News Archives

People's Choice: Sept. 11 reflections

As the University prepares to commemorate the events of Sept. 11, we asked Penn staffers how the attacks have changed their lives. Here’s what’s dwelling on their hearts and minds.

At Work With...The Travel Office

Two green awards

Omar Blaik’s leadership in energy conservation has earned Penn a 2002 Governor’s Award for Environmental Excellence in Energy Efficiency, which is given by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection. The Vice President for Facilities and Real Estate Services has overseen Penn’s efforts to use energy more wisely as well as the school’s adoption of green power sources like wind energy.  

New Pottruck gym fit for first workout

Get your running shoes ready for the new David Pottruck Health and Fitness Center, which opens for use Monday. The new facility at 37th and Walnut streets, attached to Gimbel Gym, includes the gym’s Olympic-size pool plus basketball courts, a climbing wall, a golf center (more on that below), weight and cardio equipment, studios for dance and aerobics, and a spinning studio. And then, for your recovery, there’s a juice bar, locker room, showers and a co-ed sauna. Family changing rooms are available to men and women using the facility with their children.

Faculty Feature: Bathroom reading comes out of the W.C.

Travel back to the mid-1800s and you’ll understand why the porcelain contraption sitting in your bathroom marks a breakthrough in the history of inventions. As Historic Preservation Lecturer Gail Winkler explains, the combination of flushing water and centrifugal force generated by toilet bowls that were round, not oval, made it just as likely for contents to spew up as to swirl down. Early toilets were even outfitted with trays to catch unwanted surprises. Oval bowls were invented in 1877, not because they fit your bottom better, but to break up centrifugal force.

Ask Benny: Space beneath this headline not dedicated

Dear Benny,I beg a word of enlightenment on some rather curious plaques that appear in the sidewalk near the corner of 36th and Walnut streets (and perhaps elsewhere). The inlaid strips of metal read something to the effect of “space between these lines not designated.” I thought this was a phenomenon unique to Penn until I saw a similar and far more worn plaque in the pavement in Center City. Any information you might have to offer would be most welcome. —Vexed in VPUL

HR adds kick to your career

Human Resources has classes that will whip your career into shape. Here are the ones that are coming up soon. Classes meet at 3624 Market St., Suite 1B South, unless otherwise noted. For information, call 215-898-3400 or visit www.hr.upenn.edu/learning. Registration required.

Designs on the campus

Ghosts of legendary architects permeate the lobby of the Facilities Services Division office, where Charlie Newman (FA’75, WG’81) works. Frank Furness, Paul Philippe Cret, Louis I. Kahn—their legacies of brick, stone and glass help give Penn its modern character.

Gear up for service

The Rotary Club of University City, which meets weekly on the Penn campus, brings professional people together for learning, service and networking. Meetings feature speakers from campus offices and community service organizations, and are open to all members of the campus and University City communities. Here’s the schedule of upcoming speakers this month: - Monday, Sept. 9: Ira Harkavy, director, Center for Community Partnerships - Monday, Sept. 16: Linda Ayre, Quilts for Kids Project

News briefs

On the square The shops from 34th to 38th streets between Walnut and Chestnut just got a new name. It’s University Square, named after the new gathering place and green at 36th and Walnut, where entertainment (see “What’s On,” page 6)—like the music that made Thursday nights hop during the summer—will continue into the fall, said Anthony Sorrentino, marketing manager for Business Development. Discussion is underway with SEPTA on whether the new name will make it onto the trolley stop at 36th and Sansom.