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(11/15/00 10:00am)
Another class, another record.
For the fourth consecutive year, Penn's admissions office has seen its number of early decision applicants surpass all previous highs.
Penn received 2,833 applications for early admission into the Class of 2005, a 10.4 percent increase over last year's total. Three of the four undergraduate schools also received more early applications than ever before.
The College of Arts and Sciences had 1,704 early applicants, an 8.3 percent increase over last year, while the Engineering School received 375, a gain of 12.5 percent. The Wharton School had a similar boost with 720 candidates, 12.1 percent more than applied for the Class of 2004. Only Nursing saw a decline, dipping to 34 from last year's total of 47.
These figures follow last year's 19 percent growth. Early applications have continued to rebound since a spate of high-profile crimes in 1996 caused a 10 percent plunge.
Penn's joint-degree programs continue to be major draws, with early applications to both the Huntsman Program in International Studies and Business and the Jerome Fisher Program in Management and Technology reaching all-time highs -- 94 and 141, respectively.
The number of international students applying early made up a record 9.1 percent of the total, according to Admissions Dean Lee Stetson. Nationally, Penn received applications from students in 46 states -- as compared to 48 last year -- with 10 states, including California, Texas and Pennsylvania, setting individual records.
Penn had unprecedented success in attracting minorities, with 1,051 early applicants. The number of Asian Americans rose to 857 from 719 last year, Latinos were up to 74 from 59 and the number of African-American applicants remained steady at 69. The number of Native American early applicants dropped from four to three.
Stetson noted that there were also more "legacy" candidates -- students with family members who are Penn alumni -- than ever before.
This year, Penn is aiming to admit about 43 percent of the incoming class of 2,350 via the early process, according to Stetson -- roughly the same proportion as last year. Depending on the quality of the pool, Stetson envisions taking "a few more, but not much more than 45 percent [of the total class]."
Stetson said he anticipates even keener competition among the regular decision group, which is expected to face an admittance rate lower than 20 percent.
"If the pool continues to be as robust as we anticipate, [the acceptance rate] may be around 20 or the high teens... overall," he said.
Penn and most other Ivies have binding early decision programs, in which applications received by the postmark deadline of November 1 are decided on by December 15. Accepted students are required to matriculate at the school that takes them early.
However, Brown and Harvard universities both have non-binding early action programs, which they modified last year to permit multiple early applications.
This change was expected to have an adverse impact on Penn's early applications, Stetson said.
"We thought it was going to take more students out of our pool than it did last year," he said, explaining that students would likely wait until finding out the status of their early applications before completing their regular applications, which have deadlines around January 1.
(11/03/00 10:00am)
Last month, I was delighted to learn that the University may invite Maya Angelou to deliver this year's Commencement address. I cannot think of a better choice to enlighten the graduating class.
I write from experience; I have seen Maya Angelou speak twice, including my own undergraduate commencement in 1996. Both times, Angelou's messages were poignant and artfully delivered. Her speeches were woven with poetry and song, and her presence was enthralling.
More significant was the lesson I learned by contrasting between the two speeches -- one at my alma mater, the predominantly white University of Delaware, and the other at Hampton University, a historically black institution.
Angelou gave a wonderful speech at my graduation. She began by singing, "When it looked like the sun would not shine anymore, you became my rainbow in the cloud." She built upon the metaphor, telling us that we had "incredible responsibility" to become "rainbows" for the world.
She dedicated a poem entitled "When We Come To It" to my graduating class. In a most inspiring manner, Angelou chanted that "it" was the realization that we are the true "wonders of the world" -- and that we have the power to change it. The audience cheered, and I thought it was the most wonderful speech I had ever seen.
That was until I saw Angelou's remarks at Hampton University later that summer. Although I viewed this event on tape rather than in person, it was even more amazing. Angelou had this predominantly African-American crowd absolutely roaring.
She engaged the audience throughout, sharing her laughter and pain. Angelou talked about her experiences being raped as a child and not speaking for years during her early teens -- incredible given her stellar oratorical skills.
She told of the struggles of black people in America, relaying the history of slavery and the resilience of those who have survived. Similar to the rainbow metaphor used earlier, Angelou sang, "You are my balm... to cleanse the sin-sick soul."
Besides sharing her pain, Angelou rejoiced with the crowd, reading her "self love" poetry. Her words illustrated the pride she felt as a black woman, not only the struggles.
My first reaction was to wonder why didn't Angelou deliver these remarks at my commencement? Her address at Delaware was excellent, but it was not nearly as captivating as the message she delivered at Hampton.
Both times, Angelou spoke of our responsibility to support our fellow human beings, but her remarks at Hampton were more personal, and she infected the audience with camaraderie. Could Angelou not have connected with my graduating class in the same way?
I realize now that she probably couldn't have. Her gleeful nuances about her grandmother braiding her hair, about Sugar Hill in Harlem and about having "the luck to be black on a Saturday night" are all part of a common history and understanding -- one that traces back generations and that most people who are not black cannot fully appreciate.
While not all African Americans know these experiences, enough did at Hampton to let Angelou establish a sense of family through her words.
Unfortunately, rather than trying to understand this bond, many people feel threatened by the assertion of ethnic selfhood. Whenever African Americans on campus come together in joy or in pain, they are accused of self-segregation.
But pride in and awareness of one's group identity are vital, and African Americans must assert this identity in order to maintain it. Whites usually do not have to think about these issues, but African Americans get so many negative messages that they cannot afford to ignore them.
Even when their individual experiences and views differ, the common identity that develops among many African Americans is a powerful and positive force. And while we can all share our stories with others, people who have not grown up with these stories simply cannot understand them as well.
None of us can be "balms" or "rainbows" all the time. Maya Angelou knew this when she gave her speeches at Delaware and Hampton, and I have come to learn it, too.
Overall, Maya Angelou would make an outstanding choice for Penn's Commencement speaker. Her message transcends divisions among people, yet still celebrates her identity. She is a talented poet and an insightful humanist. And Maya Angelou is, above all, a strong and proud black woman.
(11/01/00 10:00am)
Assault
* October 30 -- A man whose affiliation to the University was unknown reported that an unfamiliar man threw cold coffee in his face on the 3400 block of Spruce Street at about 5:45 p.m.
(11/01/00 10:00am)
PennForum sponsored a debate on the perpetually hot topic of affirmative action before a crowd of 40 students in Vance Hall on Monday night.
A panel of two anti-affirmative action speakers and two pro-affirmative action speakers volleyed points back and forth about the legal and societal issues of this volatile subject.
Penn State Professor Richard Orondenker and Georgetown Professor Larry Stratton, both Philadelphia residents who are well-known in the cause, argued against affirmative action.
Orondenker, the president of the Philadelphia Association of Scholars, opened his argument by stating: "The only diversity that really matters is the diversity of thoughts and ideas."
He stressed that all citizens are equal before the law, and that he does not support any act that gives a certain group special privileges.
Stratton, a lawyer and 1985 Wharton graduate, spoke against the "destruction of equality before the law" that affirmative action creates. He stated that a person's race and gender should not have any influence on how they are treated by the law.
Stratton introduced the 1996 California decision on Proposition 209 -- outlawing the dispersion of disadvantages or advantages based on minority status -- in his opening statement. This act became one of the most fiercely debated points of the night during the ensuing rebuttal period.
After the two anti-affirmative action speakers concluded their remarks, the pro-affirmative action panelists spoke adamantly against their opponents.
Larry Frankel, executive director of the Pennsylvania ACLU, stressed the importance of past injustices that now makes equality before the law impossible. American society, he explained, needs "flexible goals and timetables for minorities and females in education and the workplace" that affirmative action provides.
Frankel also pointed out that the legal profession in Philadelphia has benefited immensely from the addition of minority lawyers.
The last panelist of the night was Vinay Harpalani, a fourth-year graduate student in the Graduate School of Education and a Daily Pennsylvanian columnist. He gave a lengthy speech about how "race enhances merit."
Harpalani stated that the lower rate of teen pregnancy in Philadelphia is directly attributed to the greater number of minority doctors in the area. He also mentioned that minorities are more likely to work in underprivileged communities.
The rebuttals focused on Proposition 209. Stratton stated that even though California has a substantial minority population, the residents still passed the law.
Frankel responded that the Californians who approved Proposition 209 are trying to preserve the "white man's privilege."
Penn students had a number of questions that demonstrated their strong convictions about affirmative action. Many students challenged the opponents of affirmative action. They criticized them on their lack of data and their theoretical approach to an issue that is imbedded in society and not just the law.
One student asked why income could not replace race as the foundation of affirmative action, but the panelists skirted the issue -- to the frustration of students in attendance.
"I was frustrated that a student raised a question about a socio-economic issue and the speakers didn't address it more," College sophomore Julia Blank said.
Students had a mixed reaction to the debate. "It [the debate] didn't bring up any new points," College junior Anthony Coombs said. "For all intensive purposes, it was pointless. I was discouraged that there were no women on the panel."
(09/18/00 9:00am)
Jesse Gelsinger thought he could help change the world.
The teenager hoped that by enrolling in a cutting-edge gene therapy study at the University of Pennsylvania, he could end the suffering of people plagued with inherited diseases similar to his own.
However, before researchers could even finish the study, Gelsinger was dead, the field of gene therapy was turned upside down and Penn was the object of intense nationwide scrutiny.
Yesterday marked the first anniversary of Gelsinger's death -- the first reported fatality in the 10-year history of clinical gene therapy trials.
While experts in the field have said that the researchers are not directly to blame for the the Tucson, Ariz., teen's death, during the past year the University has reviewed and reformed its research protocols, and Penn's Institute for Human Gene Therapy -- where Gelsinger was a patient -- has fallen from its prominent perch atop the field to being restricted to research on animals and cell cultures.
Following Gelsinger's death, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration launched an investigation and suspended all of Penn's clinical gene therapy trials in January and refused to lift the ban in March, after alleging that the IHGT engaged in patterns of negligence.
But IHGT director James M. Wilson -- a onetime star who was recruited by top Penn administrators to start the nation's first gene therapy institute in 1993 -- has consistently defended his work and maintained that there was nothing he or his colleagues could have done to prevent Gelsinger's death.
But the negative attention paid to Wilson, the IHGT and Penn administrators, attention that also unleashed extensive debate about the entire area of medical research on humans, was called "an embarrassment" by University President Judith Rodin.
"Penn's reputation is not fundamentally marred by a single incident or a single accident," Rodin insisted. But, "it's made us realistic about the consequences of our missteps."
Gelsinger suffered from Ornithine Transcarbamylase Deficiency (OTC), a rare inherited liver disorder that inhibits the body's ability to produce enzymes that break down ammonia, a by-product of protein digestion. He died four days after being infused with a viral vector that would bring functioning genes to his liver. The potentially corrective genes could have produced the missing enzymes, but instead the infusion initiated a response that officials said ultimately led to organ failure and death.
Penn is no longer manufacturing the vectors -- used to transfer the genes into a subject -- for human research, according to Provost Robert Barchi. However, he added, "The IHGT is still manufacturing vectors for things that have nothing to do with human research."
According to Stephen Eck, co-director of the cancer gene therapy programs at the IHGT, Penn "didn't want the liability for manufacturing the viruses, now that there are other commercial resources" that can make the vectors instead. Eck maintained however, that there was no evidence the viruses produced at Penn for DNA packaging were unsafe.
Penn's decision to stop manufacturing its own vectors came along with changes in oversight for its research, and an attitude that the Institute could not sacrifice safety and reputation for a leading position in the field.
"It has given us the opportunity to really examine everything we're doing," Rodin said.
The University has reviewed its policies based on recommendations made by an external review committee, appointed by Rodin to examine the school's human gene therapy research protocols after the ban was placed, and Barchi's special committee of faculty members who are reviewing all of Penn's human subject research.
Rodin said officials plan to expand the monitoring of the Internal Review Board for all of Penn's research interests.
"There's no question that Penn will be the strongest, the tightest, the most reviewed," Rodin said.
In an extensive response to the FDA's allegations in February, IHGT officials directly addressed and defended each of the agency's 18 observations -- which included charges that researchers failed to fully inform patients of the study's risks; included patients such as Gelsinger who were ineligible to participate; failed to notify the FDA of deaths of two laboratory monkeys and the liver toxicity of a third on time; and enrolled Gelsinger despite high ammonia levels.
"There's no question that there were breaches, there were breakdowns in the protocol," Medical School Senior Vice Dean Richard Tannen admitted last fall.
But Tannen added that he doesn't believe any of the concerns the FDA expressed in any way led to the tragic outcome.
Paul Gelsinger, Jesse's father, originally stood by Penn researchers, but when he testified in front of the U.S. Senate Subcommittee on Public Health in February, he looked back and said, "I was fairly naive to have been as trusting as I was" of the Penn researchers.
Speaking for his client last week, attorney Alan Milstein said that Paul Gelsinger "places the blame up and down the line," including the researchers and administration at Penn. He also faults the Recombinant DNA Advisory Committee and the FDA, "who were instrumental in approving the study which never should have been approved."
Interest has also evolved on the increasing connections between researchers at academic institutions -- who may additionally stand to benefit financially from the success of their experiments -- with private companies. Wilson was also director of Genovo, Inc., which until recently provided about 20 percent of the Institute's funding. The University also had stock in the company.
Physicians at Penn insist that the reputations of the Penn Health System and the School of Medicine have not suffered due to this year's developments at the IHGT.
"We have taken hits and performed admirably," said Stanley Goldfarb, chairman of the Department of Medicine, noting that the school's research funding has increased by 30 percent this past year.
On Penn's new standing in the gene therapy research field, Eck said, "Gene therapy is now a huge field. It is going to be impossible for Penn to be the leader in everything."
Eck compared leading the gene therapy field to leading the entire field of producing drugs: "No one can cover that much."
(09/11/00 9:00am)
College senior Amanda Sloan looked on in frustration at the picnic table on the first day of a local teen leadership conference.
This is what she saw: African-American children were seated on one side and white children were on the other.
"The students were divided along racial lines completely," Sloan said of the students participating in a workshop she coordinated over the summer.
"Finally... we said, OYou know, we just have to talk about it, we just have to say why is this happening, and let's discuss it,'" Sloan recalled.
She instructed the students to discuss why they thought this segregation was happening, and by the end of the two-day workshop, the students were laughing together and crying at the thought of leaving each other.
This turnaround was one of the most rewarding parts of her summer internship at the Center for Greater Philadelphia, a local non-profit organization that matches up urban and suburban schools in an effort to increase interaction among students of different racial backgrounds.
Sloan was one of many students who took on a challenging summer job. From non-profits to major investment banking firms to government offices, Penn students were exposed to the rigors of the real world.
For Sloan, the most rewarding aspect of the Summer Leadership Institute she helped create was the friendships formed among the students.
"It was amazing to me that after two days and a night, these kids had really bonded," Sloan said.
Walking to work was one of the perks of Sloan's summer job experience near campus, but other students had a longer trek to the office.
Wharton senior Ben Oren, for instance, suffered an hour-long commute into Manhattan, where he worked in the credit risk management division of Credit Suisse First Boston.
Oren, who is concentrating in Finance, Management and Legal Studies, spent his days on the phone with traders and investment banking analysts around the world. Often, he wouldn't leave the office until 10 p.m.
"There were a lot of times when [I] had to stay late to talk to Hong Kong or talk to Singapore," Oren said.
For Oren, this international aspect of the job was very rewarding because it meant that
"you actually have to work harder to learn new people skills."
People skills were equally important for College senior Lori Uscher, who spent the summer interning as a paralegal in the Department of Justice's Anti-trust Division.
Any merger of companies must be approved by the Justice Department, and Uscher's job was to read over cases and pass them on to lawyers. Aside from such bonuses as meeting Janet Reno, Uscher, an International Relations major, said the highlight of her job was working as the head paralegal on a case just two weeks into the summer.
"They really had faith in the quality of the people they hired," Uscher said.
Uscher lived at home in Fairfax, Va., and while the 90-minute commute was a painful one, she said it was worth it.
"I think those are the best jobs, the non-profits and the government... where people are really passionate about their work," Uscher said
(07/27/00 9:00am)
When Republicans arrive in West Philadelphia for next week's convention, they can be expect to be greeted by a few political counterparts.
(06/29/00 9:00am)
I'm a girl with very simple ambitions. I just want to graduate from college, get a job that will pay my shoe bills and eventually meet a nice guy and settle down.
(06/22/00 9:00am)
Assault
(06/15/00 9:00am)
The summer months find most Penn students' minds and bodies far from West Philadelphia.
(06/08/00 9:00am)
It's about that time of year again when I should be decorating the house, sending out the invitations and ordering the cake for yet another blowout bash. But this year as I add another candle to my cake I have to wonder what makes it so different from years past.
(06/01/00 9:00am)
Matawan Regional High School '98
(06/01/00 9:00am)
The so-called "Center City rapist" never intended to kill Wharton doctoral student Shannon Schieber, but did so when he panicked at the arrival of police, FBI profilers claim in a recent report.
(04/17/00 9:00am)
From music acts in the Quad to a pancake breakfast, students enjoyed the weekend's activities. The clouds parted to reveal a shining sun Friday morning, heralding the beginning of Penn's 28th annual Spring Fling. And although the sun did not last the entire weekend, the bright rays were definitely a good Fling omen. In a sea of sunglasses and capri pants, students flooded the Quadrangle in the afternoon hours, anxious to discover what Fling 2000 had in store for them. The theme for this year's fling was "Fling Me Baby One More Time," alluding to the ubiquitous Britney Spears hit. And the light-hearted spirit of the teen pop star certainly seemed to be in the air. "I love the sun, that is all I have to say," College freshman Lisa Snyder exclaimed. Students took advantage of the warm temperature, and spent time sunning themselves on the green in Lower Quad, eating funnel cake and barbeque chicken from the vendors and listening to the performing musical groups. In Upper Quad, students donned huge sumo wrestling costumes, painted their hair wacky colors and climbed a giant inflatable mountain. Over the two-day event, Jon Herrmann, chairman of the Social Planning and Events Committee, estimated that between 7,000 and 10,000 people passed through the Quad gates to partake in the festivities. For freshmen, last weekend marked their inaugural Fling experience. With rumors of past Flings and the highest expectations swirling in their minds, the reviews were largely positive. "It was weird to have a carnival in your dorm," said Frank Wang, an Engineering freshman. "But it is also very cool." The festival did not live up to everyone's expectations, however. After experiencing the campus-wide party herself, College freshman Jasmine Orders said, "Fling is all hype." Still, some students kept going strong on Saturday despite the unwelcome dark clouds and rain that overshadowed the Quad. "It is our last Fling," College senior Bart Riley said. "Locusts and frogs couldn't keep me away." Though the bands and entertainment performed as planned, the turnout for Saturday morning and early afternoon was weaker than on Friday. During band K-Floor's performance in Lower Quad in the early afternoon on Saturday, the band's lead singer beckoned sleepy-eyed students out of their dorm rooms to join them in the rain. "Why don't you all come out of your bedrooms and party with us?" he asked. "It's a little rainy outside but we're having a great time." The rain let up for a bit though, just in time for Mask and Wig's traditional closing show on Saturday afternoon. The biggest crowd of the day -- about 3,000 people -- assembled, filling almost all of the Lower Quad. Mask and Wig entertained the crowd with their customary satirical blend of song and dance. Since last year's nudity was such a big hit, three members of the group decided to bear it all once again this year. The group was forced by SPEC to cut their show short, however, because of some scheduling difficulties encountered during the day. The group was forced to take the stage half an hour later than originally scheduled. The crowd begged for one last song, and the group was happy to oblige with their signature "Tuition" -- a takeoff on the well-known Fiddler on the Roof theme. Fling Co-Chairman Michael Silverstein commented that the scheduling problems were unfortunate, and although they were some initial hard feelings on the part of Mask and Wig, the difficulty was resolved. "In the heat of the moment they were angry, they wanted to perform," said Silverstein, who is also a 34th Street editor. Saturday night, after things had long since quieted in the Quad, throngs headed over to Hamilton Village for a Hawaiian-themed carnival complete with free food, carnival-style games and novelty attractions. The turnout for the evening's activity was record-setting according to Silverstein. Christina Chiew, a College sophomore and Fling carnival chairwoman, estimated that between 2,000 and 3,000 people were in attendance. As part of the University's plan to provide non-alcoholic social options for students, there was a great deal more emphasis placed on this year's carnival planning, Silverstein said. And drawing Spring Fling weekend to a close was a midnight pancake breakfast at the Class of 1920 Commons. Hundreds of students turned out from midnight until 3 a.m. to grab a tasty late-night snack before calling it a night.
(04/14/00 9:00am)
Spring Fling begins today with festivities in the Quad ranging from performing arts groups to food vendors and games. After much anticipation, Spring Fling is finally here. The festivities will be unleashed at 11 a.m. today in the Quadrangle, commencing Penn's 27th annual Spring Fling. With all the activities in store, everyone will be asking to "Fling Me Baby One More Time." The Quad will rock for two days with a variety of musical acts, games, local food vendors and student groups. This year's Fling is themed after the first hit single from teen pop queen Britney Spears. Student performing arts groups as well as local bands will take the stage throughout the day on both Friday and Saturday. "We have lined up some really great bands and performing arts groups," said Fling Co-Chair Mike Silverstein, a College junior and 34th Street magazine editor. On Friday, groups including the Arts House Dance Company, Flights 19 and the Penn Jazz Ensemble will perform on stages in the Upper and Lower Quads. Also on Friday, singer-songwriter Tracy Bonham will perform in the Quad at 2:20 p.m. Bonham, who recently released her third album Down Here, is opening for Ben Folds Five on their current tour. In the Upper Quad, various student groups -- including the College Republicans, the Korean Student Association and the Penn Leukemia Society -- will set up booths. This year, local companies including Parfumerie Douglas, Philly2nite.com, Council Travel and others will also host booths. Hungry students can head down to Lower Quad, where food vendors such as Allegro's Pizza, Kiss Foods and Smitty's Fries will offer edible treats. After sampling all the refreshments, students looking for a bit more physical activity can surmount a giant mock-rock climbing wall that will be erected in Upper Quad. Friday will feature a mock joust and on Saturday students can look forward to a bungee challenge. All the activity is not restricted to the Quad, however. From 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. today, Locust Walk will be filled with artisans selling their wares at Crafts Fair 2000, which will feature everything from picture frames to silver jewelry. Though activities in the Quad officially end at 6 p.m., the fun will not stop as the sun goes down. On Friday night, DJ Young Eller, the Philadelphia-based Roots and Ben Folds Five will take the stage on Hill Field -- rain or shine. The concert is scheduled to begin at 7:30 p.m., with admission to the field opening at 7 p.m. Tickets have been on sale all week on Locust Walk and will be available at the door. Prices are $20 for students with PennCards and $25 for the general public. Saturday's schedule in the Quad features Strictly Funk, the Quaker Notes, Pennsylvania Six-5000, Mask and Wig and others. Saturday evening, students can head over to Hamilton Village for a tropical adventure at the Hawaiian-themed carnival. Beginning at 8 p.m., the event will feature free games, prizes, novelties and food. And afterward, the Social Planning and Events Committee will be hosting a pancake breakfast in the Class of 1920 Commons dining hall from midnight to 3 a.m. Throughout the weekend, souvenirs will be available in the Quad. Fling T-shirts are priced at $10 each, and key chains, frisbees and glowsticks will also be available.
(04/12/00 9:00am)
Deejay Young Eller will open the concert, which will feature the Roots and Ben Folds Five. The lineup is finally set for Friday's Spring Fling concert. Joining the Roots and Ben Folds Five will be New York-based deejay Young Eller. According to SPEC Concerts co-director and Engineering senior Ari Jaffess, the organizing committee selected Young Eller to open because he plays an eclectic selection of music. "We wanted both headliners to have a lot of time," Jaffess said of the committee's decision to hire an opening deejay. "And the bands both wanted a lot of time as well." So far, ticket sales for the concert, which will be held on Hill Field rain or shine, have been steady, according to SPEC Chairman Jon Herrmann. With a total capacity of 6,000, Herrmann said the event organizers were hoping to sell more than 4,000 tickets. As of yesterday, 2,900 total concert tickets had been sold, Jaffess said. Of that number, Jaffess estimated that 2,250 were sold to students, and 650 to the general public. Last year's show, headlined by the Mighty Mighty Bosstones and Run DMC, sold about 2,500 tickets. Tickets have been for sale on Locust Walk since March 27, and will continue to be sold on the Walk from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. today and tomorrow. They are priced at $15 for Penn students and $23 for the general public until Thursday. "Ticket sales have been going crazy on the Walk," Jaffess noted. "We have been averaging about 400 tickets per day." The concert has also been advertised on radio stations, and tickets were made available to the general public through Ticketmaster. Herrmann said he believes the big-name bands headlining this year's Fling played a role in the high sales. "Ticket sales are always defined by who is playing," Herrmann said. "And this year is a bigger show, with more popular bands." The day of the show, tickets will be sold at the concert with student tickets priced at $20 and general public admission at $25. Students will be admitted onto Hill Field at 7 p.m., while the concert itself is scheduled to begin at 7:30 p.m. The theme for this year's Spring Fling is themed "Fling Me Baby One More Time," inspired by teen singing sensation Britney Spears' hit single. Philadelphia-based rap and R&B; group The Roots have been making waves on the music scene since 1987 with their unique blend of vocals and drum beats. Their recent album, Things Fall Apart, brought them critical and commercial success. Ben Folds Five, a unique guitar-free trio, made a mainstream name for themselves with their hit single "Brick" in 1997. Their album Whatever and Ever Amen went platinum that same year.
(04/05/00 9:00am)
Penn's admissions rate has been steadily declining since 1991, when 47 percent of applicants were admitted. High school seniors across the country found some long-awaited letters in their mailboxes this week. And for a record-low 22 percent of the 18,815 Penn applicants, the news was good. Next year's freshman class will again be the University's most selective ever, according to Admissions Dean Lee Stetson. At one minute after midnight Saturday morning, the University released acceptance letters to 4,280 -- or 22 percent -- of its 18,815 applicants, including early decision applicants, for the class of 2004. The admissions rate is a continuation of the University's decade-long decline, down from 26.6 percent last year and a whopping 47 percent in 1991. And for the first time ever, the percentage of regular decision applicants accepted dropped into the teens, at 19 percent. "We admitted fewer to keep the class size under control," Stetson said, adding that he expects the yield rate -- the percent of students accepted to choose to matriculate -- to be close to last year's at 53.7 percent. That number was higher than expected, resulting in a larger than usual freshman class. "We'll be right where we want to be? with a class size of 2,350," if the yield rate is between 53 and 54 percent, Stetson said. The number of applicants for admission also reached a record level this year -- the total applicant group was 6.6 percent larger than last year's pool. About 42 percent of the Class of 2004 will be comprised of students who applied early decision. In addition to the overall decrease in the rate of admission, three of the four undergraduate school saw decreases in their acceptance rates. The College of Arts and Sciences accepted 23 percent -- 2,796 out of 11,986 applicants -- down from 27.4 percent last year. The School of Engineering and Applied Science admitted 26 percent -- 853 out of 3,325 applicants -- down from 32.9 percent. The Wharton School accepted 16 percent -- 521 out of the 3,278 applicants -- marking a one percentage point decrease. And the Nursing School accepted 51 percent of its applicants, up from 43.4 percent last year. The Huntsman Program in International Studies and Business -- the joint College and Wharton program -- accepted 72 of its 641 applicants. The Management and Technology Program of Wharton and the Engineering School accepted 87 out of 829 applicants. And 12 students were accepted to the the Healthcare Management Program of the Nursing School and Wharton. Admission offers were made to 2,175 women, representing 50.8 percent of all acceptances. And 447 international students were accepted. They comprise 10.4 percent of the admitted group and represent six continents and 79 countries. Additionally, minority students -- including African Americans, Latinos, Asians and Native Americans -- make up 41 percent of the accepted group. But that number falls significantly, to 17 percent, when Asians are excluded. This year's group of admitted students boasts an average SAT score of 1412 -- up from 1407 last year -- and the average students ranks in the top two percent of his or her graduating class. According to Stetson, 757 of the accepted students are valedictorians or salutatorians, and 663 valedictorians and salutatorians were denied admission. "This just shows how selective [we] had to be," he said. Stetson explained that the admissions office is relying more heavily on the waitlist this year -- with 500 names on the list -- in order to yield the desired class size. Last year the yield rate unexpectedly increased by five percent, resulting in a housing shortage in the fall. "We're better off being a little more conservative with admission," Stetson said. "Otherwise, we're at the mercy of who says yes [to his or her admission offer]." Mark Cannon, deputy executive director of the National Association for College Admission Counseling, said the trend of increased waitlist use is being employed by more and more schools so they can better control class sizes. "[Students] are increasingly delaying their final decision? some students are double-depositing, going through pre-registration and orientation [programs] and not opting to enroll ultimately," Cannon said. "The waitlist is there as a cushion. Now that acceptances have been sent, Stetson and his office are shifting their focus toward getting the best yield possible, through tours, luncheons and campus visits. He said 50 to 60 percent of accepted students are expected to take advantage of the services over the next few weeks. "The competition to get them to enroll is intense," Stetson said, adding that the next month will be a chance for "Penn to put its best foot forward." Admitted students have until May 1 to accept their offers of admission.
(03/07/00 10:00am)
The Roots and Ben Folds Five will share top billing at the annual concert. Melding an unusual combination of harmonious piano rock and rhythmic hip hop, Ben Folds Five and the Roots will share center stage at this year's Spring Fling concert. The Social Planning and Events Committee, which announced the co-headliners last night, said negotiations for a smaller opening band are still in the works. By having the two groups co-headline the event on Friday, April 14, the concert's organizers hope to please a larger range of Penn students than in past years, when only one or two types of music were represented. "Our goal is to get a mix, since music is such a matter of taste," said SPEC concerts co-director Ari Jaffess, an Engineering senior. "I think a lot of people will be excited for these two bands." Tickets will go on sale on Locust Walk starting March 27. Tickets bought in advance will cost $15 for PennCard holders and $23 for the general public. There will be a yet-to-be-announced surcharge on tickets bought the day of the show. The concert will be held on Hill Field, rain or shine. For the last three years, the event has been moved inside to the Palestra because of adverse weather conditions. Ben Folds Five, a unique guitar-free piano trio, was formed in 1993 by pianist and singer Ben Folds. The group made a mainstream name for themselves with their hit single "Brick" in 1997. Their 1997 album, Whatever and Ever Amen, went platinum. Since then, they have also released another album, titled The Unauthorized Biography of Reinhold Messner, which did rather poor commercially. The Roots, a Philadelphia-based rap and R&B; group, was formed in 1987. With no turntables or disc jockeys, the group is known for its use of live instrumentation at concerts and has in recent years exploded from the underground club scene to achieve critical success and widespread popularity. Drummer ?uestlove and rapper Black Thought -- who met while enrolled in Philadelphia's School for the Creative and Performing Arts -- have been called crafters of "organic hip hop." Their latest release and first live album is The Roots Come Alive. Off that album, the hit single "You Got Me" with singer Erykah Badu earned the group a Grammy in the category for the best duo performance. The Roots' other albums include Organix in 1993, Do You Want More!!??! in 1995 and Illadelph Halflife in 1996. Last year's Spring Fling headliner was the punk-ska band The Mighty Mighty Bosstones. They were joined by Run DMC, D-Generation and Clowns for Progress. "These bands are more current than past year's bands," Jaffess said. Bands that have headlined Fling in past years include Violent Femmes, Cypress Hill and A Tribe Called Quest. The theme for this year's Spring Fling is "Fling Me Baby One More Time," inspired by teen-queen singing sensation Britney Spears' hit song.
(02/24/00 10:00am)
The board is in its final planning stages but has yet to sign a band for the Friday night concert. With just two months left before the event the Social Planning and Events Committee is getting out the mini-skirts and pom-poms and preparing for the next Spring Fling -- teeny bopper diva style. Since the announcement of this year's theme, "Fling Me Baby One More Time" -- inspired by teen pop-star Britney Spears' chart topping song -- SPEC has been busily preparing for the much-anticipated event, which will be held from April 14 to April 16. "Our progress is 100 percent better than last year," said College junior Jason Ebert, the Fling planning co-director. But though many decisions have already been made, organizers have not yet decided on the headlining band. SPEC member and Engineering senior Ari Jaffess, who has been coordinating the booking for Fling, would not comment on the progress of negotiations with prospective bands, nor on when a formal announcement would be made. Last year's music festivities were headed by the Mighty Mighty Bosstones as well as other musical acts Run DMC and D-Generation. Wharton senior and SPEC chairman Jon Herrmann said this year the concert will be held on Hill Field "rain or shine" to ensure great acoustics. For the last three years, the concert has been held in the Palestra due to adverse weather conditions. As for the amount of tickets expected to be sold, Herrmann estimated it to be about 6,000, depending on the artist performing. Last year's performance sold 4,200 tickets. Ebert, along with College junior Mike Silverstein and Nursing senior Lisa Malbacho, have been in charge of coordinating Fling by supervising and managing nine subcommittees, comprised of roughly 30 people. According to Malbacho, the planning committee is now in its final stages in deciding a logo for Fling T-shirts -- a popular Fling souvenir -- submitted by students to the office of student life last December. Silverstein, who is also a 34th Street editor, said the souvenir committee has begun to brainstorm possible souvenir ideas for Fling. One possibility being entertained is waterguns, which were souvenirs from Fling three years ago. While SPEC tried to bring them back last year, they were not approved due to the alcohol policy, according to Silverstein. "This year, now that things are more stable, [we] hope to bring them back," Silverstein said. "Fling's all about fun and security." Silverstein added that the planning committee will begin deciding on the local bands who will play in the Quadrangle in mid-March. The security committee has been working on ensuring safety in the Quad by providing an on-sight ambulance for the event. While SPEC members said there will be no major changes to this year's fling compared to previous ones, students can expect what always comes out of fling -- a good time. "Let's have fun -- [Fling's a time to] forget about our squabbles and get along," Silverstein said.
(02/11/00 10:00am)
From Ron Lin's, "Intellectual Pornograhy," Fall '00 From Ron Lin's, "Intellectual Pornograhy," Fall '00Mr. Rogers used to ask me who were the people in my neighborhood. When I was young, I watched Sesame Street and Romper Room. I ate peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and harbored an unmitigated abhorrence for milk and things with nutritional value. I did my homework and then I'd go outside and play with my friends -- tag, wiffleball, basketball. Hell, I even built a friggin' tree-house! Yessiree, Bob. I watched all the right shows, ate all the right foods, played all the right games. Did I mention I ate peanut butter and jelly sandwiches? As young lads and lasses, we are impressionable. Society goes to great lengths to shelter us from learning too much about the world too quickly. The FCC makes sure the radio waves are clear of obscenities. Cursing is taboo and we're not supposed to see movies with explosions or bare breasts. Children are our greatest assets, so everyone tries to protect their malleable minds like Fort Knox. We're spoon-fed sex like a very hot bowl of soup. So I followed all the rules. Where did I go wrong? The answer is Judy Blume. In the second grade, I was introduced to perhaps the finest work of American literature, Judy Blume's timeless masterpiece, Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing. Existential undertones reverberated powerfully within my sponge-like conscience. It was the touching story of a 12-year-old and his annoying younger brother. Did I mention I'm a middle child? Discovering Judy Blume was like discovering heroin at the ripe age of seven. Fueled by the euphoria derived from Tales, I graduated to her other equally gratifying works: Superfudge, Then Again Maybe I Won't, Blubber and Otherwise Known as Sheila the Great, just to name a few. I consumed Judy Blume's vast and diverse repertoire of young adult classics like chocolate pudding and routinely checked up on the inside flap on my own personal copy of Superfudge, which provided me with a complete list of Judy Blume's works. Slowly but surely, I advanced through the list until there were only a few works left before I could proclaim myself a self-anointed Master of Judy's Universe. There are a few standards out there to which most young children of our generation can relate. We all know that Judy Blume wrote about issues that a nine-year-old could relate to: cooties, dying pets, annoying siblings, growing up, homework. And so as I slowly ran down the list of "Other Works by Judy Blume," I came across a nondescript book with a nondescript title: Are You There God? It's Me Margaret. And like another hit of smack, I craved for Judy's prescient insight into the young pre-teen world around me. Without warning, the woman that brought me the universal preadolescent experience suddenly pulled the carpet out from under me. Maybe books need to be more clearly labeled: "WARNING: GRAPHIC MENSTRUATION SCENES." I'll freely admit it, however -- I read the whole book. I read the whole book without really "getting it." Maybe it was good for me; Judy Blume gave me the girl's perspective. The problem was that I was nine years old and bleeding from between my legs made about as much sense as discrete mathematics. I figured that maybe I had just read that one fluke, the one book Judy Blume wrote as a joke. Maybe I was taking the book too literally -- maybe we're all metaphorically "bleeding from between our legs." My logic was impeccable. So I confidently began my final foray into the complete works of Judy Blume. It was appropriately titled Forever, and it was about a young girl's first experiences with love and sex. The woman that gave me Superfudge also gave me the most graphic depiction of the human orgasm that I have ever read. It's like taking your kids to a puppet show, only to find the puppets having blindingly torrid sex. Judy Blume turned on me. I just wanted someone to tell me how it was, and instead I got someone telling me about how it was. I was innocent, and suddenly that hot bowl of soup was being poured down my throat. But while I was traumatized at the time, I realize today that I learned more about life from Judy Blume than from anyone else. Barely a day passes without a parent out there worrying about the images and content being delivered to their children. We censor it, we downplay it and we downright avoid it. And when the time is right, we sit kids in classrooms with a video about 13-year-old Jimmy and his absurd quest for sexual self-discovery at the zoo. Clearly, Jimmy had many questions, not to mention a slight problem with erections. But if Jimmy was supposed to be normal, getting advice from an old zookeeper who'd "seen a lot of penises" in his day, I'd rather be decidedly abnormal. And I have Judy Blume to thank for that.
