Heather A. Davis

Director, News Publications

Penn takes top billing at the Philly Film Festival

Even if you’re not a film buff, a stargazer or a hipster, Penn’s neighborhood will definitely be the place to be from April 8 to 21. That’s because this year’s Philadelphia Film Festival is using West Philadelphia as its hub, bringing screenings to neighborhood theaters, visitors to the Inn at Penn and, hopefully, increased foot traffic to the campus.

Heather A. Davis

Consumers shoot for the middle of the road

When browsing through toys, wine or other products, consumers may not necessarily flock to the cheapest product. According to research from Marshall Fisher, Wharton professor of operations and information management, people may actually shell out more money for a product they do not understand.

Heather A. Davis

Surf the ’Net while soaking up rays

For those who use wireless technology to send e-mails or quickly check a fact on the Internet, the grass just got greener. That’s because over Spring Break, Penn’s wireless service provider, PennNet, expanded its wireless coverage to include College Green. In the coming months, it will continue to expand around campus.

Heather A. Davis

Rodin: “Cities are where the action is”

INITIATIVES/Penn launches an urban institute to address problems and potential of city living By 2006, the world’s urban population will reach 6 billion. A new center at Penn plans to devote extensive resources to studying the well-being of these city dwellers and the urban environments in which they live.

Heather A. Davis

Out and About: Portraits of new African-Americans

In one of Filmon Mebrahtu’s films, an African taxi driver expresses frustration and fear after a Senegalese driver is killed on the job. In another, a hair braiding salon owner laments the lively social life she left behind in her native Mali.

Heather A. Davis

People's Choice: Oughta-be Oscars

In our lengthy search for Penn people to answer our question this issue—”What picture, actor or actress should have gotten an Oscar nomination but didn’t?”—we may have inadvertently stumbled across the reason why the ratings for the Academy Awards telecast keep dropping each year: It seems people aren’t going to see first-run films like they used to, at least not at Penn.

Heather A. Davis

Faculty Feature: A hat pays a visit to its Alaskan home

The Tlingit people of Sitka, Alaska, recently welcomed home a treasured object. Nearly 90 years after it was last worn, the Raven-of-the-Roof hat—a Native American headdress from the University of Pennsylvania Museum’s collection—was flown back to its original home for use in a Coho Salmon clan memorial potlatch, or feast.

Heather A. Davis

Staff Q&A: Larry Moses

By day, Larry Moses is the man with the booming voice and hearty laugh who leads diversity training for fraternities and sororities and advises the Bicultural Inter-Greek Council.

Heather A. Davis

Staff Q&A: Tom Boyle

Senior Biosafety Officer Tom Boyle usually gets involved with infectious waste issues, performs laboratory audits and reviews recombinant DNA registration documentation to ensure the safety of Penn employees.

Heather A. Davis