President Gutmann opened up her house to the Penn community and welcomed students to enjoy an evening filled with desserts, hot chocolate and holiday cheer last night.
"I do this event because I think it's really important for the president to celebrate major holidays with the students," Gutmann said. "The winter holidays are important times for students to take a break and I want to be able to help them take a break while they are studying."
As students mingled and chatted, the Glee Club gave a surprise performance.
"We wanted to bring some holiday cheer to the president's house, to the people coming here to the party," said College senior and Glee Club President Alex Feldman.
Each room of the house was filled with treats and decorations. The backyard was converted into a tented outdoor room designed to fit the "Winter Wonderland theme" with glittering lights, candles, and additional food and drinks.
"The food is delectable and the decor is impeccable" said College freshman Vikram Dhindsa.
Wharton and Engineering senior Conor O'Callaghan agreed.
"I think the house looks fantastic and I think it's really nice that Dr. Gutmann opens up her home during the holiday season for all of us to come to get some food and drinks to take our minds off our studying."
The evening served not only a study break, but as a chance for Penn students to interact with the president on a more personal level, as well as meet their fellow peers.
"It's one of the few events that the entire university is invited to join in a very small communal atmosphere and have the chance to meet each other. There are really not many events where this can happen," said Wharton and Engineering senior Vinay Viralam.
"I think it's a really nice way to foster the Penn community," added College sophomore Megan Peppel. "It's nice to have a face to put with President Gutmann."
Nursing and Engineering freshman Alison Agres said she felt the same way. "I think it's really great because I've never seen her house before and I can't believe that Amy Gutmann would put in so much effort just to welcome people to her house," she said. "It definitely makes me feel like she's an actually accessible person as opposed to someone in the administration who's so high up and wouldn't talk to anybody."
But according to Gutmann, the pleasure is all hers. "I have the same sense of taking a study break and just enjoying myself with the students, but also getting to know them," she said.
"It's being accessible and making Penn, which is a very big school, seem smaller and conveying the view that every student here makes a difference. So the way that I can convey that is to get to know as many students as possible."
