Task force looking at U. hiring completes report

The task force set up in September to review the University's hiring practices, particularly background checks, gave its preliminary recommendations to Vice President for Human Resources Barry Stupine last week. Rogers Davis, the director of Human Resources, declined to divulge specific recommendations yesterday, but said "it is possible that we will do some things differently." Senior Vice President Marna Whittington said yesterday that she expects to have concrete results from the task force by the end of the calendar year. The task force was set up immediately after the August 26 arrest of a housekeeper for allegedly raping a fellow employee in a Hill House Lounge. The man, Warren Timbers, 36, of North Philadelphia, had a prior conviction of rape from 1974, Assistant District Attorney Richard Green said in September. The administration hired him despite this conviction, and the incident raised questions about the way the University conducts background checks of potential employees. But task force members refused to attribute the creation of the task force to the incident. The task force, which met four times, examined the hiring process for staff, faculty, and students working in part-time and temporary capacities, Davis said. A representative from the provost's office consulted with the task force on faculty hiring practices, Davis added. One of the primary concerns of the committee is whether officials adequately do what is required by the hiring policy, Davis said. Davis said he is making final editorial changes on the recommendations which were suggested by the task force when it met for the last time on Friday.

Please note All comments are eligible for publication in The Daily Pennsylvanian.