Program links U., community

Fraternity brothers and Black Student League members gave students from two local schools a taste of Penn life during Thursday's Communiversity activities. The program brought close to 100 students from Turner Middle School, located at 59th Street and Baltimore Avenue, and Overbrook High School, at 59th Street and Lancaster Avenue, to campus for the day. The eighth graders from Turner began their day at the Alpha Epsilon Pi fraternity house, while the freshmen and sophomores from Overbrook gathered in the multipurpose room of W.E.B. DuBois College House. Glenn Bryan, director of the University's Office of Community Relations who grew up in West Philadelphia, greeted the students by discussing the importance their education and answering their questions. The students spent the rest of the morning attending classes with AEPi brothers and BSL members and then tried out the lunch menu at Class of 1920 Commons. After lunch, AEPi brothers led small groups of Turner students on a scavenger hunt around campus. One group, led by College junior and AEPi brother Michael Turi, roamed the campus searching for landmarks such as Steinberg-Dietrich Hall and the peace sign. Turi's group found the scavenger hunt an enjoyable way to familiarize themselves with the University's campus. "This place is really nice," eighth grader Anthony Mapp said. "It's hard to believe we're still in the middle of the city." And Shantaine Ayers said that attending classes and seeing the campus piqued her interest in the University. "If I work real hard, maybe I can come here one day," she said. Meanwhile, afternoon activities for the Overbrook students included a meeting with Fred Whiten, director of the Upward Bound program, which prepares local high school students from low-income families for college. Whiten, who grew up in the projects of North Philadelphia, told the students "the only difference between you and me is time," noting that he is 51 while they are only 15. He demonstrated the importance of first impressions by having Overbrook students Andre Andrews and Samantha Summers practice introducing themselves to him as if he were a prospective employer. This led to a discussion of ways to make a good first impression, such as eye contact, articulation and a strong handshake. Whiten ended his presentation by talking about the Outward Bound program, which brings local students to the University on Saturdays and for six weeks during the summer to improve their writing and interpersonal skills. He noted that Upward Bound participants have been successful in earning full or partial scholarship to college and added that many graduates of the program are at Penn, Temple University and Morehouse and Spelman colleges.

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