," echoed the points of his fellow panelists, stating his belief that one person can make a significant difference. "In government, you have to be able to make a difference and you have to want to make a difference," he said. "So we've all learned that the way to have people respect you?is to discuss the issues." The speeches were followed by a period of questions and answers from the audience.
(12/15/94 10:00am)
Finals time has once again arrived, and as usual, students are rushing to study for that ideal or, in some cases, barely passing grade. At this important moment in every student's life, only one question arises -- what is the best place to study? Students said they have different reasons for choosing a study place. Some choose their site based on its quiet environment or sociability. And others say staying awake is their most important consideration. The study area most favored by students are the Ashurst Lounge, Furness Library and Steinberg-Dietrich Hall. Wharton junior and Undergraduate Assembly Chairperson Dan Debicella said he prefers Furness Library because of its comfortable atmosphere. "There's a lot of room there and you spread out, kick back and study," he said. College freshman Lesley Silverio said she enjoys studying at Ashurst because of its lack of distractions. "[I like] Ashurst because it's at a convenient location and it's quiet," she said. Danielle Knopf said she prefers Ashurst and Steinberg-Dietrich because both places keep her awake. "[Both are] usually quiet, I'm not the only one there, so I won't fall asleep," the College freshman said. "If I'm there, I'm motivated by watching other people." College junior Tina Chinakarn said she likes studying at Houston Hall because of its flexible hours. "I like to study for finals there," she said. "They have free coffee and they're open during finals." But some students said they were most productive in the comfort of their own rooms. "I'd study at Furness but I end up admiring the architecture and not doing any work," Engineering and Wharton senior Craig Tyler said. "I prefer to study in my room -- study with music anyway." Wharton senior David Eline said he adds a romantic element to his pursuit of academic excellence. "I study in my room but I love [to go to] the Nursing Education Building," he said. "There is one person I know who studies there -- my girlfriend." Most students agree, though, that excessive sociability prevents productive studying. In addition to those who frequent the same study areas, there are some students who choose a variety of different spots. Other possible places for study are Rosengarten Reserve and Van Pelt Library. Rosengarten is regularly open from 8 a.m. to 6:45 a.m. Van Pelt Library's usual hours are 9 a.m. to 11:45 p.m. On Fridays, Rosengarten and Van Pelt close at 11 p.m. and 9 p.m. respectively.
