News Archives

Penn women throw some party

Best eats

It’s time to go into training for the holiday eat-a-thon. To help you get into shape, we thought we’d look for some tips on the best campus eateries. The suggestions ran the gamut, from upscale restaurants to downscale lunch carts, good food being good food, no matter the price. But quality wasn’t the only consideration. Speedy service and proximity also colored people’s choices. So get ready to do some serious chowing down. Here’s where to go:

NSF award winners

The National Science Foundation has awarded grants for projects to develop innovative uses of information technology in science and engineering to two Penn faculty members in addition to the $1 million grant to Rajeev Alur to promote the reliability of embedded computers, the tiny processors found in many commonly used electronic devices (Current, Sept. 13).

Tony Soprano takes a hit from Camille Paglia

Culture critic Camille Paglia opened her mouth and an attack on “The Sopranos” and the New York media poured out, no pauses for breathing. Paglia, a professor of humanities and media studies at the University of the Arts, came to bury Tony Soprano, the anti-hero of HBO’s popular TV show about Italian-American mobsters, at the Gay Talese Lecture in Logan Hall Nov. 1. Smart, funny and outrageous, she drew regular applause from the mostly Italian-American audience of about 170 people.

Student spotlight: Business competition is too good to resist

The temptation to start his own business is mighty for David Valger. The 29-year-old first year MBA student has participated in two start-up companies and has his own start-up in the development stage. But now he’s trying to keep his mind focused on his studies. To put off the temptation of leaving school for another start-up opportunity, Valger is working this year for the Wharton Business Plan Competition instead of participating in it with one of his own business start-up ideas.

Staff Q&A: Robert Sigafoos

Even though Penn’s New Bolton Center is situated in the quiet farmlands of Kennett Square, Robert Sigafoos has treated horses from as far away as Canada and the Midwest. The long trek to see Sigafoos isn’t so odd, considering his claim to fame. Sigafoos, who heads New Bolton’s Farrier Services Department, is the inventor of a unique adhesive-bonded horseshoe called the Sigafoos shoe. If you ever thought nailing shoes to horses’ feet wasn’t the greatest idea, well, you’re not the first.

Learn about management, communication—or yourself

Penn’s Human Resources Learning and Education Program has a new line-up of courses for December. Take self-assessment tests, learn about managing in a structureless environment and get tips on how to give a dynamic presentation . All courses are offered at the Training Center, 3624 Market St., Suite 1B South, unless noted otherwise. Introduction to the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator: Take a self-assessment test to identify your strengths, motivations and potential areas for growth. In the process learn how to appreciate those different from you.

Q&A: Valarie Swain-Cade McCoullum

In a few short years, Penn has dramatically improved its reputation and sparked a renaissance in its home neighborhood. But its students, by and large, still head elsewhere to pursue their careers or further study.

News briefs

Ah-choo, flu With sneezes and sniffles, the flu season is beginning. Penn’s Occupational Medicine department will once again offer flu shots for faculty and staff. However, they will be available by mid-December, which is later than usual, and in smaller quantities, so people are urged to receive immunization from a personal physician. Those who are at high risk for complications with influenza, such as persons over 65 years old, residents of chronic-care facilities and pregnant women, will receive first priority for vaccination.

Campus Buzz

Solar flair: A new documentary film, “Raycing the Sun,” chronicles the latest efforts of the Penn Solar Racing Team to beat the best at the 2001 American Solar Challenge this past July. (How’d they do? You’ll have to watch the film.) The film, produced by local production company GreenWorks, received its premiere at the Engineering School Nov. 7. Several members of the team, including electrical crew leader Gary Lam (EAS’02), who was featured in the film, were on hand to answer questions from the audience.