News Archives

Saving energy one monitor at a time

Penn’s Facilities and Real Estate Services Division and Facilities and Real Estate Services Network Administrator Parmenus Bowler were singled out by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in July for their achievements in the EPA Energy Star program’s Million Monitor Drive. Bowler received an award from the EPA for installing software that automatically puts monitors to sleep when not in use on every computer in the division.

CCP spreads gospel of civic engagement

Ira Harkavy began by acting locally, but now he’s thinking globally. Penn’s director of the Center for Community Partnerships (CCP) has embarked on a hugely ambitious project that aims to do nothing less than give universities primary responsibility for civic education. Not coincidently, it spreads the Penn gospel of community engagement and community service to a worldwide audience.

Rodin's next act

A persistent rumor circulating around campus has it that President Judith Rodin will run for office after she steps down next June. Well, why not? Several of the people who responded to our question “What should Judith Rodin do after she steps down as president?” at a recent lunch hour thought that would be just the thing for her to do once she has more time on her hands. Several others, though, thought she should use that time to just kick back and relax.

Service and learning go together across campus

Undergraduates at Penn do it. Of course, the educators and social workers do it. Even the doctors, lawyers and vets with pets do it. Community service participation is the common thread that runs through all 12 schools of the University of Pennsylvania. Here are some snapshots of what some of the schools are doing and information on how to learn more about their projects.

Time once again to rebuild a nation

In 1995, the United Nations asked native Liberian Al-Hasan Conteh (Gr’93) to return to his native land to help rebuild its shattered society and university. Five years later, he was back in Philadelphia, as civil war once again ravaged the country. Now, with that war over, Conteh once again sees hope for stability—if…

STAFF Q&A/Meet Joanne Spigonardo, who gives the term “legacy” new meaning.

Move over, Tracy Samantha Lord. Meet the leading lady of a real “Philadelphia Story.” Her name is Joanne Natale Spigonardo (CGS’81). This is a tale that is short on Main Line mannerisms, long on hard-working immigrant ethos, and made possible by a network of Ivy League connections that intersect on Locust Walk. While human-resources types may like to talk about the workplace as “community” and it’s great to walk across campus and stop to chat with people you know, for Spigonardo, whose father, sister, brother, son and nephew have worked and studied at Penn, it’s all relative.

BOOKQUICK/New from the University Press

“Public Discourse in America: Conversation and Community in the Twenty-First Century”   Edited by Judith Rodin and Stephen P. Steinberg304 Pages, $29.95 cloth Public Discourse in America, edited by President Judith Rodin and Stephen P. Steinberg, executive director of the Penn National Commission on Society, Culture and Community, brings together a group of scholars and prominent figures in American public life to offer new perspectives on the tenor and conduct of public life in contemporary America.

Four decades out front

Andy Warhol got his first 15 minutes at the Institute of Contemporary Art. The now-celebrated 1965 exhibition/happening put Penn’s contemporary art gallery on the cultural map as well.

Admissions demystified

The college admissions process can be daunting. So many choices, so many requirements, so many questions. The Undergraduate Admissions Office’s annual seminar for Penn families with college-bound children makes the process less intimidating. Admissions officers discuss what it takes to get into the college of your choice, whether it’s large or small, private or public. The seminar takes place Thursday, Sept. 4, at 5:15 p.m. in Bodek Lounge, Houston Hall, 3417 Spruce St. RSVP: sherrimw@admissions.upenn.edu or 215-898-8587.

Francine Rascoe