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(04/19/91 9:00am)
Whether for speeding down Locust Walk or for casual riding in Fairmount Park, bicycling has become somewhat more convenient for the University community with last Friday's opening of Bicycle Express. The store, which is strategically located on 40th Street near Locust Street among Mt. Olympus, Smokey Joe's and the Post Office, appears to cater to every cyclist's needs. The shop is operated by owner Dave Kaplan who owns another bicycle shop in the city's Oak Lane section. Kaplan said that his Oak Lane shop has already received and delivered free of charge 100 orders for bikes from University students, adding that he expects the shop to draw a large student clientele. The prices of the bicycles range from $169 to $2000 and include mountain bikes, hybrids and 12-speeds. The shop also sells biking accessories, clothing and workers also make repairs. Bicycle Express also hires several college students, Kaplan said. The store currently employs students from Temple and La Salle universities, and Kaplan said he is interviewing several University students. He said he first became interested in bikes at the age of 15 when he was working for a bicycle shop and was involved in bike racing. He now has 13 years experience, which he demonstrated in answering the several technical questions customers asked him. He does not plan to branch out to sell other sports equipment, noting that Bicycle Express is a "specialty" store. He added that all employees at the store have demonstrated knowledge about bikes. "Bikes is what we do," Kaplan said. Kaplan said he expects the shop to do well because most students at the University do not have cars and find bikes useful to go downtown or around the city. This, Kaplan said, means that bikes constantly need repairs, tuning and spare parts. He said he expected the mountain bike to be the most popular item in the store. Bicycle Express Manager Hal Sachs said workers were up until 4 a.m. setting up the shop the night before its opening. Business appeared to be "very good" on the first day, according to Kaplan.
(04/11/91 9:00am)
The crowd of about 100 people that gathered in the David Rittenhouse Laboratory Tuesday afternoon wasn't there for a calculus or physics class. The audience of students, professors and guests had assembled for a taste of literature at the poetry reading by Pulitzer Prize winner Richard Wilbur. Following a brief introduction, Wilbur began reading his poems, for which he won the 1988 Los Angeles Times Book Award. In "The Ride", which Wilbur described as a "dream poem" because he dreamt the story and remembered it the next morning, he speaks of his riding the horse with "magic ease." Wilbur also read his lighter poems such as "The Catch" which, he said, pertains to his wife and himself or any married couple. The poem tells the story of a wife buying a dress which she considers a bargain and wanting her husband's opinion of it. Wilbur speaks of "the blindness of the male" when the wife is not satisfied by her husband's opinion. Wilbur said he is always happy when someone reminds him of a poem, adding that he even tends to like a poem more when this happens. Wilbur also read some of his "seasonal poems," including "Seedlings" which is dedicated to Robert Frost. The last few readings were from Opposites, which is a collection of short, humorous poems for "children and others." The reading was followed by questions addressed to Wilbur regarding his background, his inspirations and the other factors that contributed to his becoming a poet. The audience was appreciative of the reading. "I thought it was excellent," said College freshman Ethel Rackin. "He is a great reader and the selection of poems was very interesting
(04/04/91 10:00am)
Speaking with universal praise, faculty and students of the Nursing School paid tribute to outgoing Dean Claire Fagin at a reception yesterday. Fagin, the University's "Dean of Deans", has held the post since 1977 and will continue at the University as a faculty member. The reception began with an introduction by Nursing graduate student Janice Foust. Describing Fagin as "very energetic, enthusiastic and dynamic," and speaking of her "enthusiasm for growth, learning and vision," Foust discussed the dean's career and praised her contributions to the University. She talked about the various programs that had been started under Fagin's deanship, such as the faculty and student exchange with Israel. She said that Fagin gave the Nursing School a "very strong professional identity and responsibility to contribute to the future." Nursing junior Christie Smith, president of the Undergraduate Nursing Forum, spoke on behalf of the undergraduates and said that Fagin "changed the nursing field forever and for better." Smith's statement was followed by an address by Leslie Sondeen, a Nursing junior. Sondeen said that under Fagin, the University's virtually unknown nursing program had blossomed into one of the best in the country. She added that it was Fagin who was responsible for making the Nursing School visible both on campus and internationally. Lisa D'Angelo, a Nursing graduate student, praised the outgoing dean for bringing "outstanding faculty and diverse programs" to the University. D'Angelo said that the Nursing students would "use this knowledge to create positive change." D'Angelo also talked about the challenges that the Nursing School prepares its students for. "[We will] create history and not merely react to it," she said. The final student speaker was Kathy Higgins, who represented doctoral students. Fagin accepted two gifts from students and faculty, and was given a standing ovation. Fagin spoke briely about her tenure as dean, thanking students for their comments and saying that the nursing profession would be in good hands with them in the future. "You are the reason for being," Fagin told students in the audience. She also said that she was assured that "this profession was in good hands."
(03/28/91 10:00am)
The Quadramics spring musical The Wall will open next Thursday at the Harold Prince Theatre, giving a few new twists to the Pink Floyd movie and album. According to College senior Marc Zachary, director of the The Wall, the play will be a "rock opera" based on the work of Pink Floyd's Roger Waters. He said it will be put in political and historical context. "It is an indictment of all the inhumanity in the world, like racism and intolerance," said Zachary. "It shows how easily we can be led to commit crimes against humanity." The story is told through the life of a rock singer named Pink, who will be played by College senior Brett Keyser. Zachary, who adapted the story for the stage from Waters' music and film, said there will be a slide projection during the play that will help the audience follow the story. He also stressed that there is no lip synching in the production -- Quadramics put together a rock band specifically for the play. College senior Laura Diamond and College junior Lisa Wachtell choreographed the show's many dance numbers. Diamond said the dancing is a combination of jazz and modern dance and the style varies for each piece, some being more lyrical than others. She also added that there is a lot of movement/dance involved in the play and all 19 members of the cast will be dancing at some point during the play. "The play is a marriage of dancing, singing and acting," said Diamond. College junior Jay Levin, the music director in charge of vocals for the show, said all the arrangements are entirely original. Levin, along with College senior Jonathan Coopersmith, wrote the entire musical score for the play. Vocal arrangements were written for between two and seven parts for each song. In some cases, extra parts were included for more harmony, like in the song Mother, where two people will be singing instead of one, according to Levin. Although many members of the cast do not have any prior experience in theater, most have worked with rock bands. Levin said a few ideas have been borrowed from the film, but the play portrays the characters very differently. Jaci Israel, a College sophomore, who plays the narrator and Pink's alter ego, describes her character as the bond between Pink and the rest of the play. Israel, who said she likes to sing rock, said this was "musically the most incredible role" she has ever performed. Israel also said her role is harder than it seems since she is just a presence and does not actually interact with the other characters. The Wall will be performed April 4 to 6 and 11 to 13 at 8 p.m. at the Harold Prince Theatre in the Annenberg Center. Tickets will be available on Locust Walk for $5.
(03/27/91 10:00am)
React, a collection of social and political works of art by students, opened last week in Houston Hall. Most of the work portrays the artists' reactions to the Persian Gulf War. "Artists tend to react to the upheaval people are feeling," said Evan Bernstein, a College junior and curator for the exhibition. "Even though the war is over these issues are still pertinent in everyday life," Winegar said. Eun Han, whose works Midnight Caller and Desert Storm are on display at the exhibition, said everything she felt about the war is expressed in her work. "I felt a great anger against what [Iraqi President Saddam] Hussein was doing," Han said. Artist Lawrence Gleeson, a Fine Arts graduate student, said he found the war "mind boggling" and could not easily relate to it. He said he created his art for the exhibit because he wanted to do something so people would never forget the war. "It is in the forefront of my mind, and as long as I could, I didn't want people to forget it," Gleeson said. Gleeson also said the war can never actually be over since "the undercurrents that caused the war are still there." Brad Choyt's These Aren't Fish Falling from the Sky portrays an American flag in the shape of a mushroom cloud targeted at oil wells. Choyt said he wanted to convey how the world was misusing technology. Choyt's works Creation and Destruction and Creation and Destruction II are also on display. There were mixed reactions from those who attended the exhibit's opening on Friday. While some felt they did not quite understand the works, others enjoyed the exhibition. "I really enjoyed it, especially the different styles," said College sophomore Adele Moore. Barbara Verwoed, a College freshman, said she particularly liked Han's work. "It was very subtle and strong," Verwoed said. "The message was executed very well." The exhibition is being organized by the Penn Student Gallery. College junior Steve Gross, co-founder and director of the Gallery, said the idea behind the exhibition was to share thoughts through art. "For a school that's hurting so much socially, this is a great avenue to bring us together," Gross said. The exhibition will run through April 22 in the Bowl Room of Houston Hall.
(03/22/91 10:00am)
Counterparts will present its 10th anniversary show, X, tomorrow night, featuring Counterparts alumna Lolita Jackson and her group Motorhot. College junior Kate Grant, the president of Counterparts, said this week that along with Motorhot, there will be some surprise guest performances. Counterparts members will be singing 25 songs, all arranged by the group, including six songs the group has never performed before. "We will be debuting new songs as well as mastering the old," Grant said. Music director Jonathan Coopersmith, a College senior, said this will be "technically the most difficult and challenging show" that Counterparts has ever performed. Fresh from their spring break tour of Florida, where they performed at several alumni receptions and underwent "an intense week of rehearsal," according to Grant, Counterparts is also using the show to promote its new album, which will be available during intermission. Each member of the group will sing a solo, including new bass and College junior Brad Richards. The show will also be the last for six Counterparts members, including Coopersmith, who has been music director and arranger for the past three years. "It will be a nostalgic and sentimental journey down memory lane," Coopersmith said. Grant said ticket sales have been very good. All remaining tickets will be available at the door for $6 for one or $10 for two. Counterparts will be performing in their traditional formal wear and will begin with a new opening number, which Grant would not disclose. "Above all, the theme is glit," Grant added. The show's title, X, is the Roman numeral for 10, to commemorate the group's 10th anniversary. The show will start at 8 p.m. tomorrow night in Harrison Auditorium at the University Museum.
(02/15/91 10:00am)
Abid Hussain, the Indian ambassador to the U.S., spoke yesterday in Vance Hall, addressing about 100 students on topics ranging from finance and industry to foreign affairs. Hussain began his address by discussing India's struggle for freedom, speaking of Mahatma Gandhi's non-violence movement and India's commitment to eradicating poverty since it became independent. Hussain also discussed India's gradual development from a purely agricultural nation to its current position as the tenth largest industrial nation in the world. He stressed the changes in India since it became independent, pointing out that India had no professional class when it became independent, while now one third of the world's highly skilled workers come from India. "A new class of people . . . [has] come from the womb of agriculture," Hussain said. Hussain added that despite the large professional class, much of India's population remains below the poverty level and the country is still unable to feed many of its citizens. Pointing to the many Indian students in the audience, Hussain spoke of the "brain drain" of India's students and young professionals, who he said leave India to get better-paying jobs in other countries, such as the U.S. Hussain stressed the importance of discouraging Indians from leaving the country, saying that India must make it more attractive for them to stay. Many Indian students, he said, have little desire to stay in India and would rather emigrate. Speaking of the typical student in India, he said, "His soul has migrated to America and will take six years for his body to arrive there." Hussain also emphasized the importance of democracy in India, pointing out that despite three wars, India has never sacrificed its democratic government. Hussain clarified India's neutral position in the Gulf crisis, saying that despite former close ties to Iraq, India opposes the invasion of Kuwait. Nevertheless, he said, India does not want to use its military in the war, but added that India's ties to the U.S. are becoming stronger in the post-Cold War era. He also said he is worried about the increase in violence between Muslims and Hindus in India. "Instead of going to the ballot box they are reaching for these guns," Hussain said. Hussain answered questions on subjects including the current problems of India's government and India's role in Sri Lanka. Audience members said they found Hussain's address very informative. "His viewpoint on the economic scene was very interesting and encouraging," said Lisa Popick, a second year Wharton graduate student. "His views on opening up to foreign investment were very fair minded and optimistic," said Wharton sophomore Raj Das. "The talk was very enlightening, especially India's stand in the international political arena." The Wharton South Asia Club hosted Hussain's appearance.
(02/11/91 10:00am)
At a time when Americans are increasingly worried about Japanese investment in the United States -- such as the purchase of MCA and Rockefeller Center by Japanese investors -- several experts gathered last week to discuss whether Japan's economic dealings with the U.S. are fair. New York attorney Carl Fernandez spoke in detail about Japan's "keiretsu" system, in which a group of companies mutually cooperate for the benefit of all, at the lecture in Stitler Hall last week. He dismissed the idea that Japanese companies do better than American ones because Japan is a more "homogeneous society," instead attributing Japanese success to a better understanding among the nation's businesses and to less complicated business contracts. He also said that Japanese employees change jobs less often, which helps their economy. Kuzuhide Ishikawa, first secretary of the Japanese embassy in Washington, D.C. and a University graduate, first gave a brief history of American-Japanese economic relations. Ishikawa talked about ways to make trade between the U.S. and Japan more efficient, suggesting that the two governments set up an agency. Management Professor Howard Pelmuller discussed the different business practices of the Japanese and attributed their success to a "corporate and national culture." Addressing the question "Is Japan Fair?," the title of the forum, Pelmuller said there was no way to test the fairness of the two countries' economic ties, but said the nations should own approximately the same amount of each others' economy for it to be considered "fair." Approximately 50 people attended the event, which was a part of the Wharton School's Vice Dean's International Lecture Series.
