National papers probe Penn News money, service

Both Philadelphia Inquirer and New York Times officials are investigating problems with subscription newspaper delivery on campus after reports of glitches in circulation and payment, circulation managers at both papers said last night. "Lately, the Inquirer has had a problem receiving payment and we have to suspend delivery until we get paid," Kopke said. The financially troubled Penn News service stopped most doorstep paper delivery in October. And Penn News is currently being barraged with complaints from students still scheduled to receive deliveries. Penn News Manager Mike Monk did not return several phone calls to his home and to the Penn News offices and was not at his dormitory late last night. Several student subscribers in the Quadrangle -- the only dorm still to have door-to-door delivey -- are complaining that they have not received their daily paper for the past week and that the weekend editions have not arrived for most of the term. Students in other dorms have complained of inconveniences in the new drop-box delivery system. Many students said last night they want their money back. A year-long subscription for the Inquirer or the Times costs around $80. Philadelphia's New York Times circulation department is researching problems with Penn News' distribution of their paper on the University campus, a department official said last night. Dave Dowerty, a Times circulation officer for Pennsylvania, said he was looking into reports of problems, but has not completed his investigation. He declined to give details of the probe. "We're still trying to get to the bottom of this," he said. Inquirer representative Kopke said he intends to resolve the problem with Penn News peacably, but that he is concerned that this week's delivery stoppage and earlier distribution problems might harm the Inquirer's reputation on campus. Monk's answering machine was so full that it could not hold any more messages late yesterday evening. The answering machine at the Penn News office also was full of messages last night. Several subscribers seeking refunds said yesterday that no one has been in the Penn News office -- located at the Christian Association -- for the past three weeks. College Junior Jeff Jacobson said that Penn News promised him a full refund November 28, but he had not received it as of last night. Last night, Monk called two subscribers -- Daily Pennsylvanian staff writer Stephen Glass and College freshman Joon Chong -- and offered them full refunds, the two said. They said Monk told them that he did not return their money sooner because of internal battling with former Penn News Manager Mark Stanley. During this semester, Penn News has been plagued by financial problems, which Inquirer Sales Manager Kopke attributed to an October decision by Penn Student Agencies -- the group formerly in charge of distribution -- to hike the rates it charged Penn News for renting its vans. No PSA officials were available for comment last night. Due to financial crisis, Penn News in September fired 10 of 15 staffers and stopped all door-to-door delivery. In the place of door-to-door delivery, the organization installed drop-boxes with combination locks on them. When the organization switched over to drop-box delivery, it offered students an offer of canceling their subscription with no penalty. Some students who tried to take advantage of the offer said yesterday they still have not received their money back.

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