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(03/01/91 10:00am)
Being sick is supposed to be awful. From sneezing to coughing to headaches to that just-all-around-lousy feeling, nearly everyone can empathize with classmates when they are sick, which is quite common this time of year. But not everyone hates being sick -- some, in fact, quite like it. "I just need the least excuse not to go to class," College junior Jonathan Barnard said. "So a major illness is great." And if missing class is not your cup of tea, other students pointed out the culinary delights that awaits the ill. "I have my own personal cold cure," College freshman Sebastian Poupon said. "You blend milk with honey and herbs. Then you mix in a lot of cognac. Drinking it makes the whole time of being sick seem worth it." Although measles has gotten the most publicity recently, cases of flu and common colds are far more prevalent on campus and have forced many students to readjust their schedules. And for most, the raw noses, the sleepless nights, and the burning fevers are nothing to celebrate. "Being sick sucks," College sophomore Dan Sacher said. "I just lie in bed waiting to get better." Sacher missed the performance of a play he was directing and was forced to drop several classes because of a recent illness. Many students said that the worst part about being sick is dealing with Student Health. They complained about the long walks and the long waits, saying these are the last things they want when they're sick. "I spend all my time at Student Health trying to get an appointment," Engineering sophomore Kerem Yaman said. Some even said that Student Health makes it more difficult to find out just how sick they are. "I phoned them when I had a rash on my face," said College senior Alara Rogers. "They refused to tell me on the phone what the symptoms of measles looked like. I had to go all the way to Student Health and sit around in the waiting room, just to be told they were bug bites." "Student Health? Are you kidding?" Engineering senior Gavin Steyn said. Despite a general displeasure with Student Health, many students said that they like to avoid taking medicine on their own. Some said they prefer to use natural remedies, while others said the expense of medicine discourages them. And some students said they have trouble keeping up with a medicine's dosage schedule. "I forget to take them," Rogers said. "I forget where I put them, I forget to buy more when I need them and when I do buy them I lose them. And when I took Tylenol, I ended up hyper. I couldn't sleep for 24 hours." Some students have more unexplainable reasons for not taking medicines. "I have a sort of irrational fear of medicines" said Steyn. "If an illness isn't serious, it will go away on its own. I just don't like them very much." And others just don't like the tastes. "For me, the excitement went out of them when I grew too old for the strawberry flavored ones," said one student. But despite the pains and aches, a lot of students said they have rather positive feelings about being sick. It's an excuse to lie in bed for days on end, studying can be postponed, and there's no need to get up first thing in the morning to go to class. "When I'm healthy I'm usually too busy studying to sleep all day," Wharton junior Paul Thurk said. "It's also a good time to catch up on watching TV." TV was second only to sleep as the means students cited for passing the time while they are sick. Graduate student A.T. Miller said he likes the restful aspect of getting sick. "I like to sleep and read when I'm sick," he said. "It's nice that you can't work, so you don't have to feel guilty about not getting anything done." And other students said the idle hours sickness brings gives them a chance to do things they usually do not get to do. "When I'm sick I go and buy a big pad of paper," Wharton sophomore Vincent Delorenzo said. "I lie in bed and crumple the sheets of paper into balls. Then I try to shoot hoops into my waste paper basket." But basketball is not the only pastime engaged in by students while infirm. "When I'm sick I have to lie in bed all the time," College junior Jonathan Barnard said. "So I masturbate four times a day." Students whose families live nearby said that being sick gives them an opportunity to return home and be pampered by their parents. "What I like about being ill is that it's a kind of return to childhood," College junior Jeff McKoviak said. "It's the only chance I get to go home and play Dungeons and Dragons with my mom." "When I'm sick I read my Legal Studies books and play Nintendo," said College junior Rob Pope. "Usually more Nintendo than reading, to be honest." And some regress so far back into childhood, they actually end up in their birthday suit. "There's no one here during the day, everyone in my suite is at class or in the library," Wharton junior Paul Thurk said. "So I like to walk around naked." But for some, the show must go on. "I've never missed a class in the last three years," said a student asked not to be named. "I quite like to go in when I'm sick so people can see how bad I feel." "It's not a neurotic thing, because I don't always go to class when I'm well," said Rogers. "But I don't like to miss class just because I'm sick." For those who don't feel too sick to do so, eating is a popular pastime while sick. Some students cited eating healthy food as a reliable cure. Oranges were particularly praised. "When I'm sick I only take natural things," said Poupon. "I don't take conventional medicines. I eat all natural foods, and I take herbal medicines." But the bottom line of sickness for many students was that it can be just plain boring. "It's such a waste of time," College Junior Paul Cyphers said. "I hate spending all that time just staring at the ceiling. I don't feel like doing anything."
(03/01/91 10:00am)
Benjamin Franklin, known for his 'practical' proverbs, would probably be proud of a new project being spearheaded by the Student Committee on Undergraduate Education. The Practical Scholar, currently being assembled by SCUE, will be a guide to academics and academic resources at the University, according to SCUE Chairperson David Kaufman. "The aim of this is to be both a great resource to students at the University and to show prospective matriculants that this is a great place to study," he said last week. Currently in early planning stages, Kaufman explained that the 'Practical Scholar' will address issues currently not covered by any one publication by pooling the information in many different ones. Up to fifty pages in length, Kaufman said the project will cover subjects ranging from libraries to foreign study programs to computer resources at the University. He said that much of it will be done on computer, so that frequent updates in the future will not be difficult. "First and foremost, we want to be accurate," he said. Susanne Bradford, School of Arts and Sciences director of communications, described the project as unlike any she has seen in her 12 years at the University. "The different schools and different departments are not centralized," she explained last week. "They operate fairly independently. No one school would want to take it on." She said that responsibility for compiling such a project therefore falls to the students, adding "that's probably where it should fall." "I believe that it's important for the students to get involved in projects like this that are above and beyond the classroom," she said. "It's a monumental job." According to Kaufman, SCUE has contacted the provost and the deans of each of the undergraduate schools with the proposal. He said that their response has been favorable. "Anytime the students get involved in communication between the system and other students, it is to be applauded," said Norman Adler, who heads SAS's undergraduate division. John Keenan, head of the Engineering School's undergraduate division, said "it struck me as being a very appropriate and important thing." "[The Practical Penn] tells how to live at Penn," Kaufman said. "This tells how to study at Penn." Bradford added that because the book will be sent by the University to all incoming students, the quality of the book is important. But quality will not come cheaply. Kaufman said that the project could cost between $20,000 and $25,000 depending on the number of copies printed. Bradford said that with that amount, the high-quality book could be completed, but the amount of color and photographs, paper quality, and binding style will all effect the total bill. She said that the University's current budget difficulties may effect the project. "At this point, it is very important to watch the costs," she said.
(02/20/91 10:00am)
In a didactic and entertaining lecture, University of California at Berkeley Professor Ronald Takaki spoke last night on the importance of changing university curricula to include the contributions of minority groups in every field. Takaki, a pioneer in the field of diversifying education, discussed the issue of "re-visioning" the American college curriculum. A crowd of over 100 students, faculty and community members filled the DuBois College House Multi-Purpose Room for the 50-minute lecture. Takaki criticized the American education system for concentrating primarily on "dead white European males," while neglecting the contributions of virtually all minority groups. Takaki gave a model of a diversified education by condensing a full semester of information from one of his classes into a 20-minute history lesson of the past two-hundred years of the United States. His description of the industrial revolution from the invention of the cotton gin to the intercontinental railroad included the contributions of all minority groups in America which he said most "European white male" accounts of history ignore. Takaki then encouraged the University to model its curriculum changes on the recommendations of an innovative committee to diversify Berkeley's curriculum, of which he was the chairperson. Takaki said that over the next two years, Berkeley will create over 150 new classes across the entire university to include the contributions minority groups have made. Takaki added, during the question-and-answer period, that more affirmative action in graduate teaching programs is needed to "bring more minorities to faculties across the country." Many students at the lecture said it was informative. "I knew bits and pieces of the history he covered, but to see the totality of history . . . I was amazed," said College sophomore Niko Phillips. "The speech served to elucidate the transformation of American culture by its various components," said Wharton junior Jackson Pek.
(02/19/91 10:00am)
The works, though all drawings, portray a wide range of subjects, including potraits, landscapes and more abstract drawings. The artists used different media including charcoal, pencil and ink in the finished and unfinished works on display. Roger Braimon, a second-year Fine Arts graduate student whose works are in the show, said "everyone is doing their own thing in their art." Many students who have works displayed said that though the actual works expressed many different themes, the exhibit as a whole was united by the common theme of drawing. College junior Barbara Snitzer, one the curators of the exhibit, called the show "very cohesive." According to College sophomore Jessica Winegar, spokesperson for Penn Student Gallery, the group normally features both graduate and undergraduate artwork, but Grace Mayer, a first-year Fine Arts graduate student, brought together the graduate student artists for this display. Braimon said that the Houston Hall exhibit is an unususal opportunity for undergraduate students to see the works of graduate students. College sophomore Lars Larson said the display is "educational" since it covers different styles of drawing. The Handel's Mug cafe will soon have an event giving people an opportunity to meet some of the artists whose works are featured in Beyond Drawng. Penn Student Gallery's next exhibit will focus on political and social issues featuring the work of both graduate and undergraduate students, and is scheduled to open March 23. The goal of Penn Student Gallery, according to former director and College senior Masa Kabayama, is to "make people more aware of the arts scene on campus." Beyond Drawing will be open until March 5 in the Bowl Room in Houston Hall. Official gallery hours are 3 to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, although visitors can see the exhibit any time when Houston Hall is open.
(02/18/91 10:00am)
Student Health diagnosed a sixth case of measles in a student living off-campus Friday, Director MarJeanne Collins said last night. The student is the second student infected with the virus who is not a member of Alpha Tau Omega fraternity or the wrestling team, Collins said. Although the virus originally seemed to be restricted to ATO brothers who are on the University wrestling team, a case diagnosed Thursday and Friday's case, indicate the virus has spread. Neither student was a friend with the wrestlers or the ATO brothers diagnosed, Collins added. "It makes me fearful that we're going to continue to get cases," Collins said last night. However, no cases have been diagnosed over the weekend, Collins said. The director said Student Health has seen some of the early symptoms of mild measles cases, including conjunctivitis -- commonly known as pink-eye -- sore throats and colds in a number of people in the past few days. Because it is difficult to test for the virus, diagnosis is not possible until a rash appears, Collins said. The cases seen, Collins said, have not been severe. "Our feeling is since everyone has had at least one [vaccination], we have people who have at least partial protection," Collins said. Collins urged students to call their hometown physicians to find out the exact dates of any measles immunization, adding that Student Health is not equipped to handle a lot of calls from students asking about their immunization records. In order to meet University requirements, students must have two measles-mumps-rubella vaccinations. This requirement was adopted in 1989, but Student Health did not ask physicians to verify records for students already on campus, Collins said, leaving some students not protected against the virus. Students also need this information in case they are identified as having contact with a student diagnosed as having measles. In preparing to deal with the outbreak, Student Health will likely set up extra hours during the evening to immunize students. It will also immunize students in the lobby of High Rise South from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday. Student Health immunizations cost $30. People who have cold symptoms with a fever should come in to Student Health to be checked, Collins said, adding students who think they have measles should call ahead so "we woudn't leave them sitting in the waiting-room." The University has not decided to close any public gatherings, Vice Provost for University Life Kim Morrisson said last night. Collins said such measures would be premature, but said the University may cancel events should more cases appear. Collins also said any student groups planning to travel need to contact Student Health so members may be immunized if necessary. Collins said Student Health workers have been logging overtime hours to keep up with immunizations and examinations.
(02/15/91 10:00am)
The defendant, 21-year-old Arnold Butcher of Chester, yesterday made an "open plea" of guilt in the shooting death of former Engineering freshman Tyrone Robertson. Under this plea, Butcher did not plead guilty to a specific charge of murder, but will undergo a "degree of guilt" hearing in which the judge will hear evidence and decide if he is guilty of first or third degree murder. Butcher's hearing will start at 3 p.m. today with the testimony of the coroner who examined Robertson's body. If convicted by the judge of first degree murder, Butcher will receive a mandatory life sentence in prison. Conviction on third degree murder will bring from 5 to 20 years in jail and a maximum $25,000 fine. Butcher also pled guilty to the aggravated assault of Robertson's brother, Paul -- a charge which could also bring from 5 to 20 years and a $25,000 fine. The judge will sentence Butcher on this charge after he reaches a decision on the murder charge. If the judge decides that third degree is the appropriate crime, he can give Butcher a maximum of two consecutive 20-year prison terms. Butcher and two other Chester men, 25-year-old Michael Shaw and 24-year-old Dwight Townsend, were accused of murdering the 18-year-old Robertson after they became involved in a fight with Robertson and his brother outside a Chester seafood restaurant. Butcher reportedly called to Shaw and Townsend to help him beat up the Robertson brothers, and during the course of the fight he shot Tyrone in the buttocks, severing a major artery. After a plea bargain, Shaw and Townsend plead guilty to involuntary manslaughter yesterday. The men were originally charged along with Butcher with crimes including first degree murder. Deleware County Judge Antonio Semeraro will sentence Shaw and Townsend on March 15. They face a maximum of a five year prison term, but court guidelines suggest that first time offenders receive only up to a year in jail. The rest of Robertson's family will make a plea to the judge at the time of sentencing urging that Shaw and Townsend receive the maximum sentence. Shaw said yesterday he was "satisfied" with the plea bargain, adding he was glad he didn't have to go before a jury. "I'm real happy it's almost over," Shaw said. Paul Robertson said yesterday he was disappointed Shaw and Butcher are not facing harsher charges. "The swinging doors of the law didn't swing our way," Robertson said.
(02/14/91 10:00am)
The Beatles may have been right when they warned you "can't buy me love," but some students certainly are going to try today, the most romantic day of the year. Some will use the traditional Valentine's Day route. "I bought [my girlfriend] chocolates, flowers and a present, and I'll take her out to a nice quiet restaurant," Engineering sophomore Max Weise said. Some will be more elaborate. "I'm going to take [my girlfriend] to a fancy restaurant for a night in town, maybe even a carriage ride," Wharton senior Michael Silvera said. But for some, Valentine's Day is not complete without . . . well . . . as one female student put it "a nice quiet dinner, and hot, steamy sex afterwards." "I'm going to buy 20 condoms for this weekend when I go to see my girlfriend," said another student who, obviously, did not want to be identified. There are those, however, still in search of love. "I'll send like a dozen roses to eight or 10 girls . . and then I'll see what happens," said a Wharton sophomore. And then there are others for whom love is only a secondary concern on Valentine's Day. "I'll have to stay in because I have a midterm on Friday," said Wharton freshman Miriam Olivera. But for many, Valentine's Day still means buying that someone special that special something. And that means laying out bucks for the four C's -- candy, chocolate, cards and, of course, condoms. "The past week has been really ridiculous . . hectic," said Erica Marks, a cashier at Houston Hall's Cards & Gifts. "I would say [we have] about three to four times the usual business." Marks said the biggest sellers are humorous cards by the Shoebox company, with small boxes of candy to go with them. "[Chocolate and card] sales are more than we expected," said the manager of CVS at 39th and Walnut streets. "[Condom sales] are the highest they've ever been." According to Frank Morales, night assistant manager of the WaWa at 36th and Chestnut streets, the store has sold almost all of its cards -- more than 100 -- and flower sales have also been good. "People come and get two or three packs of condoms at a time," added Morales. "We had to refill twice this week." And many campus groups are also looking to capitalize on the Valentine's Day spending spree. The Delta Sigma Theta Sorority and the Society of Black Engineers is raising funds by delivering balloons and candy. Delta Sigma Theta sold about 30 balloon and candy packages, while the SBE sold about 50 balloon-grams. "[We did] really, really well. We reached capacity," said College sophomore Kiera Reilly. She said PSA sold 430 care packages and had to turn down 20 other orders. Even the The Daily Pennsylvanian cashed in on Valentine's Day. It sold more than 440 ads, which appear on four pages in today's paper. "It's the most we've sold in a year since I can remember," DP Business Manager Michael Gaviser said yesterday.
(02/13/91 10:00am)
Over 80 people gathered in the Bowl Room of Houston Hall last night to view two films that dealt with the effects of racism during times of war, followed by a panel discussion with some of the films' producers. The first film, Family Gathering, dealt with the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II. Lise Yasui, the film's writer and producer, said that the film chronicled her family's experiences during the war. "[I wanted to] show how these rather large events in history trickle down and affect people on a day to day level," Yasui said. "I had learned about [the internment] through facts and figures." Yasui said that the film was intended to "personalize a rather obscure portion of American history." Voices in Exile: Immigrants and the First Amendment was about seven Arabs living in Los Angeles who were accused of terrorism by the Federal Bureau of Investigation after they distributed information about Palestinians living in the West Bank. "The main focus is whether immigrants have the right to free speech," said Laura Hayes, who produced the film after following the case for several years. After the films were shown, Yasui, Hayes and attorney Khaled Abu El-Fadl fielded questions from the audience. El-Fadl said that there has been a recent "upsurge in cases" of discrimination against Arabs because of the Persian Gulf war. The panel also discussed a contingency plan for fighting terrorism, developed in 1986 by a government task force that included then-Vice President George Bush, which called for the internment of Arabs. Panel members pointed to the plan as an example of racist attitudes during war. Audience members said they were impressed with the films. "I thought it was very informative," said Philadelphia resident Sandy Clory. "There's a lot of confusion going on." She added that she was disappointed that only the problem of racism, and not a solution to it, was discussed. And student who attended the forum said they felt that the films raised issues that are sometimes swept under the rug in wartime. "I think this is an important point that was overlooked in discussions about the war," said Annenberg graduate student Bill Mikulak. "I think racism in any war affects all people," added College senior Amy Hsi, who helped plan the program. "Just in building this program we were able to reach a greater understanding of each others cultures," said Scott Kurashige, a member of the Asian-American Students Alliance. "I was happy both because of the attendance and because of the quality of the films, which were up to the standards we were looking for," said Fine Arts graduate student Yasir Sakr, one of the event's organizers.
(02/11/91 10:00am)
Debating a dispute over international trade restrictions, a team of five Law School students placed tenth in a international law competition held this weekend at the University for the first time. The team's poor showing was due mainly to a 60-point penalty the it incurred when it turned a written case brief in a day late. "I think it's too bad," said Law student Anne Lofaso, who coordinated the regional event. "If they hadn't been penalized, they would have come in third place." For the first time in its 23 years of participation, the Law School hosted the Jessup Moot Court Competition -- the largest international moot court competition dealing with problems of international law. This year's competition centered on a fictitious dispute between the corporations of two countries embroiled in a trade war. Each team was required to plead the cases of both countries before a panel of judges -- largely composed of members from the law community in and around Philadelphia. Law student and team member Larry Rosenberg won a second-place prize for his oral presentation. Rosenberg said that the mock case was very timely. "It was clearly analogous to U.S. and either Japan or Korea," said Rosenberg. "In the trading world, this is a major issue." Rosenberg added that the team had turned their case brief in late in part because of concern over the war in the Persian Gulf. "It was difficult to justify working on a computer instead of watching what was going on in the real world," Rosenberg said. Fordham University's team won first place, and the team from Villanova University won runner-up. "I hope we'll host it again in the next two or three years," said Lofaso. "It's a good sign that the University is committed to international law and that it is an international university."
(02/06/91 10:00am)
Last weekend's annual model United Nations conference proved to be more exciting than in past years -- this year the 1200 high school students who came to the convention had a real war to deal with. In the annual Ivy League Model United Nations Conference, held at The Wyndham Franklin Plaza Hotel, students from 60 high schools convened last Thursday through Sunday to discuss and find solutions for world problems ranging from the the Persian Gulf crisis to the world drug problem. The International Affairs Association ran the conference, as each high school represented between one and three countries, covering a total of 93 nations. Delegates discussed solutions for both real and hypothetical world conflicts. The tone of debate was much like the real U.N., including serious discussions and the use of official terminology. Leading the discussions were 140 members of the International Affairs Association, who also prepared background papers on the issues discussed. College junior Pauline Schwartz, director of conference affairs, said the conference offered learning opportunities for both experienced delegates and newcomers. College junior Adam Zoia, the secretary-general of the conference, said that the organizers have been preparing all year for the convention. "This convention gives many college students the opportunity to participate in a large scale business-like operation," added Ethan Youderian, special assistant to the secretary-general. "The supervision of more than 1200 people is a great learning experience." This year's conference, the seventh annual, was much larger than previous years, with 1200 delegates versus last year's 800. The conference also saw the addition of the new Visiting Scholars' Program, which brings University faculty from a number of different departments to address the various committees. "We brought the resources, namely the professors, down here," Zoia said. Provost Michael Aiken introduced the conference's keynote speaker, John Washburn, a director in the office of the secretary-general of the United Nations. Aiken used the opportunity to encourage the high school students in attendance to consider applying to the University. Students attending the convention said they were impressed. "The Penn students have been running this very well," said Nathan Nielsen, a first-year delegate. "It says a lot about the quality of people going to Penn." Nielsen said he is considering applying to the University because of the conference.
(02/04/91 10:00am)
Five Nursing School students will attend a conference in Washington, D.C., this week to learn about health care's place in the political world and how they can influence public policy. The seminar, sponsored by the American Nursing Association, will contain a series of lectures beginning on Thursday morning and running through Friday afternoon. Nursing professionals from all over the country will discuss the effects of politics on the health care field. "It will help open nursing students' eyes to the importance of public policy in their future careers," SNAP President Heidi Nebelkopf explained. "It is exciting that we will be with the leaders of nursing, such as the president of the ANA." The conference will be highlighted by a reception on Capitol Hill Thursday evening. The participants are expected to discuss their experience at the seminar with fellow nursing students at the University. Nursing senior Stephanie Rodriguez, one of the students going on the trip, said it is important that the students bring back the information to the other nursing students since it will supplement their previous study in the politics of nursing. "They don't teach a lot about this at the Nursing School," Rodriguez said. "A conference such as this allows students to learn more about an interesting aspect of nursing." The students have received funding for the entire seminar from two separate funds. The Nursing School is paying the registration fees and SNAP is paying for the hotel and transportation. Associate Dean and Director of Undergraduate Nursing Mary Naylor said the conference is an exciting opportunity and valuable experience for the students. "A major factor [of the seminar] is to try and examine how nurses can influence health care accessibility, quality, and cost," Naylor said. "We think this is very important.". The five students attending are: Nursing senior Nebelkopf, Nursing senior Rodriguez, Nursing junior Sheila Rossell, Nursing sophomore Diane Schretzman, and Nursing junior Leslie Sondeen. A sixth student may attend as well, depending on her schedule.
(02/04/91 10:00am)
Twenty members of the Black Wharton Undergraduate Association explained the importance of continuing education to about 400 University City High School seniors during the association's first Business Day on Friday. Approximately 400 high school students participated in the program. The students were split into groups so two or three association members could speak directly to the students. In one section, Law and MBA student Michael Jones told a group of six students that they must pursue an education in order to succeed in business. "If you have the opportunity to expand your skill base, take advantage of it, because otherwise you are at a disadvantage," Jones said. The day consisted of three 39 sessions during which Association members met with the groups of up to thirty students. Business Day coordinator Michelle Fambro told the same group of students that the concept of business had varied meanings, and that business "doesn't stop when one leaves the nine-to-five job." "Business is an everyday experience," the Wharton junior said. "Everyday a transaction occurs whether it is buying a SEPTA token or lunch." Because business encompasses many experiences, Jones said, certain skills are required for success, such as computer literacy, typing, and economics. "These programs are good because they build confidence and keep the brain sharp," Jones said. According to Clawson, the programs teach certain skills which allow participants to become unique and "sell" themselves, a technique used in interviews for either business or college. Fambro advised students to show employers and colleges that they have something of value to offer, because the students always have something to offer and interviewers have something to gain. The Black Wharton Undergraduate Association, working with the African-American MBA Association, held Business Day because, according to Fambro, the students who are soon graduating need help in making post-graduation plans. According to organizers, Business Day was held at University City High School because of its proximity to the University, its receptiveness to the program, and the support of school principal Davis Martin.
(02/01/91 10:00am)
According to Koval, when the University decided last summer to give delivery service to Penn News, it only intended the change to last one year. He said the current financial problems facing the embattled delivery service have not played any role in the decision. "It was going to be a one-year separation no matter what," he said. "This has been a consistent posture on my part since last August." But PSA will not wait until Penn News' contract expires this summer before getting involved, according to Koval. "We want to see what it is we can do to alleviate some of the current dilemna," he said. Penn News currently owes three newspaper companies over $24,000 in unpaid bills and its owner, Wharton junior Mike Monk, faces a possible investigation by the Philadelphia District Attorney's office. PSA General Manager Thomas Hauber said last night that he met with Monk last Wednesday. At the meeting, the two agreed that Monk would return the next day with company records to discuss ways of resolving Penn News' problems, Hauber said. However, Monk never returned. "We have not seen him or heard from him since," Hauber said. "Until we get some cooperation from Penn News in providing data, it's going to be tough to come up with a solution," Koval added. Despite Monk's failure to provide the information, Koval said he still would like to help resolve the situation. One important problem is dealing with those students who paid for subscriptions this year but did not receive newspapers. Koval said he will "somehow work with Penn News" to resolve the issue. "I do not know what our action will be, but maybe PSA will provide them with papers somehow through some other source, even though the money was given over to Penn News," he said. He said one possibility would be to have newspapers delivered to Houston Hall, where these subscribers could pick up their copies. In addition, the vice deputy provost said Penn News will have to decide whether to seek payment from subscribers who never paid. "Whatever action is taken, it's safe to assume that people who have not paid for newspapers will not get delivery this semester unless they pay," Koval said. He did say that 13 students who sent payments for Penn News to PSA either would receive refunds from PSA or be guaranteed future deliveries, since the students thought they were working through PSA. He emphasized, however, that neither PSA nor the University will help Monk pay off any part of the money Penn News owes The New York Times, The Philadelpia Inquirer and USA Today. "Whatever debts Penn News has with vendors is really a matter between Penn News and the vendors," he said. Because he claimed the PSA newspaper delivery service lost more than $20,000 last year, Koval said PSA may have to stop delivering to students' doors. That may mean PSA will use the drop-box system implemented last semester by Penn News. "We're going to have to reassess the entire operation to see how we might offer students the most convenient way to get a newspaper," he said. He said Penn is "one of the only schools where delivery is door-to-door." Officials at the Times, the Inquirer and USA Today said they have not received payment from Penn News or heard from Monk. While enthusiastic about the prospect of dealing with PSA, the officials said they would continue to press Monk to pay his debts. "That's fine if PSA starts delivering papers again," Inquirer Campus Sales Manager Joel Kopke said. "But I'm concerned about outstanding debts and who pays for future papers." Tony Sarin, a sales representative for USA Today, said the fact that Penn News and PSA are "separate entities" means that USA Today will do business with PSA. But, he added, "in any future arrangement, we won't wait until the guy puts his hands up and says, 'I can't pay.' " Times spokesperson Nancy Nielsen said the Times will begin working with PSA this fall. Until then, the newspaper will try to supply the Book Store with more copies, she said.
(01/28/91 10:00am)
Graduate student Jonathan Eilian and senior Alyssa Rokito, who claim they have spent months trying to reach Monk without success, said they spent the weekend gathering the names of other dissatisfied subscribers in order to file a lawsuit. "We've concluded that the only hope we have is to pool our claims and retain a top corporate attorney," Eilian said yesterday. He said one possible solution could involve a class-action lawsuit -- a suit in which a company or individual is sued by an individual on behalf of a group of people with similar complaints. Although Eilian said he hopes to resolve the situation before the case reaches court, the graduate student stressed he and Rokito would "pursue all legal channels available to us." "Hopefully, we won't need to waste time and money in court," Eilian said. "But we will pursue Monk until justice is served." He said that two are in the process of hiring a Chicago lawyer to coordinate a possible lawsuit. Last Friday, Eilian and Rokito hung up signs throughout campus asking students interested in getting refunds to call them. Since then, Eilian said the response has been "tremendous," even though many of the signs have disappeared. Eilian said 48 students have called him since last week to register their interest in obtaining refunds. He added that 100 names are needed before any legal proceedings would occur. "Everyone so far is enthusiastic, willing to give it a try," he said. "After all, we have nothing to lose and can't be any worse off than we are now." Eilian said he will leave a letter and response form for all students interested in joining the group in the Steinberg-Dietrich student mail folder area beginning this morning. Monk refused to discuss Penn News last night, choosing instead to submit a letter to The Daily Pennsylvanian. In the prepared statement, the Wharton junior said that "the students who have paid will be compensated for each paper that has not been delivered" since three newspaper companies suspended delivery of papers to Penn News last month. He failed to specify what type of compensation students can expect, however, and he did not address the possibility of refunds for newspapers not received during the previous semester. After writing that he did not "create this situation," Monk added, "I am doing everything I can to correct [the suspension of delivery], for the sake of those students who have paid up front and have every right to expect prompt delivery." Monk did not describe exactly what he is doing to correct the problem and The Philadelphia Inquirer, The New York Times, and USA Today said last week that they will not resume delivery until they receive payment. According to officials from all three papers, Monk owes them over $24,000. According to Eilian, his goal is "a single lump sum payment in the form of a certified check" to all students that have not received refunds. He said that is the only way to avoid "the confusion of bounced checks, purposeless delays or any other games." In addition to leaving messages on Monk's answering machine, Eilian said he has complained to the University, the Better Business Bureau and Penn Student Agencies, which formerly operated Penn News. "We've tried for months to pursue every reasonable method of collection, and we've gotten nowhere," he said. "No one is helping us. We have no choice other than to organize and start helping ourselves." The purpose of a collective effort against Penn News, according to Eilian, is to ensure that Monk does not assume he can ignore individual complaints. "We believe that if Monk ever decides to pay his claim, it will be to his largest creditors: the newspapers who are owed over $24,000," the Wharton graduate student said. "These people have lawyers. No individual student has the time or resources to pursue a $100 claim." Eilian claimed he has "retained the advice of a top corporate lawyer in Chicago," but declined to provide the name of the attorney. According to Eilian, the lawyer reportedly agreed to take the case on a contingency basis, meaning the lawyer will be paid only if his clients win the case.
(01/28/91 10:00am)
Graduate student Jonathan Eilian and senior Alyssa Rokito, who claim they have spent months trying to reach Monk without success, said they spent the weekend gathering the names of other dissatisfied subscribers in order to file a lawsuit. "We've concluded that the only hope we have is to pool our claims and retain a top corporate attorney," Eilian said yesterday. He said one possible solution could involve a class-action lawsuit -- a suit in which a company or individual is sued by an individual on behalf of a group of people with similar complaints. Although Eilian said he hopes to resolve the situation before the case reaches court, the graduate student stressed he and Rokito would "pursue all legal channels available to us." "Hopefully, we won't need to waste time and money in court," Eilian said. "But we will pursue Monk until justice is served." He said that two are in the process of hiring a Chicago lawyer to coordinate a possible lawsuit. Last Friday, Eilian and Rokito hung up signs throughout campus asking students interested in getting refunds to call them. Since then, Eilian said the response has been "tremendous," even though many of the signs have disappeared. Eilian said 48 students have called him since last week to register their interest in obtaining refunds. He added that 100 names are needed before any legal proceedings would occur. "Everyone so far is enthusiastic, willing to give it a try," he said. "After all, we have nothing to lose and can't be any worse off than we are now." Eilian said he will leave a letter and response form for all students interested in joining the group in the Steinberg-Dietrich student mail folder area beginning this morning. Monk refused to discuss Penn News last night, choosing instead to submit a letter to The Daily Pennsylvanian. In the prepared statement, the Wharton junior said that "the students who have paid will be compensated for each paper that has not been delivered" since three newspaper companies suspended delivery of papers to Penn News last month. He failed to specify what type of compensation students can expect, however, and he did not address the possibility of refunds for newspapers not received during the previous semester. After writing that he did not "create this situation," Monk added, "I am doing everything I can to correct [the suspension of delivery], for the sake of those students who have paid up front and have every right to expect prompt delivery." Monk did not describe exactly what he is doing to correct the problem and The Philadelphia Inquirer, The New York Times, and USA Today said last week that they will not resume delivery until they receive payment. According to officials from all three papers, Monk owes them over $24,000. According to Eilian, his goal is "a single lump sum payment in the form of a certified check" to all students that have not received refunds. He said that is the only way to avoid "the confusion of bounced checks, purposeless delays or any other games." In addition to leaving messages on Monk's answering machine, Eilian said he has complained to the University, the Better Business Bureau and Penn Student Agencies, which formerly operated Penn News. "We've tried for months to pursue every reasonable method of collection, and we've gotten nowhere," he said. "No one is helping us. We have no choice other than to organize and start helping ourselves." The purpose of a collective effort against Penn News, according to Eilian, is to ensure that Monk does not assume he can ignore individual complaints. "We believe that if Monk ever decides to pay his claim, it will be to his largest creditors: the newspapers who are owed over $24,000," the Wharton graduate student said. "These people have lawyers. No individual student has the time or resources to pursue a $100 claim." Eilian claimed he has "retained the advice of a top corporate lawyer in Chicago," but declined to provide the name of the attorney. According to Eilian, the lawyer reportedly agreed to take the case on a contingency basis, meaning the lawyer will be paid only if his clients win the case.
(01/25/91 10:00am)
No pain, no gain. Whether it is to become healthier, stronger or more attractive, University students say that working out has become an essential part of their everyday life. The Hutch weightroom, which is located in the basement of the gym, contains several workout benches with free weights which can be used for no charge. College sophomore Ebun Garner said that he uses weights partly because it enables him to get in shape for the soccer season and partly because "it beats sitting around watching cartoons." He said that he works out six times a week, usually at Hutch and sometimes at the Hollenback gym -- a workout facility for varsity athletes. First-year MBA student Leslie Morgan said that she often goes to Hutch because it has "one of the best atmospheres of any gym I have been at." But she said that she is often the only woman there. The weightroom at Gimbel contains several Univesral weight machines but unlike Hutch it does not have any free weights. Students who work out at Gimbel said that it is the most convenient facility for students living in the high rises and the Quadrangle. College freshman Daniel Bisbee, who also likes to lift at Gimbell, said that he works out every other day to keep in shape for Navy ROTC. He added that exercising has a positive effect mentally as well as physically. "I tend to do better on schoolwork when I'm in shape," he said. Engineering sophomore Mark Montoya said that he goes to Gimbel three times a week and that he has been working out since high school. "I work out partially to keep in shape and partially to build muscles," he said. Unlike the weightrooms at Gimbel and Hutch, the Penn Fitness Center, located in Hutchinson Gymnasium, is not free. It costs $115 a year and it has about 950 members. Joanne Rafferty, who is in charge of the Fitness Center, said that there has been a large membership increase so far this semester because it is a new semester and people are "getting ready for spring break." Rafferty said that over 250 students, half men and half women, come to the Fitness Center each day to get physically fit. But while many students said that the facility -- which sports red and blue painted equipment -- is more "social," many students said that is too crowded during peak hours, from 4 p.m to 6 p.m. Second-year Medical student Steven Yung, who is one of about ten mebers of his class who come to the Center every other day, said that he really likes the atmosphere and the facilities but that it is "often crowded." College freshman Belinda Rosenfeld said that she likes the Center because she finds it to be good exercise and that "the people are very nice." She added that she doesn't mind the expense because knowing that she has paid for membership encourages her to come on a regular basis. The Penn Fitness Center offers new members an orientation program to learn how to use the machines and new members are encouraged to make appointments to have personal instruction. Many students build their biceps at University City Nautilus, located at the corner of 40th and Locust streets. Manager Bob Stern said that 80 percent of the club's 900 members are University students. Students said that they go to Nautilus because it provides more equipment and is more convenient for students who live off campus. Students said that while the health club is well-maintained, its main drawback is that it is much more expensive than the other facilities. Membership costs more than $170 per semester. The club offers Universal equipment, Lifecycle excercise bicyles, stairclimbers, treadmills, free weights, and two sets of Nautilus circuits. College senior Christina Gallo said, while she was pedaling on an exercise bicycle, that exercising at University Nautilus provides her with an important "relief of tension." College senior Sharon Winter said that University City Nautilus is "more convenient" than the gymnasiums. Students said that they find the instructors at University City Nautilus "helpful" in designing personalized training programs. Many students said that they prefer to shape-up in their dormitory rooms because it is more convenient and harder to put off working out. College sophomore Mark Schuchman said that he prefers the cozy confines of his Quadrangle room to any gymnasiums or private health clubs. "The [proximity] of the equipment makes working out convenient and also prevents me from making excuses about why I don't have time to lift," he said. Schuchman added that he has a bar and several five and 10 pound plates in his room which enable him to lift weights everyday before dinner. College freshman Joshua Rosenthal brought his work out bench from home to school with him. Rosenthal said that since he has come to school he works out several times each week in his Kings Court dormitory room. "Working out in my room saves me from having to walk to a gym in bad weather," Rosenthal said. Wharton freshman Gabe Levitt said that "having a bench in your room is definitely worth it." Levitt said that he has developed a workout program in his room which he is able to fit in between his classes and pledging a fraternity.
(01/24/91 10:00am)
The first exhibit to be shown at the Institute of Contemporary Art's new home at 36th and Sansom streets focuses on a subject very close to home -- every work displayed in the show was done by Philadelphia artists. The new exhibit, "Artists Choose Artists," tries to emphasize the diversity and quality of Philadelphia's own artists, and to make people more aware of the visual artists around the city. The works in the exhibit cover a huge range of disciplines and styles of work, including painting, sculpture, photography, video and performance. And the media used in the exhibit are as diverse as the disciplines. Materials range from the conservative oil on canvas, pastel on paper, and photography to the not-so-usual maple trees, rocks, fishhooks, video installations, thermal color prints, interactive videodisc-computer installations, and a Macintosh computer on a stroller with a synthesized voice to go with it. The artwork comes in a wide variety of scales, ranging from a small four by three by three inch sculpture to the huge five by seven foot construction banner that can be seen outside the building. The themes of the art also differ. South African apartheid is portrayed in Allan Edmund's Not Behind Bars, while other artists touch on the subjects of drugs and freedom of expression. The exhibit's name, "Artists Choose Artists," comes from the fact that 25 Philadelphia artists were initially selected to participate in the exhibit, and then each of those artists invited another artist. Admission to the exhibit is free to University students, and it will remain open through Sunday, March 3.
(01/22/91 10:00am)
The number of early decision applicants to the University for the Class of 1995 dropped six percent over last year, the third straight year of decline, admissions officials said yesterday Undergraduate Admissions Dean Willis Stetson said he expects colleges and universities across the country to experience similar declines in both early and regular admissions pools because there has been a five percent decrease in the number of 18-year-olds nation-wide. The University accepted 54 percent of the 1229 high school graduates who applied for early acceptance this year. The University received 1310 applications last year. Stetson said that even with the smaller number of applications, this year's pool was "very, very qualified." Admissions figures for other Ivy League schools were not available yesterday. Early admissions, a process in which students promise to attend the University if they are accepted, represent about 30 percent of an average class, Stetson said, adding that regular admissions will be completed within the next 10 days. The admissions dean said that minority recruitment efforts brought an increase in the number of minorities despite the overall drop in applicants. This year 133 were accepted, versus 112 last year, Stetson said. The University saw a drop in black acceptances, from 20 to 18, but substantial percentage increases in Asian students, from 72 to 93, and Mexican-Americans from one to five. Hispanic acceptances stayed even at 39. Minorities represent about 30 percent of the early decision acceptances for the Class of 1995.. Stetson also reported an increase in both the amount of females and the amount of international students accepted. West Coast Admissions Officer Glen Singleton said he was "very excited by the" results. "In a time when there are significant worries about the state of the urban structure, it's good to see that there's a higher quality of applicants," Singleton said. "Penn's a leader as far as attracting and matriculating minorities." He said the general pool of applicants "was larger in number and the quality was just as good, if not better than the past five years." Although Stetson would not release the average SAT scores of the applicants, he did say they were "comparably strong to last year's SAT scores." "[Early admissions] provide with a strong base from which to build to build a class in March and April," the dean added. "This will be a buffer against decreasing numbers of regular admissions." Even with the smaller numbers of applicants, the University accepted more than in the past. Wharton and the College of Arts and Sciences experienced the biggest increases in early decision acceptances, according to Stetson. While Wharton had 116 acceptances in 1989, 161 were accepted this fall. The College had a jump from 345 in 1989 to 407 this year.
(12/03/90 10:00am)
Two 1986 University graduates have taken their work westward to get more students on the "red and blue express." Regional office directors Timothy Ryan, who works in Texas, and Glenn Singleton, based in Los Angeles, aim to get more students from the West Coast at the University. And as part of their non-traditional approach, they even work to help students fly back to Philadelphia together on the "express" each fall. In 1980, the University founded the California admissions office, and followed suit eight years later in Texas. The offices are intended to spread word about the University and to make the admissions game more competitive by drawing highly qualified West Coast students. Ryan and Singleton say the offices, which concentrate efforts in nearly 10 western states, also help the University attract a more racially diverse student body because the states have significant minority populations. Before they moved west, both Singleton and Ryan spent several years honing their skills as University-based admissions officers who recruited through regional visits. Singleton just moved to the Los Angeles office, replacing Maria Morales-Kent who left to take a fellowship with the Coro Foundation. He said he plans to increase the office's communication with prospective students. Singleton said that he thinks his role is crucial in the admissions process because he attracts undecided students to the University who without his encouragement would have gone elsewhere. "What is gratifying is that a person, at 17, can chose this place because it's right for them," he said in September. Singleton also said that as a black man, he offers an important perspective to students in California where the minority population is growing rapidly. Singleton said he is planning several outreach programs to potential students and their families, including forming a committee of parents of current students to call and accepted students' congratulate parents. He said the parents will be able to address security and other concerns of the parents of prospective matriculants. Ryan said his strength is working as an educator who tells students who do not know about the University how they would benefit by coming here. He said this is much more important in the Southwest than in the traditional feeder states in the Northeast because these student know less about the University. "You have to work a lot harder to get the message out," Ryan said. The University is one of very few schools that has regional offices. Ryan said he is aware of a Swarthmore College office in California and a Cornell University office in Texas. He said the offices demonstrate an obligation to the regional diversity that the University preaches. "It is not just a passing fancy," Ryan said. "There is a committment to geographic diversity on our campus."
(11/30/90 10:00am)
When Engineering junior Doug Glanville explained gravity to 10 fifth-graders at Samuel Huey Public Elementary School, the children, mouths full with cookies, stared back at him in disbelief. "If I drop a Mack truck and a pea off a cliff, they land at the same time," Glanville explained. "I know you don't believe me." Then for the next hour, Glanville gave a lesson in gravity to the students as part of the year-old PENNlincs program. PENNlincs, an elementary science mentoring project, consists of 20 teams of University students mentoring weekly in nine elementary schools in scientific fields. And although the program is just one-year old, both organizers and teachers have praised it saying both mentors and students learn from each other. Program director Jean Roberts, however, said that the University students do not tutor the children, but rather expose the children to science and science related fields without pressures of a school room environment. She added that since the children can relate better to the mentors than to their teachers, they develop a greater interest in science. Roberts, who said she has been amazed at the demand for PENNlinc mentors at several Philadelphia public schools, plans to expand the program in the coming years to include more public schools and more universities. "It's terribly sad to turn children away from the program," she said earlier this week. "We have to do that a lot." Plans are being made to extend the program to Drexel University, Temple University, Chestnut Hill College, and Villanova University. PENNlincs is now funded through a three year, $900,000 grant from the National Science Foundation and hopes to institutionalize the program in the future. But currently, the program has been successful on its small scale. Wednesday afternoon at the Huey School, located at 52nd and Pine, was just another example of the program at work. Students at the Huey school enthusiastically trooped up to the science room Wednesday afternoon to learn about Sir Isaac Newton and gravity from College sophomore Shashwatee Bagchi and Glanville -- who plays on the varsity baseball team. But the children, perching on the miniature chairs in the science room cluttered with plants and astronomy charts, had trouble understanding the concept of a vacuum. Many wanted to know how people could breathe in a vacuum and could not comprehend how objects of different weights could fall at the same rate. Glanville tried to clear up matters with a piece of paper and a baseball while most children watched with interest. Alexis Hamilton, a fifth grader at the school, proudly displayed her one page essay on gravity, complete with illustrations of the sun with people floating next to it. "Gravity is a substance that keeps us from floating off the earth," Hamilton wrote. "If you get very close to the sun, it will burn you to a crisp like a piece of burnt toast." Hamilton said later that the program allows her to have fun with science. "I like experiments and taking things apart and putting them back together," Hamilton added. Fifth grader Samantha Beverly, who said she wanted to be a scientist or lawyer, joined the program because her aunt and sister often talked about science experiments. "I want to cut open a frog," said Beverly, "but I have to wait until the eighth grade." Huey School Program Supervisor Rita Arrington, a science teacher at the school, said that it is too early to tell if the program will have positive, long lasting effects on the children. But she quickly added that it offers the children a chance to find out what really interests them. "PENNlincs gives them an opportunity to interact with adults in science," said Arrington. "They have interests, but getting them to pursue them is a different matter." PENNlincs mentor Bagchi, who has been with the group for two semesters added, "Most things can be made interesting if you just get it on their level."
