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    • New Student Orientation for the Class of 2028

    A roster of events ranging from a primer on Penn traditions to dinner and dancing at the Philadelphia Museum of Art to walking tours and introductions prepares students for life on campus.
    An image of Franklin Field with 2028 spelled out in red and blue.
    The Class of 2028 photo on Franklin Field. 

    The Class of 2028 students kicked off their first year by getting to know each other—and the Penn campus—at New Student Orientation (NSO) Aug. 21-26. The program is a series of events to help students acclimate to their new life at Penn, with special events for transfer, international, and first-generation and/or limited-income students.

    Hallmark events included the traditional all-access evening at the Philadelphia Museum of Art with tours, dinner, and dancing; a masquerade dessert reception for second-year students at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, the New Student Resource Fair for graduate and undergraduate students, walking tours of Philadelphia, the President and Provost’s Family Welcome, Penn Traditions: Highball to Hey Day, and the Class of 2028 photo on Franklin Field. New Student Orientation will then culminate with Convocation.

  • Several new Penn students walking into Franklin Field on NSO weekend.
  • A new Penn student gives two thumbs up on Franklin Field on NSO weekend.
  • Six people seated on chairs on court at the Palestra on NSO weekend.
  • a crowd of new Penn students on College Green on NSO weekend.
  • Two new Penn students in a museum room with many bronze founding fathers statues on NSO weekend.
  • A new Penn student takes a selfie with a founding fathers statue on NSO weekend.
  • New Penn students walk through a First Amendment gallery at a museum on NSO weekend.
  • A fourtet of dancers performing at night in front of the Penn Commons sign on NSO weekend.
  • A group of new Penn students on a bench in the Philly Art Museum on NSO weekend.
  • Six new Penn students in front of a Penn step-and-repeat at the Philly Art Musuem.
  • A school bus letting off new Penn students at the Philly Art Museum on NSO weekend.
  • A group of new Penn students take a selfie in front of the Philly Art Museum on NSO weekend.
  • A crowd of new Penn students at the Penn Museum on NSO weekend.
  • The Quaker mascot on College Green with a crowd of new students on NSO weekend.

    • On Thursday, Aug. 22, the members of the Class of 2028 gathered in the Palestra for a welcome session, introduction to Penn resources, and the new Building the Penn Community event, a series of reflections with returning students, staff, and faculty on creating community, countering hate, and growing through differences.

    “The students had a palpable sense of energy and excitement, seeing their entire class together in the historic Palestra, a building likely to already be familiar to many basketball fans,” says David Fox, who directs NSO and serves as a lecturer in theater arts.

    The day culminated with another new event at the National Constitution Center, where students got a grand view of Independence Hall and historic Philadelphia. “Getting to know the city is an important part of being at Penn,” Fox says.

    The National Constitution Center has embraced the themes of speech and discussion, which underscores the programming of this year’s NSO and is perfect for an election year, Fox says. “You’re going to meet people you agree with; you’re going to meet people you disagree with. But it’s important to treat everyone with respect. The Constitution Center puts that in historical framework.”

    Several other events were new this year, including a culture festival with campus cultural resource centers as well as the Intercultural Greek Council and Getting Ready to Dialogue, a special Zoom workshop led by Interim President J. Larry Jameson on the findings and recommendations of the University Task Force on Antisemitism and the Presidential Commission on Countering Hate and Building Community.

    Two students signing their names on a large Penn Traditions Class of 2028 banner on NSO weekend.

    Credits

  • Writer

    Kristina Linnea García

  • Photographer

    Eddy Marenco

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