Everyone between the ages of 13 and 55 should get routine HIV tests, Student Health Service Director Evelyn Wiener said yesterday, and Penn has an obligation to help out.
Penn offers free HIV testing, Wiener said, and she encouraged community members to take advantage.
Wiener addressed the University Council, a deliberative body made up of students, faculty and staff that meets monthly. She also touched on issues relating to the quality of service, confidentiality and professionalism at Student Health.
Some in the audience at the meeting expressed concern that they had overheard confidential information exchanged between nurses and secretaries while at the Student Health office, located in the basement of Penn Tower.
Wiener responded that professionalism was of the highest priority at Student Health. Meetings and training sessions have been held to address confidentiality issues, she said.
Vice Provost for University Life Valarie Swain-Cade McCoullum added that white noise machines had recently been added to SHS in order to ensure that visitors cannot overhear private information.
n The group Penn Athletes and Allies Tackling Homophobia and Heterosexism presented a plan to the council in which it alleged a "history of intolerance" in the Athletics Department.
PATHH members suggested that "Penn implement a cultural diversity training program addressing . race, gender and sexual orientation" for athletes and coaching staffs.
n Interdisciplinary academic issues were addressed by Andrew Binns, an associate provost.
He focused on the need to expand programs at Penn that relate to multiple disciplines, but he also praised current University programs.
He specifically mentioned the Penn Integrates Knowledge interdisciplinary professorships and an award from the Provost's Office for graduate students studying multiple disciplines.
"If we develop a new initiative using the Penn Compact as a framework . we're in a very good place," Binns said, referring to University President Amy Gutmann's plan for interdisciplinary study at Penn.
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