Yearly Archives: 2011

April 12, 2011 · 9:02 am

The Many Paths from a Penn Education

Author: Stephanie Yee, C’08

Have you ever heard someone talk about their job or career, and think, “Wow, that’s so interesting. I wish I could do that.” I get that feeling every time I attend a Penn Alumni speaker series event. I hear Penn’s Men’s Basketball Head Coach Jerome Allen (W’09) speak and I think, “I should have played more sports.” I hear Kristin Haskins Simms (C’93), a contestant on Project Runway’s Season 8, speak and I think, “I should really learn how to sew, or at least finish my knitting project.” The great thing about meeting Penn alumni is you realize a Penn education can lead to a successful career in any field – let it be athletics or fashion design.

Waiting for Superman movie poster

A few weeks ago,  I attended “No More Waiting: Remaking Urban Education Today, a conversation with Charles B. Adams, W’91.” The event was hosted by Penn’s Multicultural Outreach in conjunction with the Center for Africana Studies. Charles B. Adams is Head of The SEED School of Washington, D.C., and he is featured in the award-winning documentary, Waiting for Superman. He spoke about his experiences at Penn, where he studied marketing, his short-lived law career (he went to law school but never practiced law), and how he got into teaching. When the event ended, I asked Mr. Adams how Penn alumni can get involved in education to make an impact in their communities. He suggested tutoring students and providing meeting space where students can practice giving presentations in professional settings.

Penn alumni are incredibly inspiring, and it is always so nice to hear them talk about why they came to Penn and how their experiences at Penn paved the way for their successful career. They give great advice to current students and alumni who are interested in their field, and they remind us all why it is so special to be a member of the Penn community. Keep an eye out for future speaker series events. You will most likely see me there.

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Filed under Alumni Programming, Events, Multicultural Outreach, Stephanie Y.

April 11, 2011 · 4:02 pm

Student Stories

Author: Kelly G.

“Your participation matters. You can make an impact on the University and its students today. The advancement of the University relies on your support. Penn students and faculty are reaching new heights as a result of alumni giving.”

I spend my days communicating these ideas to our proud Penn alumni, parents, and friends. And I stand behind them. I truly believe in the mission of The Penn Fund in supporting the highest priorities – literally, whatever is needed most that year, from light bulbs to student financial aid – of undergraduate education at Penn. (Don’t worry, this isn’t a solicitation!) But in the midst of talking about students, we sometimes forget to learn about them. Sure, they stand next to us in line at Cosi or offer us fliers as we walk down Locust Walk, but we don’t always know their stories.

This past February, that all changed for me. As part of a direct mail campaign to alumni, I prepared five letters under the signatures of five different Penn students – all from various schools and backgrounds. I interviewed them at length, wrote letters using their voice and experiences and held photography shoots for them. In that time, I was absolutely blown away by their inspirational accomplishments at such a young age.

Rachel, C’12 participates in extensive research at the vet school and runs her own non-profit organization, Hand2Paw, dedicated to bringing together homeless teens and shelter animals within a mutually beneficial program. Since 2009, the organization has impacted the lives of over 70 homeless youth and over 1,000 homeless animals.
Matt, C’11 is the first directly-elected president of the Undergraduate Assembly at Penn. His responsibilities range from designating budgets and resources to the hundreds of student clubs and activities on campus. He also volunteers his time to One in Four, an all-male peer education group that presents programs on how men can help a sexual assault survivor, while balancing his academic research and studies as a Health and Societies major.

Kabir, W’11, C’11 moved from India to attend Penn and has since interned at Google and volunteered his business skills to organizations in Bolivia. He loves being involved in all kinds of campus activities including serving as a tour guide, a Red and Blue caller and a Daily Pennsylvanian writer. Most impressive is his desire to use his Wharton education to combine societal gain with profitable produces in the developing world through his social entrepreneurship studies.

Laura, NU’11 was introduced to nursing when she arrived at Penn and quickly realized it was her life’s calling. In her junior year, she took her passion for nursing education global when she studied abroad in London where she completed geriatrics and adult clinical rotations in a hospital there. This is something unheard of for more nursing students! After returning to Penn, Laura began groundbreaking research exploring the impact of nursing academic exchange programs.

Spencer, ENG’11 is working side-by-side with faculty from the School of Medicine on solving the mysteries of acute myeloid leukemia (AML). AML is a malignant disease that, despite recent advances in treatment, claims many lives. By taking advantage of the interdisciplinary nature of Penn, Spencer is immersed in research and experiments that could one day save lives.

And these are only five of the University’s over 10,000 undergraduate students! I find them to be truly inspirational and impressive. And most of all, every single one of them are truly kind and generous students who volunteered their time and names for The Penn Fund. Thank you Rachel, Matt, Kabir, Laura and Spencer!

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Filed under Kelly G., Student Perspective

April 10, 2011 · 6:59 pm

Taking Notes with Your Phone?

Author: Sabrina Shyn, C’13

In my sociology class today, a girl did a strange thing. She took a photo of the professor’s PowerPoint slide with her phone. Yes, her phone. She raised her arms, held the phone way up, and snapped a photo of the screen.

At first, I thought that was a

bit strange. Then I thought that might be genius; it gets rid of the need to quickly write the notes down while also trying to listen and write down what the professor is saying at the same time. But then I realized that it was taking technology a little too far, especially since the girl had her laptop open in front of her.

We all know technology has come a long way – even in the classroom. Gone are the legal pads and pencils that may have once been ubiquitous in lectures. Some people do still take notes in notebooks, but the majority of students today take notes on their laptops.

S

The Olden Days

Some have those smaller portable laptops just for note talking. And a few students use iPads. Of course, some don’t take notes at all. During class today, while I was furiously typing away to get all the notes down, the girl next to me was fu

riously typing away to Gchat with three different people. The guy next to her was reading a sports articles, two other guys were watching a basketball game, three girls were online shopping, and four hundred people were on Facebook.

So many of my professors comment on how technology has changed. Every week, at least one professor mentions some object or TV show prefaced with a joke of either “I don’t want to age myself but…” or “Do you guys know what [whatever the obsolete object] is?”

“We listened to records – do you know what records are?”

“I know you don’t have to memorize phone numbers these days…but in the ancient past…you had to actually remember digits.”

I bet in the ancient past they never imagined students taking notes with their phones.

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Filed under Sabrina Shyn, Student Perspective

April 9, 2011 · 8:00 am

A Day in History Class

Author: John Mosley, C’14

Being a freshman at Penn is an exciting experience in many ways. I live on my own, I meet new people ll the time, and I am exposed to new ideas on a daily basis. Perhaps the most exciting aspect of this college experience for me has been the opportunity to take classes that high school never offered. From my German course to my Introduction to Acting seminar, I have been given the opportunity to explore new interests and receive new perspectives on life. Perhaps the most interesting and exciting of these courses is the course titled “America in the 1960s,” which I am currently enrolled in for this Spring 2011 semester.

Taught by Professor Thomas Sugrue, this course is a comprehensive look at the decade which can be classified (arguably) as the most controversial and influential of the 20th century. Personally, I elected to take this course because of my fascination with the music of the 1960s. My favorite bands are The Who, Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, and the Beatles. However, I quickly discovered that there was more to the 1960s than rock and roll and the Civil Rights movement. Many revolutions were occurring simultaneously throughout the decade, from the rise of the “New Right” (led by Conservative Barry Goldwater) to the headline-making rise of the “New Left” (led by college students across the country who belonged to the group known as the Students for a Democratic Society).

On October 22, 1967, Bernie Boston photographed his iconic, “Flower Power” photograph, which featured Vietnam War protester George Harris inserting flowers into a National Guardsmen’s rifle barrel.

“America in the 1960s” recounts the “long” 1960s (specifically the period from 1954-1974). No account of the 1960s can be complete without inclusion of the influence of the 1950s, a decade of affluence and growing discontent in the youth of the country. Professor Sugrue skillfully weaves in the 1950s as a precursor to the 1960s; the preceding decade fostered the roots of the women’s liberation movement, rock and roll music and the civil rights movement to name a few.

As the semester winds down, I look forward to the exciting conclusion of the story told by Professor Sugrue and his foray into the 1970s. However, at the same time I am saddened to see this infinitely intriguing narrative course come to an end. Every Monday and Wednesday morning at 10:00 AM, I am nearly hypnotized by Professor Sugrue’s skillful storytelling and insight into the decade that forever changed the discourse of American politics, media, fashion, music and literature. Nearly every facet of American life today can be traced back to the “long” 1960s, and by studying the decade, I am effectively enhancing my understanding of modern times.

For more information on Penn’s history department, the “America in the 1960s” course and Professor Thomas Sugrue, check out Penn’s history department website here.

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April 7, 2011 · 5:03 pm

I’m Not Afraid to Say the “L” Word

Author: Elise Betz

Penn Tree Planting on Campus

Eleven years ago, when I walked on to this campus for the first time as a University of Pennsylvania employee, I was terrified.  This was Penn!!!  Growing up in Bryn Mawr with two teachers for parents, I knew that Penn was the gold standard of academia.  And there I was.  Quickly though, my fear turned into fascination as I navigated this dynamic, complex, and extraordinary place.  That fascination has now turned into love.  Yep, I said it.  I love Penn.   I love the work I do.  I love the people, the buildings, and the energy.  I even love the smell of mulch in mid-March that surrounds the campus.  To help you understand my love for this place, here are just a handful  of things I have experienced through Penn in just the last two weeks:

  • “Minorities in the Media in the Age of Reality TV” panel featuring Richard Gay, Executive Vice President for Strategy at MTV and V, and Penn alum at Penn Spectrum On the Road.
  • “Life in the World of Theatre Today” event with seven Penn alumni in the theatre business in New York.
  • The Penn Traditions “Class of 2011 Tree Planting” where we planted a Legacy Sugar Maple in the heart of College Green in honor of the senior class.
  • A discussion by  four faculty members about restorative justice around the world.
  • A panel of undergraduate students, organized for our Gift Officers, who talked about their life at Penn,  facilitated by me.
  • Sitting in the audience at the “Models of Excellence” ceremony highlighting the remarkable achievements of Penn staff.
  • A yPenn young alumni event that drew 150 of our most recent graduates to celebrate Penn.
  • A tour of the murals in West Philadelphia preceded by a lecture by Jane Golden, Penn faculty member and Executive Director of the Mural Arts program.

And by the way, I also met the love of my life at Penn five years ago.  How’s that for a bonus?

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April 7, 2011 · 2:00 pm

The Excelano Project is Real Cool

Author: Cecilia Ramirez, C’05, SPP’10

This past Saturday night, I had the pleasure of attending Penn’s very own Excelano Project Spring 2011 Show, We Real Cool, in commemoration of their ten-year anniversary. The Excelano Project (EP) is the university’s first and only spoken word student group. A mixed audience of students, alumni and staff members devoted our Saturday nights to a celebration of the single most inspirational poetry that Penn has ever seen.

A compilation of joint poems, emotional ballads, melodic free verses, passionate odes and powerful couplets, appropriately entitled, Short Poems, filled the stage as the EP’s all-star student cast graced the stage for a nearly-two hour show. EP’s founder and award-winning actor, poet and playwright, Carlos Andres Gomez C’03, was among the many alumni present for this milestone performance. The coffered domed ceiling could barely contain the cheers, applause and event-appropriate ::snaps:: from the crowd. Nearly all of the Penn Museum’s Harrison Auditorium 780 seats were taken as we watched on with frequent guttural affirmations and sighs of amazement of the magic on stage. The artists included students from all years, including EP’s only senior, Justin Ching C’11. Ching closed his final show with a surprise collaboration with Penn Masala, Penn’s nationally-recognized Hindi a cappella student group.

I decided to attend this year’s anniversary show on a nostalgic whim and I was absolutely blown away. The level of skill, maturity, lyrical prowess and sheer brilliance that I was privileged enough to witness was truly moving. I was an undergraduate when EP was formed and I had not attended a show since then. I have fond memories of its awe-inspiring first shows and of my secret wishes for the courage and talent to emulate my talented peers. Ten years later, I found myself with similar sentiments and feelings of admiration; EP is unquestionably more than cool, it’s real cool.

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Filed under Cecilia R., Events, The Arts at Penn

April 6, 2011 · 1:16 pm

The Secret Life and Times of the Quaker Mascot

Author: Matthew Gould, W’14

My Game Face

Unbeknownst to the majority of my friends, I am the University of Pennsylvania’s mascot, Quaker Ben Franklin. Although historically the Quaker’s true identity has remained secret, in recent years it has become custom for the identity of the mascots (there are currently three athletes) to be disclosed.  Whenever I tell someone that I am “The Quaker,” they always respond with, “Do you get paid?”  For me, the experience is worth so much more than any paycheck could provide, and even without a paycheck, I embrace the opportunity with open arms.

As soon as I step into Ben Franklin’s suit, I become a different person; I put on a different persona, and I become famous. Everybody, whether it is opponent fans or our own, falls in love with me. Much like they would a sports star, the fans bombard me with pictures and accordingly I act like a star.  I refuse to settle for anything less than on-court seats, and I have a virtual all-access pass that security guards never question, even when I romp through the stands. I am the face of the university, a student athlete, and part of a long tradition of spirit that fills the halls of the majestic Palestra and the bleachers of the powerful Franklin field. I carry on tradition that has been acted and reenacted for hundreds of years, and I am a piece of the excellence that Penn offers. I have the ability and the responsibility to inspire entire crowds to their feet, to pump up every fan in the stands, and at the same time, I am to act as the voice of those fans. I wear the Penn logo with dignity not only to honor the university but to commend its alumni as well.

I am a true Penn Quaker, and I bleed Red and Blue!!!

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April 5, 2011 · 12:00 pm

Mayan Death Mask

During my sophomore summer at Penn, I worked at Penn Museum Publications. I always took the long way up to the office on the fourth or fifth floor to get more time in the Museum. Considering it houses amazing artifacts like this Mayan Death Mask and has an amazing exhibit filled with artifacts from China, I should probably visit again soon. It’s far too easy to forget all the great resources available here at Penn, but I guess that’s what keeps me coming back.

Image taken from AP Photo archives.

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April 4, 2011 · 4:46 pm

Squirrels on Film

Author: Aimee LaBrie

We used to have an employee here who referred to me as “The Squirrel Lady,” because every time we were outside together walking on Locust, I would make a “ccchhi-ccchhi” noise at the numerous tame squirrels that dot the green (roughly translated, “ccchhi-ccchhi” means “I have potato chips” in Squirrelese).  I suppose I can’t blame her for thinking it odd that I would want to feed the squirrels–to most people, they are just rodents with fluffy tails.  But spend any time on the Penn campus, and you will see that the squirrels here are more like cats than rats; they are not afraid of people and they will eat pretty much anything you give them. Not only that, but they will come up to you and take the food from your fingers with tiny, human-like paws and then sit back on their haunches and gnaw it up until their cheeks are plump.  I am certain there will come a day when I call over to a squirrel and it runs toward me, takes a flying leap off of a bench, and lands on my face. Until then, I’ll just continue to be The Squirrel Lady.

Here is a photographic example of how busy the squirrels are on campus, and how they strive to stay on top of news from the DP (photos courtesy of Leigh Ann):

 

He has found today's newspaper. Now just has to figure out how to get it back to his nest.

 

In dragging it back home, he panics, wondering if perhaps this is too much paper for his limited space.

 

Practicality wins out as he chooses just the celebrity section.

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April 1, 2011 · 8:00 am

My Top Penn List: Acronyms

Author: Casey Ryan, C’95
I am confident that if you ask any alumnus/a from the nineties about Penn’s knack for creative acronyms, you will get a laugh and a story about a memorable one.  From standing in line in Palestra at CUPID* for my Penn Card to calling PARIS* one last time to see if I passed Business Italian and if I would actually graduate, I remember that my life at Penn was peppered with acronyms and initialisms.  I wanted to share with you my favorite current acronyms from campus.

10.  PASS – Penn Alumni Student Society
9.    SPEC – Social Planning and Events Committee (can’t have a fling without ’em).
8.    PENNCAP – Pennsylvania College Achievement Program
7.    WCIT – Wharton Computing and Information Technology, pronounced like “wicket.”
6.    MAP – Major Advising Program, “You don’t have to be ‘lost’ to take advantage of MAP, just curious.”
5.    LIFE Program – Living Independently for Elders Program
4.    Penn ReunionFACTS – Penn Reunion Fall Alumni Class Training Session
3.    WHALASA – Wharton Latin American Student Association
2.    JBaGeL – Penn’s Jewish LGBTQIA Community, from Jewish Bisexual Gay and Lesbians
1.    PHINS – Peers Helping Incoming New Students, which references the dolphin on the Penn Shield.

I’d love to hear what your favorites Penn acronyms are, whether they are still used or are a blast from the past.

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