News Archives

Do I have to retire when I turn 65?

Dear Benny,I am a Penn staffer approaching my 60th birthday and was recently asked by a friend whether Penn had a “mandatory” retirement age. I realized I didn’t know the answer. So tell me, when I turn 65, am I required to retire?—Not ready to retire

Rae of light

Ask chef Daniel Stern why he decided to build his new restaurant, Rae, out in West Philadelphia’s Cira Centre tower—rather than, for instance, Center City—and he’s quick to reply. “I really feel like Cira Centre is the center of town,” says Stern, 36, who previously served as executive chef at Le Bec Fin and, after opening Gayle in Queen Village last year, solidified his reputation as one of America’s top young chefs. “I think it’s a great location. The building is very exciting, and it’s really in the middle of everything.”

Mayor signs up Penn Praxis

Piling up

Fall has arrived here at Penn—which means somebody has to rake those tons of leaves now littering campus. Recently that job fell to Penn Facilities staffer Anthony Aguilar, who helped clean up near Van Pelt.   Photo credit: Mark Stehle

Penn Student-Run Voter Mobilization Drive Ramps Up Efforts Leading to Nov. 7 Election

PHILADELPHIA--  Penn Leads the Vote, a non-partisan, student-run voter mobilization drive developed by the Fox Leadership Program at the University of Pennsylvania, has mounted a broad information campaign to remind students about Election Day and ensure that they know when and where to vote.

Staff Q&A: Jean-Marie Kneeley

As vice dean of external affairs for the School of Arts and Sciences, Jean-Marie Kneeley raises money for a living. This fall, her fundraising skills were tapped for a cause that’s even closer to her heart than Penn. On Oct. 8 she completed the Breast Cancer 3-Day, a 60-mile walk in and around Philadelphia. Out of 3,400 walkers who registered for the three-day event, she was the top fundraiser. As of press time she had raised $24,080 for breast cancer research and awareness, with several recent and generous donations from SAS’s own Board of Overseers.

News briefs

Just shoot meThis year HR’s flu shot program will run Nov 9, 10 and 13 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The shots will be administered at SEAS, Wharton and the School of Nursing. Pre-registration is required (go to www.hr.upenn.edu/quality/wellness/flushots.asp) and remember to bring $22 in cash, your PennCard and your registration confirmation sheet. Questions? Contact Suzanne Smith in HR at 215-898-5116 or suzsmith@hr.upenn.edu.

In his prime

By The Current Staff Photo credit: University Archives In April 1968—just two months before he was assassinated in California— Robert F. Kennedy took to the Palestra stage during a campaign stop and lit up the Penn crowd.

Artist explores the ‘watery American,’ Ben Franklin, in new exhibit

PERFORMANCE/A Penn painting alum brings a multi-media performance about University founder Ben Franklin to University City’s Rotunda. Now that Ben Franklin’s tercentenary year is winding down, you might think you’ve seen, heard and read all there is on the subject of this famous statesman and polymath. You’d be wrong, though, unless you’ve seen Sebastienne Mundheim’s multi-media performance “Currently Franklin: The Story of a Paper Boy.” The piece, which was shown as part of last summer’s Philadelphia Live Arts Festival will be onstage again at the Rotunda this month.

Time to talk

If there’s one thing that could diffuse the situation with North Korea, nearly a month after the country set off a nuclear test, it’s diplomatic conversation, says Professor of Japanese and Korean Studies G. Cameron Hurst. “Diplomacy doesn’t mean talking to people you like,” he says. “You have to sit down and talk to [North Korea].”