Hundreds hear Roth at forum

Hundreds gathered at the University Museum Thursday night to hear author and former English Adjunct Professor Philip Roth read from his recent book Patrimony, A True Story at a forum honoring 20 outstanding students in the School of Arts and Sciences. For the first hour, Roth read a chapter from his book in which he recounts his late father's bout with a brain tumor and the effect it had on their relationship. Afterwards, the students were honored as part of the ninth annual Dean's Forum. The Scholars received certificates and copies of Roth's book signed by the author. Professors nominated over 50 undergraduate arts and sciences students from whom the Dean's offices selected the final recipients. Hermann Pfefferkorn, graduate chairperson of the geology department, said that in selecting nominees "we look for a student who's not only excellent in academics, but a person who has other qualifications and has shown to have breadth and leadership." Stephen Dunning, graduate chairperson of the religious studies department, said that every nominee has a "certain professional maturity" and "must be someone who has a clear sense of the scholarly field." The Scholars program began nearly a decade ago to increase the visibility of the school and its students' accomplishments. "In a period when the liberal arts needed visibility and to be enhanced, we decided to honor outstanding students by recognizing outstanding achievement," said Joel Conarroe, president of the John Simon Guggenheim Fund. Conarroe said he was pleased that Roth returned to the University for a rare public reading. "I am surpised and delighted that Philip Roth did this," he said. "Penn is really the place he was connected to more than any other place." Conarroe said he chose Roth to read because "we like to bring in someone who embodies American culture and the liberal arts to help celebrate the academic achievements of the students." Senior Rachel Givner, an undergraduate Dean's Scholar in American civilization and geology, said she was impressed "to have someone so renowned" as Roth present for the occasion. "I enjoyed his reading very much," she said. Molly White, a College junior, said she thinks Roth's reading employed a "good mix of humor and was very honest."