--Gene N. Haldeman,
IT Specialist,
Undergraduate Admissions

As a National Resource Center, the Middle East Center is compiling information that will be useful for our future funding. We would thus like updated, brief reports on the activities of associated faculty, staff, and graduate students at Penn concerning the terrorist attacks of 9/11, the war in Afghanistan, and related events.

Many of you sent in a report on your activities when we first requested one in late September. Please report (glicksbe@sas.upenn.edu) any events/activities that you have engaged in since then, and use the following categories:

--Joe Glicksberg,
Research Assistant,
Middle East Center

I'm retired from Penn, and enjoy receiving copies of Almanac. I read with interest the articles on "125 Years of Women at Penn." While it may have been mentioned in the book Franklin's Daughters, which I have not seen, I felt strongly that it should be mentioned somewhere that Lillian G. Burns was elected by the Trustees as Associate Secretary of the Corporation in the late 1950s, possibly 1956 or 57 [Ed. Note, 1960]. This was quite an achievement for a woman at that time. I believe this title is considered a statutory officer of the Corporation.

She was extremely active in the University's efforts to obtain adjacent land for the University of Pennsylvania through the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority; active in the Quadrapartite Commission which was an early effort in community relations on behalf of the University of Pennsylvania; and was very involved in the West Philadelphia Corporation which I believe still exists under a new corporate name.

In addition, she was a great lady, and a great representative of the University.

I just felt this should be noted somewhere. Thank you for keeping me informed about Penn's activities.

--Virginia J. Scherfel,
formerly Executive Assistant to
Vice President for Facilities Management

Please see the University Archives web site www.archives.upenn.edu/histy/features/women/chron7.html#a. under the year 1960 where there is now an entry for Ms. Lillian G. Burns.

Speaking Out welcomes reader contributions. Short, timely letters on University issues will be accepted by Thursday at noon for the following Tuesday's issue, subject to right-of-reply guidelines. Almanac will begin weekly publication again on January 8, 2002. Contributions to Speaking Out should be received by noon, January 3. Advance notice of intention to submit is appreciated. --Eds.