EDITORIAL: Welcome Abroad

We welcome the UniversityWe welcome the Universityof Pennsylvania's Class ofWe welcome the Universityof Pennsylvania's Class of1999.We welcome the Universityof Pennsylvania's Class of1999._______________________________ Just as your studies in college become more rigorous and challenging than in high school, your life in general will also become more exciting. For the first time, you will experience life on your own. You will learn to make you own decisions and become responsible for your own actions. For the first time, you will develop your interests and desires without outside influences. At college, the choices become yours. College will immerse you in academia full of unfamiliar subjects and will also expose you to living in a diverse society. You will have to learn how to accept people's differences and appreciate varied ideologies, political bents, religions and cultures. During your college years you may wonder why you study subjects without practical purpose. At the University, you are learning how to learn. You study so that you can grasp complicated information, synthesize it, and then add your own ideas. At college, you are not only learning about numbers or theories, you are learning about yourself, who you are and what you want to be. College will teach you about any subject that you want, but more importantly, college will teach you about life. You enter the University during an exciting and optimistic time. President Judith Rodin and Provost Stanley Chodorow have a full year of experience and are ready to provide lasting stable leadership. Their Undergraduate Education Initiative for the 21st Century will hopefully bring sweeping changes to undergraduate teaching and improve upon the already fulfilling undergraduate experience. You will also witness the groundbreaking of the new Perelman Quadrangle, the new student union. The center will replace aging Houston Hall by connecting four existing University buildings to form a massive structure which will house study space, a food court, performing arts rooms and much more. The University has also greatly improved campus security by implementing a new strategic plan including security kiosks, additional security guards policing campus walks and the designation of Community Walks -- major campus arteries that will receive special monitoring. You also come to West Philadelphia at a time when our sports teams have gained national recognition. Our basketball team has had three consecutive undefeated Ivy League seasons and made three NCAA tournament appearances. And our football team has gone undefeated for two straight seasons breaking the division I-AA record for consecutive wins. And finally, applications are at an all time high, meaning that the admissions office has been more selective than ever. You enter an institution whose popularity and standards are on the rise. Browse through this special edition of The Daily Pennsylvanian and gain insight beyond what is on the campus tour. Once you arrive on campus, we hope that you will join us -- no experience needed -- and help us cover the University. The least you can do when you arrive is become an avid reader. We, the 111th Board of Editors and Managers, hope that you will enjoy the rest of your summer and prepare yourself for the greatest four years of your life. Welcome aboard!