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(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."
(02/11/91 10:00am)
Black History Month, already well underway, has been criticized by members of the black community who feel the University has not done enough to recognize the celebration. Although the University itself has not sponsored many events, students around campus have organized many programs to commemorate the month. Among the highlights will be a speech by Betty Shabazz, the widow of Malcolm X. The Black Graduate and Professional Student Assembly will sponsor the February 20 speech. Black student leaders said it is unfortunate that students have had to organize most of the events themselves. They said black history is part of American history and the University should do more to recognize the achievements of blacks. "I don't see the University as a whole doing anything to promote interest in the month," said Christina Swarns, a first-year Law student. "Black history is a definite part of world history," Black Student League President Jessica Dixon said. "You just can't look at it for one month out of the year." Kathryn Williams, president of the Black Inter-Greek Council, said much of the University community thinks black history is separate from American history. "Our histories are inextricably woven together," Williams said. The Christian Association will sponsor a discussion about the effects of Black-Africanism on Judeo-Christian history today at 4 p.m. in the CA building's lounge. "It's a critique on how Western scholarship has treated Africa in antiquity," said the Reverend Lawrence Burnley. Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority, which annually celebrates Black History Month, is focusing on the cultural achievements of blacks this month. "Our theme is 'The African-American Experience: A Celebration of Artistic Experience,' " Christine Bussey, co-chair of the sorority's cultural committee, said. The sorority is also sponsoring a discussion about Afrocentricity on Tuesday. Molefi Asante, author of "The Afrocentric Idea," will speak at 7 p.m. in the multi-purpose room of DuBois College House. On February 19, the sorority will host a Black Performing Arts Night at 7 p.m. in High Rise North. Performance poet Kammika Williams will present a dramatic poetry reading at the Harold Prince Theater at 7 p.m. on February 27. The Greenfield Intercultural Center will present a lecture by Ronal Takaki, a professor at the University of California at Berkeley, at 7:30 p.m. on February 19. "Re-visioning American History: Diversity and the Curriculum" will explore ways to represent a spectrum of cultures in history. The lecture will be in DuBois College House. The Black Law Student Association will sponsor a two day conference on February 22 and 23 in Houston Hall, featuring Kenneth Mundy, the defense attorney for former Washington, D.C. Mayor Marion Barry. "The program will explore the effects of the drug problem in the black community and explore how we, as aspiring attorneys and acting attorneys, can eradicate the problem," Kimberly Kelly, a first year Law student, said. "A Legal Approach to the Drug Dilemna" will feature representatives from the Guardian Angels, the Nation of Islam, the American Civil Liberties Union, and the Drug Enforcement Agency.
(02/11/91 10:00am)
Over the past 10 years, the University has upgraded its research facilities only once -- with the construction of the Clinical Research Building. At the same time, many other schools, especially state schools, have updated their facilities at a rapid pace. As a result, the University is losing a competitive advantage in applying for research grants. Since 1978, the University's national rank in the amount of overall funding it receives has dropped 10 places. In the most recent report from the National Science Foundation on University research funding, the University has fallen from ninth place to 19th place in only 10 years. University officials said last week this fall is directly related to a lack of facilities and a static number of research faculty. Although there are no plans to increase faculty, University officials are looking to the construction of the proposed Institute for Advanced Science and Technology to turn around the University's funding dilemma. The Institute, to be built on a site now occupied by Smith Hall, will house laboratories for science and engineering departments. "We are beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel," said Engineering School Dean Gregory Farrington last week. "The new facility is not a frill, but central to maintaining a major research university." And Executive Director of Sponsored Programs Anthony Merrit said he thinks the recent advancements the University has made and is making will help change the downward trend. "We think we have repaired that in the last two years," Merrit said. Although rankings have fallen, total funding dollars at the University have steadily increased. Between 1978 and 1988, the University's funding grew from $76,493,000 to $159,218,000, a 108 percent increase. In 1990 University faculty submitted proposals worth $388 million and 58 percent of the those proposals were funded. Nationally, only 24.1 percent of research proposals are funded. But funding in other universities has grown more rapidly. As the University's rankings fell, other colleges, mostly state schools, moved ahead. These schools include Pennsylvania State University, two Texas state schools and several University of California schools. These universities use part of the money they receive to build major new facilities which attract quality faculty and research grants. "The quality of facilities contributes to the quality of the faculty," said David Morse, Managing Director of the University's Institute for Higher Education. When the University chose not to spend its money on facilities, funding declined. As a result, the University was caught in a Catch-22 situation -- it had to spend money to bring in money. Engineering Dean Farrington emphasized that research is in trouble without new facilities. "I think we lag behind with the facilities and equipment that are necessary for an outstanding performance in the engineering fields," said Farrington. "We have no closet space left to renovate." Farrington said science and engineering research cannot make any progress without new facilities, and the current situation is "desperate." Not only has the University not seen any new research space, but the number of faculty members in the research fields has not increased either. According to Merrit, to increase funding the University must increase the amount of competitive faculty. The faculty already at the University are extremely competitive, he said, but the University needs more members to vie for top research funds. Vice Provost for Research Barry Cooperman said 65 percent of the University's 1,800 faculty receive outside funding. Farrington said increasing faculty does have returns. In the last few years the Engineering School has seen only a "slight" increase in faculty, but research income has grown significantly. Although the University does not receive much state funding, it remains in better standing with the federal government, from which it receives 72 percent of its research funding. In 1989, the University received 464 grants worth $97 million from the National Institutes of Health, and ranked 10th on its list. Most private universities receive more federal aid than state sponsored schools. John Hopkins University, a private school, received the most funding from NIH, while only ranking 12th in all funding received. Currently receiving the most research funding, Stanford University rose from fifth to first place in the 10-year span. Stanford's funding for research had a 215 percent increase, leaping from $88,198,000 to $277,504,000. According to National Science Foundation spokesperson Marian Moulton, funding depends on the specific departments at a university, not a university as a whole. The stronger the faculty, the stronger its chance of receiving research funding. NIH looks for basic criteria in all research proposals, including the significance, originality and methodology of the project as well as the success rate, qualifications and experience of the researcher.
(02/08/91 10:00am)
The University is facing either large tuition increases or drastic program cuts if Governor Robert Casey proposed cut of $18 million in state aid to the University passes the state legislature. Wednesday, Casey proposed nearly halving the University's state funding for fiscal year 1992, reducing last year's $37.3 million appropriation to $19 million. University officials yesterday called the recommended cuts a catastrophe, saying their first plan of action is to try to convince the state to restore the aid. "In a word, it's disastrous," Senior Vice President Marna Whittington said yesterday. "We're right now looking at everything to figure out what to do." In an annual presentation of budget proposals, Casey requested slashing general funding to the University from $16.6 million to $6.6 million. Casey also suggested substantial cuts to the Veterinary School, the Dental School, and the Medical School. The University uses the general aid throughout the budget. Whittington said last month the funds have helped keep tuition increases down in the past. President Sheldon Hackney could not be reached for comment yesterday. Both Whittington and the University's Harrisburg lobbyist James Shada said the proposal, if passed, would have wide-ranging effects for the entire University. Whittington said the loss of revenue would either represent "substantially" shrunken programs or increases in tuition. These cuts would affect tuition for next year. Whittington said she did not know how much tuition or programs would be affected. "We don't have that many vacancies, and we don't have that much discretionary [funds]," Whittington said. "[This loss in funding] would impact the quality of the Penn experience." The Vet School lost the single largest amount of any program at the University. Casey recommended that the state cut $2.4 million dollars -- 30 percent -- from its appropriation. Last year, the school received nearly 40 percent of its funding from the state. Edwin Andrews, dean of the Vet School, could not be reached for comment yesterday. In the past year, the University has been hard hit by federal and state budget cuts. In Fiscal Year 1990, the state froze the University's funding after Casey proposed cutting it by four percent. Last month, Casey cut $1.2 million from this amount, prompting fears at the University of a potential $1 million budget deficit. Earlier this week, proposed federal budget cuts left several financial aid programs in jeopardy. These cuts came in grant and work-study programs but the proposal also called for an increase in some types of loans. Shada said it will be difficult to convince legislators to restore the aid because of the state's own worsening fiscal health. Casey also proposed Wednesday the largest tax hike in state history. "The tinkering is complicated by the potential need for taxes," Shada said. "If additional monies are to be spent, they will have to increase the tax package even more." The University plans to increase lobbying efforts in Harrisburg, Shada said yesterday, making its presence "a little broader, a little more intense, have a longer shelf life, and involve more people" than in past years. Shada predicted that Hackney and Whittington will be meeting with statehouse representatives "when necessary, and where it is proper." Shada said he and fellow lobbyist Paul Cribbens will meet with members of two congressional subcommittees in hopes of improving the vet school's apportionment. Shada emphasized that Casey's budget requests are a rough draft of the final budget. He added that while modifications are certain, the extent of change is unknown. Area state representatives and senators said they were deeply discouraged by Casey's proposals, saying the cuts to the University would reach farther than the edge of campus. "The University is an important institution for West Philadelphia, an important institution for the city -- its largest private employer -- and an important institution for the state and country," said State Representative Vincent Hughes (D-Phila.), whose district includes the University. "Very significant work gets done there." House Minority Leader Matthew Ryan (D-Phila.) said he would fight for more money for the University, calling Casey's proposals "outrageous and unfair." "It's going to make it . . . very, very difficult if not impossible to adjust their budgets so that the students and the University can be treated fairly," Ryan said. State Representative Hughes added that budget cuts might cause high tuition increases, making it more difficult for minority students to attend the 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.
(02/01/91 10:00am)
Renowned historian and writer Arthur Schlesinger, Jr., told an overflow crowd yesterday that now is "an astonishing time to be alive," because of rapid changes in the world. Schlesinger, speaking before over 400 students and faculty at Logan Hall, said even experts have been surprised by such events as the end of the Cold War and the collapse of the Soviet Union. These changes have called into question policies the U.S. once took for granted. "The end of the Cold War requires a reorientation, a rethinking of the premises of our policies," Schlesinger said. "The collapse of the Cold War has created uncertainties." "The future immediately before us has too many variables to predict what may happen," he added. But the two time Pulitzer Prize-winning humanities professor was not unsure of his feelings on the war in the Persian Gulf. Schlesinger, in perhaps his boldest statement, said he "regards this as the most unnecessary war in United States history." "I don't think diplomacy, in the usual sense, was ever tried," the City University of New York professor said. "The commitment of ground forces was unnecessary." At one point, the presidential historian quoted John Kennedy, for whom he was an advisor, as saying, "Let us never negotiate out of fear, but let us never fear to negotiate." The self-proclaimed liberal called for a reevaluation of priorities and said that "our vital interests are investment in our children. . . and the drug war." In a warm, jam-packed room, Schlesinger spoke for over an hour moving from topics such as the Gulf war, to the end of the Cold War and also to the turmoil in the Soviet Union. Schlesinger, best known for his cyclical theory of history in which he hypothesizes that every 15 to 20 years the country shifts from a conservative mindset to a liberal stance, told the audience that "the Cold War is over, not with a bang, but with a wimper." Schlesinger chided "the bearded chaps on Nightline . . . who were befuddled," by the surprising events in Eastern Europe and the Persian Gulf. Delivering a short history lesson, Schlesinger harkened back to the days of the League of Nations, and said the world is witnessing the revival of the Wilsonian order, in which collective security is relied upon for world stability. He said the U.S. economy has been hurt by spending too much money on the military and he fears, with the Persian Gulf war, that the Defense Department might take even more of the nation's resources. "Our chief rival is not communism, nor is it Sadaam Hussein with his pathetic country of 17 million people," Schlesinger maintained. "Our chief rival is Germany and Japan." Schlesinger also referred to the events in the Soviet Union, comparing it to past superpowers. He said it is "the de facto equivalent of the Austro-Hungarian Empire," of the 19th century. "It seems unlikely that Gorbachev can hold together a diverse country of warring groups," Schlesinger concluded. Students and faculty crowded into the lecture auditorium in Logan Hall, but because of the size of the crowd, several dozen students were forced to watch the speech on a closed-circuit television in the hall. For nearly half an hour after his speech, Schlesinger took questions from the audience and after the presentation he met with both faculty and students at a reception at the faculty lounge. The room became stiflingly hot during his speech and Schlesinger often sipped from his glass of water. History Professor Bruce Kuklick, who introduced Schlesinger as the premier American historian of the era, called the speech a "terrific performance." "I was reminded of the gentile teach-ins of the 1960's," Kuklick added. Funded by Trustee Saul Steinberg and the School of Arts and Sciences, PEN at Penn will bring three more speakers to the University later this semester.
(02/01/91 10:00am)
In the complaint -- registered at the office's Bureau of Consumer Protection on behalf of over 120 subscribers seeking refunds on their newspaper subscriptions -- Alyssa Rokito alleged that the students received "undependable and infrequent delivery," were billed for subscriptions they had already paid and had almost no success at reaching Monk directly to discuss the problem. No one at the attorney general's office could be reach for comment last night. Monk, who has refused to discuss Penn News with The Daily Pennsylvanian on several occasions, did not respond to several phone messages last night. Wharton graduate student Jonathan Eilian, who said last week that he and Rokito were exploring the possibility of filing a class-action lawsuit against Monk and Penn News, said he helped file the complaint. According to Eilian, the attorney general's office will begin "investigating Penn News immediately" to see whether the delivery service may have violated various Pennsylvania statutes, including the Unfair and Deceptive Trading Act. If found guilty, Penn News could be forced to pay each subscriber listed in the complaint up to $300, regardless of the amount of their claim, according to Eilian. He added that the total judgment against Penn News could exceed $35,000. To facilitate the investigation, Eilian said he and Rokito provided the office with copies of cancelled checks, subscriber complaint forms and bills reportedly sent to the parents of subscribers who already had paid Penn News. Eilian said he would like to see the matter resolved as quickly as possible, but he stressed that he and Rokito will persist until all refunds are paid. "As soon as Penn News fulfills its obligation to all those students who paid in advance, I would be happy to inform the attorney general that the claims have been paid," Eilian said. If this attempt to resolve the problem fails, Eilian said he will continue working to get refunds. "This complaint is only our first step," he said. "We have only just begun to pursue this claim. Now that we've come together and are acting in unison, I feel that we are much more likely to get Monk's attention." The other students are similarly determined, he said. "The students feel taken advantage of and are willing to take whatever steps are necessary to get their money back," he said. "They're going to stick with it."
(01/30/91 10:00am)
A group of University students warmed up a frigid January day with a winter carnival for 90 West Philadelphia children at the Christian Association Saturday. Excited screams, popping balloons, and running children filled the hall. According to seven-year-old Malcolm Graham, the children were given "a place to make new friends and play at the festival." Besides bringing happiness and smiles to the children, the program, participants said, was also an educational experience for both University students and the children. When asked what he had learned at the end of the day, 10-year-old Tyree Smith said that "all the children were the same because they all have feelings." Area children involved in the Penn Pals program and Community Kids programs attended the event. These organizations bring West Philadelphia school children into a big brother and big sister program with University students. College senior Greg Shufro, who founded Community Kids, said the festival was one of many ways to improve the program, in which University students help mentally handicapped children. The afternoon also included a presentation by Green Circle, a nationwide human relations education program for children. "The program is designed to teach children how to accept physical differences and understand each other and different cultures with a positive attitude," said Yu Bai, a Green Circle respresentative. The presentation brought positive reviews from Graham, who said he enjoyed "talking about everyone's friends from different countries." Nursing senior Colleen McCauley, one of the events organizers, said the event was held to commemorate Martin Luther King Week and African-American History Month.
(01/29/91 10:00am)
As part of a new and unprecedented program at the University, 13 University students will have a chance to experience Soviet culture and society first hand as part of an exchange with Moscow State University this spring. Randolph said that despite the upheaval in the country, the University is still going ahead with its plans, and 13 Soviet students from Moscow State University are scheduled to visit the University in March. University students in the program will travel to Moscow after spring semester finals in May and tour the capital city as well as Leningrad. Virtually all expenses will be paid by the School of Arts and Sciences. "It is an initiative by the provost to . . . make students aware of the realities of the Soviet Union," said Slavic Studies Professor Peter Steiner yesterday. Randolph said that the program is aimed at students who have never traveled to the Soviet Union before, but have an interest in the region. Students do not need to have to have any knowledge of Russian in order to participate in the exchange program, but must supply two recommendations which indicate "a capacity to function in a foreign environment." "I think it is an interesting initiative for those not studying slavic languages," Randolph said. "It is really a familiarization program, rather than a foreign studies program." Students in good academic standing who will not graduate this year can submit applications to Slavic Languages Professor Peter Steiner. Applications must be submitted by February 8th and include a college transcript, a one page essay describing the academic benefit that the student will receive from the program, and two letters of recommendation. Selected students will serve as informal hosts for the Soviet visitors in March and will travel with the students to New York and Washington, D.C.
(01/25/91 10:00am)
Approximately 200 students gathered on College Green yesterday afternoon to express their support for the American action in the Persian Gulf and to criticize student opposition to the war. The rally was organized by Operation Homefront, a newly formed group of approximately 30 students which hopes to rally support for American troops in their effort to free Kuwait, according to coordinator Denise Wolf, a College junior. "It seems that every time there's a rally against the war, there are more people standing around who support the troops," said College senior Alex Lloyd, an Operation Homefront member. "I think we showed that there is a significant number of students who support the troops," he added. During the rally, more than a dozen students delivered speeches in support of the troops in the Gulf. "Right now we are in the midst of a war," said Wharton junior and group member Victor Miller during his speech, adding that criticism might undermine the war effort. One protestor, clad in army fatigues with a black hat and carrying a "Peace is war" poster, interrupted several speakers yelling "Nuke 'em, just nuke 'em." College senior and group member David Lite addressed the protester saying "Screaming is not the way to express your ideas." "It was good to see that students came out and spoke," he said. "We're adding to the history of time." Dozens of students stopped by the rally on their way to class to pick up yellow ribbons and "Free Kuwait" buttons and to listen to the speakers.
(01/23/91 10:00am)
The service, which used to deliver the newpapers to campus dormitories, faces a debt of $17,000 to the Times, according to Times spokesperson Nancy Nielsen. She said the paper has not received payment from Penn News since last July. Inquirer Campus Sales Manager Joel Kopke refused to specify exactly how much money Penn News owes the Inquirer, but he put the amount at "between five and ten thousand dollars." USA Today sales representative Sharon Gerg said yesterday that Penn News paid for deliveries as recently as September 11, but said the delivery service now owes $1,943. Penn News Owner Mike Monk, a Wharton junior, did not return several phone calls last night. Monk has repeatedly avoided calls from The Daily Pennsylvanian and subscribers have also complained that they cannot reach him. Each of the three newspapers independently stopped supplying Penn News with newspapers at the end of last semester because they had not received payment. Students who paid for subscriptions have not received refunds or papers since then. Even when students were receiving papers, many complained delivery service was erratic. Nielsen said the Times will resume supplying Penn News with newspapers once the delivery service pays off its debt, but only if Monk's "account is in good standing." Kopke said paying the debt owed the Inquirer will not be enough to start sending newspapers again, saying he will first have to "feel confident that [Monk] can pay for future deliveries." USA Today would continue to use Penn News if the delivery service pays its debt, according to Gerg, but she said "we would keep much closer tabs on the account and make sure there was a payment every 30 days." Kopke said he and a Times official met with Monk twice last month to find a way to solve Penn News' financial woes. At the time, Kopke said Monk promised to pay all his outstanding debts so that service could continue. "I thought we were well on our way to getting Penn News back on its feet and restoring service to the students," Kopke said. "But Penn News didn't follow through." Officials at all three newspapers reported they have had no recent success at reaching Monk to discuss the company's financial problems, despite their leaving repeated messages on his answering machine. In addition to losing revenue, the officials say their newspapers are losing a sizable audience now that campus delivery is suspended. In an attempt to tap the campus market, the Times explored the possibility of delivering the paper through its own home distribution network, according to Nielsen. But Deputy Vice Provost George Koval said yesterday that he rejected the proposal because the University and Penn News still have an agreement which gives Penn News exclusive rights to deliver newspapers on campus. Negotiating a new agreement with another agency could create legal problems for the University, he said. Koval said that until Penn News tells him they "are out of the picture," any negotiations with the Times or other newspapers would be "inappropriate." Kopke said he would prefer to continue using Penn News for distribution of the Inquirer, but only if the delivery service first pays its debt. "I still think Penn News in the right hands is the way you go," he said. "Right now, we're still trying to work this thing out with Mike [Monk], but if this goes on much longer I will have to consider other options." While the status of Penn News remains unclear, Gerg expressed concern that USA Today's image among students might suffer damage unless future reliability can be improved. "Anytime we have bad delivery, it makes us look bad. I'm just concerned that this bad delivery is going to make USA Today look shabby and not reliable," she said.
(01/22/91 10:00am)
The campus delivery company has never paid the Inquirer for newspapers supplied last fall, according to Inquirer Campus Sales Manager Joel Kopke. As a result, students subscribing to the newspaper through Penn News will not receive issues until the campus delivery service pays its debt and the Inquirer is sure that Penn News can continue to pay for newspapers, Kopke said. Kopke said he has made attempts to reach Penn News owner Mike Monk "on a regular basis," but said that Monk has failed to return his phone calls. Monk, a Wharton junior, did not return repeated phone calls last night or respond to a note left at his dormitory room. Subscribers to both the Inquirer and The New York Times said yesterday that they have not received papers since returning to campus after Winter Break. Officials from the Times could not be reached yesterday for comment. Last semester, Penn News was often not able to distribute newspapers because the service did not have enough employees to deliver to the campus. However, subscribers living in the Quadrangle said last night that the newspapers, normally deposited outside of the 37th Street gate if they are not delivered to their rooms, have not been left outside of the gate all this semester. Last month, the Inquirer stopped delivering papers to Penn News because of its failure to pay its bills. However, Monk, Kopke, and a Times distribution manager were to meet last month to make sure that newspaper delivery continued to all Penn News subscribers. Penn News has been trying to collect subscription money for the past month due to a dispute over use of the bursar bill. At the beginning of the fall semester, Penn News gave subscribers the option of paying for their subscriptions on their bursar bills, even though Deputy Vice Provost George Koval said last month that Penn News was informed in early September that they could use this avenue to bill students. Several subscribers who have paid for the delivery service have demanded refunds. Subscribers to both the Times and the Inquirer say they are aggravated by Penn News' inconsistent service and have tried to reach Monk several times, either to get a refund or to cancel their subscriptions without paying. College sophomore Derek Johnson said yesterday he is extremely upset with Penn News delivery and is considering calling the Better Business Bureau to find out how he can get his money back since he has not heard from Monk. "I haven't been able to get any sort of response from Penn News," Johnson said. College freshman Melissa Waterstone said last night she was not happy with Penn News' delivery and has no plans to pay the distribution service. Monk said last month that Penn News is not incorporated. He is personally liable for all debts incurred by the business.
(01/18/91 10:00am)
Organizers of events commemorating the birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr. are hoping the outbreak of war in the Persian Gulf will not overshadow their efforts to remember a man who fought and died for peace, freedom, and equality. The Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. commemorative program, which began on January 15, will continue today and for the next few weeks. Dan Butler, an administrative assistant for the Afro-American Studies Department, said he was excited about the upcoming events but he expressed concern about being overshadowed by Operation Desert Storm. "It makes it all a little more significant," said Butler. "You have to wonder if the leadership today makes the same giant steps toward peace." The undergraduate chapter of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. and the W.E.B. DuBois College house will sponsor a candlelight vigil Sunday. Beginning at 7 p.m., the vigil will proceed from DuBois to College Green. David Biggs, assistant dean of DuBois house, served on the King observance committee. He also expressed concern over the Gulf crisis. "Unfortunately the events were overshadowed by the beginnings of the war in the Gulf," said Biggs. At 7 p.m. on Monday, the Christian Association will present "The Meeting." "It's a film showing a fictitious account of a meeting between King and Malcolm X," said Beverly Dale, the C.A.'s executive director. "This should be followed by a very lively discussion of violence versus nonviolence. In this time of war, this is an appropriate discussion to have." Dale also said the programs will continue in the upcoming months. "We need to move away from celebrating black American history in only one month," Dale said. "We will focus on African-American concerns and issues of racism, and that is not just an African-American concern." Other events include: · Tonight the University City Hospitality Coalition and the Christian Association will hold a Memorial Vigil from 5 to 8 p.m. at City Hall. · WPXN 88.5 FM and the Pennsylvania Council for Arts will sponsor a performance tonight at 7 p.m. in the Houston Hall Auditorium. The program will feature poet Sonia Sanchez and musicians. · On Monday, the Onyx Senior Honor Society, the Black Student League, and the Undergraduate Assembly will host a commemorative brunch at the DuBois College House from noon to 2 p.m. · The Greenfield Intercultural Center and the Black Graduate and Professional Student Association will present successive episodes of "Eyes on the Prize," an award winning series. The program will be at 4 p.m. weekdays at the Greenfield Center. · On Wednesday, the School of Social work will present New Freedom Theatre in Houston Hall at 1:30 p.m. · On Friday, Steve Rowland, the WXPN 88.5 FM Artist-in-Residence, will discuss his work and the business of producing for radio. For information about the time and place, call 898-6677.
(01/18/91 10:00am)
With the war in the Persian Gulf just two days old, many University professors yesterday expressed greater concern this week over the aftermath of the conflict rather than the war itself. But for the professors, some of whom have spent years of their life researching the Middle East, the Gulf War is just one in a series of episodes in the continuing evolution of a turbulent region. For the past week, the experts have repeatedly voiced concerns over the future of Iraqi government, increasing animosity between Western and Arab nations, and the continuing impasse in solving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. As of late yesterday, Iraq had already launched a missile attack on Israel and many University experts said they feel Iraq may also exploit strengths in other forms of combat -- perhaps resorting to terrorist attacks. Understanably, faculty are becoming increasing wary of making predictions that could soon turn out to be wrong. Most recently, many were surprised at the speed with which the U.S. and its allies attacked after the United Nations deadline passed. Most professors said they had expected the U.N. coalition to delay the start of fighting, in part to make further military preparations. But in the end, the decision to attack Iraq Wednesday may have come down to weather. "It's a new moon for these few days and the weather is going to be clear," said Political Science Professor Frederic Frey. "So it's ideal conditions for night fighting." But such discussion have become academic. The question for many now has become how long the war will last, and who will eventually prevail. "There's very little doubt that we will win the war eventually, whether it is short or long," Frey said. He said he worries more about the turmoil the war will create in the region. One of Frey's predictions made earlier this week came true as Iraq launched a missle attack on Israel last night. "The longer this goes on without an attack on Israel, the harder [an attack on Israel] will be for Iraqis to avoid," Frey said. Peace Science Professor Stephen Gale also predicted the Iraqi attack on Israel, but questioned whether it was an intelligent move strategically. "If Hussein is smart he won't bring in the Israelis because Israel has no compunction against leveling Iraq," he said. There was no word on a possible Israel response as of late last night. Gale teaches the Peace Science program's Terrorism class. He said Iraq may resort to terrorist tactics as an alternative form of leverage if direct military action is unsuccessful. "As soon as Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait, all of the major players in terrorism moved to Baghdad," he said. Gale said possible terrorist acts could include bombings, airplane hijackings, assassinations, and disruptions of water and electric utilities, among possible Iraqi targets. He said terrorism experts currently believe terrorists will choose targets in Western Europe, but that the United States is extremely vulnerable as well. "They'll be spot actions, but I'm sure they will be planned out very carefully," added Gale. Gale said that Saddam Hussein's is now destined to leave the international theater in a "blaze of history." He said that Hussein may survive the war only to be assassinated by any of the many enemies he has made since the Gulf showdown began. But the defeat of Saddam Hussein would not mean instant peace in the Middle East, the experts warned. A political vacuum in the Persian Gulf created by an Iraqi defeat might be filled by Syria or Iran. "We haven't explored what the effects of a war will be on the balance of power in the area," History Professor Alfred Reiber said. He added that tensions could escalate with Arab nations as a new precedent is set of "U.S. intervention under U.N. sponsorship." "In the near future, there will be an enormous backlash against the Western Europeans and the U.S. in general," he said. Such a backlash would jeopardize hopes for a Middle East peace conference, recently advocated by leaders including U.N. Secretary-General Javier Perez de Cuellar, he said. Other experts agreed, saying that tensions between Arabs, Israelis, and Westerners inextricably linked in the current Gulf crisis might become an insurmountable obstacle at the bargaining table. This could leave other countries that have a stake in the Gulf Region out of potential talks, Oler said. He added that he fears further destabilization of third-world countries that have important economic links with Arab countries. "The issue of oil prices [in third world countries] is one of food or famine, rather than the type of car you can drive," he said.
(01/15/91 10:00am)
Additionally, six other people may soon be charged with disorderly conduct in connection with the raid, according to Gary Kardisco, a supervisor at the State Police Bureau of Liquor Control Enforcement. Kardisco added that charges would soon be filed to challenge the tavern's liquor license. If convicted, Smokey Joe's could be fined, or have their license suspended or even revoked. In the event that the license was revoked, the tavern would be prohibited from reapplying for a new license for one year. Smokey Joe's could receive a harsher sentence due to a prior record of arrests which includes a October 1988 raid in which 51 underage students were arrested. Despite repeated phone calls to the tavern last night, several members of the Ryan family, which owns the bar, declined to comment on the case. According to students at the bar during the raid, four plainclothes police officers wearing their badges on neck chains entered the tavern shortly after midnight and quietly checked the identification of several suspected underage drinkers. Some people were reported to have slipped out the front and back doors before the police had a chance to check their identification. However, those who did not have valid identification were asked to stand off to the side and await instructions, while others were told the bar was closing early. According to Wharton junior Phil Robinson, one of the students arrested for underage drinking, the police took the remaining people, including a few who were of legal age, downstairs where they conducted short personal interviews. The questions asked included how the people got in, did they show any identification, and did they drink any alcohol. The people were told that if they had drank any alcohol, they should admit it rather than have it showed up on a litmus test. Robinson said the students were told they have three choices: attend an alcohol awareness class, play a $45 fine and have their driver's license suspended for three months; go to court and be found guilty which would result in a $200 fine and a suspended license for one year; or go to court and be found not guilty. College junior Robert Garber, a 21-year-old who was in Smoke's that night, said that shortly before the bust, the rumor spread that there was going to be a raid. But once the search had begun, Garber added, it was not difficult to see what was going on. "It wasn't really discreet," Garber said. "The officers were dressed really cheesily and if anyone had opened their eyes and hadn't had too much to drink, they would've noticed."
(01/15/91 10:00am)
A University freshman was raped by a security guard at the Medical School last month, and another unidentified student was raped in her home on the 4100 block of Spruce Street December 30 in two unrelated incidents. The freshman, according to sources close to the case, was at the Medical School complex late at night and asked a University-hired security guard to escort her to her dormitory. Sources said the guard then raped her in a secluded part of the building. Sources said the guard was suspended without pay within two hours after the student reported the rape. After confessing to the crime, he was fired by the University. In the other incident, University Police officials said a student was raped by an intruder in her off-campus apartment at about 10:30 p.m., December 30. Police would not say how the intruder gained entry to the building. The student first reported the rape to the Philadelphia Police Department. University Police then picked up the report of the rape on the police radio and began a joint investigation. University Police Director John Logan said there are no suspects and would not release a description of the assailant. Both Logan and University Police spokesperson Sylvia Canada said Police Commissioner John Kuprevich has instructed them to not to release more specific details of the case until he returns from New York Thursday. Logan did say, however, the investigation was going "very well." Officials at the Philadelphia Police Sex Crimes division would not release any information on the case yesterday. University Police also declined to release any information about the Medical School rape, saying it was being handled by George Forman, the director of facilities management for the Medical School. Forman declined comment yesterday, saying only that the incident has "been handled." Forman refused to elaborate on how he handled the incident. According to Assistant Biochemistry and Biophysics Professor Jacqueline Tanaka, a faculty member in the Medical School, the student called building security for an escort, and, when he arrived, was raped by him. Jeffrey Jacobson, co-chairperson of the University Council Safety and Security Committee said the woman asked the uniformed security guard to escort her home. "He said 'I need to get a package' and took her to a room," Jacobson said. "He did this on purpose to get her alone." "It was a situation that a rational person would believe to be safe," the College junior added. Tanaka said that the woman declined to file charges, apparently in fear that if her parents learned of the incident, she would have to leave the University. Instead, Tanaka said, the student reported the incident to the guard's supervisors. "It took less than two hours to suspend him without pay," after the incident was reported to supervisor, Jacobson said. "Subsequently he admitted to it and was terminated." Some school security officers, Jacobson said, were embarrassed by the incident. He said that as long-time University employees, they worried how this would be viewed by the public. "This was a very tragic but isolated incident," Jacobson said. "The last thing we need is to have people afraid of the security system at the University." Jacobson said the security guard was hired by the Medical Complex, which includes the school, and that two background checks were done on him prior to his employment. The checks showed no prior convictions. He emphasized that the guard was not a University Police officer or a contracted guard. One officer on duty last night declined to give his name but indicated that he knew the assailant. "Regardless of how thoroughly you check a person's background an apple could go sour any day," he said. "In the past, a situation which gets out to the public, can result in charges not being filed," she said yesterday. She said in assault cases, filing charges is not necessarily the "first thing on their minds." "The goal always is to allow the survivor to gain control," she continued, saying that "the focus is how to get that control." "We always try to attend to the medical, academic and emotional needs of the survivor," she said. She added that the University's support system is one of the best in the country. "It is a model for other schools in the country," Dilapi said. "The vice provost for university life has an emergency protocol which pulls together all of the support services." These are the first publicized student rapes since the summer of 1989, when a University student was raped at 6:30 a.m. on Pine Street on her way to work.
(12/10/90 10:00am)
Last fall, Morrisson created the Committee to Restructure Penn Extension to investigate the needs of the University's community service programs. In March, the committee issued a report recommending that an office be established to coordinate different programs and that training, transportation and evaluation of the programs be improved. Morrisson endorsed the report. But since the report was issued, student leaders said, the transportation problem has become so acute that some programs have had to shut down. PVN sent a letter to Morrisson last week telling her that members were concerned that "little action has been taken." They said the only tangible result of the report so far has been the hiring of a professional administrator for the office of Penn Extension, now called the Program for Student-Community Involvement. Student volunteer leaders said they need transportation to help with the delivery of food to needy people and to ensure the safety of their volunteers, many of who travel into dangerous neighborhoods for tutoring and other activities. The Prison Tutoring Program is one outreach service that stopped this semester because it lacked reliable transportation. According to coordinator Amy Dmochowski, a College junior, the program depended on students who owned cars, a method which was not only unreliable, but limiting. Dmochowski said last year she had to turn away volunteers who could not fit into the single car available. Gordon Rucksdeschel, director of PENNpals, said students in the program walk home with the elementary students whom they tutor, often after dark, and that a van would eliminate the long, dangerous walk for both University students and the children. Former PVN Facilitator Colleen McCauley, whose term ended last week, said she assumed that since Morrisson endorsed the committee's report, the Office of University Life was working on the problem. "The issue is just feeling very discouraged at the lack of attention to the problem of transportation," said the Nursing senior. "We had hoped, or assumed, that we wouldn't have to light fires to get things going. I think we were a little naive." McCauley said transportation problems could be solved by providing a van, which would be accessible to the 30 groups that belong to the Penn Volunteer Network and to students involved in other programs in the city. But Barbara Cassel, an assistant to Morrisson, said problems of liability need to be resolved before the University can provide a van. Both Cassel and McCauley said that execution of Morrisson's proposal depends on the creation of a new position in President Sheldon Hackney's office. The new administrator, a director of community partnerships, would be in charge of projects designed to link the University to the surrounding community. But Assistant to the President William Epstein said last week that that position is part of a long-term plan for community outreach, and will not necessarily be filled immediately. Epstein said the PVN can not rely on that future administrator to solve its problems. "There are certainly enough people around to work on that kind of problem," he said.
(12/07/90 10:00am)
For decades, birth control was a taboo subject for Americans. Words like "condom," "diaphragm," and "cervical cap" were rarely heard or discussed. But early in the 1980s, at virtually the same time publicity about AIDS was increasing, talk of condoms and contraceptives became more open. With it, health officials say, came more student awareness. During the past several years, Student Health officials have reported large increases of students coming into the office for advice, help, and birth control devices. Officials cited a 25 percent increase in students, from 4000 to 5000, last year alone, who sought Student Health for sexual-health related reasons. Additionally, Student Health said yesterday that they fill 4500 one-month prescriptions for oral contraceptives each semester and distribute and sell about the same number of condoms each semester. The numbers increase each year, according to officials, due possibly to a larger number of students engaging in pre-martial sex and to a growing fear of contracting AIDS. But Cynthia Bayer, a certified nurse practitioner at Student Health, said despite the larger number of students seeking information or help, many still need to be better informed about common contraceptives such as "the pill," condoms, and the sponge. One statistic that officials point to was the more than 200 unwanted pregnancies reported in the past two years to Student Health by women who had used some form of birth control. And that might be only the tip of the iceberg, since many students prefer to go to private clinics for personal reasons or because they think Student Health is not confidential. But Student Health said that students need to be more about the confidentiality of Student Health and the what are best birth control devices. "There is a lot of misinformation about the pill," Bayer said. "But, it doesn't cause cancer or infertility and a healthy woman can use it for as long as she wants." "A lot of students don't know how to use [condoms]," she added. "Alone, [condoms or sponges] are better than nothing, but far from perfect. We see a lot of condom pregnancies." As a result of some of the ineffectiveness of condoms, officals said hundreds of female students have opted for oral contraceptives and they fill hundreds of prescriptions each month. They said that the pill was the most popular form of birth control for the students they see. They stressed, however, that female students represent over three-quarters of the students who come into Student Health for sexual-health reasons. And several women contacted this week said that among their peers, oral contraceptives are very popular. "All the people I know that are sexually active are on the pill," said a female College freshman student earlier this week. Female students added said that if they were having a long relationship, they'd be more likely to go on the pill and maybe eliminate using a condom if both partners had a good medical history. But males seemed to have a different opinion on the popularity of the pill and their preferences. "I think because [condoms] are the most reliable form easily available, they seem to be the only choice for many people," said Wharton sophomore Darren Klein. And despite the growing epidemic of AIDS around the nation, several students said they were more concerned about stopping unwanted pregnancies than sexually transmitted diseases. "The only reason I really use a condom is to prevent pregnancies," one male student said. But maybe the most prevalent form of birth control that is rarely discussed, is abstinence. Some students choose to follow their religious beliefs, morals, or parent's advice and avoid pre-marital sex altogether. New methods are soon on the way for students. Federal approval is expected early next year for a new contraceptive implant for women that would provide protection against pregnancy for up to five years, the Associated Press reported yesterday. Approval of the implant could mark the most important birth control advance since oral contraceptives and would be the first long-acting, hormonal contraceptive available in the United States. Additionally, the government is also expected to approve a new "female condom" for use by women sometime in the spring. Whatever the method students choose, there are several outlets for students to choose devices from. The Student Awareness Safer Sex Supplies, which operates from the Student Health office, offers several different brand name contraceptives at discount prices and does a booming business each semester. They said that they sell hundreds of condoms each month to both male and female students at relatively inexpensive prices. And nearly all drugstores, supermarkets, commisaries, and convenience stores around campus now carry some brands of condoms. WaWa convenience store at 38th and Spruce streets sells about 50 packs of condoms a week, while Marty's store on 40th Street sells about 25. The PSA Commissaries sold a total of 50 packs of condoms for the week of November 18. According to Paul Cruz, assistant manager of WaWa at 36th and Chestnut streets, sales can vary from week to week. "We sell about 30 packs [of condoms] in a normal week," Cruz said. "But if there are a lot of parties going on, we might sell up to 20 packs in a single day." The most popular brand according to CVS and Marty's managers are Trojan-ENZ, in 3- and 15-packs. · Education of birth control has been a major priority for Student Health during the last few years. Administrators have created numerous workshops and services to deal with the increase in students and to stress sexual responsibility to them. One popular program created by Student Health has Peer Health Educators conducting several workshops explaining how birth devices work and stressing communication between sexual partners. Nurse Practitioner and Health Educator Kate Webster, the coordinator of the different workshops set up around campus, said the programs try to give students the facts and let them work out their choices on their own. "We emphasize responsibility and prevention-communication skills for students," said Webster. "It seems [the workshops] are quite well received." College freshmen Barbara Deli and Gabrielle Dundics attended a recent birth control workshop offered by Peer Health Educators and said they gave them a open atmosphere to discuss their questions. "At first I was tense, but then the [Peer Health Educators] were really easy to talk to and by the end, everyone was really contributing," said Dundics. "They cleared up some myths and were really knowledgeable, and they stressed that [birth control] should be both partners' responsibility." One of the Peer Health Educators, College senior Erica Strohl, said she has been trying to encourage more students to attend the workshops adding that students need to more about birth control. "Penn students often think they know more about birth control than they really do," she said. But, according to the officials and educators, there is a big step between knowing about birth control and actually practicing it. The question is "whether information transfers to behavior," said Susan Villari, one of the two Health Educators at Student Health. She stressed the difficulties involved in this transfer. "There's a myth that sex is spontaneous, like in the movies, but it isn't always," she said. " It's hard, but it's worth the couple of seconds to talk about it." And there's also the "it-won't-happen-to-me" syndrome. Although, according to Villari, "AIDS really made people much more concerned," many still take risks. Added College senior Anne Package, "[the fear of AIDS] is not as big as it should be; students think it's not going to touch them." "Not many people expect the people they're going to be hanging with to have any diseases," said College freshman Chris Leitner, "and when they drink, they don't think about it at all." For students interested in the subject, administrators and students point to two subjects offered at the University. There is a Human Sexuality course run by the Psychiatry department and a Concepts in Human Sexuality course in the Education department. According to students, the Concepts in Human Sexuality course makes students think twice before engaging in casual sex. They said they found the material both interesting and challenging.
(12/06/90 10:00am)
This year, the University has attracted some of the biggest names of the jazz industry to play and speak at the University including Branford Marsalis and Archie Shepp. Now, a group of University students hope to continue to showcase jazz as an important part of the University's performing arts community. According to College senior Stephen Lapointe, a guitarist and officer for the Ensemble, the show will also represent an ecclectic set of jazz styles, "ranging from Count Basie to more modern arrangements like Herbie Hancock, in addition to some funk arrangements." Ensemble members said that the show would differ from some past shows with an larger emphasis on "combos," which are normally smaller groups composed of four to six musicians. First-year Veterniary student Doug Thamm, in his fifth year with the ensemble, stressed the uniqueness of this show. "In the old days, the jazz band would play two sets and that would be the show," he said earlier this week. "Now little combo pieces interspersed make things more interesting for the audience." The ensemble will be riding a wave of campus interest in jazz. Several band members stressed the importance of the Penn Jazz Festival in regenerating such interest. "The festival has brought the focus back to jazz at Penn," said the band's president Lloyd Mandell, a Wharton and Engineering senior. But members said they are still skeptical about the sudden interest in jazz saying that people may not be understnading the roots of the music and focusing instead on the people involved. "There's still not a whole lot of interest in the music itself," Lapointe added. He noted that personalities such as Branford Marsalis have detracted from the music, citing that while 1400 people attended his concert, only 20 people attended a seminar on jazz the night before. Although jazz has surged in the past several years, members of the Ensemble have simultaneously faced their share of challenges at the University. For many, this year's change in directors has had a direct impact on their work habits. "We kind of get a little bit more done," Thamm said. Proceeds from the show will go towards fighting homelessness. The Penn Jazz Ensemble will perform their show, Infamy, tomorrow night at the Annenberg School Theater at 9 p.m. Tickets are available at the door or on Locust Walk are are $3 for one, and $5 for two.
(12/06/90 10:00am)
The dozen students in the group who have been working on their first nearly full-length film since September, said they have found the experience both invaluable and taxing. The Alliance, accustomed to producing film shorts, is taking an adventurous step this year in making an hour-long film. Death and the Maiden, the working title of the film, was written, directed, and produced by University students. Film writer and director Alon Kaplan, a College junior, said completing the film has been a nearly insurmountable task. "We honestly are trying to do something absolutely impossible," explained Kaplan. "I didn't start with a purpose," he continued. "I sit down and write keeping in mind what we do. Usually, we need $3 million and six months. But I do it any way." And so, with $1000 and a semester, the group has worked for several weeks this fall filming, and hope to enter the film into several contests next semester. "It's time Penn got some recognition -- films are made here, but they just sit here," said Kaplan. But he pledged that once they finish completing the film later this month, the film will get some exposure outside of the University. According to Kaplan, the film revolves around a woman who is being taken to the afterworld by Death. Instead of being sent to Heaven, she gets tricked and winds up going to Hell. "[The woman] protests so much about it that it starts an argument between Death and the administrators of Heaven," Kaplan revealed. "Death quits over a promotion." But according to cast members, script changes have been a frequent occurence for the production staff. While they have been working on the film for several months, they are still uncertain how the film will end up. "It's a working piece in that the film is constantly evolving," said actress Jennifer Fridell, a College sophomore . "As we change, so does the film." Death and the Maiden has been in production since September and has experienced some setbacks. In one, of the most troublesome times, a prominent cast member, College junior Roberta Koeppel, was seriously injured in a robbery on Locust Street. Cast and production members said that they had to fill her role and cope with the loss. "It was demoralizing," said College sophomore Keith Waxelman, an actor. "We had to come to grips with it. It slowed our pace down for a long time." Moreover, the staff found filmmaking to be an arduous process but hope to finish the filming later this month. "The hardest part when you're working with this is keeping the enthusiasm," said College senior Cheryl Family, who is producing the film. "You're working on the movie every night from September to December." The production staff has shot the film on locations across campus, and used everyday sites including Bennett Hall and the Bowl Room at Houston Hall. Family said that students will see familiar settings associated with very different moods and activities. College senior Avika Potok, who plays the role of Death, said that by creating a film that students can relate to, he hopes the audience will think about the messages. "You don't want the audience to watch it and then at the end to run away," Potok said. The group plans to screen the film sometime next semester.
