Saturday night was slated to be a key moment in Amy Gutmann's tenure as president: the kickoff of the largest capital campaign in Penn's history and the unveiling of the postal-lands development, which is set to transform the face of University City.

But beneath this spirit of celebration and under the red and blue spotlights surrounding College Green, alumni remained mystified and angry at Gutmann's handling of the departure of former Dean of Admissions Lee Stetson.

"It's simply insane," said George Dickson, who graduated from the School of Arts and Sciences in 1998.

Dickson said he couldn't understand why Stetson, who served at Penn for 29 years, would leave with no explanation from either the University or from him.

"It just smells" given the past misdeeds of former Penn professors like Tracy McIntosh, he said.

Ronald Stockham, a 1964 graduate, argued that Penn's refusal to be forthcoming in Stetson's departure "totally defies" the principles of openness and accountability espoused by the University.

"It's against everything the University stands for," he said.

Roy Nevans, who graduated from Wharton in 1953, agreed that it was "hard to understand" why Penn would be so secretive.

Nevans, who has served on several alumni committees, said that the incident could become "a black mark" on the Gutmann administration.

"None of it should be a secret," he said, adding that Gutmann needs to give alumni an explanation since many alumni are discussing and following the issue.

"It deserves an explanation," said Frank Tenusak, a 1958 Wharton graduate.

Questions lingered even at the exclusive black-tie gala event organized by Gutmann to unveil the postal lands to important donors and alumni.

One donor approached as he entered the event called the move "suspicious" and said alumni were talking about it.

Stetson abruptly moved up his resignation at the end of August, offering only a vague, one-sentence explanation for his departure.

Gutmann has refused numerous requests for clarification and has only said that his resignation was in the "best interests" of both the University and Stetson.

University spokeswoman Lori Doyle did not return a call placed to her cell phone last evening for comment.