Monthly Archives: January 2012

January 9, 2012 · 7:00 am

Pretty Things Junkie

Author: Leigh Ann P.

On Facebook recently, I stumbled upon a friend’s post with a link to a slideshow of the 25 most beautiful college libraries in the world. I was instantly intrigued because I am a closeted architecture lover.

Many people don’t know this about me, but I have many other interests outside of food, trying to be skinny, photoshopping funny images of my coworkers and drawing pictures with paintbrush during the workday. Indeed, I love, love, love beautiful buildings.

Luckily for me, Penn is full of them. Not to my surprise, Penn’s own Fisher Fine Arts Library is included in the slideshow linked above. I find it so interesting that so many colleges and universities put so much emphasis on making their libraries into aesthetic wonderlands, either in the most strikingly modern or in the most ornate, old-world sense, perhaps in an effort to make students want to go there. This of course is not a new concept; in the Middle Ages people spent decades perfecting their beautiful town churches to make people want to go there as well.

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Filed under Fine Art, Leigh Ann P., Library

January 6, 2012 · 4:39 pm

There’s a Penn Program for That

Author: Amanda D’Amico

Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina – oh, my!

The Republican primary is heating up. The candidates in the Republican field have a lot to say, and it’s clear they’re each looking to differentiate themselves from each other. Their differences in opinion help voters choose, but their disagreements over basic facts are downright confusing.

But don’t worry – there’s a Penn program for that.

FactCheck.org, a project of Penn’s Annenberg Public Policy Center, is a non-partisan service that analyzes statements by political players – candidates, politicians, etc. – and separates fact from exaggeration. According to FactCheck.org‘s mission statement, the organization reviews “TV ads, debates, speeches, interviews and news releases” in an effort to “increase public knowledge and understanding.” I check the RSS feed from this site each day, and I find it particularly useful as the primary season kicks into full swing.

But I’m not the only one who loves this Penn program, as it was named one of the “25 Sites We Can’t Live Without” by Time magazine in 2006. Here are a few other accolades FactCheck.org has received:

Named one of the 10 sites that “are changing the world” by World E-Gov Forum in 2006;
Named one of the “20 Best Political Websites” by PC Magazine in 2008;
Received a Clarion Award in the Online Media category from the Association for Women in Communications in 2009;
Received the Sigma Delta Chi Award from the Society of Professional Journalists in 2010; and
Won three Webby Awards for Best Politics Site from the International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences in 2008, 2010 and 2011.

As the primary season moves forward and rolls into the general election, I hope more people will turn to Penn and FactCheck.org for accurate analyses of the race. I know I’ll be there.

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Filed under Academics, Amanda D.

Aside

Author: Dan Ber…

Author: Dan Bernick, C’14

Winter break is supposed to be relaxing. Time off from school and away from campus; time spent with family and friends at your home; time for vacation or movies or shopping. Winter break is supposed to be relaxing, but then again, I’m a Penn student.

Winter break is for cleaning out your email. My inbox gets especially full during finals because I “never have time” to actually read and sort email. Worse yet, it takes a long time to respond to them (sorry if I have not gotten back to you yet). Once the inbox is clean, it’s worth taking a look at all the folders and label systems I have, deleting useless ones and creating new ones for next semester.

Winter break is for filling out applications. Programs and clubs and positions all have applications due the first few weeks in January. The good student has been working diligently all semester on these. But I tell myself all semester that I will have tons of time over winter break to work on them. It means writing essays (uh-oh writer’s block), getting letters of recommendation (sorry I forgot to mention its due in a week – thanks!), and trying to make yourself look good on paper (as long as I don’t attach a photo I should be ok).

Winter break is for preparing for next semester. Classes need to be dropped and changed and dropped again, and I need to quadruple check that all of my courses fulfill at least six different requirements each. This meticulous search of PenninTouch is not for the faint of heart. Then I need to work on housing, textbooks, and, of course, finding a summer internship. Done well, preparation makes the next few months smooth sailing.

But like I said, I’m a Penn student. I make my to-do list and hide it in a drawer until the last few days of break. Then (hopefully, fingers crossed, I promise I’ll be better next break), I will take out the list and start getting things done.

Winter break is for relaxing, and for better or worse, that is what I have been doing.

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January 6, 2012 · 3:59 pm

January 5, 2012 · 8:38 pm

A Resolution Revisited

Author: Lisa V. C’02, GEd’10

With the holiday season fading into the rear-view mirror, I find myself facing my annual conundrum: to resolve or not to resolve. There is certainly a part of me that appreciates the opportunity to commit myself to an area of self-improvement each year in the form of a New Years resolution. I suppose its the appeal of starting from scratch, of wiping the slate clean of abandoned past resolutions and giving myself another chance. But then I remember all those abandoned resolutions and find myself becoming discouraged before I even get started. So this year, I’m trying a new twist. Rather than focusing on a part of my life with which I’m less than satisfied, my resolution is to celebrate the part for which I am most appreciative: my incredible network of family and friends. And I’ll start today by recognizing the amazing – and totally crazy – group of people I work with here in the Sweeten Alumni House. As I come back to work after 3 months of maternity leave, I’m more grateful than ever for the support and inspiration I get from these folks every day!

So, what’s your New Years resolution?

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Filed under Alumni Perspective, Lisa V.

January 4, 2012 · 3:05 pm

Oops Paint

Nicole Oddo: C’05

Yes, “oops paint. ” What is it and how do I know so much about it?

First, it’s a Home Depot paint that’s been mixed for a customer, but has been returned or wasn’t wanted after all. They sell at a fraction of the cost ($5-7 a gallon versus like $20+ a gallon).

Photo from: http://livingwithlindsay.com

Secondly, (and, more importantly), why do I know this? I frequent Home Depot. For better or for worse, I’m a homeowner. While the house gives me plenty of joy, my move-in ready house requires an endless punch list of smallish projects. Hence, a LOT of trips to Home Depot (I’ve actually come to like the place). I have learned how to use a drill (let’s not discuss just how long it took to get my curtains up). I have become skilled in selecting lighting and trying to explain myself to an electrician (I now have knowledge of three way switches). And I have really taken on painting.

A few weekends ago, I decided December would be my chance to work on the basement (I had spent the day before Homecoming painting the deck). I had been hunting for good colors on the “Oops “paint rack (go here for far more detailed instructions about painting than I would write), and FINALLY, I was successful. I found a cheery yellow for the basement room, a plain white for the stairwell, a tan for the hallway, and a grey for the floor. Nothing changes a room more than paint. It was a good basement but it could be so much more appealing if I fixed it up (stay tuned for how I am going to attempt flooring in January).

Photo from http://www.apartmentherapy.com

Painting is physically a lot of work, but it’s really rewarding. So many of the challenges I take on at work are abstract and take a long time to see results (like hiring law students to be lawyers in the distant future). With painting, I have the chance to see a room or space transformed. While I still have work to go, my basement is going to be the new focal point of my house tour. Now, if I can just get to finally having a housewarming party…

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Filed under Alumni Perspective, Nicole O.

Tagged as Home Improvements

January 3, 2012 · 2:57 pm

Winter Break: Not for the Faint of Heart

Author: Dan Bernick, SAS ’14

Winter break is for filling out applications. Programs and clubs and positions all have applications due the first few weeks in January. The good student has been working diligently all semester on these. But I tell myself all semester that I will have tons of time over winter break to work on them. It means writing essays (uh-oh, writer’s block), getting letters of recommendation (sorry I forgot to mention its due in a week – thanks!), and trying to make yourself look good on paper (as long as I don’t attach a photo I should be okay).

But, like I said, I’m a Penn student. I make my to-do list and hide it in a drawer until the last few days of break. Then (hopefully, fingers crossed, I promise I’ll be better next break), I will take out the list and start getting things done.

Winter break is for relaxing, and. for better or for worse, that is exactly what I have been doing.

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Filed under Daniel B., Student Perspective

Tagged as Winter break

January 2, 2012 · 2:47 pm

Penn Student Video

Author: Colin Hennessy

The significance of giving is not lost on Penn students. Every day, they pass the growing buildings, the new technology and stunning campus that are all made possible by the generosity of alumni giving. Most importantly, a large majority of Penn undergraduate students are on campus because of the student financial aid provided by gifts to The Penn Fund and undergraduate scholarship funds.

As a student worker for The Penn Fund, En Hao, C’13, knows a lot about the impact of annual alumni giving. That knowledge led him to create a Thank You video for all fiscal year 2012 donors to The Penn Fund. Sent earlier this month, En’s video is a delightful look at the appreciation that Penn students feel towards those who came before them and continue to give back.