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(11/27/90 10:00am)
Milli Vanilli would have been proud. The Glee Club made their Big Apple appearance in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade and like the pop duo, lip-synched their main song to the hundreds of thousands of people lining the New York streets. The vocal track for their performance had actually been recorded weeks earlier and sent to Hollywood where an arranger added orchestral accompaniment as well as a tap-dance track. The Glee Club and their three floats of roses were the 14th attraction featured in the parade, marching right between Raven Symone of the Cosby Show and Bert and Ernie of Sesame Street fame. After trekking two-and-a-half miles, and struggling through some technical difficulties, the undaunted Glee Club strutted their stuff in front of throngs of people packing the grandstand in front of Macy's. Glee Club's marathon morning began at 4 a.m. as members straggled wearily onto an awaiting bus to be driven to the start of the parade on 81st and Central Park West on Manhattan's Upper West Side. Arriving two hours before the parade started provided club members the opportunity to mix and mingle with famous and not-so-famous stars such as Wil Shriner and The Guys Next Door. Competition to perform in the parade is stiff with hundreds of acts applying annually to participate in the Thanksgiving extravaganza. Normally, college bands and groups are considered in a second group, but Glee Club members said they must compete with Broadway musicals -- considered a level above college marching bands -- in which the selection process is extremely limited. "We're not judged as just another college chorus or even another glee club," said James Mendelsohn, general manager of the Glee Club. "We're judged on a higher level because we're not just another glee club." But this was not the first time the Glee Club has participated in the parade and Director Bruce Montgomery hopes that the Glee Club will be able to do it again in the future. "We are in the parade about every six or seven years," Montgomery said. "Its great to be seen by virtually the entire country. Also, the guys now have the chance to put on their resumes that they sang on Broadway." "It's a great thing for the Glee Club to do it," added Mendelsohn. "But it's also a great thing for the University."
(11/20/90 10:00am)
Earlier this year, the University of Pennsylvania Press sold the television and film rights to a book about Thomas they published five years ago -- the first time the publishing house has sold the movie rights to a book. Penn Press will reel in a six-figure fee from the book which is an autobiographical account of Thomas -- a high school graduate who became a pioneer in the field of heart surgery research. "The press is ecstatic about it," Rotell said last week. "We're proud to give recognition to a deserving individual as well as to have published an important scholarly book which will now reach a larger audience. This is a grand slam in the field of publishing." Marion Rees Associates outbid five other movie studios for the television and film rights to Thomas's book entitled "Pioneering Research in Surgical Shock and Cardiovascular Surgery: Vivien Thomas and His Work With Alfred Blaylock." The book was published in 1985, but an article in Washingtonian magazine last August prompted calls from several studios interested in buying the rights to the story. In the book, Thomas, who died at the age of 84, two days after the story was published, describes his life as a black man who, at the age of 19, quit his job as a carpenter and became a laboratory assistant to heart surgeon Alfred Blaylock in order to earn money to finance his education. But Thomas never pursued a formal education, concentrating instead on working in Blaylock's laboratory. He was soon placed in charge of Blaylock's laboratory, and through their work at Johns Hopkins University, the two became the pioneering heart surgery researchers of their time. Currently, the studio is still looking for a writer to transcribe the book into script form, but Producer Ann Hopkins already has definite ideas as to how she wants to approach the story. "I want to convey the incredible power of the friendship that was forged between these two men," Hopkins said. "Despite their vastly differing backgrounds, they shared a common vision." Hopkins has no date set for when the film will be finished, but plans eventually to have it shown as a two-hour movie of the week on a television network. Although all authors who write for Penn Press sell all rights to their manuscript to the Press, this is the first time that the Press has had the opportunity to sell the movie rights to any of its books. "We couldn't be more pleased," Rotell said. "I wish we could have the opportunity to publish more books like this."
(11/19/90 10:00am)
Penn Press, founded in 1869, has long since held its own in the field of academic publishing. The press prints about 500 copies of over 70 different books each year, on everything from anthropology to women's studies. But while the Penn Press is located right on campus, many University professors choose to publish elsewhere because other publishers' offer more money and prestige. And few students on campus have ever even heard of Penn Press. The Press, like other university publishers nationwide, often finds itself fighting against more famous and prolific presses, like those at the University of Chicago and Harvard University, both of which attract manuscripts from the nation's top faculty. Harvard publishes over 150 books a year specializing in history, literature, economics, and science, while Chicago publishes a whopping 275 books on a wide range of subjects while receiving over 2500 each year. "If you have a book, and there's a series somewhere else, it's more prestigious for you to publish your book in that series," said Ann Matter, professor and chairperson of the Religious Studies Department, who has published both with Penn Press and with another company. But many said that they can make more money publishing with other companies who have larger advertising sections and who distribute to a wider section of book stores. "I publish, whenever possible, with trade companies because I can make more money," said Roger Abrahams, professor of Folklore and Folklife and board member of Penn Press. "They have a much more aggressive marketing strategy for selling books than do university presses." Both Harvard and Chicago presses are quick to note ,however, Penn Press as being both a respected and quality publishing company. "Penn Press has a good reputation," said Aida Donald, editor-in-chief of Harvard University Press. "The press shares in the University's glory and enhances it." One way the Penn Press has improved its standing in publishing circles has been to concentrate on certain fields, such as the middle ages and folklore. Often times, the Penn Press can "steal" books away from other companies simply on the basis of its reputation in these fields. And according to Thomas Rotell, director of Penn Press, he has been able to be more selective in the books that they publish. "I'd say we get about 70 manuscripts a month," said Rotell. "Ninty-eight or even 99 percent of them we reject but once in a while, we find a real gem. But don't expect to see Penn Press books on best-seller lists either. Many of the books published by the press are scholarly texts that sell about 500 copies. "We want to publish books that make a contribution to scholarship," Rotell said. "Most of our books aren't 'trade' books like those published by someone like Random House." The huge costs for publishing books also contributes to the low volume of books that the Press publishes. "To publish our kind of book can cost us almost $100,000," added Rotell. "We're a break-even organization. If we could make money, then we wouldn't be in business because our job is to publish books that won't make a lot of money." Although most students never realize that the Unversity has its own publishing company, they are not surprised to find out. "I guess I'm not really surprised," said College freshman Christina Kononenko. "I mean if Harvard has one, we should have one too." The Press staff understands the reasons for its anonymity but quickly asserts its importance in the University. "Students might not know of us," Rotell added. "But we are a window to the world for Penn and the quality of the things we publish is a reflection on the University as an institution."
(11/08/90 10:00am)
University Museum officials unveiled their newest exhibit at a press showing yesterday, adding Native American pottery to their list of impressive displays of archaeological artifacts. The exhibit, entitled "Beauty from the Earth: Pueblo Indian Pottery from The University Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology," features 105 pieces of pottery from the American Southwest Native Americans dating as far back as 900 A.D. and as recently as 1950. The pottery, which consists of various types of canteens, jars, and other storage containers, will be on display for one year starting this Saturday. Like other museum exhibits, it will travel nationwide to other museums who will each pay $25,000 to rent the exhibit for several months. According to museum officials, the exhibit is unique since extensive Native American pottery collections are extremely rare. "We have the stuff, but nobody out there has the stuff," said Susan Catherwood, the chairperson of the Museum's Board of Overseers. "So we decided to get the stuff out of our basement, make it into a blockbuster exhibit, and tour it nationally." "We want to show off the University Museum to the public audience around the country," Museum President Robert Dyson added. The pottery exhibit is only one of several new specialized exhibits taken from the museum's own collection that will tour the country in the years to come. And even though University students might not be able to relate to the style of pottery and its importance, said J. J. Brody, guest curator of the exhibit and an expert on Southwestern American art, it can carry a special message for them too. "It illustrates the incredible continuity and security of the Indian tradition that has persevered through so much European domination," Brody said. "The pottery expresses a lot of hope that maybe all of us can use." "The core of their ethnic personality is still there and if anything it's stronger now than its been in 200 years," he added. "They are revitalizing the modern-day with reverance to the art of the past." The highlight of the exhibit is a live exhibition by Pueblan potter Mary Lewis Garcia showing the techniques used in Pueblan pottery-making. At the press exhibit yesterday, she demonstrated how she slowly and carefully shapes, polishes, and eventually paints the piece using tools and paints that she has made from nature. "All of my materials are from the earth," said Garcia, "and I want it to stay that way." And despite the long, tedious process of creating piece of pottery, Garcia insisted that she never loses interest. "I never get bored," said Garcia. "I don't think about how long it takes me to complete just one piece of art. I often am working on fifteen different pieces at one time. Instead of watching TV at night, I create art." The Museum's collection of Southwestern pottery was acquired primarily towards the end of the 19th century through the purchase of various private collections. The first such purchase, for several hundreds of pieces, was for a mere $14,500 and sponsored by Phoebe Hearst, mother of newspaper giant William Randolph Hearst.
(11/01/90 10:00am)
Even Batman and Pee Wee Herman costumes couldn't mask the excitement of West Philadelphia children as they paraded down Locust Walk yesterday, collecting candy from various fraternities and sororities as part of the Panhellenic Council trick-or-treat party yesterday. Over 50 children from the West Philadelphia Community Center and the Community Kids Shelter visited eight Greek houses, filling their bags with all kinds of junk food. But the children weren't the only ones who had a good time. "It's fun for them, but it's fun for us too," said party organizer Ann Mcgowan, a Delta Delta Delta sister. Costumes ranged from witches and vampires to clowns and superheros. Joshua, age four, was a full-fledged cowboy, down to his spurs. Alpha Phi sister Kirsten Eriksen chose to be a red M & M. Others, like Robert, age 10, used gobs of facepaint to transform himself into his favorite wrestler. Anita Hsueh, Panhellenic Council Chairperson, took a more subdued approach as "thing #1," a character from a Dr. Seuss book. One highlight of the tour was a haunted house in the basement of the Phi Kappa Sigma house. But for Raheem, the best part of the party was "candy, candy, and more candy." Some children liked the haunted house so much they went through twice, but Raheem admitted that the real reason to go through again was "to get more candy." Greg Shufro, a College senior and founder of the Community Kids Shelter, said this is the only chance the children will have to trick-or-treat this year. "Most of the kids we have are from the projects where it's not safe to trick-or-treat," he said. "In general, we try to let these kids do things they wouldn't otherwise get to do." Some of the houses found unique ways to distribute the candy. Phi Sigma Kappa greeted children with a red lobster and blue octopus holding shopping bags filled to the brim with candy. At Alpha Tau Omega, the children caught a few seconds of "The Mad Monster Bash" as they hurriedly grabbed as much candy as possible. The West Philadelphia Community Center children had to leave at 5 p.m., but the kids from the Community Kids Shelter, most of whom are mentally handicapped, continued on to a Halloween pizza party at Kappa Alpha Theta, where they made Halloween cards and masks and a Halloween mural. "We've run this party for the past four years," said Mikal Shechter, Theta service chairperson. "They're really incredible and fun kids and we have a really good time with them. We're giving them attention that they wouldn't necessarily get anywhere else." Most of the young participants said they looked forward to next Hallowen, when they can again dress up and stock up on their favorite sweets. "I had a really great time," said Darnell, 11, who was dressed up as Doogie Howser. "I hope we get to do this again next year."
(10/23/90 9:00am)
While students probably wouldn't recognize the five University telephone operators if they met them on the street, their voices might ring a bell. Just dial 898-5000. They are the five women who let their fingers do the walking every day, answering inquisitive callers' questions and transferring hundreds of phone calls within the University each week. And while they currently plow through the stream of phone calls at their cramped office everyday using antiquated phone consoles and huge stacks of computer printouts, the operators are set to completely upgrade their system starting next year. According to Eileen Joseph, the office manager of the University's Department of Telecommunications, "the new system is designed to take our operators into the 21st century." "It'll be a huge database system which will make work for them much easier," she added. "This will enable us to provide the best possible service in the most expedient manner." But with operators like 61-year-old University Information veteran Nettie Altoonian, administrators may want to consider if the computer system could work any faster than she could. Altoonian, a University operator for 28 years, said she is hesitant about abandoning a "tried and true system," but added that "it wouldn't hurt to learn a new system." This would not be the first time Altoonian would have had to adapt to "modern" technology. She remembers when the operators worked in the basement of College Hall using the now-extinct "cord-boards" to connect calls. But at their present office at 42nd and Pine streets, the operators spend much of their time shuffling through reams of paper -- looking up and forcing most operators to memorize popular phone numbers, such as the Admissions Office, President Sheldon Hackney's Office and even Smokey Joe's Tavern. This memorization causes unique confrontations between operators and the faceless people whose numbers they discharge. When Altoonian first met Office Manager Joseph two months ago, Altoonian's first words were, "Oh! You're 7021!" And despite the repetitive work of being a University operator, they said their life is not solely composed of seven-digit numbers. "Lauren Bacall's son. . . used to go to school here," Altoonian said. "So did Candice Bergen. We used to get calls from their parents every once in a while. Why, just last week, Dr. Ruth called." And they are ready for nearly anything. For instance, should there ever be a power outage, operators can manually install in seconds special emergency phones which bypass the main electrical current and will function in the event of a blackout. However, Altoonian recalls one incident when students protested at the University and surrounded College Hall in the 1960s -- barring operators from entering the building and shutting down the University's information headquarters. While Joseph said that being a University operator is a thankless job, Altoonian said she gets satisfaction just from helping unprepared students deal with a sometimes overwhelming college life. "I'm always willing to help the students," Altoonian said. "They come here not knowing the crazy addresses of all the buildings, and I try to help them out." "[The operators] are such an integral part of the University," Joseph said. "Yet they are virtually ignored and unappreciated." And while some students like Wharton junior Kevin Pollack said that he has "never heard of them," others like College sophomore Jessica Lind said the operators provide a valuable service to the University. "I use it to get phone numbers when I don't have directory nearby," Lind said.
(10/03/90 9:00am)
As of 7 p.m. yesterday, the University's West German students officially became German students. The two Germanys ended 45 years of division at midnight German time last night with a huge ceremony and celebration. For millions of Germans around the world, last night's reunification represents the start of new era of freedom and unity. And while German students at the University said this week that they are happy with the newfound German unity, many were unsure if it would have any impact on their daily lives. College freshman Viviana Markuth, who lives in Hamburg, said that although unification is a necessary step for East Germans, West Germans, such as her, had lived in a divided country for over 40 years and many had considered it a way of life. "[Reunification is] not that much of a big deal," Markuth said. "We grew up with the wall. It was a fact of life. Mainly those who lived before the war will greatly appreciate the change." While world reaction to a unified Germany has been overwhelmingly favorable, a few have voiced concern that history would repeat itself. Germany was first united in 1871 under Kaiser Wilhelm I, and about 50 years later, Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler replaced the parliamentary government. However, German students said this week that it is unlikely that the new Germany will ever resemble its past. "A minimum of one year in school is spent studying the Nazi era," Wharton sophomore Tom Kirfel said. "It's pounded into our heads that [the Nazi Era] is not something to be proud of. Nationalism, like that which exists in France and England, is inconceivable in Germany." He added that he hopes that a new unified Germany, which he said has learned from past mistakes, will create a new sense of nationalism in which citizens can be proud of their country's present accomplishments -- something that has been lacking since the war. "I feel a little bit of pride, of hope that there may be a country to be proud of again -- a country to call home," Kirfel said. As for his personal celebration were he still in Germany, "I would party party party," Kirfel said. "Today is going to be the biggest party Germany has ever seen." "All in all, we're all in one boat," he added. "Everyone wants it to go well." Carsten Scheide, a part-time Wharton student, has always seen reunification as an event that was going to happen someday, but not in his lifetime. "I think it was somewhat of an inevitability," Scheide said. "But I thought I'd be at least 90 before something like this ever happened." Others, like Wharton freshman Mazyar Moghadam -- an Iranian who was born and lived in Germany until recently -- said they were happy that a unified Germany will allow for a free exchange of ideas between students from the former East and West Germanys. "I was in East Berlin shortly before the revolution and it was the most depressing day of my life," Moghadam said. "It was terrible. [People] were literally afraid to talk to me." Markuth said this week that finally, East Germans will be able improve their quality of life. With the influence of Western ideas and technology, she added, they will be able to experience a completely new and improved lifestyle.
