Editorial | Removing doubt

Following the controversy surrounding Kurt Mitman, the convicted sex offender taking classes at Penn, Executive Vice President Craig Carnaroli and Provost Ron Daniels published a letter in the DP. They wrote that two Penn employees had also been discovered on the Megan's Law Web site, which lists persons convicted of sex offenses; both employees had already served their sentences.

The letter stated that Penn officials were "reviewing the status of each of these individuals to determine the risks, if any, to the safety and security of our community" and that during the course of a University review of hiring practices, they would "welcome input from the University community."

Yesterday, the University announced that both staffers were no longer employed by Penn, but stressed that it was not because of Megan's Law. The law dictates that the University couldn't fire these employees because of their past offenses, but the timing and the University's identification of the employees as convicted sex offenders leads to few other conclusions.

Despite this, officials have refused to give the reason for their departure. While it was confirmed that one of the employees resigned on Feb. 2, the Penn community has been left almost completely in the dark.

If the University was serious about involving the community in their fact-finding and policy review, now is not the time to muddle the issue with doublespeak and secrecy.

The reasons for the vagueness might be justified - legal concerns could prohibit either party from saying too much - but if this is the case, officials should say so to remove any doubt.

With an issue that affects the safety of all Penn students, faculty, staff and administrators, honesty is the best policy.

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