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MHoops Penn beats Brown Credit: Jing Ran , Jing Ran, Jing Ran

To Penn Faculty and Staff:

Today, while filling out the Provost’s Senior Survey, I was caught reminiscing on how many amazing things you’ve done for me over the last four years. From the fine men and women who cook meals in the dining halls to the security guards who’ve watched me get home safely to the academic advisors and librarians and student health professionals: Thank you.

Now if I could ask you to do me one more favor before I graduate (other than pass me, current professors), it is this: Come to the Palestra Monday night for Penn basketball’s postseason game.

Students will show up. They’ve proven this year that for the first time in a while, they can get into some good basketball. We’ve packed the Palestra more times this season than any other in my time at Penn.

But you, the faculty and staff, are just as much a vital part of this community as we are. And other than the occasional sighting of Penn President Amy Gutmann, I’ve rarely seen the non-student Penn community at games. There are a small few who are diehard fans — but for you, since you’ll surely be at the Butler game, bring two or three colleagues. It will make Tuesday’s water-cooler talk that much more interesting.

I realize many of you are loyal fans of other teams, but you’re all Quakers now. I’d even venture to say that almost every one of you has, in some way, interacted with at least one of the 17 young men who have played an inspiring basketball season.

So for those of you with nothing going on Monday at 8 p.m., come be a part of the Penn community in which you spend 20, 40, 80 hours a week working. Bring your family and have them be a part of it as well.

To the lovely ladies at Einstein Bagels, to the Allied Barton guards who checked me into the Quad, to my academic advisor (who I know has caught a little hoops fever this year), to the friendly staff in the Vitale Media Lab, and the folks in Facilities, to Amy G. and to all the TAs I’ve ever had:

I hope to see you at the Palestra Monday night in your Red and Blue. And if you see me or any other student you know, throw up a high five and a ‘Go Quakers.’ We’ll return the favor.

CALDER SILCOX is a senior science, technology and society major from Washington, D.C., and is a former Senior Sports Editor of The Daily Pennsylvanian. He can be reached at dpsports@theDP.com.

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