News Archives

NSA Designation Identifies Penn as a Leader in Computer Security Education

PHILADELPHIA  The National Security Agency has designated the University of Pennsylvania as a Center of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance Education, part of a program intended to safeguard the nations information infrastructure by encouraging universities to offer coursework in computer security. Penn becomes one of about 30 such centers nationwide.

New Website Allows Tracking of Philadelphia's Murals

PHILADELPHIA -- A new Website created by the Cartographic Modeling Laboratory at the University of Pennsylvania is being launched to document the beauty and diversity of Philadelphia's 2,500 murals.In partnership with the Philadelphia Department of Recreations Mural Arts Program, the project is part of Penns Neighborhood Information System that focuses on vacant properties and neighborhood change in Philadelphia. Community development efforts to reclaim vacant land and buildings can be easily traced by studying the growth of murals.

University of Pennsylvania Doubles Its Purchase Of Wind-Generated Power to 10 Percent of Energy Need

PHILADELPHIA  Under a new 10-year agreement, the University of Pennsylvania will now purchase 10 percent of its energy needs from wind-generated power, in effect doubling its nation-leading wind-energy purchase to the output from 10 wind turbines.Penn will purchase 40 million kilowatt hours annually from Community Energy Inc. of Wayne, Pa. This agreement represents the largest retail purchase of wind-generated energy in the nation. The 10-year commitment will also lead to the construction of a new wind farm in Pennsylvania.

During Earth Festival, Penn to Announce Agreement Doubling Wind Power Purchase

WHAT: Earth Festival 2003, sponsored by the Penn Environmental Group, with the theme "Thinking about Alternative Energy" and highlighted by the announcement of Penn's latest commitment to using renewable wind energy. The event will also feature displays on environmental issues and research, including displays of Penn's alternative-fuel vehicles, powered by natural gas and electricity. WHO: Omar Blaik, vice president of facilities and real estate services at the University of Pennsylvania Brent Alderfer, president of Community Energy Inc.

Steppin’ South Asian style

NSF grant to help West Philly kids do science

Math and science programs in West Philadelphia schools will get a $1.5 million boost thanks to a grant from the National Science Foundation. The grant, which is approximately $500,000 a year for three years, will fund Access Science, an academically-based community service project involving faculty, undergraduate and graduate students. Access Science both tutors students and helps teachers design hands-on learning activities.

The tax man giveth

What Uncle Sam takes away, he sometimes gives back. And boy there’s not a single one among you who don’t already have plans for your income tax return. Catching up on past due bills is the general trend although some have more lavish plans, like a trip to Mexico, for that shiny penny. Sharon Mulholland Program Coordinator, Office of the Vice Dean, Wharton Undergraduate Division “We don’t plan on spending the money. My husband has just retired, so he’s consolidating and regrouping.”

Detective Zuberi goes investigating history

Tukufu Zuberi already wears two hats at Penn: Professor of sociology and director of the Center for Africana Studies. Now he’s added a third hat—the detective’s fedora. Zuberi isn’t just any old detective, though. Starting in July, he and three comrades—Columbia Professor of Architecture Gwendolyn Wright and appraisers Wesley Cowan and Elyse Luray-Marx—will go sleuthing for the historical significance of artifacts, buildings and legends all across America in a new PBS series, “History Detectives.”

Andy McKeague

Staff Q&A: Elena DiLapi

30 years ago, 200 Penn women—faculty, staff and students—took over College Hall Room 200 and refused to budge. They had gathered in response to a series of sexual assaults on and around campus. Out of that four-day protest was born the Penn Women’s Center, one of the oldest university women’s centers in the nation. The Current sat down with Center Director Elena DiLapi (SW’77) to wish the organization happy anniversary and to reflect on how her concern for the individual has helped further women’s causes on a broader, more institutional level.