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(02/08/96 10:00am)
Brothers Clinton and Brett Matter have taken whatBrothers Clinton and Brett Matter have taken whatthey learned from their father and applied it at Penn For Clinton and Brett Matter, wrestling has always been a family affair. And who was their first coach at that young age? None other than their father, Andrew, a two-time national champion (167 pounds) at Penn State in 1971 and 1972. "I've always had an affinity for wrestling," Andrew Matter said. "It kind of gets into your blood. It was special for me, and when I introduced my two sons to it, they kind of caught on to it as well and have taken off from there." Clinton, who wrestles at 177 pounds, has a 10-2 record so far this season. Last year, Clinton went 26-9. But a season-ending knee injury ended his quest to qualify for the NCAA championship meet. This year, Clinton hopes to overcome his nagging injuries and win an Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association championship. His ultimate goal is to gain All-America honors, which would place him among the top eight wrestlers in his weight class nationally. "Wrestling has taught me self-discipline and dedication to a team and to my own individual goals," Clinton said. "It's given me the opportunity to develop a tremendous work ethic, and it's taught me the importance of self-confidence. "Basically, it's helped to make me the person that I am today, for better or for worse." Brett, who wrestles at 142 pounds, is the leading candidate to win Ivy League Rookie of the Year honors. His record currently stands at a team-best 23-2. "The difference between high school wrestling and college wrestling -- it's two different worlds," Brett said. "It's almost like every match I walk out there is a state final. It feels really good to have achieved what I have. But there's still a lot more to learn and a lot more to achieve." Both Matters have a long history of high achievement. During their days at Delran High School in New Jersey, Clinton compiled a 96-19 career record, while Brett amassed a phenomenal 125-9 record. Brett attributes his decision to come to Penn to his big brother. "I pretty much always knew that I would end up here," he said. "Clinton's one of the closest persons in my life, and I always knew that because of the influence he's had on me, I'd end up at Penn." But Brett has never been one to walk in anyone else's shadow. "Brett has gone straight past me," Clinton said. "He's a two-time state champion in high school and a high school national runner-up, and he's done lots of things that I haven't. If there was ever any pressure on Brett to live up to what I've done, he's dealt with it very well and just gone by me." "I have goals to be an All-American and eventually a national champion," Brett said. "I guess [my early collegiate success] does add a little bit of pressure, but that's what the sport is about. You have to set goals, and you have to work towards them. And if you don't have goals, there's nothing to work towards." In addition to being among Penn's top wrestlers, Clinton and Brett are also recognized by their teammates and coaches as being two of the team's most enthusiastic workers. "Clinton and Brett are both very self-motivated," Quakers coach Roger Reina said. "I think that in a situation like theirs, you sometimes wonder, 'Are they doing it for themselves, or are they doing it for Dad?' But that's been one of the great things about both of them. They're very driven and they're very self-motivated." Being sidelined at the end of last season was nothing new for Clinton. The elder Matter has had four knee surgeries -- two on each knee -- and sat out his entire freshman year wrestling with knee problems. As a result, the Ivy League has granted Clinton a fifth year of eligibility. Unfortunately for Penn opponents, this means one more year of competing against both Matter brothers. "What can I tell you, they love the sport, and they want to do very well," Andrew Matter said. "And I think they will."
(02/08/96 10:00am)
The magic number is down to two. Should Penn push The Streak to the half-century mark (by no means a sure thing against two tough opponents on the road) the question people will ask is just how historic an accomplishment is it. In truth, 50 straight wins is so obviously remarkable that its place in history need not be the subject of an entire debate. Just how can we appreciate the absolute impressiveness of what coach Fran Dunphy's program has accomplished? Saying the Quakers have won 50 league games in a row sounds good, but does it really capture the sheer longevity of The Streak? Three straight perfect Ivy seasons is great, but it just seems so understated. Maybe this will work better: Let's try to appreciate this achievement by taking a look at just how much things have changed since The Streak began. Let's flash back to March 7, 1992. No current Quaker was on the Penn roster. Ira Bowman was a freshman point guard at Providence, Grand Rapids Mackers guard Matt Maloney was just getting ready to transfer out of Vanderbilt to Penn and the NBA was just a twinkle in the eye of a freshman Quakers guard named Jerome Allen. · Already eliminated from Ivy title contention, Penn was preparing for a meaningless season finale at Cornell. The previous evening, March 6, Columbia had topped the Quakers, 71-66, killing Penn's hopes for a possible NIT bid. With the game tied at 56 and a little over three minutes to play, the Lions' Russ Steward drilled a three-point shot that essentially decided the game, as Columbia hung on to win at the free-throw line. · On campus, the only connection either Judith Rodin and Steve Bilsky had to Penn were as prominent alums. Squeeze and Blues Traveler were rumored to be coming to Spring Fling. The third floor of Speakman in the Quad was seriously flooded when a student set off a sprinkler head. Carney's Pub, a bar at 3608 Chestnut Street, was prohibited by the University from showing an erotic dance act. Gymnastics won its second-straight Ivy League title. Wrestling began its rise from mediocrity under coach Roger Reina by finishing seventh of 14 teams at the EIWAs. Having yet to sink into the abyss from which it is only now climbing out, the men's swimming team finished a solid eighth out of 17 teams at the season-ending Easterns. · Princeton would top the second-place Quakers by three games to clinch its fourth-consecutive Ivy League men's basketball title and NCAA Tournament berth. But Tigers coach Pete Carril would suffer his fourth-straight first-round disappointment 13 days later against Syracuse, as the Orangemen gutted out a 51-43 win. · The college basketball regular season ended that weekend with the major conference tournaments and the NCAAs yet to come. Top-ranked Duke was poised to win its second-straight national title, while a group of freshmen calling itself the Fab Five was just hoping to make some noise for Michigan. The All-American team just announced was laden with future NBA stars: Duke's Christian Laettner, LSU's Shaquille O'Neal, Ohio State's Jim Jackson, USC's Harold Miner and Georgetown's Alonzo Mourning. · Some things just don't change. The Chicago Bulls were already well ahead of the rest of the NBA field and were zeroing on their second-straight championship. Michael Jordan would win his second straight MVP award. The Lakers were managing to stay above .500 in their first season without HIV-infected Magic Johnson. · Looking beyond sports, Bob Kerrey had just dropped out of the race for the Democratic presidential nomination, leaving Paul Tsongas, Tom Harkin, Jerry Brown and Bill Clinton to fight for the bid. It didn't really matter, since George Bush, still basking in the euphoria of the Persian Gulf victory a year before, was a sure bet to get re-elected in November. Some things really don't change. As the campaigns heated up, Hillary Clinton had to defend against allegations of unethical actions. Gov. Clinton of Arkansas was charged to have improperly funneled state money to his wife's law firm. · The Silence of the Lambs was about to sweep all the major awards at the 1991 Oscars. The Cosby Show and Johnny Carson were still fixtures on NBC. In Ithaca, N.Y., that March 7 night, the Quakers set The Streak in motion, blitzing Cornell, 92-79, behind 31 points from prize freshman Allen (who, somehow, would go on to finish only second to Princeton's Rick Hielscher in the Ivy League Rookie of the Year voting). Penn's Ivy record was 9-5, a major improvement. Said Dunphy after the win: "We played well and accomplished a great deal for our program. Hopefully we'll keep that going in the future." You could say he got his wish.
(02/05/96 10:00am)
W. Philly High School confronts violence and Brett Levinson Photos by Evelyn Hockstein Looming over 47th and Walnut streets, West Philadelphia High School's gothic structure dominates this portion of the Philadelphia skyline, occupying an entire block of urban landscape. Arched windows and stylized friezes create a somber and gloomy presence -- and random security checks by the Philadelphia Police do not help to ease the school's imposing image. Officials have tightened general security at the school in direct response to the non-fatal shooting of a 16-year-old West Philly High student three weeks ago, according to Assistant Principal Thomas Dougherty. And for University students who tutor and work with West Philly High students, the shooting provided reason to feel apprehensive, although the programs will continue to operate. "There have been four instances of serious violence in the Philadelphia school system in the last quarter of a century," Dougherty said. "The recent incident is the first of its kind at West Philadelphia High School and I'm going to make sure it is the last." In the wake of the incident, seven additional security officers were assigned to the building, bringing the total number of officers to 10, Dougherty said. Students are required to carry identification cards with them throughout the day. Those found without their cards are sent home, or must pay $3 for the purchase of a replacement, students said. Visitors have restricted access to the building and can enter the school only through the Walnut Street entrance where they must sign in and present identification to a security guard. "We are going to be more cognizant of large groups of people coming in from the city," Dougherty said. He explained that the two suspects involved in the January 16 incident -- identified as teenagers not enrolled in the school -- entered the building during lunch time. The suspects, who had accosted other students in the school, then fled the building, police said. Omar was rushed to the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia where he underwent surgery for a gunshot wound to his stomach. He is now recuperating at home, Dougherty said. Many students said they did not know about the shooting until Principal Florence Cambell made an announcement over the school's public address system. "It came as a total surprise," West Philly High senior Tiffany Carmichael said. "I saw [Omar] lying on the ground and then everything started happening." "[It's unfortunate that] it takes someone to get hurt for [the school] to beef-up security like it is supposed to be," Carmichael added. Dougherty noted that, prior to the incident, it was impossible for the normal complement of three security guards to patrol the entire school. Even now, he added, the 36 doors in the building must remain unlocked in order to comply with fire regulations, so there is really no way of preventing students from letting outsiders inside. According to Philadelphia School District Information Specialist Paul Hanson, West Philly High -- in conjunction with the Philadelphia Police department -- conducts random security checks with a hand-held metal detector. Students said that two such checks have been conducted since the shooting. Some of the students complained that the checks were ineffective because the police cars in front of the school forewarned those students carrying weapons. Carmichael said she thought the police should have conducted regular checks for an extended period of time after the shooting, in order to provide a real deterrent. But West Philly High Dean Sandra Bobroff explained that "it takes too long to do hand checks every day." "We would have to start running on a special bell schedule," Bobroff said, adding that if the students felt the checks were necessary, the school would attempt to meet their request. But she added that the school does not have a hostile environment. According to Bobroff, the school does not even have the funds to make the noted changes in security. Therefore, it is left to the school's administrators to establish order. Dougherty said many of the problems at West Philly High are typical of inner-city schools. He said the ratio of seniors to freshmen is one to four. The 75 percent difference can be attributed to both drop-outs and those students who go on to magnet-type programs throughout the city. Also, three percent of the school's population include students assigned to the school by correctional institutions. Despite these facts, Dougherty claims West Philly High "really is and was a safe environment." "Superintendent David Hornbeck has implemented a lot of proactive measures –– such as peer mediation and a system of pre-suspension, which involves the parents of a student before a student is officially suspended," Dougherty added. The staff is encouraged to keep in contact with parents by making phone calls. And a written profile of each student's progress is sent home monthly, Dougherty said. Blackwell said that she has gotten calls from concerned parents "every day." "We have a problem," she added. "I'm still concerned that people were able to get into the school." "The school is considered a safe haven for a large population of the students," Dougherty said. "For them, the main safety concern involves the transportation to and from school." This concern is often the justification given by students found in possession of weapons in the school, he added. "Many students are reluctant to participate in athletics or other extracurricular activities, because they don't want to take the risk involved with traveling home later," Dougherty explained. "Even a two-block walk can be dangerous." But some students disagreed. "This neighborhood is not dangerous," West Philly High freshman Marc Marshal said, adding that the press only shows the high school in a negative light. Several University students are involved with the school as participants in the West Philadelphia Tutoring Project. Tutors work with students who are planning to go to college on problems they might find on the Scholastic Assesment Test. Bea Fwedlow, assistant director of the Program for Student Community Involvement, said the coordinators of the West Philadelphia Tutoring Project started talking last week about steps they may want to take in response to the shooting. "This semester, I've witnessed more and more students expressing a preference to tutor on campus, rather than in the schools," Fwedlow said. "A number of them have raised safety concerns, with a few mentioning the shooting in particular," she added. But Fwedlow emphasized that the University students will not be sent into unsafe environments. "We will be making a site visit some time soon to make sure that the school environment is a place that is both safe and conducive to learning," she said. "If need be, we would be willing to pull our tutors out, but there are many steps that come before that. We have safety in mind, but we don't want to abandon the schools." "A lot of universities are pulling their tutors out of the school, but we disagree with that," said College junior Sam Wu, who leads the team of West Philly High tutors. Wu added that he believed the shooting itself was an isolated event within the school. College freshman John Stephens, who has tutored for a semester at the high school, said he has never felt threatened while at West Philly High. "Of course some of the kids are bad or loud, but that's natural," he said, adding that all the students involved in the tutoring program seemed enthusiastic about learning. Stephens pointed to the "crime present on the University's own campus every day." "If we feel safe enough to be on campus, there's no reason why we should be worried at West Philly," he added. But College senior Erica Johnson, who was a student at West Philly High, said the crime situation on Penn's campus is at a different level. "I am probably biased, because I became desensitized to the situation, but to hear some Penn students talk, it sounds like we are living in a war zone," she said. Johnson contrasted the sentiments at the University with those of her peers in high school. "I remember a time at West when a gun fell out of a guy's bag during class," she said. "People hardly noticed." Wharton junior Greg Passeri, who began working with students at West Philly High this semester, said he felt "somewhat apprehensive." He added that he was not concerned for his own safety, but rather "that it will be a difficult environment for learning." Nursing freshman Tara Nolan, who is also involved with the tutoring programs, expressed similar sentiments. "I come from a small town in Maine with a population of 9,000, so this is all very new to me," she said. "I am excited to be working with the kids, but I am also apprehensive. "But if we were all scared, nothing would get done," she added. "I feel that I am taking a risk, but in the end, the results will make it worth it –– people will get into college."
(02/01/96 10:00am)
1) If Penn played the Flying Dutchmen 10 times, how many games would the Quakers win? Answer: At least nine. 2) If Penn played the Flying Dutchmen 10 times with Graham in the lineup, how many games would the Quakers win? Answer: Nine at the most, given that freshman power forward Paul Romanczuk probably would not have exploded for 18 points had some of his minutes gone to Graham. The moral of this story? Graham, a good guy, who was liked and respected by his teammates, did woefully little to make his presence felt on the court. Now that he has quit the team, telling coach Fran Dunphy he had lost interest in playing basketball, the real overarching question is this: Will anyone really notice he's gone? Likely answer: No. Going into the year, the Quakers desperately needed an enforcer for their frontcourt. Tim Krug, the first big man to come to mind for most Penn fans, was not going to be the one to fill that role. Krug is a small forward playing center, at least on the offensive end. He is more comfortable spotting up near the top of the key in most of Penn's offensive sets, hoping to get an open three-point shot or shake his defender with his patented shot-fake and drive. What Penn needed was an Eric Moore-type, someone who could bump, scrap and scrape for rebounds and get tough inside points on a consistent basis. We had seen nothing from Graham over the course of his first two seasons to indicate he could make such a contribution. But we gave him the benefit of the doubt because he had played such limited minutes. But while guys like Donald Moxley and Garett Kreitz emerged from the shadows of the bench to become key performers, Graham languished in the same passivity, the same timidity even, that marked what little time he saw the past two seasons. His stats through 11 games -- including seven starts -- tell much of the story: Just 3.5 shot attempts and 1.6 trips to the free throw line per game; 3.6 points and 2.4 boards per contest; 0 blocks. If there were a stat for "ball touches," he would be pretty near the bottom in that category as well. He was simply unable to get himself into the flow of the offense consistently. The biggest problem, though, was not the paltry numbers. It was his all too evident lack of intensity. The laid-back expression he wore was symbolic of the way he played. You know that look of Ira Bowman's when he's playing defense -- the wide eyes and open mouth that are the hallmark of a guy just waiting to pounce? That's the opposite of Graham, who almost seemed to be smiling whenever he was playing. Some guys, like the 76ers' Derrick Coleman, are good enough to prosper on occasion even without giving 100 percent of themselves every time out. Graham was not blessed with those kinds of skills. Like Moore last season, he was not the most talented player on the floor by any stretch. But he did not possess Moore's fire, and therefore was not nearly as effective. After two games, Graham was benched in favor of Bill Guthrie. Guthrie was as ungraceful a player as there was before leaving the team after four games with academic problems. But he blocked shots, forced turnovers and gave his body. So does Romanczuk, who heard the cheers whenever he came off the bench for Graham. His numbers were hardly any better than Graham's before he blitzed the Flying Dutchmen for a career-high 18 last night. But he just seemed to want it more, constantly going for rebounds and diving for every loose ball in sight. He could blossom into the enforcer the Quakers currently lack. Every time Dunphy grimaced and sat Graham on the bench after a blown defensive assignment, poor shot selection or a failure to grab an easy rebound, the game became less and less fun for the South Florida native. Some guys might react by working harder to overcome their shortcomings. But Graham decided he would be better off not playing at all. That's his prerogative, and no one should condemn him for exercising it. Why spend three hours a day on something you don't enjoy? If he is not having fun, he likely won't be motivated to play any better, anyway. Why hang around and be a detriment to the team by giving less than 100 percent of yourself because you're unhappy? Maybe time off is just the thing he needs. It is not out of the question that he could come back next year a new and better player. So Graham did the right thing. He walked away. Unfortunately, it was the best basketball-related move he's made all year.
(12/07/95 10:00am)
To the Editor: There is no room for complaints about the UA not representing the student body. All of us as undergraduates have the right to vote for the UA, and when only 13 percent of us do so we can blame no one but ourselves. With voter participation that low, it should not be hard for any group to gain more than adequate representation. If the UC seat is worth having, it should also be worth the minimal amount of work needed to gain the seat, under the current system. The solution proposed by the DP editorial staff is less representative than the current system. They suggest that the NEC, a smaller group, select two thirds of the students to sit on UC. While well intended, this would only shift the blame for the lack of representation, not solve the problem. If you want better representation don't waste your time changing the system, spend that time using the current system to your advantage. Sean Marzolf Engineering '98 Protest Raises Important Issues To the Editor: Having just read "The Pseudo 60s," I must protest. I was one of the protesters on last Friday involved with the classic Berkeley activism example, the Clinique protest. The protest was not silly and sophomoric. The issues it brought up were and are important. There was not one focal point like make-up. It was an event that posed many questions from education to womens self-image in which many different people participated. There was not one point of view and there was not one spokesperson. Elliott Witney, half the time with his name is misspelled, is mentioned constantly. He was an involved member, but not the leader or the maker of the "brain-child" protest. There were many people who organized it and participated in it. A lot of work went into planning it. In the end, I believe the crowd was entertained, lisened, and thought about the issues involved. The absent parent rules the universities imposed where the focal point of the protests in the 60s, as well as were the strict university educational programs. The activist students protested the freedom of speech (saying the F-word at Berkeley) and the educational programs their university had. It was not until the end of the 60s when the protests got political, making Vietnam the focal point well into the 70s. The womens movement also had its start in the 60s. Apart from job opportunity and equality, the women protested make-up. In the Miss America protest, they dressed up a sheep and burnt lipsticks -- street theater entertainment. Karina Sliwinski College '98 n To the Editor: Abby Beshkin ends her column about the Clinque protest, "Covering Up Issues" (DP 11/30/95), by stating, "If the protesters could channel their energies a little more concretely next time, they might just do some good." As a participant in the protest, I take strong offense at this remark. Beshkin implies that we, the protesters, wasted our energy, were too abstract and in turn, were ineffective. She also implies that the protest did no good. On all of these counts, Beshkin is wrong. Hundreds of people passed by as we protested in front of The Book Store. Most of them were curious as to what was going on -- a group of costumed, poster-waving people yelling loudly about issues is not commonplace on Locust Walk. Many people stopped to see what we were all about. Some ridiculed us, I am sure. But more, I think, were amused by the catchy chants tossed back and forth and were intrigued by the unusual guerilla-theater style format for the protest. And as people stopped to watch the entertainment, they were forced to think, for at least a moment, about the questions we were raising. In the two weeks since the protest, numerous people have approached me, many of whom I'd never met before, wanting to talk about the protest. The vast majority of these people thanked me for the effort we made in bringing awareness to issues that they considered extremely relevant on our campus and in society as a whole, but had too often been ignored. They spoke of the satisfaction they felt in seeing these issues being brought to attention and expressed overwhelming support for our attempts to raise awareness about these issues. Abby Beshkin, in her column, hoped that maybe next time, we protesters "might just do some good." Abby, I think we already have. Holly Shere College '98 Title IX Anyone? To The Editors: As a big fan of both men's and women's basketball here at Penn, I was pleased to see as I picked up the Nov. 27 DP issue that it was the annual "Preseason Basketball Issue." Unfortunately, I have somehow gotten a copy which covers only the men's team. Was this an error which occurred across the entire print run? Are there complete and/or corrected copies available? Shelley Krause Graduate School of Education student Undergraduate Admissions staff member
(11/01/95 10:00am)
From Scott Mulhauser's "On The ball," Fall '95 These words from my parents rung in my ears two and a half years ago as I watched them drive back home, leaving me and everything I own to start life anew here at Penn. Well, Mom and Dad, this year at the Palestra, standing will not be an option. Throughout my young life, I have learned that if I feel strongly about something, I should take a stand. Standing up is both literally and figuratively a gesture of commitment, respect and importance. On issues of vital concern (and also many trivial ones), I take pride in standing for what I believe. Standing is a sign of honor. It demonstrates that whatever compels you to rise commands a certain dignity for which sitting is not fit. Standing has come to be associated with many events of great importance and pride. I have risen for countless momentous events, from the daily pledge of allegiance in elementary school to court appearances to weddings. I stand in synagogue and I stood at commencement. I stand for the Star-Spangled Banner before every sporting event and for the Red and the Blue following every Penn game. I enjoy standing. In fact, I am standing right now. Now I'm sitting again. During those same sporting events, I often times jump up during heightened moments of action. For a big dunk, a touchdown run or a close play at the plate I can usually be found standing, having jumped out of my seat along with the rest of the crowd to express my pleasure or disbelief over a dramatic event, ridiculous call or idiotic decision. At the Palestra, standing has become a tradition. Students stand throughout the game as a gesture of their support for the Penn basketball team. While standing for the entire game is occasionally tiresome, it seems little effort in comparison to that exerted by the players on the court. As I grow weary towards the end of the game, so, too, do Ira Bowman, Tim Krug and the rest of the Quakers. Standing is my own gesture of support, hopefully in some little way willing the Quakers to victory. The powers that be in the Penn athletic department have determined that those students in the best available seats will be unable to stand throughout the entire game this season. Complaints from alumni in adjoining sections who cannot see the entire court have caused Athletic Director Steve Bilsky to institute this policy. When students stand in sections 115, 116 and 215, alumni and other fans sitting in 114 and 214 have part of their court vision blocked and therefore must stand as well. Does the Athletic Department not realize the dedicated student body committed to their basketball team? Many of these students, demonstrating their love for Penn hoops, have camped out for three days to get seats and will attend every game. Each game these fans demonstrate their support by painting their faces, cheering until they grow hoarse, wearing loads of Penn paraphernalia, and, most obviously, by standing for the entire game.
(06/30/95 9:00am)
Parkway Central High School '94 Chesterfield, Mo. To celebrate Black History Month, Engineering junior Janali Davis wanted to attend an event sponsored by a group calling itself "White Women Against Racism." As soon as Davis sat down in the room where the event was to take place, Women's Center Director Elena DiLapi, one of the program's facilitators, called her into the hall. "Because of the structure and the purpose of this organization, it would not be appropriate for you to be here at this time," DiLapi told Davis. Davis and DiLapi began debating the issue when Bah-Bai Makenta, a project planner with the Department of Facilities Planning, joined in. Makenta, who is also black, had been interested in attending the program as well. The three proceeded to argue for almost an hour until Davis left in tears. Davis said she felt hurt, confused and discriminated against. "The reason I went to the meeting is because I was curious about White Women Against Racism," she said. "I don't expect to come to this campus and be treated like that, especially in a forum that says it's dealing with the problem of racism." DiLapi, however, said the group had not been accepting members, white or black, since the beginning of the year when the support group was formed. She added that an advertisement for the group's meeting, placed in the Campus Events section of The Daily Pennsylvanian, was a mistake. In addition, DiLapi said that the support group was formed expressly for white women, and it would have been inappropriate for individuals of other races to attend. "Before we can enter into meaningful dialogue about culture and racism, we have to examine ourselves first and examine those issues," she said. "We believe racism is a white problem and we have a responsibility as white women in particular to do what we can to eradicate racism." Makenta was both disgusted and confused by the group's policy. "How can they deal with African people and not hear what the African people has to say?" he asked. "Here's this white women's organization against racism practicing racism." DiLapi said that because the Women's Center has other programs designed specifically for black women, her actions were not racist. But Makenta said he could not understand how WWAR is allowed to bar blacks from attending the event. "It seems to me wrong philosophically and politically that this group that meets on a university campus and in a university building, whose funding includes federal and state funds, can be allowed to meet in exclusivity of black people," he said. The University's Handbook of Rules and Regulations includes no definitions or rules concerning support groups. Associate Vice Provost for University Life Larry Moneta said after the incident that the affair was probably just a misunderstanding. He said the Women's Center has maintained a good reputation on campus for fighting racism.
(06/30/95 9:00am)
Jericho High School '93 Jericho, N.Y. According to Academic Programs in Residence Director Christopher Dennis, the text was chosen because of the wide range of topics it addresses. Dennis described Arcadia as "a play about the intersection of two groups of people separated in time by almost two centuries, but connected by blood, culture, science, mathematics, literature and even landscape into a common human situation." "It is a very fresh, very compelling text and one that I think our new students will find lively and interesting," he said. He added that the play is similar to some of the works chosen for the project in previous years. "Like Einstein's Dreams, it combines sort of a good vibrant narrative with some interesting approaches of science and issues of the time," he said. The book was chosen from a pool of approximately 200 works. William Shakespeare's The Tempest, Albert Camus' The Stranger and Charles Dickens' Hard Times were among the works that made the final cut. The Residential Faculty Council formed the core of the project's planning group, according to Dennis. There were also two student representatives from the Student Committee on Undergraduate Education involved in the decision. "The group met and narrowed selections," Dennis said. "And finally we got a book that we thought offered a lot of different attractions ? to people of many different disciplines." Arcadia was published two years ago, and was first produced in London. Dennis said the play "is widely identified as the most important work of one of the world's most distinguished living dramatic artists." The Penn Reading Project was introduced four years ago as an intellectual gateway for incoming students to the University. It is intended to introduce students to faculty members and each other. Previously years have featured such texts as Bacchae and Frankenstein. A copy of Arcadia will be sent to every incoming freshman. These students will be involved in discussion sessions with faculty members on September 3.
(06/30/95 9:00am)
Moravian Academy '93 Allentown, Pa. The University's Board of Trustees approved a 5.5 percent increase in tuition and fees for undergraduate students at its annual budget briefing in March. The jump, which is the lowest percentage increase in more than 20 years, raises the total cost of undergraduate tuition and fees from $18,856 for the 1994-95 academic year to $19,898 for 1995-96. University President Judith Rodin said the total proposed cost increase for undergraduates is only four percent, because neither Residential Living nor Dining Services charges will go up. The average total cost to undergraduates -- which includes tuition, mandatory fees, plus room and board -- will be $26,864 for the upcoming academic year. Vice President for Finance Stephen Golding said the University's Board of Trustees requested lower tuition hikes several years ago. "The Trustees have mandated that we have a declining rate of increase in our tuition, and we have tried to honor that for the last five to six years now," Golding said. He added that the University also has to consider declining or stagnant revenues from other sources of funding in determining tuition increases. "We're trying to decrease our overall rate of tuition [increases], but we're doing it with an eye toward the other revenues, which are not growing at the rates at which they grew a few years ago," Golding said. He pointed to potential cutbacks in federal indirect cost recoveries and static state funding as examples of such sources of funding. For the 1994-95 academic year, the University was the fourth most expensive school in the Ivy League, when all costs were taken into account. The University's 5.7 percent increase in tuition and mandatory fees for 1994-95 was on par with increases across the Ivy League, which saw an average tuition and fee hike of 5.8 percent. Acting Budget Director Ben Hoyle said the University would like to get the rate of growth in unrestricted funds -- donated money that the University can use for any purpose -- in line with increases in tuition and fees. He also wants more of the funding for financial aid to come from the University's endowment. "The faster the unrestricted fund grows, the less the University has to invest in other services," Hoyle said. Approximately $43 million of the total financial aid grant of $47.1 million comes from unrestricted funds, the main source of which is tuition, Hoyle said. This money is given primarily in the form of direct grants from the University to financially needy students, Hoyle said. The majority of financial aid comes from Penn Grant funds, he said. University-wide revenues are expected to rise by 4.7 percent for fiscal 1996, Hoyle said, despite the fact that the incoming Class of 1999 is expected to have 50 fewer students than the current freshman class. The reduction in class size has been mandated by the Trustees due to concern over the University's student-faculty ratio, which is higher than that of peer institutions.
(06/30/95 9:00am)
Moravian Academy '93 Allentown, Pa. Although seven of the 15 slots had yet to be filled one week prior to the February 24 deadline, applications poured in during the final week. The University was given the greatest number of slots to fill out of the 32 participating institutions in Pennsylvania, according to Frank Newhams, director of Pennsylvania Service Scholars. Students participating in the AmeriCorps program work on a service project for a total of 900 hours in exchange for financial support from the government. Penn Program for Public Service Associate Director Amy Cohen said the service project involves a seven- to 10-hour-a-week commitment for five semesters, as well as working for a summer. Newhams said students receive $2,363 from the National Service Trust upon completion of their service, and then receive a matching grant from the University. The money is then used to help the students defray the costs of their education. In addition, Newhams said, students receive a living stipend slightly above minimum wage. AmeriCorps was established in the summer of 1994 by the National Service Trust Act, which formed the Corporation for National and Community Service. The corporation administers funds for all AmeriCorps programs. AmeriCorps has come under attack recently as the Republican majority in both houses of Congress pushes to cut federal spending in order to reduce the federal deficit. Cohen, who coordinates AmeriCorps activities for the University, explained the unique nature of Pennsylvania Service Scholars. "AmeriCorps generally is not for students," she said. "The service is the only statewide higher education service corps in the country." Ira Harkavy, director of the Penn Program for Public Service, was enthusiastic about the students who were accepted as scholars. "I understand they've chosen absolutely outstanding undergraduates," he said. "I'm enormously impressed with their abilities, their interest and their education." Wharton sophomore John Seeg and College sophomore Abby Close -- two of the students who were accepted into the program in the spring semester -- became involved in the West Philadelphia Improvement Corps last September, teaching students at Shaw Middle School. They are co-coordinators of the school's Environmental Education Program, which Seeg said involves approximately 10 University students. Close said she saw joining AmeriCorps as a logical step because she was already fulfilling the service requirements, and receiving financial aid for the work she does was an obvious incentive. Seeg said he takes pride in being part of a nationwide service program. "It's very inspiring and motivating to be part of this national movement in volunteerism," he said.
(05/03/95 9:00am)
Asian American is in a way a state of mind and a political statement more than it is something that can be measured by blood or a paper bag test." --Jeff Yang, editor-in-chief, A. Magazine Can you walk down the street and identify an Asian American? Is the Asian immigrant who just arrived in this country an Asian American? Is the Asian child who is adopted from birth by white, American parents an Asian American? Is the child of an Asian father and white, American mother an Asian American? Are you sure you know who is an Asian American? Asian American is not all encompassing, nor is it concrete. In many ways, being Asian American is a personal and individual choice about characterizing and identifying oneself. It is this lack of tangibility that makes the discussion of Asian-American student issues so elaborate and contentious. But behind the mystery and enigma of the term Asian American, lies the concrete reality of the individual Asian ethnicities. Asian American encompasses people whose heritage spans India, China, Japan, Korea, Pakistan, Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines, Taiwan, Nepal and so on. Any meaningful discussion about Asian Americans must involve the individual Asian ethnicities. There simply is no Asian America without the individual ethnic components. This concept of bringing unity from multiplicity is the central tenant of the Asian-American consciousness. The problem is we take this idea for granted. We automatically assume that unity is a good thing -- that being Asian American is a good thing. We hardly ever question, let alone examine, the value of Asian-American unity. To understand our past and prepare for the future we, the Asian American students, must ask "Why is Asian-American unity so important?" At its heart, Asian-American unity is about forging a common identity for the purpose of exercising leverage in relationships of power. The idea is that one identifying term will mobilize several small groups into one large, vocal movement. And through such collective strength each individual Asian-American ethnicity, whether it be the Chinese Americans, the Korean Americans or the Asian Indian Americans, will be in a better position to seek cultural, political, social and economic change. But why is such change necessary? Basically because of the inherent exercise of power against the Asian-American community. Whether it be admissions quotas (Trustees of Harvard University v. U.S. Department of Justice), denial of justice against racist violence (Vincent Chin), U.S. senators making racist impersonations (Alfons D'Amato) or the portrayal of ethnic stereotypes in television (The Simpsons), inequities exist against individual Asian-American ethnicities. The fragmentation of the Asian-American identity aids in marginalization and in the denial of legitimacy. Only by coming together under the umbrella of a united community under the name of a united identity, called Asian American, can the dynamics of power be changed. Asian-American unity is not really about having different Asian-American ethnicities take turns at dancing on the same stage. Though these events have entertainment value, their greatest value derives from the fact that they are the means towards an end. They provide foundations of comraderie and similarity between the individual Asian-American ethnicities. They are the medium through which unity can be achieved. Behind the performances, speakers and dances, lies the goal of creating a common identity for many, towards the end of creating leverage in power relationships. Even though the ultimate goal of being Asian American may be of a power nature, that doesn't mean that advocacy should be promoted to the detriment of social and cultural programming. Social and cultural activities are of paramount importance to Asian-American unity. They are an exciting and powerful medium that appeals to large numbers of students and might be an innovative solution towards reaching out and increasing unity. Asian-American social and cultural events are just as much political statements as they are entertaining. So we come back to the original question -- Why is Asian American unity so important? In the end, being Asian Americans is not just about shows and celebrations, despite their value and fun. But it is about the potential for action and change that exists, once the curtain is closed and the lights are turned on.
(04/03/95 9:00am)
Guest Column Whites who are sincere should organize themselves and figure out some strategies to break down the prejudice that exists in white communities. This is where they can function more intelligently and more effectively, in the white community itself and this has never been done." --Malcolm X, 1965 Although there has been heated debate in the DP about White Women Against Racism (WWAR), there has been little discussion as to the purpose of the group. As members of WWAR, we wanted to detail the history, philosophy and value of WWAR. Groups like WWAR developed as a result of civil rights movements of the 1960's and 1970's when it became clear that in order to create social change white people needed to confront our own participation in the racist system. Leaders of the civil rights movements spoke of the importance of white people challenging racism within white communities as a necessary and missing piece of civil rights work. Women of color also began to describe the racism within the women's movement which continues to exclude and marginalize their experiences, limits all women, and contributes to institutionalized racism in society. During the eighties many civil rights, women's, and lesbian/ gay/bisexual organizations began to provide workshops, forums, and support groups for white people to confront racism as a standard educational and political action method. "Sexist discrimination has prevented white women from assuming the dominant role in the perpetuation of white racial imperialism, but it has not prevented white women from absorbing, supporting, and advocating racist ideology or acting individually as racist oppressors in various spheres of American life." --bell hooks, 1981 Additionally, white people need to understand how racism affects those of us who are white, and take responsibility for our own racist attitudes and actions in order to prepare us to work in coalition with communities of color and to combat racism. WWAR believes racism, sexism, classism, heterosexism and other forms of oppression are closely intertwined and cannot be separated. "White women don't work on racism to do a favor for someone else, solely to benefit Third World women. You have to comprehend how racism distorts and lessens your own lives as white women -- that racism affects your chances for survival, too, and that it is very definitely your issue." --Barbara Smith, 1979 WWAR at Penn is designed as a support group for white women to confront our individual and collective racism. Over the years, undergraduates, graduates, staff, faculty and community members have participated in the group. This year, white women came to the group with a variety of concerns and a range of past experiences in dealing with racism. For some of us, it was our first opportunity to confront our own racist attitudes. For others, it was part of a continuing and on-going process of anti-racism work within ourselves and our communities. What brought some of us to the group was often paralyzing anxiety and silence around issues of racism, combined with a strong commitment to overcoming obstacles to fight racism. Our goals were to learn from our own and others' experiences and mistakes in acting to challenge racism in our lives. Many of us wanted to understand the ways in which white privilege both benefits and limits white women, and how we can use our privilege to dismantle racism. Though we each came for different reasons, we all had a common motivation in the belief that racism is reprehensible and dangerous both to people of color and white people. Participation in this group has been a profound experience for many of us. "Just as Blacks get together to map race strategy, it's time well-meaning whites did the same. Maybe when whites confront their feelings about race they will be better equipped to alter errant behavior and attitudes of others in their group." --Claude Lewis, 1995 As members of WWAR, we understand that self education is an initial step in the process of doing anti-racism work, but it is not where the process ends. WWAR is just one piece of the PWC's commitment to anti-racism efforts and coalition building. The PWC has in the past and will continue to facilitate programs that provoke dialogue on racism within the larger Penn community.
(03/24/95 10:00am)
Over the last three years, the team has collected 43 consecutive Ivy League victories -- a record that may never be broken. The team is only one of four teams in NCAA history to go undefeated for three league seasons in a row. A Penn player has been Ivy League Player of the Year for three consecutive seasons -- Jerome Allen for the last two years and Matt Maloney this year. The team has three straight Ivy League championships and has played four National Collegiate Athletic Association Tournament games. Last year the team defeated then-Big Eight champion Nebraska University in the first round of the Tournament, giving the University its first NCAA win since 1980 and the Ivy League its first win since 1984. But the team has meant more than excellent statistics. It was a team with class, never taunting or bragging, representing our school with dignity. It was a team that never gave up, and was never intimidated, especially when defeating Michigan and St. John's this year. And even when down by nine points in overtime to Alabama in this year's Tournament, Jerome Allen's two consecutive three pointers almost had us believing another comeback was possible. Thanks to the basketball team, fans have experienced it all -- national rankings, national exposure and a Tournament victory. And there were other, more vivid memories -- defeating Princeton in front of a frenzied, sold-out Palestra; Jerome Allen's off-balance leaner to beat Michigan; Matt Maloney's 37-point performance against American two years ago. The joy students felt following the many Quaker victories and the agony of the occasional defeats created an emotional wave that University students, faculty and staff have ridden for three years. Thank you for the ride. We will all miss you.
(03/23/95 10:00am)
I was sure I wanted to be a part of it. So I picked up a petition, collected signatures from friends, acquaintances, and even people I didn't know, and began campaigning. Postering the bathrooms, handing out slips with my name, knocking on doors -- like most candidates, I learned the key was catchy slogans, no substance. Fortunately, I lost the election. And that was probably the best thing that could have happened to me at Penn. I have learned a lot about student government since then. And the more I have seen, the more I am dissatisfied and the more I am sure that student government is not the most efficient route to truly effect change at this University. It is now almost three years after my run for office and the dawn of a new era in student government is around the corner -- or so the planners of the constitutional reform proposals say. Less bureaucracy. More efficiency. Less overlap. More advocacy. Less internal fighting. More responsibility. These are indeed lofty goals, which if achieved, will be a huge victory for students on campus. But the issue of student governance is far more complex than changing the structure of the system. A new constitution establishes new rules and new priorities, but it does not necessarily bring with it a change in attitude among those elected to serve on the body. Behind any Undergraduate Senate or Undergraduate Assembly is a group of students who can make or break the campus community. Two years ago, one candidate promised to "install Evian machines in the gyms" -- she was elected. Another stated that she was "Kid-tested, mother-approved" -- she also won. This is not a joke. These are the students who are running and winning seats on the campus student government. And because of this, it's no wonder that student government is being ignored by students, faculty members and administrators alike. The way I see it, reforming student government is a double-edged sword: The system should be in working order, but the students must be competent also. This year, for the first time in several years, 40 candidates are running for 25 positions. Last year, it was more like 29 candidates for 25 spots. While this wider field certainly gives students more of a choice than they have had in the past (except for the Nursing spot which is uncontested), the low numbers are an absolute disgrace for a school with an undergraduate population of nearly 10,000. The obvious question which arises for this miniscule pool of candidates is what students can do to make sure their representatives are competent. The most obvious answer is to let students know what the candidates stand for -- not in the form of sound bites which appear in a DP ad and not in the form of colorful flyers. The solutions are simple: campus forums that allow candidates to answer questions on issues, longer campaigning cycles, permitting candidates to speak to the press without having to worry about violating a gag rule. At a university that prides itself on cranking out the leaders of tomorrow, the students must take notice. Representatives like those on the Student Activities Council who voted against funding The Red and Blue should be sent a message that they have no place on campus. While student government reform certainly changes the structure of the system, it is only half of the solution. If given the choice between systematic reform and better student leaders, I would without a doubt pick the latter. Genuine student leaders can represent students regardless of the structure. Genuine student leaders actively solicit comments and suggestions and work to implement them. Genuine student leaders take it upon themselves to change the system if they see its inefficiencies. Genuine student leaders have not yet found their way to the UA body.
(03/15/95 10:00am)
What's in a name? Probably not a lot, unless of course you are Mike Tyson, Michael Jordan or Joe Montana. Most thought that the NCAA was just joking around when it put the Tide in the East Region bracket, let alone put it up against an Ivy League team. Don't be so hasty in judging the Quakers, though. The Quakers step into Baltimore, Md., tomorrow night just stepping off an Ivy League championship. Look out! The Tide, however, cannot say the same thing. No, it did not win any kind of championship, unless you count a second-half laugher against the defending national champion Arkansas Razorbacks in which the Tide shot nearly 30 percent from the floor before finally bowing down to the Hogs. Center Antonio McDyess, much improved from his defensive showings in past games this season, pulled down 20 rebounds against the strong inside attack of the Razorbacks, tying an SEC Tournament record. Forward Jason Caffey, who has been bothered by a lackluster showing from the free-throw line, hit on all of his attempts to improve on his 48-percent shooting from the line thus far. "We have a chance to do some damage in the bracket we were placed in," Caffey said. "I don't know much about Pennsylvania except that they like to slow the game down a little bit." The Tide will hold the definite advantage in the rebounding aspect of the game when it heads into Baltimore Arena for the matchup. The Quakers' game looks to be suffering mainly in that aspect. Penn, which finished 14-0 in Ivy League play this season, pulls down an average of 38.3 boards per game while letting its opponents pull down 38.0. The Tide, however, averages nearly 41.5 a game while limiting its opponents to only 36.8 to lead the SEC. The Tide's Earth-Quakers, 6-foot-11 centers McDyess and Roy Rogers, lead the team in defensive stops. McDyess has 62 blocked shots and 26 steals while Rogers falls closely behind his colleague and current roommate with 64 blocked shots and 10 steals. The 1-2 punch of 6-8 Caffey and 6-7 forward Jamal Faulkner would appear to give the Quakers fits on the inside. The Quakers lack the size to defend Caffey and, should Penn choose to nibble on the bait of the two inside guys, Faulkner will unload his shot from behind the arc where he is shooting close to 40 percent. Wait a minute -- coach David Hobbs might choose to sub for Faulkner, though. Same result for Alabama. Sophomore guard Eric Washington is another perimeter guy who is not afraid to take the ball inside, either. Washington is shooting 42 percent from the perimeter, connecting on 68 of 163 attempts. The Quakers, who like to set the same bait in the inside where size is an opponents' plus, appear to like to kick it back outside as well. Matt Maloney, who statistically appears to be Faulkner's mirror-image, has hit 44 percent of his three-pointers, which seem to come in bushels for him. Maloney has attempted 185 three-point shots this season, connecting on 83. The true test for the Quakers will be their depth. The Quakers, who appear to have several players that like to nap on their team, have only seven players that average double figures in minutes played, which immediately points to the confidence in the depth of his team for Quakers coach Fran Dunphy. Nine out of 13 players for the Tide average over 10 minutes per game. No. 12 seeds are traditionally beaten by No. 5 seeds, and Alabama should not have to worry. When put up against a top 25 SEC team, the Quakers should crack but not break, but that crack should be just big enough for Alabama to creep through. The Quakers, in order to see "Big Country" of Oklahoma State, need to rely on more than what appears to be a good team that takes the court every game. The Quakers need to rely on some luck, also. A little luck is needed to pierce the defense of the Tide. It's not every day that an Ivy League team gets to see reality. It's not every day that an Ivy League team goes against one of the premier teams in the SEC -- the Alabama Crimson Tide. Todd Anderson is Assistant Sports Editor for The Crimson White.
(02/09/95 10:00am)
From Shawn Klein's, "Jedi Mind Tricks," Fall '95 From Shawn Klein's, "Jedi Mind Tricks," Fall '95For a large, often impersonable institution, Penn has its fair share of respectable annual traditions. Events like Hey Day (which I was just ecstatic to miss thanks to the MCATs), the Econ Midnight Scream, Spring Fling, Senior Screamers and the festivities of Senior Week come to mind. And these streakers are really something. After all, it's one thing to go outside in the cold. It's another thing to go outside naked. But to go outside naked when it's cold, well, that's truly admirable. This year, the streak started at the Quad nipple. The eighteen participants took off their clothes, presumably stretched out (after all in this cold one could easily pull something), and counted down from ten. All they left on were their sneakers and some scarves to cover up embarrassing hickies. They then proceeded to take a lap around the Quad, screaming for everyone to "Wake up!" and inadvertently championing the size does-not-matter issue with their in-your-face style. As usual, token female runners joined in the manly birthday-suit bash. But one can't help but wonder what would motivate them to do that. They might be the kind of girls which the other sixteen male runners have already seen naked at other occasions. (As any good scientist would, I'll refuse to consider the people that got woken up. This is because there is a good chance all of them have not seen these two naked before, which might punch holes in my theory.) But who am I to speculate. There is no good basis for it. This year there were two women and one of them was apparently cute (!). (There was, however, no way to be certain as early morning eye boogars can blur one's vision. The picture in the DP will have to serve as arbiter.) Not a bad showing, but unfortunately, still lacking. And lacking in a gutwrenching way. I remember the days when there was a female streak. Sadly, you freshman never even knew of such a time. (It's a little like meeting a kid who when asked what year he was born says "1984" and you say: "Jesus, I remember 1984.") You no doubt would think of a female streak as the stuff of collegiate legend, no more real than the Hiberian Age of Conan fame. You may think that it never even happened. But I swear to you that it did. Truth to tell, it was just two years ago. What has happened to our proud tradition? Penn is in disarray. We no longer know who and what we are. Our Revlon dreams are laid to waste. M.A.C.H.O., a club to support sensitive men, has come to campus. We have fallen out of the Top 25, perhaps for the rest of regular hoops season play. And, now Whartonites can minor in the College. As concerned, moral Penn students, we must take a stand. The first strong step: The reinstitution of the female streak. You crazy Tri-Delts figure out for yourselves who will lead it. I have no personal preference. As long as it is done and done with enthusiasm and drama. Help us rise up and reclaim our former glory. You can make this school feel like the proud Ivy League institution we all know it can be once again. Just as your male counterparts did their lap of lewdness, with all possible floppy virility, so too must you. Men and women are different yet equal. You cannot let this campus forget that. It is time to take pride and do what must be done. The groundhog has seen his shadow. Six more weeks of winter are on the way, plenty of time to get one or a couple of laps in. A quick couple of points of advice: First, if it's cold do not make sharp turns. Someone could lose an eye. Second, make sure that the DP gets a frontal shot. (This could be ensured by putting legible signs on your backs which read: "Don't bother buying advertising spots in the DP. No one looks at them.") It puts more emphasis on the point. Third, stretch out. You have no control if non-participants pull something while your running, but there is no reason why you should. Lastly, after the completed lap, take time to meet and greet with the fans who were courteous enough to root you on. It's just good PR. Let's keep this in perspective and not be silly. A female streak will not fix all of the problems on this campus. But it may fix a lot of them.:-) Shawn Klein is a senior biological basis of behavior major from Livingston, N.J. Jedi Mind Tricks appears alternate Thursdays.
(01/19/95 10:00am)
As we begin the spring semester, I want to share some thoughts I have had regarding several recent issues on campus. In just the past six months, three unrelated incidents have understandably disturbed and offended members of our community. Specifically, many were affronted by research funding received by a faculty member from an outside foundation accused of supporting neo-Nazi and racist agendas, by a student's article on Haiti published by a campus publication, and by the retrospective exhibit of Andres Serrano's photographs at the Institute of Contemporary Art, especially the notorious "Piss Christ." Not surprisingly, the common cry in response to each of these incidents has been: "Why doesn't the University stop this!" This is a heartfelt demand and it deserves a clear response. We "permit" these events because, first, in truth, we can never wholly prevent them -- and in each of these recent cases, those responsible acted legally, were clearly identified, and did not hide behind the illicit screens of anonymity or vandalism. Second, we permit them because tolerating the intolerable idea is the price of the freedom of expression without which we cannot survive as an academic institution. But third, and most importantly, we permit them because doing so is the only way to change things. Hearing the hateful is the only way to identify and educate the hater. Seeing the offensive is a necessary step to understanding and rejecting the perspective from which it comes. Seriously considering even the most distasteful idea is the absolute precondition to arguing effectively against it. By mission and by tradition, universities are open forums in which competing beliefs, philosophies, and values contend. Some will appear ill-informed, disrespectful, vengeful; in exposing and challenging them, their flaws become self-evident. That is why we do not close off debate by official pronouncement. That is why we must use such incidents to promote debate, to spotlight the hater, and to expose the hateful to the light of day. In recent months, I have been especially pleased to see the responsible way in which those offended by the Serrano exhibit voiced their protest in outspoken, but reasoned and appropriate arguments, and then worked constructively with the Institute of Contemporary Art to create a forum for the public discussion of their concerns. Those who have been outraged regarding the article published in The Red and Blue have been encouraged to do likewise. We as a community are learning to use public discussion and debate to educate one another and to assert our views. It is my hope that, in the future, those who know they may offend --while free to exercise their right of open expression -- will, as a matter of simple courtesy, open a dialogue ahead of time with groups or individuals they know will be affected by their exercise of that right. It is vital that we reach out to each other in this way, because we can learn to use the freedom of ideas and expression to educate rather than to wound. The University administration's job is to support such dialogue and debate, not to cut it off; to create an environment in which we can educate each other, not one in which doctrine or orthodoxy are legislated from on high. Will we provide "moral leadership" to the Penn community? Absolutely. But moral leadership requires suasion not censorship, conscience not coercion. Most of all, it requires insisting that we -- all of us -- talk about what troubles us. We must all use such occasions to fulfill the University's educational mission for each other. Part of that mission is to educate for leadership, and we must each take responsibility to respond to our own moral compass in ways that better the life of our community. Words are the life-blood of our university. For all their limitations, even if they sometimes drive us apart, words are what bind us together in the academy. Martin Luther King, Jr., understood the power of words. He believed that we must use them to talk about the difficult and painful issues that divide us, about race and about religion, about politics and about power, about gender and about identity. But I urge you to choose carefully the words you use. The words of hatred and bigotry, insult and ignorance, destroy dialogue and community and must be answered. I hope the day will come when no one in our community will use such words or inflict pain on others with intent. But until then, when we are faced with words of offense and awfulness, we must draw those who use them into the dialogue of ideas. That is the essential precondition of the dynamics of change. That is why we may censure speech, but never censor speakers. In the last two years, this community has found that we cannot, with policies and procedures, legislate the unlegislatable. If we can learn this lesson and put it into practice, then we can create together a model community in which individual and group differences form a mosaic, not a melting pot that tries to makes them in a homogenous mix. We are a community of different identities, and we must create a context in which a true diversity of views and opinions, persons and groups, politics and perspectives, is nurtured, valued and shared. But let us raise the level of the discourse, dispense with the intention to hurt, and each take more responsibility for all the members of our community. In that spirit, I welcome you back from winter vacation to the exciting challenges that lie ahead. Judith Rodin has served as president of the University since last July.
(11/30/94 10:00am)
Provost Chodorow's decisionProvost Chodorow's decisionto strike down the proposedProvost Chodorow's decisionto strike down the proposedchanges to the University'sProvost Chodorow's decisionto strike down the proposedchanges to the University'scalendar ignored the opinionsProvost Chodorow's decisionto strike down the proposedchanges to the University'scalendar ignored the opinionsof students, the Faculty SenateProvost Chodorow's decisionto strike down the proposedchanges to the University'scalendar ignored the opinionsof students, the Faculty Senateand the University CouncilProvost Chodorow's decisionto strike down the proposedchanges to the University'scalendar ignored the opinionsof students, the Faculty Senateand the University Council_________________________________ He pledged to listen to students and faculty in an effort to revitalize the jaded and often neglected undergraduates of the University. Since then, however, his interactions with students have ranged from questionable to worrisome. Last month, he called into question the role of students in undergraduate reform, saying students weren't "the best organized people in the world" and affirming that sometimes "they really can't [be involved]." Now he's gone a step further. We question the move not because we are in favor of the proposal to extend reading days, but rather because we are dissatisfied with the way the decision was made. He nixed the proposal -- which was endorsed by the Student Committee on Undergraduate Education, the Faculty Senate and the University Council -- after citing "overwhelming" faculty opposition. We can't help but wonder how the faculty could be "overwhelmingly opposed" to the plan, when their representative body -- the Faculty Senate -- approved it. While the undergraduate deans' points may have had some validity, their concerns should have been brought up and addressed in the earlier forum. But we are also concerned with Chodorow's attitude towards SCUE and Council. While their proposals and resolutions are by no means binding, these bodies provide an important voice for students and administrators. Past provosts and presidents alike have placed much trust in these groups -- but Chodorow has decided to discount their opinions. It appears the Provost is determined to make his own decisions when it comes to running this institution. This university, on the other hand, has always believed in consensual decision-making -- consulting all parties involved before choosing a course of action. Chodorow's clear sense of what he wants is commendable, and distinguishes him from many of this University's previous administrators. However, we take issue with his circumventing of both the representative bodies and the undergraduates he is supposed to serve. This is not necessarily duplicitous or bad -- but such apparent disinterest in students' interests cannot bode well.
(11/23/94 10:00am)
The Inspiration's fall show, "No Home Trainin'," played to a full house both Friday and Saturday nights last weekend at the Nursing Education Building, causing cast members and audience members alike to declare the show the group's most successful to date. The 16-member ensemble let loose with songs ranging from Janet Jackson to older Motown, jazz and gospel, showcasing the wide range of talent and vocal specialty within the group. "We try to get a combination of everything," said College senior and Music Director Liza Horne. Strongest numbers included the Temptations' "Papa Was a Rolling Stone" -- which was tightened up further by solos from Horace Anderson, Pernell Williams and Athelstan Bellerand Jr -- and the haunting "Homeless" -- originally performed by Ladysmith Black Mambazo with Paul Simon -- an ambitious number sung in English and Swahili dialect. The show was divided into three acts, bridged by two side-splitting skits and guest performances by Vertigo Friday night and by African Rhythms Saturday. The skits, modeled after MTV videos, Miller Lite beer ads, and the hilariously repetitive "Beauty Shop" stage show, had nearly every audience member on the floor. Their sendup on "Showtime at the Miss America Pageant -- Live from the Apollo" featured Law student Horace Manning in drag, while "No Home Trainin'" brought "comedy! drama! intrigue!" and too many twisted takes on stereotyped black comedy to count. On the method behind the skits' madness, founding member and show co-coordinator Damon Bradley said, "It came from radio ads for this one type of comedy that always seems to arise in the black community?it almost says that we don't even look any more at what we're watching, and if we don't demand something more intellectual, we won't get any more. The skits were funny because people in the audience could recognize the lines immediately, but there was a message with the laugh." Overall the show's innovative musical style and comedy really hit home. The show's success was evident by the sheer number of people who constantly clapped with the music and who gave a standing ovation at the show's close. The Inspiration's spring show, which traditionally attracts many of the group's alumni, promises to improve even more upon the fall success. -- Jennifer Dowling
(11/02/94 10:00am)
The win allowed Penn (6-1, 5-0 Ivy League) to maintain a one-game lead over Harvard in the Ivy League standings. The Tigers dropped to 3-4 (3-2 Ivy League). Penn and Harvard meet on Nov. 16 in Cambridge, and the Quakers can clinch their fourth consecutive -- and second straight undisputed -- Ivy title with a victory in that game. But first things first. Saturday's game lived up to its pregame billing as another in a long series of memorable battles that Penn and Princeton have waged in the 77 times the archrivals have met. But this one will be remembered more for one incredible play than for the overall game -- which was pretty incredible in itself. The Quakers trailed, 21-0, midway through the second quarter after allowing the Tigers to pick them apart with a barrage of misdirection runs and well-timed passes. But Penn closed to within 21-14 on the strength of two long touchdown drives flanking halftime. Then -- after yielding 283 yards in the first half -- the Quaker defense stiffened, stopping Princeton on its initial possession of the second half and forcing the Tigers' Rob DiGiacamo to punt from the Penn 38-yard line. The punt was short and high, and Chris Flynn -- the Quakers' sophomore returner -- signalled for a fair catch, allowing the ball to hit at the 14-yard line. Princeton's Eduordo Waite went to down the ball as it took a Penn bounce. Perhaps Flynn could describe the sequence better from here. "I waved my hand and got away from the ball," Flynn said. "The Princeton defender [Waite] hit the ball up in the air. Once touching the ball, I can pick it up and run with it." That's exactly what Flynn did, and 79 yards later, Penn was within one extra-point conversion of a tie. Not so fast. The officials obviously didn't know the rules as well as Flynn did, and they initially decided to bring the ball back to the point where it was originally touched. "I looked back and saw the yellow flag," Flynn said, "and Coach Berndt was tearing ass on the field. I walked back and they were still arguing. Then Jeff Goyette raised his hands [and jumped about eight feet in the air]." The Quakers had their touchdown. After Ray Saunders converted on the conversion, they had their tie as well. "It was a big play to get the emotions up," Flynn said. Emotions were an important part of Princeton's ability to jump to such a large early lead. "They were sky-high at the beginning," Penn senior linebacker Gavin O'Connor said. "They didn't do anything differently than we had already seen, but every play they just seemed to get us a little." The Tigers "got" the Quakers for 223 yards and 21 points in the first 23 minutes, 27 seconds of play. And while the passing of Doug Butler (16 of 27 for 207 yards and 2 touchdowns on the day) played a part, Princeton's ability to run out of the Wing-T offense was the major reason for its success. By halftime, the Tigers had 166 yards rushing -- the Penn defense hadn't given up 100 yards on the ground to an Ivy opponent in a game all season. "It's a complicated offense," Quaker defensive end Ken Coombs said of the Wing-T, which involves a whirlwind of motion. "Practicing against the scout team isn't the same as the real thing. The speed and execution -- you can't get that from practice." Princeton scored its first touchdown on a 75-yard drive that involved 10 plays. Craig Fitchett carried for eight yards and the score at the 11:10 mark of the first quarter. "We were shocked," O'Connor said. "We couldn't believe that they had scored on us, especially that quickly." O'Connor and the rest of the Penn defense were a lot more shocked 2:46 later when Butler hooked up with split end Ted Fire on a 44-yard touchdown strike to give the Tigers a 14-0 lead. "I screwed up," Quaker cornerback Kirk Moyer said. "I was biting on the dig and [Fire] got behind me." The 14 first-quarter points were the most Penn has surrendered to an Ivy opponent this season. The onslaught continued in the second quarter when Princeton scored on an 11-play, 53-yard drive capped off by a five-yard pass from Butler to fullback Butch Climmons at 8:27 of the second quarter. "The defense didn't do the job in the first half," O'Connor said. "But I knew there was no way we were going to lose." That confidence was on the verge of being seriously questioned when Butler led the Tigers on yet another foray into Penn territory toward the end of the half. But Duane Hewlett stepped in front of a pass intended for Fire and picked it off for his second interception of the year. The play would be a turning point. "We were two-deep defensively on him at the time of the interception," Hewlett said. "It wasn't a tough play to make, the ball was right there." After the interception, Quaker quarterback Jim Crocicchia led his team on its longest drive of the season, touring 80 yards on six passes and one penalty. Crocicchia was 6 for 6 for 68 yards on the drive, including a 12-yard connection with sophomore tight end Brent Novoselsky for the score. "We were in the two-minute drill," said Crocicchia, who had his best day of the season, completing 17 of 26 passes for 194 yards and three touchdowns. "Our team has good confidence in the drill, and we ran some good patterns and made some good calls." The drive was Turning Point No. 2 on the day. "We came out a little flat, on our heels," Crocicchia said. "But we knew it was just a matter of getting our heads screwed on straight. I was getting a little pissed off. They were mouthing off all the time. When they tackled you, they'd say, 'Look at the scoreboard! Look at the scoreboard!' or 'Don't run this way again.' It was the first half and they thought they had the game won." Penn won the game by scoring 17 points in a 15-minute span of the second half. First came a 74-yard, 10-play touchdown drive. The key plays were two passes from Crocicchia to tight end Scott Scungio. The first caught Princeton in a blitz and gained 30 yards; the second was a one-yard touchdown pass. "It was a big lift getting seven points at the end of the half," defensive tackle Tom Gilmore said. "But the first drive in the third quarter was probably the deciding factor in the game." Then came Flynn's punt return to tie the game. Meanwhile, the Quaker defense was slamming the door on Butler and Princeton, allowing only 115 total yards in the second half. "Once we got ourselves on a roll," Coombs said, "it was almost easy. We just had to quit looking to our right and our left and look to ourselves." The game-winner was a 29-yard Saunders field goal (his 10th of the season in 13 attempts) at 2:33 of the final quarter. The Quakers never let Princeton out of its own territory after that, and a 20-yard Crocicchia pass to Brian Moyer -- completed when Tiger defenders Jim Anderson and Sean Brennan ran into each other -- put the game out of reach. "I told the guys at halftime that it was 0-0 as far as I was concerned," Tiger head coach Ron Rogerson said. "We're playing a hell of a football team, and you know they're going to come after you. But they came out and dominated the second half, just like we dominated the first." "I think we proved something here," Coombs said. "I don't see how anybody can doubt us now."
