Dorm hosts slumber party for Chodorows

The last time Provost Stanley Chodorow spent the night in a college dorm was 1961, as a freshman at Cornell University. So he might be feeling a little nostalgic as he settles into Van Pelt College House, where he and his wife will stay this week. As part of a program called "Penn Distinguished Citizens in Residence," Van Pelt has invited certain faculty members and administrators to experience life in its community. Chodorow and his wife Peggy stayed in the Van Pelt guest suite last night, reliving the college experience by interacting with students at dinners and study breaks. They'll be there again tonight. With a number of professors living in student residences, Chodorow said it is important to see what living in Van Pelt is like first-hand, since it is one of five small college houses with an emphasis on a social and intellectual community. "Aside from the experience, it's getting a sense of what it's like to be in these houses with faculty living here," Chodorow explained. He and his wife had dinner last night in the Anvil Dining Room with students and faculty residents of Van Pelt. Students did most of the talking during the informal discussion, as they explained to Chodorow what their lives at the college house were like. Later in the evening, Chodorow led a discussion with students in the Van Pelt lounge on the role of research in undergraduate education. While students told Chodorow about some of their own research projects, he discussed his ideas for extending opportunities to undergraduates and stressed the importance of research within the University. Chodorow said he was very impressed by the students' comments, and believes dorms like Van Pelt provide wonderful opportunities for students to live in an intellectual atmosphere with support from faculty and other students. "Some students don't realize the opportunity," he said. "Others ignore it and want to be in the Quad." The residence has planned other events for the provost during his stay -- including another dinner and discussion tonight, where Chodorow will lecture on his specialty, medieval history. He will also attend Van Pelt residents' weekly study break at 10 p.m. Chodorow said he and his wife are enjoying their short stay in the dorm. "We had a wonderful time at school? This brings back a lot of memories," he said, although he admitted his guest suite at Van Pelt is much nicer than his freshman dorm room at Cornell. English Professor Al Filreis, Van Pelt's faculty master, explained that the residence's program allows faculty members who don't live in residential communities experience what it is like to live there. Other faculty and administrators who have accepted the invitation include Engineering Dean Gregory Farrington and his wife, Undergraduate Nursing Dean Mary Naylor and her daughter, and Hillel Director Jeremy Brochin and his family. "I can only imagine that they and we will be better off for their having spent some time -- especially evenings -- with us," Filreis said. "I can't help but think they'll be impressed and amazed by the extent and quality of activity that goes on in these residential communities," he added. Chodorow agreed that the stay will really make a difference, adding that he hoped to learn what the college house was all about. He had only one concern about his stay. "My wife was apprehensive about whether or not she was going to get any sleep," he joked.