Spring Break
A Look Back
Jason Hand
Issue date: 8/19/05 Section: News
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This weekly feature delves into the extensive Triangle archives to reminisce of days gone by at Drexel University. This is not current news, but rather news articles that students last year, five years and 10 years ago this week read on the front page of The Triangle.
One Year Ago - August 20, 2004
The University made plans several years ago to build a 300-unit townhouse at the empty lot at 32nd and Powelton Avenue much to the residents' chagrin. According to Powelton Village Civic Association Zoning Committee Chair and resident Larry Biond, the lot originally housed the Consolidated Laundry Building, which was located in the area since the early 1900s until it went out of business in the 1990s and demolished in 1995. PVCA President Dan Safer wrote a letter to the University expressing interest in turning the lot into a recreational area for neighborhood residents. In late 1996, the National Linen Services notified the University and stated that the land would be converted into a strip mall. The University, PVCA, and Councilwomen Happy Fernandez and Jannie Blackwell stood against these plans resulting in the University purchasing the land in January 1998. However, in April the University sought to make the lot into a 300-unit townhouse. PVCA wrote a letter to President Papadakis conveying its frustration over the University's use of the lot for non-recreational purposes, stating that University failed to inform them of the plans and called the move disrespectful to the Powelton Village community.
Five Years Ago - August 18, 2000
Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences Cecilie Goodrich was expected to leave University at the end of August for reasons unknown. Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Richard Astro stated that he could not comment until after the finalization of leadership change. Goodrich also was not available for comment. Astro also pointed out that the students had no reason to be concerned about the resignation, and that the only reason for such concern would be if the curricula suffered as a result. Goodrich's resignation was announced at the July 25 Faculty Senate meeting. Furthermore, Astro stated that he would serve as interim dean of CoAS, directing it with help from associate professor of history and politics Richard Rosen and professor of psychology Anthony Glascock. Prior to his new role as interim dean of CoAS, Astro also performed a parallel role at MCP Hahnemann University and served as dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at Northeastern University during his residence between 1978 and 1986.
Ten Years Ago - August 25, 1995
The Undergraduate Student Government Association had a slow beginning when its new officers were instated June 1. USGA President Steve Martorano acknowledged that the summer term was always slow, and that new officers could not do everything immediately. For a portion of that term, eight officials were on hand to obtain quorum, without such there would not be any voting or debating on critical matters. Furthermore, only one meeting had achieved quorum--June 26. There, a minimum of 5- percent of the officers of the Student Assembly were required for a formal meeting. USGA Advisor and Dean of Students Jim Fitzpatrick attributed the low attendance to senior graduations, the freshmen having gone home for the summer, and some of the officials were not aware of the meeting times. According to USGA Speaker Jared Levine, there was a compromise among officers that there were not enough resources to legislate successfully, and that it was best to wait for the fall term. But one officer, Student Comptroller Anabella Cunha, did not wait, and resigned Aug. 14. In her resignation letter, Cunha stated that the USGA was failing to meet the needs of students, and though she has made suggestions for change to the association, having some handed to her by students and administrators, with none of them even being considered.
One Year Ago - August 20, 2004
The University made plans several years ago to build a 300-unit townhouse at the empty lot at 32nd and Powelton Avenue much to the residents' chagrin. According to Powelton Village Civic Association Zoning Committee Chair and resident Larry Biond, the lot originally housed the Consolidated Laundry Building, which was located in the area since the early 1900s until it went out of business in the 1990s and demolished in 1995. PVCA President Dan Safer wrote a letter to the University expressing interest in turning the lot into a recreational area for neighborhood residents. In late 1996, the National Linen Services notified the University and stated that the land would be converted into a strip mall. The University, PVCA, and Councilwomen Happy Fernandez and Jannie Blackwell stood against these plans resulting in the University purchasing the land in January 1998. However, in April the University sought to make the lot into a 300-unit townhouse. PVCA wrote a letter to President Papadakis conveying its frustration over the University's use of the lot for non-recreational purposes, stating that University failed to inform them of the plans and called the move disrespectful to the Powelton Village community.
Five Years Ago - August 18, 2000
Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences Cecilie Goodrich was expected to leave University at the end of August for reasons unknown. Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Richard Astro stated that he could not comment until after the finalization of leadership change. Goodrich also was not available for comment. Astro also pointed out that the students had no reason to be concerned about the resignation, and that the only reason for such concern would be if the curricula suffered as a result. Goodrich's resignation was announced at the July 25 Faculty Senate meeting. Furthermore, Astro stated that he would serve as interim dean of CoAS, directing it with help from associate professor of history and politics Richard Rosen and professor of psychology Anthony Glascock. Prior to his new role as interim dean of CoAS, Astro also performed a parallel role at MCP Hahnemann University and served as dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at Northeastern University during his residence between 1978 and 1986.
Ten Years Ago - August 25, 1995
The Undergraduate Student Government Association had a slow beginning when its new officers were instated June 1. USGA President Steve Martorano acknowledged that the summer term was always slow, and that new officers could not do everything immediately. For a portion of that term, eight officials were on hand to obtain quorum, without such there would not be any voting or debating on critical matters. Furthermore, only one meeting had achieved quorum--June 26. There, a minimum of 5- percent of the officers of the Student Assembly were required for a formal meeting. USGA Advisor and Dean of Students Jim Fitzpatrick attributed the low attendance to senior graduations, the freshmen having gone home for the summer, and some of the officials were not aware of the meeting times. According to USGA Speaker Jared Levine, there was a compromise among officers that there were not enough resources to legislate successfully, and that it was best to wait for the fall term. But one officer, Student Comptroller Anabella Cunha, did not wait, and resigned Aug. 14. In her resignation letter, Cunha stated that the USGA was failing to meet the needs of students, and though she has made suggestions for change to the association, having some handed to her by students and administrators, with none of them even being considered.
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