Council Coverage
President Judith
Rodin's report stated that both
she and Chaplain Will Gipson, have "encouraged the University
community's active participation in exploring the challenges
that we face as we continue to build a diverse, inclusive environment
that makes Penn an exemplary place to study, teach, work and
learn. In the weeks to come, we will explore the interests
that define the varied positions of our Penn constituents,
and the solutions that may address them and alleviate the racially
charged tensions that have concerned so many of us." As for
Study Abroad, by the end of the semester, "we will effect revisions
to the University policy regarding study abroad options available
to students in countries for which the U.S. State Department
has issued travel warnings." Penn's West Philadelphia Initiatives
won a 2003 Award for Excellence from the Urban Land Institute.
Provost Robert
Barchi said he wanted to emphasize how grateful he is for
the generous gift from Evan Thompson,
W '64, to endow a professorship that recognizes teaching excellence.
Dr. Barchi said that nominations will be accepted until December
15 (Almanac November 11, 2003).
The annual Open
Forum included two topics this year: concerns of the graduate
students, and the undergraduate
housing policy. The GET-UP presentation was made by Joanna
Kempner, a 6th-year graduate who is expecting her Ph.D. in
the spring. She expressed the group's concern that the administration
has not recognized the union's position that graduate students
who are teaching assistants are employees and should be compensated
as such. Some undergraduate students suggested that a dialogue
needs to happen to determine if unionization would affect the
quality of undergraduate education. President Rodin commented
that the lives of both graduate and undergraduate students
would be differentially altered; these are very complicated
issues. She said she has a discussion planned with the GET-UP
leadership for December 17. Since Council is a deliberative
body, intended to discuss topics and make recommendations,
it does not have the power to authorize actions. President
Rodin said the unionization issue is in an administrative proceeding
with the NLRB, which will make a ruling.
The topic of
co-ed undergraduate on-campus housing was presented by undergrad
Bradley Breuer, who said that the
current policy is "outdated, heterosexist, and homophobic" and
wants more inclusive options. Dr. Lance Donaldson-Evans, Senate
Chair, said that this is currently under consideration by the
Pluralism Committee.
Dr. Edward (Ned)
Lally, the chair of the Committee on Recreation and Intercollegiate
Athletics, gave an interim
report. He suggested using mid-semester warnings more to alert
students who were not doing well. He noted that the intramural
fields need grass; Omar Blaik replied that Facilities would
grow grass, although he couldn't ensure how quickly it would
grow.
The interim report
of the Libraries Committee was presented by Dr. Edward Peters,
who noted that they were "strongly
impressed" with the interim management of the library.
One issue that the committee has grappled with is study space,
especially during reading days and finals. VPUL Val Cade
noted that Perelman Quadis open 24-hours during reading
days and suggested that the LGBT Center might be another option.
Vice President
of Facilities Omar Blaik addressed recent misconceptions
about the Fresh Food Plazas, especially
their hours of operation. After City Council passed an ordinance
pertaining to food trucks in 1997, Penn built five plazas for
the vendors. This provides the vendors with electrical hook-ups
and the patrons with seating. There were 24 vendors who signed
five-year leases with Penn at that time; then their leases
went on an annual basis and they would start paying rent to
cover some of the maintenance costs. This August Penn
entered into negotiations with the vendors and all leases have
been signed. The hours they are allowed to operate, based on
the lease, is 6 a.m.-6 p.m., and Penn has recently been enforcing
this.
One factor to
be considered in allowing longer hours, at the plaza near
Pottruck, is the need for access to
the Chiller, which is feasible when the trucks are not there.
He responded to students' concerned about patronizing the trucks
in the evening. He said he hopes to have this resolved by the
beginning of next semester.