Sharing the wealth

For years, Wharton students got to have all the fun. Since the construction of Huntsman Hall in 2002, students have packed the 57 group study rooms in the $139.9 million building day and night. Dual monitors and high-tech whiteboards were placed at students' disposal -- so long as they were in Wharton classes.

Because only students taking classes in Penn's business school were allowed to reserve the rooms.

But four years later, students from Penn's three other undergraduate schools finally have a study lounge to call their own. It may pale in comparison to Huntsman, but the David B. Weigle Information Commons in Van Pelt Library, which opened last week, finally gives College, Nursing and Engineering students the access to high-tech study tools that Wharton students have come to love.

To be fair, many Wharton classes rely heavily on group work -- more so than in the other schools -- but the policy of banning non-Wharton undergraduates from the rooms didn't do much to help the unity between the students of Penn's four schools. Students from all schools can now prepare for a presentation on Roman history using the laptop-equipped, restaurant-style booths or view and discuss Civil Rights documentaries on 42-inch plasma monitors -- even Wharton students are allowed.

Students could, of course, do without these modern amenities -- as they have done until now -- but it's nice to see that a top academic institution like Penn is giving students all the tools available to advance their education. And encouraging group work also fits well with the concept of a pragmatic education since much of the work students will do after graduation will require teamwork and coordination.

In the coming weeks, especially during finals, administrators should carefully review the use of the new study lounges. If the study lounges turn out to be as popular as those in Huntsman Hall, the University should keep that in mind when planning and designing the rash of new construction that is sure to come after the acquisition of the postal lands.

The new rooms are a small step toward equality between the schools, and many more are hopefully on the way.

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