Category Archives: Campus Life

October 20, 2011 · 9:00 am

Beware of Vampires

Author:  Colin Hennessy

October is here, and the season for tricks and treats and ghouls and ghosts is upon us. Halloween is an enjoyable time on any college campus, and while Twilight, True Blood and The Vampire Diaries have put the thirsty undead firmly in popular culture, there is another vampire that is perhaps even more dangerous. I am talking about vampire power [flash of lightening, crash of thunder!]

Vampire power is a serious threat for any larger organization including Penn. It may not seem like a big deal to leave your printer on at the end of the day, or even leave your cell phone plugged in for the afternoon, and in truth, the amount of power your equipment is drawing is minimal.

HOWEVER – When you consider the thousands of others on campus doing the same thing, the power draw can be significant. Vampire power or standby power is very common. More and more devices are able to reduce their power consumption when not in use; however, they are still drawing power – leaking power, consuming power.

Consider your office or dorm room. What is plugged in that doesn’t need to be? Each one of those devices is drawing power. Power that contributes to Penn’s overall footprint.

Penn has ambitious sustainability goals, and each of us play a role in helping Penn to achieve those goals. In the coming months join with your colleagues and fellow students in finding ways to reduce Penn’s energy consumption and start with vampire power.

Here are just a few simple things you can do to reduce your energy use:

  1. Unplug  your equipment when possible
  2. Dress for the weather vs. adjusting the thermostat
  3. Use daylight not lamplight
  4. Recycle
  5. Print less
  6. Use public transportation or walk
  7. Report problems
  8. Learn more – visit Penn’s Sustainability Website to get more information
  9. Encourage your friends to join you!

Let us all do our part to make Penn a greener place and keep the vampires out.

Happy Halloween.

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October 19, 2011 · 1:56 pm

What I Found in the Bookstore

Author: Jonathan Cousins, SEAS’14

On my way to class, I often take a shortcut through the Penn Bookstore.  As I glance down the aisles, I see some of the things you expect: books, hats, shirts, computer materials, and the like.  But recently,  I walked over to the Penn gear section, and some of the things I found surprised me.  Interestingly, the bookstore had a sign on the information desk that described the type of items that I found, as many of them were odd, curious and cool.

And so, I would now like to  present a list of the strangest things I found for sale in the Penn bookstore.

1. Penn Belt

The idea of wearing a Penn Belt is an interesting one.  It would not make sense for the business world, since it is red or blue instead of the classier black or brown normally worn with business clothing.  It also has the repeating Penn logo, which makes it stick out.  I don’t think I could match the belt itself to many things in my wardrobe, and I don’t think I have ever seen anyone wearing one around campus.

2. Penn Chocolate Bars

I’m having a little trouble imagining when one might need this item. While I might be inclined to imagine a high-class Penn party, even then,the dessert would probably be fancier than a chocolate bar.  The only fun scenario I could see with these is using them as application responses.  Imagine receiving a Penn chocolate bar in the mail, and having to open it to discover either nothing or a red and blue foil ticket, granting you admission to the University.  But I digress…

3. Penn Boxers

Another item that is not usually seen, and so the Penn logo part of it is pretty irrelevant.  Maybe those items give the wearer some sort of school pride, but it takes a certain type of person to buy school brand clothing that doesn’t get seen by the general public.

4. Penn Birdhouse

This item really struck me.  Sitting on the bottom of a shelf up against the wall of the store, it is pretty hard to find.  But there it was, a custom painted wooden birdhouse  with “Penn” painted on it.  However, I imagine that having birds use the bathroom on your beautiful red and blue birdhouse roof would put a damper on your school spirit.  But someone must love birds and Penn enough to make this purchase.

5. Penn Stuffed Animals

The Quaker doll I can understand, as I can the generic teddy bear with a Penn shirt.  But a Penn zebra or elephant or giraffe?  Why?  Who could they be trying to market towards that would not appreciate a simple teddy bear?  If people want nice stuffed animals, they go to a toy store.  If they want a souvenir animal, they can get a mascot or a bear. I, for one, don’t see the need for such a large selection.

6. And finally, one of my favorites, the Penn Invitation

This ties into the golden ticket idea from above.  Imagine getting an invitation in the mail, “You’re invited to Penn!”  Sadly, upon further reading, you would discover that this would be a birthday party at a football game, instead of admission to the University.  Now, I love Penn Athletics, and, as a Red and Blue Crew Leader, I am committed to making Penn sports more popular.  But one thing I don’t see very often is Penn birthday parties.  I know this is a common occurrence at other pro sports, and even popular college sports, but at Penn?

It may seem like I am down on the Penn Bookstore, but I’m really not.  I have made many purchase from there, and will continue to do so.  I just have fun wandering through the endless piles of Penn gear and wondering what kind of person would pick up and purchase a Penn birdhouse.  If you have not made a trek to explore the Penn section of the bookstore, I highly recommend it.  You never know what you might find.

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October 17, 2011 · 5:21 pm

Art Contest Winner

Last week, we asked you to correctly identify both the name and location of the following sculpture on Penn’s campus:

We had a large number of correct responses, but the first to get it right is Lisa Bardfeld Shapiro, C’93. Within minutes of the post, she properly identified the location as Hamilton Walk between HUP and the Med Education Building and the name of the piece as Quadrature# 1 (1977) by artist and Penn Professor, Robert Engman. Professor Engman is also known for Triune, a trifold Moebius strip located near Philadelphia’s City Hall.

In addition, he collaborated with his students to create Peace Symbol (1967),  also a favorite sculpture found on Penn’s campus near the Van Pelt-Dietrich Library.

Congratulations to Lisa, who will be receiving  a free Penn T-shirt for her participation. Thank you, too, to our enthusiastic and responsive readers, many of whom also correctly identified this somewhat obscure piece. You can view more of Penn’s art work on campus by going here.

In the meantime, keep checking back for more opportunities to show your Penn spirit and to win!

Here’s the full view of the piece for your viewing pleasure:

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

October 13, 2011 · 9:28 am

Push Ball: An Old Tradition Reborn

Author: Elise Betz

The Penn Traditions program revived an old tradition for the Penn Park opening on September 17.  On a beautifully cloudy late summer afternoon, the 21st century Push Ball was unveiled almost 103 years after the tradition started.    For five brief years in the early 20th century, the Push Ball Fight surfaced as one of the traditional confrontations between University of Pennsylvania freshmen and sophomore classes. The first Penn Push Ball Fight took place on Franklin Field on October 22, 1908.

The ball to be pushed was always quite large in size. The ball used in the first fight was six feet in diameter.  The fight began with the ball in the middle of the field and the two opposing classes lined up on their individual goal lines on opposite ends of the field. The point of the fight was to move the ball over the opponent’s goal line. At the sound of a whistle, the members of each class rushed to the huge ball and tried to score a goal, hopefully by straight clean line as in football rather than by means of slugging matches.  It looked like this:

Here is an original news article about the Push Ball Fight in 1912:

The reborn Push Ball is ten feet in diameter.  The first step was inflating it – we did so with a leaf blower.

We then got it to Penn Park and it was a smashing success the second it hit the grass.

The Penn Traditions program adapted the rules a little bit and let the kids, young and old, push the ball around the field and into the goals “free style.”

The day ended after many happy alumni, students and their families enjoyed the new Push Ball, taking advantage of the photo ops it provided.

Final step?  Deflating the ten foot ball.  Not as easy as you might think.  It took 6 adults almost a full hour to take the air out of this Penn tradition.    It won’t stay deflated for long – it is clear that this new old Penn tradition has some momentum!  Look for the Push Ball on campus at Homecoming, November 4 – 6, 2011!

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October 12, 2011 · 6:04 pm

Where Am I?

The first person to correctly identify (1). the location and (2).  name of this sculpture will be sent a free Penn t-shirt in your requested size. Email alabrie@upenn.edu with your answers.

Here it is:

As soon as we have a winner, I’ll post the answer.

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October 11, 2011 · 2:34 pm

Getting Excited for the Penn Gala

Author: Stephanie Y., C08

I am so excited to attend my first Alumni Award of Merit Gala during Homecoming Weekend featuring arts and culture this year. The Gala, sponsored by Penn Alumni, is a celebration of Penn’s most passionate and dedicated alumni volunteers, and awards are given for outstanding service to Penn.

The Alumni Award of Merit and Young Alumni recipients are chosen by Penn Alumni’s Awards & Resolutions Committee, which is comprised of former winners. These winners are always super accomplished and impressive, and they have contributed so much to the Penn community. Reading their bios always inspires me and reminds me there is always more to give back to the Penn community.

The Club Award recipient is chosen by the Global Alumni Network Advisory Board. Two years ago, the Penn Alumni Club of Philadelphia received this award, and those of us in Philadelphia are still excited about it.

The two awards that are near and dear to my heart are the Class Award of Merit and the David N. Tyre Class Communications Award. The recipients of these two awards are chosen by the Alumni Class Leadership Council. As a member of the ACLC, I have worked closely with many alumni classes during their reunion years, and it is a wonderful feeling to see classes receive recognition for their hard work. The Gala is open to the whole Penn community — alumni, family, students, faculty, staff and friends – and I hope to see you there.

The 77th Annual Alumni Award of Merit Gala

Friday, November 4, 2011

6-10 PM

Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts

3680 Walnut St – Philadelphia, PA

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October 10, 2011 · 7:00 am

Ode to the Penn Bookstore Card Section in Paintbrush

Author: Leigh Ann P.

I have been receiving birthday cards for nearly 30 years now, and I have been receiving “Wow, you’re old” birthday cards since I turned 22.  Twenty-two!  You know the ones I’m talking about.  “You’re old. You sag. You forget everything. Getting old equals bad.”  I get it!  Thanks for the card!  Anyone who knows me knows I would hate giving these as much as I hate receiving them, which is why I become so frustrated at a certain drug store whose card selection features only those of the “Jeez, you have gray hair and wrinkles now.  Because it’s your birthday and you’re old.  Amazing.” – variety. 

I have exhausted every lovable cartoon character I can find in order not to offend those close to me, because those cards are generally pretty innocuous and readily available.  Snoopy.  Scooby.  Sleepy, Happy, Dopey.  Mickey.  Buzz Lightyear.  But when you find yourself searching for a card for your mother-in-law’s birthday and you’re stuck between a pink, glittery Princess Jasmine card and one about an overabundance of ear hair, you may be treading on dangerous ground.

This is why I love the Penn Bookstore! (I’m not working for them, even though I keep plugging them!).  Funny, yet inoffensive cards!  Thoughtful, but not gag-inducing!  Glamorous and grown-up!  Thank you, Penn Bookstore, for never letting this Penn employee (or her mother-in-law) down.

A very pretty, very simple birthday card for a Mom in your life.

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October 6, 2011 · 8:28 pm

I Remember…Sorority Rush

Author: Elizabeth Kimmelman Schwartz, C’04

A confession:  I wasn’t that cool in high school.  (I know you are shocked by this given that I’ve divulged my love for the X Files on here).  But wait – I wasn’t a nerd either – I was in that in between category, mainly reserved for people who cared too much about school to ever be cool.  I had a lot of friends and a fun social life but I was in the smart classes and didn’t party.  In any case, I really did like high school.  I still have great friends from that time in my life and wonderful memories.  However, I knew when I got to college, things would be different.

Here’s one of the unspoken, great things about Penn.  Probably 80% of the people at this school were not cool in high school.  But then we come to Penn, a place where it is okay to study and work hard, a place where it’s okay have a conversation about nerdy things and where there are so many people and groups that you don’t have to worry as hard about fitting in.  There is no cool clique or popular crowd because there are just too many people for that to make sense.  Additionally, most of the students here were like me in high school – “nerdy” by default but social and fun.  So, what did I decide to do with this newfound sense of belonging and “coolness?”  I rushed a sorority.

I am sure most of my high school friends were taken aback by the thought of me in a sorority.  Girls who watch The X Files and take Calculus for fun are not the type of girls who are supposed to join sororities.  I didn’t care.  I wanted to try it out – I wanted to be part of a world that seemed completely inaccessible to me when I was a high school freshman, singing second soprano in choir and performing in the shows (yup, I’m dropping nerd alerts along the way as you keep reading).  So, I signed up for rush and was on my way!

Let me tell you – for an extrovert like me, rush was amazing.  We recently learned in a seminar at work that the difference between extroverts and introverts is that extroverts derive energy from interacting with large groups of people, whereas introverts are drained by it.  Sorority rush, to me, was like drinking five cups of coffee, and I don’t drink caffeine.  I put my black pants on and met new person after new person, after new person.  It didn’t stop at the girls in the sororities! I met the girls who stood near me in line, the girls in my rush group, the girls who were preffing (a word for the last round of rush) the same houses – so many new people!  It was awesome…until I got rejected from a couple sororities I liked.  But, I bounced back, kept going, and found my home at Chi Omega.

With some of my Chi Omega sisters at our 5th Reunion

Of course there were parts of the process that weirded me out.  At some rounds, when the sisters talked about how much they loved their house, they would cry.  I didn’t like that.  One of the sororities dressed up as hippies for the first round.  As someone who shopped solely at the Gap and maybe Arden B when I was feeling “wild,” I cut them immediately.  But those experiences were few and far between.

I know that rush might sound silly.  Parading around campus in black pants meeting lots of girls and having nothing more than superficial conversations does not seem particularly productive on the surface.  But, sorority rush taught me a lot about life.  It taught me how to have a conversation with almost anyone, something that comes in very handy in my job in Alumni Relations.  It taught me to be polite (you never wore a watch during rush because if you glanced at it while talking to someone it would be rude).  It taught me, when I was on the other side of rush, how to work as a team.  (Just ask me, I still remember our dance to “Funky Cold Medina” which became “Funky Chi Omega.”)  And, it taught me how to face rejection, keep my head up, and how to have faith that in the end things work out.

Sorority rush also led to one of the most defining experiences in my Penn life – serving as Panhellenic Council President.  But, I’ll save that for another day!  Now, I’m off to a work meeting where I will no doubt have a great conversation with someone and not glance at my watch.

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October 5, 2011 · 9:36 am

Technology: A Student’s Worst Enemy

Author: John Mosley, C’14

Each morning, as I stand in the shower or eat breakfast, I mentally schedule out my day of work and school. I know that from 9 to 5 I will either be attending class or doing my Work-Study at the Sweeten Alumni House. Usually, at 5 PM,  I eat dinner. Every day, I tell myself that after dinner, I will work more diligently than ever before on studying and getting homework done. And, once the meal is over, I pace confidently to my room, knowing that the unprecedented amount of work about to be done  will consequently make my life easier in the future. I open my door with purpose to find my laptop computer sitting innocuously on my desk. I know that this will be an important tool in typing my essays and printing out articles to study for my classes. Little do I know how many distractions await me on this machine.

…Ok,  I lied. I know how many distractions are on my computer. I know about YouTube, Facebook, Netflix, and all the innumerable other websites that will keep me busy for hours on end while my schoolbooks collect dust in my book bag. But I just can’t help it! That is the biggest problem with students of my generation. We have all been spoiled with the greatest and most entertaining technologies the world has ever known for our entire lives, and now, not even college can break our addiction. So, within 30 seconds, my resolve is gone and my homework is relegated to the late hours of the night, shearing off hours of much-needed sleep.

After an hour or so on the Internet, I often decide that my behavior is unacceptable. I decide to sit on my bed, where my laptop cannot seduce me and I can get some real, honest-to-goodness work done. Just as I open a textbook, a thought occurs to me: I should really text my mom and let her know about my day. She probably misses me. Then, taking my phone out, I realize how many great games I have on it! I could spend hours smashing things and outrunning enemies on my phone! This seems like a great way to spend some time. After all, I’ve had a long day of classes and work, so I’ve earned this. I’ll talk to mom tomorrow, anyway.

See what happened there? I’m surrounded. Technology dictates my actions in my free time. Yes, I always get my work done on time, but at what cost? Hours of sleep are lost because of my lack of focus, and I know for a fact that I am in the majority of college students. Technological advances in entertainment have destroyed our focus and work ethic. This is our eternal struggle. Seems trivial in a world full of real problems…

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October 3, 2011 · 2:47 pm

Fall at Penn

Author: Sabrina Shyn, C’13

My new favorite study spot is the benches in the courtyard of the Trescher entrance of the Penn Museum. It’s a little isolated but quiet and serene, especially when the weather’s nice. With the trees, fountain, cobblestones, and brown brick building, it’s beautiful.

You should come see it for yourself.

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