Author: Kelly O’Connor
Though it has felt like it for weeks now, it is officially spring. Time for tank tops, flip flops, and Rita’s Water Ice! But don’t let this gorgeous weather fool you, the iPhone is calling for some wet weather and cooler temperatures this weekend, so get out and enjoy campus while you can…
Filed under Campus Life, Kelly P., Uncategorized
Author: Stephanie Yee, C’08
There was a time before my Penn career when I didn’t know the lyrics to “Drink a Highball.” Now, I actually find myself singing the song one, two, sometimes three times per day – especially if the day includes a Penn Alumni event or a Penn Men’s Basketball game (Thanks, Penn Band!). Here is a cheat sheet for those of you who haven’t committed the lines to memory.
Filed under Alumni Perspective, Alumni Programming, Events, Stephanie Y., y-Penn
Author: Kayleigh Smoot, C’13
Almost every year, I change my mind about what season is my favorite here at Penn. However, with the weather being so beautiful lately, I have decided that I am in love with spring.
There’s something special about how all of a sudden the cold, dreary winter weather is replaced by bursts of sunshine and temperatures in the mid 70s. The entire demeanor of the campus changes for the better.
People spend their afternoons outside, attempting to study or just throwing a Frisbee around College Green. The flowers begin to bloom and robins can be found chattering in the treetops.
Unfortunately, I still have midterms to study for and papers to write. But the warmer weather makes walking to class that much more enjoyable. To be honest, the unseasonably nice weather is slightly absurd, seeing as it is only mid-March. However, I’m not going to question it! Instead, I’m going to grab my cognitive neuroscience textbook and an iced skinny vanilla latte and soak up the sun.
Filed under Campus Life, Kayleigh, Student Perspective
Author: Leigh Ann P.
Spring has sprung, and after three years here, I have learned that I can count on Penn students to come up with garden activities that are far from garden-variety.
Here’s how I imagine these things come into being:
“Dude, I’m so sick of badminton, hackey sack, paddle ball, croquet, bocce, hula hooping, cornhole, tag, hide and seek, red light-green light, jump roping, tree climbing and lawn yoga.”
“Hmm…”
So here’s a picture of a student walking on a tightrope on College Green outside Sweeten.
Then what happens when you grow bored of tightrope walking?
You play Muggle Quidditch on Hill Field!
If you don’t know what Muggle Quidditch is, just picture Harry Potter-version Quidditch on flying broomsticks, minus the flying.
I attempted a self-portrait of me doing a Spring-themed cartwheel on College Green, but what came out was a realistic version of what would happen if I were to actually attempt a cartwheel.
Filed under Campus Life, Leigh Ann P., Photos, View from Sweeten
Author: Mari Meyer, GSE, C’12
Just six months ago, I was writing about my strategic, if not artistic, return to studenthood. I have to admit, being a graduate student has had its perks: my family and friends foot the bill for brunches and lunches out of unadulterated pity; I can use my studies as an excuse to procrastinate in all other aspects of my life (i.e. vegetable eating, room cleaning, hair washing, etc.); I am assumed to be smarter and, in general, more important in the world despite my affinity for tabloid magazines, scrapbook making, and the unofficial, anthropological study of college kids.
Sorority pledges I spied on the Quad this week. Hard not to notice them!
My program at the Graduate School of Education lasts for only one year. That is to say: one academic year. Meaning, of course, two semesters. Which really means: a measly nine months. And I graduate in less than two! You may wonder, “How does one become a Master of anything in nine months?”
The answer is simple: I take five classes each semester—with some of the most intelligent and accomplished professors and colleagues I’ve ever met—while working 20 hours a week at Sweeten Alumni House (and worrying about the project I oversee here an extra 10 hours on top of that). When I’m not in class, or at the office, I am meeting with fellow grad students for group assignments that can span weeks, and because we all have schedules like this, our meetings do not even begin some evenings until 10 PM. Of course, I spend most of my time reading, and writing papers, and reading some more. It is highly possible that I have read more in this program thus far than I did throughout four years of college. But I’m not talking about just any reading; I’m talking about the kind of reading that requires re-reading, often. The kind of reading that needs to be chewed like steak, that needs to be tasted and digested and metabolized —the kind of reading that you need to work through sentence by sentence, often with dictionary in hand. I have never in my life felt more moved by and thus exhausted by what I’ve immersed myself in on paper. Oh, yes, and then the rest of the time I have to sleep, exercise, eat, and occasionally call my parents to thank them for giving me life
Thanks, Mom!
The real answer to the question, though, is that I don’t think one can become a true Master of anything in nine months. I often wonder if it is possible to become a Master of anything in an entire lifetime! But rather than thinking of this as a depressing concept, I find it incredibly exciting. You know that feeling of letdown after a great vacation? You know the one, when everything you wanted to see you saw, everything you wanted to do you did, and then some. The question of, “now what?” always creeps in, and you fall into that anticlimactic slump that leaves you right back where you started. To become a Master implies a sort of end point, a kind of completion of a journey that in reality is, or at least ought to be, endless.
Who would have known that ten years later I’d be graduating with a third degree?
Though I have learned a tremendous amount—an infinite amount really—about the field within which I hope to find employment and the topics for which I am most passionate and committed personally, I am so thankful to know that I cannot know it all. It is a relief, at least to me, that there will always be more to explore: more answers to find, more challenged to take on, and more paths to navigate without certainty of where they may lead.
My adventure working at an elephant refuge in Thailand in 2007.
Having said this, I am now back on the job market. And I am no fool. Being privileged enough to receive a Master of Science in Education from Penn will provide me with more opportunities that I could have ever imagined. It also instills in me a deep sense of gratitude and a responsibility for using this privilege and the learning that has come from it wisely, conscientiously, and justly. Will I feel like I have mastered my field by this coming May when I throw my hat in the air? Probably not—and maybe that’s just the hopeful “I’m a lifelong learner!” geek in me. And though there’s always a Ph.D, or an Ed.D, or some other buffet of degrees to dabble in if I start to get hungry for academia again—I have to admit, at least for now, that there’s nothing I look forward to more than reading mindless magazines and glitterizing unfinished scrapbooks all summer long instead!
Author: Jonathan Cousins, SEAS’14
Penn is full of acronyms – OCR, SPEC, UA – the list goes on and on, especially in engineering, where acronyms seem to be the order of the day. From SEAS to each major (MEAM, CBE, ESE, etc.), you can hardly get through a day without using acronyms. This week, I was introduced to a new one – CBI. While a typical Penn student might think College Board I______, or something along those lines, the CBI is actually an acronym more closely associated with NCAA and NIT. Yes, the CBI is the College Basketball Invitational, the postseason tournament that Penn is currently competing in.
Most people, including myself, had never heard of the CBI before this week – and most of those people still don’t know what it is. It is a fairly new tournament, started in 2008, whose distinguishing feature is that the championship round is a best-of-three series. When I heard that Penn was going to participate, I was not sure whether to be excited or upset. After all, this news came on the heels of the painful loss to Princeton last Tuesday that kept us out of a playoff game for the Ivy title. But I got a ticket for last night’s game against Quinnipiac – and I was among the few who did. Almost the entire upper bowl was empty, and the student section was more sparsely filled than over spring break, which is saying something. Two of our seniors, Tyler and Mike, were out with nagging injuries that have plagued them throughout the season. All-in-all the atmosphere was that of a meaningless preseason game. But Penn put together a good effort, shooting almost 50% from beyond the arc and playing well defensively and they went on to win the game.
Here is where I insert a plug for the second round game. Having won the first game, Penn now plays Butler in the second round, at home on Monday. If the name Butler rings a bell, they probably ruined your bracket at some point during the past two years, as they went to the Final Four the past two years. Yes, that is the Final Four in the NCAA tournament, against the best teams in college basketball. This year has been a down year for them after they graduated some of the upperclassmen that fueled their previous tourney runs. But if that history is not enough of a draw, perhaps you have heard of the Hinkle Fieldhouse. “Indiana’s Cathedral of Basketball” as it is described on Wikipedia, not to be confused with our own Cathedral of College Basketball, the Palestra. Even if Hinkle doesn’t ring a bell, you may have seen it as the stadium used in the classic basketball movie Hoosiers.
I think this game will attract more campus attention, and I encourage anyone that can make it out to the Palestra on Monday to be there. It should be a great game, and any trip to the Palestra is a special, unique experience. I’ll be there, Row 2, behind the basket amongst the Red and Blue Crew. Looking forward to it!
Filed under Academics, Athletics, Jonathan C., Student Perspective
Author: Liz Pinnie
In my short time here at Sweeten, I have come to see the skill and passion with which my colleagues do their jobs. However, one of my favorite aspects of said colleagues (beyond the fact that they bring in chocolate for everyone to share) is learning about the many fascinating things they do when they leave our doors. As I began research for this article I realized that there was too much information for just one blog post, so today we’ll focus on half of our impressive third floor in Part One of… The Secret Lives of Sweeten Staff.
First off, we have our multi-talented Director of Multi-Cultural Outreach, Nicole Maloy. A few years ago, she happened to walk by a Shotokan Karate Dojo, went inside, and discovered a new passion. Nicole says that Karate has increased her awareness and has taught her how “to relax and focus completely- both mentally and physically- on one thing at one moment in time.” Today, Nicole is a black belt in Karate, and though she knows she can crush any opponent, Nicole appreciates that Shotokan teaches one to end a conflict rather than start one. Beyond her Shotokan black belt, Nicole is also a fantastic high jumper and a champion salsa dancer- but more on that later!
Love our Twitter feed? Use our website? If so, you have Sweeten’s own Internet guru, Lisa Marie Patzer, to thank. As Assistant Director of Communications at Sweeten, Lisa Marie is constantly keeping us up-to-date with the ever changing technology of the web and social media. This interest continues and expands once she leaves work. As a new media artist, Lisa Marie spends time and her artistic talents looking at the effects of new media in our world and how it relates to the human experience. In this capacity, she enjoys “exploring the political, social and interpersonal implications of new media technologies.” Lisa Marie’s work has been exhibited nationally and internationally, and can next be seen in the collaborative piece she is creating for her MFA from Temple in Film and Media Arts, where she “investigates the performance of identity in online and off-line social communities.”
Another treasure tucked away on the third floor is the quiet and unassuming Jason Strohl. By day, Jason is our Assistant Director of Communications, and my personal food truck knowledge source. By night, he takes to the stage as bassist of Wigwam’s, one of Philly’s favorite post-punk bands. If you go to check out his band at one of the local venues you might not recognize Sweeten’s very own Clark Kent; Jason is far too active onstage to wear his glasses. When Jason’s not performing or working, you can find him in the back bays of New Jersey, where he likes to sit for hours drinking soda and fishing for bass. In fact, he typically arranges an annual Fishing Derby (which sounds like just about the best way to spend a spring Sunday). If you’re in the fishing mood, make sure you pick up a bag of Sea Life Gummies for your trip (a Strohl good luck charm) and if you’re in the mood for post punk, check out Wigwam’s at Johnny Brenda’s on April 6.
Impressed? You should be! And guess what- I’m not even half way through our staff. Among others, we’ve still got a hidden DJ, two published authors, a marathoner, two bridal show models, a civil engineer, and a cheerleader to go! Can you guess who’s who?! Stay tuned for next month’s Part Two of…..The Secret Lives of Sweeten Staff [insert dramatic music here].
Author: Lex Ruby Howe, C’07, GED’13
The last month has brought drama to Canberra that The Bold & the Beautiful’s writing staff can only dream of. As you no doubt noticed, Australia’s Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, was challenged for her seat at the helm of the ruling party by her predecessor, Kevin Rudd, whom she had ousted only 3 years earlier in an equally dramatic political coup. Rudd did not prevail, and things settled back to normal, much to the dismay of the political junkies among us. But not without leaving behind some prize Australian political cartoon commentary.
This was not the only flair that graced Canberra’s streets. The nation’s capital just celebrated it’s 99th birthday, allowing all residents to enjoy light festivals, fireworks, museum visits, and a time-honored treat amongst the loyal public servants – a chance to get out of the city and down to the “coast” for the last throes of the waning summer.
Lights festival at Old Parliament House
The leaves have started to turn to hues of gold, auburn, and scarlet to welcome in the autumn season. As they do, I find myself wishing for the blossoms of the trees across Penn’s campus, the growing buds along locust walk, and the promising warmer breeze of the spring winds in Philadelphia. Thankfully, I see Penn every day – my desk proudly features the Penn calendar, displaying the spring my American friends are about to enjoy.
The coming fall in Canberra
Filed under Alumni Perspective, Lex. H.
Author: Laura Solie, W’08
In January, forty Penn Alumni from the Wharton Club of Arizona gathered to celebrate the birth of Ben Franklin. The event, an annual tradition within Penn and the Wharton Club of Arizona, brought together alumni both young and old to cheer the birth of Penn’s founder.
After mingling around the catered food and sparkling conversation with friends, our Penn President reined us in for official introductions. As we went around the room introducing ourselves by name, school, graduation yard, and quick life updates, several things became apparent.
First, our experiences after graduation were incredibly diverse. From creating a thirty-year career as a surgeon after studying art history to flitting around the country trying to make it in the hotel industry, our Penn education led us to success in many different directions.
Second, each and every one of us had an unique Penn story to share. Our older alumni recalled the days of Locust Walk when it was a road, while the younger folk dwelt on somewhat hazy memories of Spring Fling.
Third, and what stood out to me the most, was that someone named Candice Bergen had attended Penn and many people recalled knowing her as a student. Once her name was mentioned, the stories flowed. “She was, in fact, my roommate freshman year,” one alumna fondly remembered.
“Oh, of course! Candice Bergen! I have watched all of her movies,” shared another excitedly.
I found myself wondering who the heck this person was, and why I wasn’t more up-to-date on our Penn celebrities. After references to movies that were released way before my time (The Hunting Party??), I quickly searched for her name on my iPhone. “Oh!” I exclaimed after a moment. “The crazy mom in Sweet Home Alabama and on TV as Murphy Brown! She went to Penn? Awesome!”
And with that, I left another Penn event with pride for our accomplishments and the great feeling of being part of a special group–a group, as I now know, that includes a very famous celebrity.
Penn alumni enjoying conversation and recounting tales of a famous alumna.
For more information about other Penn & Wharton Club of AZ activities, visit the club website here.
Filed under Clubs, GAN, Guest blogger, Historical, Memories of Penn, Penn Clubs
Author: Aimee LaBrie
Today, we celebrate the first day after spring forward–the time when we set our clocks an hour ahead, and I typically stay up too late the night before. This morning was the first of what I imagine will be a beautiful spring season. Students were back from spring break, the robins were doing their typical spring schtick on the lawn, and the overall air on campus was optimism, brought on in large part by the gorgeous day.
Here is what’s happening on campus at this very moment on the eerily quiet Locust Walk:
Filed under Aimee L., Campus Life
Frankly Penn 