Jazz group honors Casciato

Students, friends and local musicians turned out to give a heart-felt farewell to former Harrison College House Dean Art Casciato on Friday night. The main event at the surprise party -- held in the rooftop lounge and open to the whole campus -- was jazz ensemble Eddie Jones and Friends. According to incoming Harrison Dean Rich Haavisto, "they're a local Philadelphia group and they've played a lot of local jazz clubs." Haavisto added that Casciato is a personal friend of the drummer, Eddie Jones, and the food was prepared by Casciato's favorite restaurant in South Philly, Casa Luigi. The former dean has taken the position of Director of Undergraduate Student Research at Penn's new research hub on Locust Walk. Casciato, a Philadelphia native, spent two years as Harrison's house dean. Before taking this job he had worked in many positions -- from bartender to college professor. One of his old bartending skills was appreciated at Harrison -- the ability to remember nearly every students' name and greet them with a smile. As dean, he revitalized the College house with an espresso bar in the lobby, regular social events and inventive trips around Philly to places like the Italian Market and local boxing gyms. The cafe-style event was well attended, especially at the start of the evening, when a book was circulated for students to write and draw notes to Casciato. The book was later given to Casciato as a going-away present. By 11 p.m., about 40 students remained, several of them French exchange students. Most of the exchange students seemed pleased that Penn has many events such as this one, unlike their school in Paris. French exchange student Christophe Dore remarked, "On this campus, every week, there is a concert. A good one, I mean." Many students said the event, which was typical of Casciato's popular college house events, was a welcome alternative to fraternity parties. Among Casciato's more well-known events were a Frank Sinatra impersonator night and a trip to the Philadelphia wingbowl. The French students were not the only jazz afficionados present. Rudolph Broomes, house resident and Engineering freshman, said he used to play and never misses a jazz concert, especially by this band. "I was their groupie," he said.