Wharton 101 graduates first class this week

Wharton 101 graduated its first freshman class this week, as the ten-week required course drew to a close. In April the Wharton faculty approved the no-credit, pass-fail program, which is required for all current and future freshmen. The freshmen class was divided into groups of about 50 students. Each of the groups met once a week and went over leadership and organization skills. Simultaneously, the groups were divided into two teams and each team was assigned a project. One group renovated a home in West Philadelphia. They painted, patched up walls and caulked, according to group advisor and MBA student Paul Smith. "The intent was for them to learn about team work and group process," he said. "They got a lot of personal satisfaction that they helped out families in West Philadelphia who really needed it." Another group tried to find ways to improve PennWatch, a student-run organization that monitors campus safety and helps the University Police. According to advisor and MBA candidate Vivienne Long, both PennWatch and the students benefitted. "PennWatch benefitted because freshman put together a survey of safety issues that had potential," Long said. "Students definitely got a lot out of the organization themselves. The whole idea of the class is to learn about leadership." Finally, at the end of the ten weeks, the groups held a final presentation, where they summarized what they learned before the rest of the group. Another team studied recycling at the University. Students researched what the University has been doing and what the University could do. During the final presentations the students came up with four recommendations which were presented to Albert Pallanti, superintendant of recycling for Physical Plant. Some of the recommendations included making clearer posters displaying which articles of trash are to be placed in which trash cans and placing glass and plastic recycling bins in all residential locations. The students also felt that in order to prevent trash overflow, more "normal" trash cans should be placed at each location. "It generated awareness among students," said Margaret Shen, a group advisor and MBA student. "Hopefully the students will become better citizens in terms of being more environmentally aware. And when they leave Penn, they'll bring that awareness with them." Other projects included making a booklet for West Philadelphia students about college admissions and holding a Halloween party for the mentally handicapped. Wharton Vice Dean and Director of the Undergraduate Division Janice Bellace, Stewart Friedman, director of the Wharton Leadership Project and Anne Greenhalgh, assistant director of the Wharton Communications Program are coordinating the course. Bellace said teamwork is one of the prominent features of the class. "Many courses shine with individual merit," Bellace said. "In this course, students have to work with others and to motivate others. If we're going to produce business leaders, we have to produce graduates who can work in teams and can lead teams." Wharton freshman Yolanda Friedman said that her group, which sponsored the Halloween party, had a lot of responsibilities and had to work as a team. "The project was a good idea," she said. "We had to get all the money we used on our own. It gave us a lot of responsibility." Long echoed Friedman's feelings and said that students were basically in control of the way the project went. "They picked one way [they wanted to handle the project] and went with it," she said. "It is a great program but there are some kinks that have to be worked out."