Heather A. Davis

The Woodlands, a 54-acre historic site and cemetery in University City, is the final resting place for many prominent Philadelphians. Paul Philippe Cret, the architect, planner, and former professor in what was then called Penn’s School of Fine Arts is buried there.

Every day, people readily give up information about their buying habits, check in at locations via Foursquare, and post events—both notable and insignificant—online with video or in 140 characters.

W. E. B. Du Bois has been described as many things. Sociologist. Historian. Author. Public intellectual. Civil rights activist.Soon, there will be one more description on that list: Honorary Emeritus Professor.[youtube]u2fR5AnIckA[/youtube]

Ask the members of the Glee Club to describe their close camaraderie, and they’ll sum it up in a word: brothership. [flickr]72157629331315403[/flickr]

Anyone who has watched a Penn Commencement in the past dozen years knows Leslie Laird Kruhly’s work. She leads the procession of senior administrators, Trustees, and graduates down Locust Walk each May, carrying the University Mace—an ornate, four-pound ceremonial staff.

The Penn Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology features nearly one million objects in its collections, from ancient Roman glass and statues of cats from Peru, to cuneiform tablets from Iraq.

In the 1990s, Illinois was considered the gold standard for higher education. The state was a top performer in preparing students for college, enrolling them in universities, and keeping higher education affordable. But the past decade has seen the state’s numbers take a sharp downward turn.

A little more than a dozen years ago, Robert Chaney had his heart set on moving to Philadelphia from Columbus, Ohio. His then-girlfriend (and now wife) had taken a job at the Fabric Workshop and Museum, and Chaney wanted to follow her from the Midwest.

Maybe 2012 will be the year you finally quit smoking. Or drop those stubborn 10 pounds. Or call your mom more frequently. But maybe 2012 will also be the year you volunteer some free time at a soup kitchen. Or begin recycling. Or build houses with Habitat for Humanity.