News Archives

“I really had a long, long week.”

—Penn Football Coach Al Bagnoli on his busy schedule during the week of the Penn-Harvard game. Penn defeated Harvard 44-9, earning a share of the Ivy title. (The Washington Post, Nov. 17)

Staff Q&A: Amy Zoll

Staff member. Author. Student. Amy Zoll wears many hats here at Penn. The anthropology doctoral student has found a way to combine both her expertise in ancient cultures and computers by working as an IT support specialist in the Anthropology Department.

Tiny tot robocop

More holiday shopping tips

Besides the finds described in “Out and About” on page 5, these two upcoming events offer you a chance to obtain truly unique holiday gifts and support worthy causes. The Arts ‘n’ Crafts Fair on Friday, Dec. 6, features a diverse array of local artists offering handcrafted clothing, jewelry, artwork and more. Sponsored by the Women of Color Committee. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. in Bodek Lounge, Houston Hall, 3417 Spruce St.

“Keeping Up with the Joneses: Envy in American Consumer Society, 1890-1930”

A century ago many Americans condemned envy as a destructive emotion and a sin. Today few Americans expect criticism when they express envy, and some commentators maintain that the emotion drives the economy. This shift in attitude is Susan Matt’s central concern in “Keeping up with the Joneses: Envy in American Consumer Society, 1890-1930.”

Campus Buzz

Goodbye Penn, hello Columbus: We knew the people at Ohio State University were impressed with what Penn has done to revitalize its home neighborhood (Current, Jan. 24). Apparently, folks in Ohio State’s hometown were impressed enough to hire away one of the architects of Penn’s strategy.

Hope for new drug

Nancy Bonini, a professor of biology, and her colleagues are using fruit flies to investigate Parkinson’s disease, the second most common human neurodegenerative disorder. They found that medication prevented the onset of a similar disorder in genetically-predisposed Drosophila melanogaster.

Ask Benny: Penn's Way donations get put to good use

Dear Benny,How much of my Penn’s Way donation actually goes to support the charities I choose, and how much goes to overhead? —Wants to Make Every Dollar Count Dear Green Eyeshade, Overhead is a necessary part of any operation. Charities call it the “administrative rate.” The Penn’s Way staff tell me that the United Way / Donor Choice administrative rate is 10.2 percent. That means that 89.8 cents of every dollar you give to United Way agencies goes to the charities of your choice.

On and off Walnut Street

While the virtues of online holiday shopping are undisputed, somehow the spirit of the season and the search for the perfect gift demands some hands-on experience with our consumer culture on steroids. Even if the rest of the city hasn’t recognized West Philadelphia as a shopping mecca yet, those of us who live and work here know that this is a great place to find the unique, the offbeat, the handmade and the outré. This year, the Current decided to look for gifts that are locally connected.

Pleased to meet you, Sir