News Archives

Penn’s “greene countrie towne”

A documentary revolution

The Maysles brothers—Albert and David (1932-1987)—revolutionized documentary filmmaking with their practice of setting up the cameras and letting the story tell itself instead of imposing a narrative, an approach that came to be known as “direct cinema.”

People's Choice: Resolutions come and go; food servers keep serving

We visited Penn’s cafeterias and asked food servers to take a moment to tell us about the New Year’s resolutions they made and if they’ve been keeping them. A hard-working group barely able to squeeze in a moment to talk to us, they did manage to let us know that although some have already called it quits, and watched their resolve disappear as fast as this morning’s breakfast, most are still cooking, maintaining their resolutions for a brighter new year.

Campus Buzz

Justice talks on campus: “Justice Talking,” the NPR program focusing on legal and constitutional controversies produced by the Annenberg Public Policy Center, has moved its tapings to the Penn campus. The first two tapings took place on January 14 in the Wistar Institute’s Grossman Auditorium, the show’s new home. You’re invited to join the audience for future tapings; the next one’s scheduled for Feb. 2.

New one-on-one coaching

A new program to help Penn staffers make the most of their professional lives has come to campus. Human Resources now offers free, one-on-one career coaching. The program is open to all full- and part-time staff members, exempt and non-exempt. Gale Lang, Learning and Education career coach, said the service is comprehensive. “[Career Development] covers a whole range of things from ‘how do I want to think about my career?’ to ‘how do I want to map out my career?’,” she said.

The Addams Family and weird codes

Dear Benny,Is it true that Charles Addams modeled the house the “Addams Family” lived in after College Hall? — Spooked Dear Spooked,In a word, no. At least not directly, as far as I know. Addams did appreciate the Gothic architecture of College Hall, though, and depicted his cartoon family in front of it for a 1973 Pennsylvania Gazette cover, reproduced at right.

Defend yourself

The University Police Department is again offering Rape Aggression Defense (RAD) training for women this spring. The 12-hour course teaches practical defense techniques through hands-on practice. Participants also receive a comprehensive reference manual and a free return and practice session good for life. The course is free to students, staff and faculty. The course will be offered four times this spring: - Mondays—four three-hour sessions from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m., Jan. 28-Feb. 18 - Saturdays—two six-hour sessions from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Feb. 16 and 23

Little scholars from near and far

It took a community and the University to raise a neighborhood

Since the decision six years ago to commit millions of University dollars to help its neighborhood, and thereby the University, the neighborhood has indeed changed. Penn’s actions came from many directions at one time, not all of them orchestrated. “It was not constructed as a single master plan with a unilateral, programmed approach,” said Tom Lussenhop, managing director of institutional real estate.

The dream lives on

Martin Luther King Jr. had a vision of what he called “the beloved community”—a multiracial society committed to equality and social justice. Penn’s King commemoration, which continues through Feb. 1, embodies the spirit of that community through events that bring the entire campus together. Here’s what’s coming up: