Category Archives: Campus Life

April 11, 2012 · 2:04 pm

Teach Me How To Dougie

Author: Liz Pinnie

Yesterday I scurried through my Sweeten closing tasks (close windows, turn lights off, give self a pat on the back) in an effort to leave a few minutes early.  Why the hustle?  Because I wanted tickets to see First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden who are speaking at Penn today!  Now, there are a lot of fantastic things happening on Penn’s campus, and I recently haven’t been making the time to attend them because 1. I just moved into a new place and 2. I just moved into a new place.  However, for Michelle (am I allowed to call her that?  I feel like she’d be cool with a first name basis thing?), I am throwing caution (and laundry) to the wind and heading out to see her speak.  The reasons are two-fold.

One:

To me, Michelle Obama is a fantastic role model for the modern woman.  She is an intelligent, strong, and graceful woman, and I am delighted that she is representing our nation as First Lady.  Additionally, that lady can move!  Please see below video:

Two:

I am thrilled about the initiative that Michelle Obama and Jill Biden are at Penn to present.  Both women have made a commitment to support our troops and their families through “Joining Forces”.  Joining Forces works to provide much needed support to the men, women, and families who make sacrifices every day in service to our country.  Today Mrs. Obama and Dr. Biden come to Penn to speak about one of the initiatives of Joining Forces, which is a focus on education and treatment of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and Traumatic Brain Injury.  According to White House data, PTSD and TBI affect approximately one in six of our veterans.  Though they are life altering disorders, they often go undiagnosed or untreated.  Today in a presentation in conjunction with Penn Nursing, First Lady Obama and Dr. Jill Biden will “announce a major initiative by more than 150 of America’s leading nursing organizations and more than 450 nursing schools in 50 states and territories to ensure our nation’s nurses are prepared to help meet the unique health needs of service members, veterans, and their families”.

I cannot wait to hear about this initiative, and to see a truly inspiring woman speak.

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Filed under Campus Life, Events, Historical, Liz P., Uncategorized, Video, Videos

April 3, 2012 · 2:05 pm

Ferns and foliage and fish – oh my!

Author: Lisa Vaccarelli, C’02, GEd’10

As a double Penn alumna who has worked at the University for nearly seven years, it’s easy to take Penn’s campus for granted.  Every day, I walk briskly up Locust Walk unfazed by the greenery that surrounds me.  When I find the time to leave my desk for lunch, I make a beeline to Houston Hall or a nearby food truck, rarely detouring from my all too familiar and direct route.  But every once in a long while, a fresh set of eyes and an unseasonably spring-like day combine to pull me out of my bubble.

Last week on a particularly sunny and warm day, my dear colleague Liz Pinnie, who has been at Penn just under six months, organized an expedition to the Bio Pond.   I’d only visited the Bio Pond one time prior, during my freshman year at Penn – well over 10 years ago.  At first, I met Liz’s suggestion with some resistance – it was so far away and what if it was muggy and bug-ridden?  But with just a bit of extra prodding – and a personal map – I agreed to join her.

The Bio Pond is truly a little oasis in the middle of campus.   Grad students and staff and young families sit at picnic tables eating their lunches, while turtles sun themselves on rocks nearby.  Yes, the trip required a deviation from normal routine.  But thanks to Liz and those extra rays of sunshine, I was reminded of what a truly extraordinary place Penn’s campus is – and of just how lucky I am to spend my 9-5 here!

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Filed under Campus Life, Lisa V.

April 2, 2012 · 12:56 pm

Continuing Education for Alumni: Tiesto…?

Author: Leigh Ann P.

On most days when I arrive at Sweeten Alumni House in the early morning hours, it is serenely quiet and peaceful on campus.  I can spend some time appreciating the fact that I work on this beautiful college campus in the middle of a major urban city.  The merry squirrels dart dangerously close around my feet, having grown accustomed to a life of hand-feeding by kind, unsuspecting humans.  Sometimes all I can hear at that hour are my own footsteps on Locust Walk.  That is, when I wear my super-loud boots. 

But most mornings are not Spring Fling ticket-distribution day.

My colleagues and I have seen signs, banners and sidewalk chalk for a few weeks advertising “Tiesto,” and by our powers combined, we deduced that he/she/they/it was/were for Spring Fling.  I like to think that working at a college keeps me young and hip, but this is a dirty lie.  (Do the kids still say “spaz?”)  I have no clue who or what Tiesto is.  It makes me feel even older knowning that a couple of years ago when Snoop Dogg was the Spring Fling headliner, it was the students who didn’t know who he was.  After all, the incoming students of the Class of 2016 were born after “What’s My Name?” was released. 

So thanks to the sleuthing of one N. Elizabeth Pinnie, we have learned that Tiesto is a Dutch trance DJ, and Penn students are willing to camp out on a weeknight for the chance to see him perform live, even sleep on the steps of Sweeten as my fellow Sweeteners are forced to step on their blankets and bags of Doritos just to make it through the front door.

Unfortunately for the students, they’ll have to wait until April 13th for their Tiesto dreams to become reality. You, on the other hand, can enjoy his jams right now!

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Filed under Campus Life, Leigh Ann P., Locust Walk Talk, Squirrels, The Sweeten Life, Traditions, Uncategorized, View from Sweeten

March 21, 2012 · 6:20 pm

Springtime in University City

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…

 

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Filed under Campus Life, Kelly P., Uncategorized

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March 19, 2012 · 6:55 pm

Springtime at 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.

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Filed under Campus Life, Kayleigh, Student Perspective

March 19, 2012 · 2:27 pm

Celebrating Spring: A Multimedia Extravaganza

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.

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Filed under Campus Life, Leigh Ann P., Photos, View from Sweeten

March 12, 2012 · 7:55 pm

Spring Forward

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:

 

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Filed under Aimee L., Campus Life

March 6, 2012 · 6:51 pm

Campus Landmarks: The Class of 1956 Trolley

Situated directly across from the Quad at 37th and Spruce Streets, the class of 1956 Trolley is one of the most remarkable nostalgic pieces on campus. Created in the style of trolley that used to rumble down Woodland Avenue in front of College Hall throughout much of Penn’s history, the trolley car serves not only as the entrance to the 37th Street Septa station, but as a reminder that in the not so distant past campus was even more urban than it is today. Donated as part of the class of 1956’s 50th reunion gift in 2006, a plaque inside the trolley tells its story as such:

“The Class of 1956 Trolley is a replica of the Peter Witt Trolleys that carried generations of commuting students to Penn from all parts of the region and also provided convenient access from campus to cultural and other attractions in Center City Philadelphia.

With noisy steel wheels and clanging bells, these trolleys created a constant interruption to campus life and were an unforgettable part of the Penn experience. Operated by the Philadelphia Transportation Company (a precursor to Septa), routes 11, 34, and 37 ran through the Penn campus on Woodland Avenue and Locust Street for nearly 65 years. In 1956 they were relocated underground, enabling the University to begin conversion of the university to a unified and attractive landscape environment. Woodland Avenue and Locust Walk became the first pedestrian walkways through the campus.

The Class of 1956 Trolley was fabricated by the Gomaco Trolley Company in October of 2006. The original Peter Witt trolleys were manufactured by J.G. Bell from 1923-1926.”

Trolley Tracks in front of College Hall. Date Unknown.

The Class of 1956 Trolley. The Quad is visible in the background.

Controls at the front of the trolley appear much as they did in the original Peter Witt cars.

Benches inside the trolley allow a weary passenger or passerby a place to have lunch or enjoy the view.

The actual entrance to the 37th Street station provides access to trolleys heading eastbound towards Center City.

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Filed under Campus Life, Historical, Jason S.

March 5, 2012 · 8:33 am

Family Night at the Palestra

Author: Kristina Clark

On Friday evening, February 24, I had the pleasure of hosting over 200 Penn alumni families for an event at the Palestra.  This was a first-time event for Penn Alumni, and our Family Night at the Palestra was a huge success!  The evening began just after 5 PM with children of all ages having an opportunity to shoot hoops with Penn’s women basketball team. The kids had a blast and so did the players. Following the shoot-around, and prior to the basketball team taking the court for warm-ups, families were warmly greeted by women’s head basketball coach, Mike McLaughlin.  A pre-game dinner followed, and consisted of hot dogs, pizza, pretzels, beverages and Cracker Jacks. Penn Alumni families were treated to an amazing night and the game was the icing on the cake.  Penn women took a 63-49 win over Dartmouth!

The cost to participate in the Palestra Family Night event was $5 person.  The event was sponsored by Penn Alumni and the Association of Alumnae.  We look forward to offering this event again and hope you can join us next time!

In the meantime, mark your calendars now for upcoming Penn Alumni Family Events:


Family Day at Mask & Wig – 3/17/12
40 Winks with the Sphinx – 3/30-31/12

Contact Penn Alumni Relations at 215-898-7811 for more information.

View a slideshow of the event here.

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Filed under Alumni Programming, Athletics, Campus Life, Events, Kristina C.

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February 27, 2012 · 8:37 pm

Where is the LOVE Statue?

Author: Aimee LaBrie

Actually, that should be “How is the LOVE statue?”  or “What happened to the LOVE statue?” Because one may have noticed, if one were not too tired from the weekend and not just having her first hot sip of much-needed coffee while stumbling down Locust Walk, that the LOVE statue has been slightly altered since we last checked in.

To wit:

Here’s what the popular, student-run blog, Under the Button has to say about it:

Spotted early this morning amidst College Green was a newly rainbow-hued LOVE statue. According to our sources, the makeover, touted as a “public art installation,” may be the first of many Cubic Street Art projects. Maybe it has to do with our school’s gay-friendly status? Perhaps.

If you have the inside scoop, let us know.

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Filed under Aimee L., Campus Life, The Arts, The Arts at Penn

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