Undergrads hold first Wharton 'pub'

Amidst the bustling crowds in the corridors of Steinberg-Dietrich Hall, more than 100 Wharton undergraduates decided to step out of the fast lane. The first-ever undergraduate happy hour was kicked off in the student lounge yesterday with pizza and soda for all. Wharton School Vice Dean Bruce Allen is attempting to establish a bi-monthly happy hour with the help of his advisory board's steering committee. Together, they hope to provide a relaxed atmosphere for both students and faculty -- a place where they can go to "meet and greet the Wharton elite," according to Wharton junior Rachel Bluth, a member of the advisory board. "The Wharton atmosphere is very competitive and oftentimes, it is difficult to meet with faculty and friends in a relaxed atmosphere," she added. "I'm excited about this -- it should be fun." One of the board's goals is to improve student interaction with faculty and peers. They are trying to break Wharton's "stringent" reputation and show that Steinberg-Dietrich is not just a place to study, according to Wharton sophomore Randy Figatner, another board member. Wharton and Engineering junior Mukund Krishnaswami, who is also on the board, said that one of the board's goals is to improve not just the curriculum but also the social atmosphere of the school. Yesterday's first happy hour was a success, Allen said. He she said he did not know what to expect at first, but was pleased with the results. "I was a little disappointed initially with the faculty turnout, but it got better later," he said, adding that only five or six faculty members attended the event. Allen also mentioned the board's future plans to improve Wharton's image within the University community. Possibilities include those modeled after the Wharton MBA's Wharton Olympics and Wharton Follies. "I bet we have a tremendous amount of talent," Allen said. Overall, students seemed to react positively to the event. "I couldn't get enough of this free pizza," Wharton sophomore Robert Brown said. "But none of my professors are here. I'm kind of disappointed." Michael London, director of the Wharton 101 program, was one of the few faculty members who did attend. He said he enjoyed getting to talk to his students and teaching assistants in a less formal setting.

Please note All comments are eligible for publication in The Daily Pennsylvanian.