News Archives

Summer in the city

We had hoped to be able to give you the complete rundown on all the fun activities the Summer Sessions staff have lined up for the lazy season in the day-to-day listings above. Unfortunately, Summer Sessions Director Valerie Ross and her colleagues were still hard at work snaring faculty and booking films and trips, so instead of giving you details, you’ll have to settle for the big picture here. For those of you who were around last summer, all of your favorite events are back again this summer.

Two from Hughes

Two University faculty performing research in genetics were among 48 scientists in the nation named Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) investigators last month, an honor that will give them long-term funding for their research and pay their salaries while allowing them to remain on the faculty.

Knowledge is for healing

At a forum honoring the University Library’s 250th anniversary on Alumni Weekend, three world-renowned panelists grappled with the question, “Knowledge: What for?” They consisted of Nobel Laureate Laurence R. Klein, Benjamin Franklin Professor Emeritus of Economics; Mary Ann Hopkins, an attending physician at Bellevue Hospital, New York University Medical Center, and a spokeswoman for Doctors Without Borders, which won the 1999 Nobel Peace Prize; and Ian McHarg, winner of the Japan Prize for city planning and professor emeritus of landscape architecture.

“That image of old buildings with ivy, you go in, it’s hot there, it was Ivy League, you know?”

The last American civilization major at the University of Pennsylvania loves his alma mater and employer truly, madly, deeply, the way a father loves his child.

Royal Society elects Ewens

Warren J. Ewens, Ph.D., professor of biology, is among 49 scientists worldwide elected Fellows of the Royal Society this month. Election to the Society is recognized internationally as a sign of the scientific community’s highest regard.

Gray skies, sunny spirits

How to get to the top

Reformed workaholic John Fry, executive vice president of the University, now keeps his work life and his family life strictly separated, and he thinks everyone else should be able to as well. “Those who are the most successful [on the job] are … those with the best balance between work and family,” Fry told a lunchtime audience of about 50 aspiring go-getters May 15.

Decoration day

Did the rain dampen the enthusiasm of this year’s graduates? No, but according to our photographer, it may have dampened the creative impulse: it seemed that more people this year kept their mortarboard decorations to modest “Thanks, Mom” messages and things like that. But among those who did go for showier fare, there were some outstanding efforts, including a great group project by the graduating class of the School of Veterinary Medicine.

From bad luck to bright future

Edain Velazquez (EAS’00) is only 21 years old and yet his life has already had more twists and turns, deeper sorrows, greater success, than you can find in a Dickens novel. A mysterious birth, poverty, a catastrophic gunshot wound, a guardian angel with a life-changing gift, a journey cross-country to a private, privileged world. An Ivy League degree.

How we’ll spend our summer “vacations”

Summer’s here, which means it’s time to take it easy. Yeah, right. Most of the students we collared on the Walk and in the dining halls had working vacations already lined up for this summer, and a few who didn’t were so embarrassed that they didn’t want us to use their answers. We did manage, though, to find a few people who plan to get some recreation and relaxation this summer.