Free museum shuttle makes art appreciation easy

There's now a more convenient way for students to explore the cultural side of Philadelphia. Beginning tomorrow, the Office of College Houses and Academic Services will be offering a free shuttle between campus and the Philadelphia Museum of Art every Wednesday between 5 p.m. and 9 p.m. The aim of the shuttle program is to provide students with access to the art museum's special Wednesday night programs, many of which include entertainment in the form of live music and movies. Tomorrow's theme, for instance, is "Single's Night." The service is the brainchild of David Brownlee, director of College Houses and Academic Services and an Art History professor. "It's the fruition of a dream that I've long had to get Penn students to the art museum," Brownlee said. "We decided one of the things we needed to provide students with is transportation." Carrying up to 15 people, the shuttle will make four stops around campus -- at 34th and Walnut streets, Sansom Place East, Harrison College House and the Quadrangle -- before heading across the Schuylkill River to the museum. The white van will display a sign reading "Art Museum Loop." Originally christened the "L.S. Moribus Vanae" -- after the University's Latin motto -- by Brownlee, the van will now be known as "Morrie." A PennCard is required to ride. College house spokesperson Sue Smith, who has been promoting the project, explained that the museum's Wednesday night programs "provide an opportunity to mix culture and education." In addition to the shuttle service, Morrie is available for use by college house students and staff who want to travel in and around the Philadelphia area. But on Wednesday nights, it is strictly reserved for transportation to and from the Art Museum. Morrie isn't the only recent addition of a shuttle bus to the area, as SEPTA instituted the LUCY shuttle -- a van connecting University City institutions with 30th Street Station -- in July. Coordinators of the program said they were unsure whether there will be extensive student interest in the program. "It will take awhile for people to find out about it," Smith said, adding, "I would go." Some students, upon learning of the shuttle service, however, shared Smith's enthusiasm. "I haven't been back to the art museum in several years, but it's one of Philadelphia's richest resources," College freshman Anita Yu said. Architecture graduate student Kathryn Strand also expressed interest in the museum and said she will appreciate the shuttle service because "it's a pretty long walk" to the PMA. The college house office plans to keep the shuttle service running through December 15. Further information on the shuttle service may be obtained on Morrie's World Wide Web site, http://www.upenn.edu/resliv/van.html. Although the shuttle service is free, admission to the museum costs $5.