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(04/26/00 9:00am)
After facing tough pitching in four Ivy losses at Princeton, the Quakers will face tough hitters at Lehigh today. Today, the Penn men's baseball team faces the country's most dangerous hitter. That's right, this afternoon, in Bethlehem, Pa., three Penn pitchers are slated to try and sling their fastballs past Lehigh junior first baseman Pat Hollander, who currently leads all NCAA hitters with a .505 batting average. With only five games left on the Engineers' schedule, the left-handed hitter is a virtual lock to break both Lehigh's and the Patriot League's single-season hitting records, which are .488 and .448, respectively. Not exactly a power hitter -- just five home runs on the season -- Hollander isn't quite as imposing as his monstrous batting average. Even though he does lead the Engineers (15-20) in nearly every offensive category other than home runs -- 37 RBI, 81 total bases, a .757 slugging percentage and a .566 on-base percentage -- Hollander is not the only Lehigh player the Quakers (18-18) should worry about. "He's good, but they also have pretty decent pitchers and four or five guys hitting over .300," sophomore pitcher Mike Mattern said. Lehigh actually has six players other than Hollander who are better-than-.300 hitters. One of those players, sophomore center fielder Jeff Pietrak, was a teammate of Mattern's at La Salle High School in Philadelphia. "[Pietrak]'s a real good defensive outfielder," Mattern said. "He's got speed, and a little power. He gets a lot of extra-base hits." With seven doubles, five triples and four homers, Pietrak's numbers bear that out. Pietrak's .569 slugging percentage is second-highest on the team, besides, of course, Hollander's .757. In fact, Pietrak is among Lehigh's leaders in several important offensive categories. He's second in RBI, total bases, and doubles, third in hits, and fourth in walks and on-base percentage. The Quakers will certainly have their work cut out for them if they want to wash the weekend's bad taste out of their mouths. The Quakers dropped four games at Princeton on Sunday and Monday, erasing any shot they had at the Gehrig division lead. The Quakers are now in third place in the four-team sourthern division of the Ivy League, behind Princeton and second-place Cornell. The Red and Blue can stay out of the Gehrig basement if they can beat Columbia this weekend in a home-and-home series of doubleheaders. That's why it's imperative for the Quakers to make a good showing today, so they can reset for their final weekend of the season. "It's real important [to win tomorrow]," Mattern said. "It would be nice to get a win, to bounce back and go into the last weekend of the season on a winning note." Because the Quakers want to have fresh arms this weekend in New York, they will probably have several different pitchers pitch a few innings apiece, as they have done in most midweek games this season. "[Penn coach Bob Seddon]'s trying to pitch by committee and save some arms for the weekend," sophomore pitcher Mark Lacerenza said. That committee will probably consist of some combination of junior Matt Hepler, sophomore Dan Fitzgerald, and freshman Ben Krantz. Hepler (0-0) -- who has struggled this year and has the Quakers' highest ERA with 12.12 -- will try to get back on track against the Engineers' heavy hitters. Despite his inflated ERA, Hepler has kept opposing hitters below .300. Also, the righty has kept 'em in the park this year, allowing just one home run in 16 1/3 of work. Fitzgerald (1-2), has done an even better job of keeping the opponent's high-flying hitters grounded, allowing no homers in 14 and two-thirds innings. Krantz, the newcomer, has the best record (2-1) and ERA (5.19) of the three. Krantz has worked 17 1/3 innings and given up just one tater, mostly in relief work for the Red and Blue.
(04/26/00 9:00am)
History Professor Bruce Kuklick and Classical Studies Professor Jeremy McInerney were both named this year's recipients of the Ira Abrams Award for Distinguished Teaching, the highest teaching award given by the School of Arts and Sciences. Kuklick, the Roy F. and Jeannette P. Nichols Professor in American History, has been teaching American history at Penn for 28 years. "I'm very much honored by SAS in getting this award," Kuklick said. "I think I do a competent job teaching, but I never thought of myself as doing anything outstanding." Kuklick characterized his teaching style as flamboyant, adding that he uses dramatic presentations to convey important points. "What you really teach, in some respects, is yourself," he explained. McInerney was out of the country yesterday and could not be reached for comment. According to Classical Studies Department Chair Ralph Rosen, the professor -- who came to Penn into 1992 and received tenure just two years ago -- largely focuses on ethnic identity in ancient Greece, ancient inscriptions and archaeology. "He's just an amazing professor," Rosen said. "He has very high standards [for students] and still manages to have students adore him." Rosen also commended McInerney's polished and dynamic lecturing style. In a similar vein, History Department Chairwoman Lynn Lees commended the decision to give the award to Kuklick. "I have heard for years students praise his classes," she said. "He has extraordinary range as a teacher and extraordinary commitment." Lees said she thought Kuklick drew his strength as a teacher both from his expertise in a variety of areas and his excitement about studying history. "He brings an enormous passion for history, along with an ability to relate part of individual experience with large historical trends, to class," she explained, calling him a "dynamic teacher." "He teaches all over the map and he does it superbly. I was absolutely delighted when I learned he received the award," she continued. The award, now in its 16th year, is given to one or two faculty members annually. Last year, Psychology Professor Robert Rescorla received the Ira Abrams Award. English Professor Vicki Mahaffey and Math Professor Frank Warner -- both still teaching at Penn -- were the first recipients of the award in 1983. According to College Dean Richard Beeman, a committee of four or five faculty members determined this year's award recipients. He added that "students have significant input in the nomination process." Beeman also emphasized that SAS introduced three new awards to recognize undergraduate teaching this year. "The school is making a considerable effort to highlight the importance of excellent teaching and to award it with high visibility," he explained.
(04/26/00 9:00am)
Method Man and Redman will join forces tomorrow at the Class of 1923 Ice Rink. Superstar hip-hop artists Method Man and Redman will be lighting up the Class of 1923 Ice Rink tomorrow night for the highly anticipated Penn Relays concert. Organizers are calling the event the biggest Relays concert ever, predicting that a large and diverse audience from both inside and outside of Penn will come together for the stylings of the dynamic rap artists. "We're actually looking at about a total of 1,600," College sophomore Shamika Lee said of ticket sales so far. "We're expecting another 1,000 or so walk-ins," the co-director of the Social Planning and Events Committee to Represent Undergraduate Minorities added. "I think the show's going to sell out definitely," said Wharton junior Michelle Von Vital, vice president of SPEC. Method Man -- who rose to fame as a member of Wu-Tang Clan -- and Redman released a joint album on Def Jam Records called BlackOut last September, which quickly went platinum. Both artists performed individually at Penn before their rise to stardom. "They loved the idea [of performing here]," Lee said, adding that the artists have received a warm reception at Penn before. "They really wanted to do the show." To accommodate the larger audience expected this year, the concert will be held at the Class of 1923 Ice Rink instead of its usual location in Irvine Auditorium. "We thought that the Ice Rink would be a prime location for a concert," Lee said. She explained that the venue allowed greater freedom to design the stage and means audience members can stand and dance. Although the majority of tickets have been sold to Penn students, students from other universities and Philadelphia residents have also bought a large chunk of them. "We've had people coming from as far as Maryland," said College sophomore Aaliyah Richmond, co-director of SPEC-TRUM. In addition to the headliners, four other hip hop acts will open the concert. Philadelphia rap trio Ram Squad will perform, as well as Wu-Tang Clan member Ghostface Killah. Also on the line-up are New York hip-hop artist Stone Rivers and the lone female performer Rah Diggah, who first got attention as a member of Busta Rhyme's Flipmode Squad. Other big names have performed at Penn Relays in the past, including the Fugees and Busta Rhymes, but none have attracted as large an audience as this year. Organizers cite their extensive promotion campaign as being responsible for the enthusiastic response. Tickets for the concert are being sold on Locust Walk and are also available through Ticketmaster and the Annenberg Center. Tickets are $18 for students and $25 for the general public. Doors open tomorrow at 7 p.m.
(04/26/00 9:00am)
Local residents say Penn students are responsible for two trees cut down before their time on Baltimore Avenue. If a tree is chopped down on Baltimore Avenue and no one is around to see it, will the perpetrator still be caught? That is the question on the minds of the many community members in University City who are outraged that two saplings were cut down on the 3900 block of Baltimore Avenue early in the morning on April 20. "The reaction was one of total fury," said Mike Hardy, a project team member for Baltimore in Bloom, a group that has spent countless hours planting trees and flowers in the area. "Does someone have to burn the building down before people look into this type of behavior?" The trees have special meaning for many residents because they were planted by 25 neighbors and Penn students as part of one of the first joint projects between Baltimore in Bloom and UC Green, a University initiative aimed at improving West Philadelphia through planting and gardening. The two saplings were part of a set of 10 purchased by University City Housing two years ago to line Baltimore Avenue. "We're doing a lot of work to beautify the neighborhood and this kind of thing really touches a nerve with us," UC Green Director Esaul Sanchez said. Eugene Dempsey, one of the few permanent residents of the 3900 block of Baltimore Avenue, was the first to discover the damage when he came home from work at 2 a.m. and saw the two Honey Locust trees lying on the ground. Dempsey questioned a student -- who, at the time, was sitting by himself on the porch of one of the two houses that faced the saplings -- but the student denied seeing anyone touch the trees. He insists, however, that as he was speaking to the student, he heard a chopping sound coming from the back of the house. Dempsey then retreated into his house to call the police. Both the Philadelphia and University Police departments responded within minutes and investigated the scene. The Penn Police detective assigned to the case was unable to be reached for comment last night. "We saw trees that were chopped in the backyard," said Dempsey, who accompanied the officers in back of the houses. College senior Max Good, the student who was sitting on the porch at 2 a.m. Thursday night and spoke to Dempsey, said that he heard nothing. "I was actually sitting on the porch and we went inside," Good said. "When we came back out, we saw that it had been done." College junior Chad Parmet, a resident of the house in question, said he went to bed early that night and didn't hear any chopping noises. "We didn't hear anything," Parmet said. "I got woken up when a couple of cops accosted us." University Police are investigating the crime and have been questioning residents of the 3900 block of Baltimore about the vandalism. In the meantime, many community members are fuming and have already decided, despite the lack of conclusive evidence, that students cut down the trees. "This was perpetrated by the students," Sanchez said. "The community decided that students are responsible, but landlords are also responsible." Sanchez, who is an area resident, said that residents made several angry phone calls to the landlord who owns the house in question. University Enterprises, which manages the twin house across from one of the trees that was chopped down, has agreed to cover the costs of replacing the trees. "We certainly want to keep the neighborhood looking beautiful," said University Enterprises Owner Steve Herman, who denied that paying for new trees was an admission of the students' guilt. "It could have been anyone. I don't think it really matters at this point. They were down and they should be replaced," he added.
(04/26/00 9:00am)
NBX News' Andrea Mitchell will speak at the College graduation. University officials announced a star-studded cast of national figures to top this year's list of speakers for the individual school graduation ceremonies next month. Treasury Secretary Lawrence Summers, journalist Andrea Mitchell, prize-winning moviemaker Michael Moore and former National Football League star Lynn Swann will be among the speakers coming to each of Penn's 12 schools. "One of the features of having a major graduation ceremony and individual school ceremonies is that each school can attract a speaker that will resonate with graduates, their families and friends," University spokesman Ken Wildes said. "They can all bring background, expertise and a message that are pertinent to a particular school." In stark contrast to the celebrities and political figures on hand for the school ceremonies, the University's 244th Commencement will feature an academic. Seamus Heaney, the 1995 Nobel Laureate in Literature, will address all of Penn's graduates at the Franklin Field ceremony. Heamey's speech is scheduled for Monday, May 22 at 9:30 a.m. Meanwhile, a range of academic, political and entertainment figures will make appearances at the individual school graduations. Mitchell, NBC's chief foreign affairs correspondent and a University Trustee, will speak to the College of Arts and Sciences graduates at a ceremony to take place on Saturday, May 21 at 7 p.m. at Franklin Field. "[Mitchell] is a wonderful speaker and a prominent person who has also been very loyal to the University of Pennsylvania," School of Arts and Sciences Dean Samuel Preston said. A 1967 College alumna, Mitchell has made repeated visits to speak at her alma mater. She gave the Baccalaureate address in 1998 when her husband, Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan, was awarded an honorary degree from Penn and spoke to College undergraduates earlier this year as part of the Robert A. Fox Leadership Lecture series. Summers -- whose predecessor, Robert Rubin, was the Commencement speaker last year -- is the son of Penn professors emeriti Robert and Anita Summers. He will address members of this year's Wharton MBA graduating class. The ceremony will take place on Sunday, May 21 at 1 p.m on Franklin Field. Moore, who is best known for the highly acclaimed documentary Roger and Me, will be the graduation speaker at the Annenberg School for Communication's ceremony. That event will be held in the Annenberg School's lobby on Monday, May 22 at 2:30 p.m. And Swann, the former Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver and current Big Brother and Big Sisters of America national spokesman, will address the School of Social Work graduates in the University Museum's Harrison Auditorium on Monday, May 22 at 2 p.m. University officials also released the names of speakers for the University's three other undergraduate schools. The Wharton undergraduate division's ceremony selects two student speakers instead of a prominent figure. It was not known last night whether those students had been selected. The Wharton ceremony will take place on Sunday, May 21 at 9 a.m. on Franklin Field. The School of Nursing's ceremony will take place on Monday, May 22 at 7 p.m.in the First District Plaza at 38th and Market streets. Pew Charitable Trust President and CEO Rebecca Rimel will give the keynote address. The Engineering School, which has yet to schedule a speaker, will hold its ceremony in the Palestra on Monday, May 22 at 1 p.m. Other speakers taking part in individual school closing exercises include Penn Center for Bioethics Director Arthur Caplan, who will address the School of Veterinary Medicine. American Association of Medical Colleges President Jordan Cohen, will speak to Medical School graduates, and the Law School's ceremony will have two featured guests. U.S. Solicitor General Seth Waxman and Education Law Center member Janet Stotland will each deliver a speech at the Law School's ceremony.
(04/26/00 9:00am)
They came prepared for a protest. The chants were loud. The signs and banners were bright. And the fortune cookies were tasty. Last night, over 200 raucous Philadelphia residents edged their way into a packed chamber at City Hall for another round of discussion on proposals for two new publicly funded stadiums for the Phillies and Eagles sports franchises. The over three-hour long town hall meeting was organized by Mayor John Street and the city's Stadium Transition Subcommittee. It featured presentations by the mayor, team representatives and some of the city's business and civic leaders. But the loudest voices of the evening belonged to the general public in attendance, most of whom came from the Chinatown and Northern Liberties areas of the city to express their displeasure with proposals to place the new baseball stadium in their respective neighborhoods. The Eagles have received support for the construction of a football stadium at the current sports complex in South Philadelphia, while city leaders are committed to establishing a Center City location for a open-air Phillies baseball venue. "The experience from other cities is conclusive -- downtown ballparks draw bigger crowds," said Paul Levy, executive director of the Central Philadelphia Development Corporation, citing financial growth that followed the construction of new stadiums in Denver, Cleveland and Baltimore. Though city officials seem convinced of the potential for economic gain from a downtown stadium, the public remains divided over the site of the new ballpark. Committee representatives now say that several main sites are under consideration -- the east and west corners of the intersection of Broad and Spring Garden streets, 12th and Vine streets near Chinatown and the site of the old Schmidt's brewery in Northeast Philadelphia. "Typically, the communities with the least political power are the ones that get the projects that no one else wants," said Father Thomas Betz, a teacher at the Holy Redeemer Catholic School near the proposed Chinatown site at 12th and Vine. Mnay of Betz's students joined him to protest the Chinatown site, which neighborhood officials say is an example of poor government spending. "Why should we allow something as unimportant as entertainment to affect the future and education of our children?" said Mabel Lee, a student at Holy Redeemer, as her classmates held up signs and distributed fortune cookies to the crowd. The fortune read, "A stadium is in your future -- but NOT in Chinatown." "Chinatown already offers us plenty," Lee added. "What more could a stadium offer us?" Even Phillies President David Montgomery offered his opposition to a Center City site, saying that such a location was contrary to the wishes of Phillies fans and would anger residents of the ballpark's neighborhood. "I believe we listened to our fans," Montgomery said. "And our fans expressed a very strong desire to remain [in South Philadelphia]." Previously, the committee had considered a site on the current Postal Service property at 30th and Market streets. The proposal was eliminated amidst complaints from the University that it would create a congestion problem and interfere with plans to develop the area as a technological hub.
(04/26/00 9:00am)
Cuban students protested the government's decision to take the six-year-old boy by force. The now-famous photograph of Elian Gonzalez closeted with an armed immigration agent in the house of his Miami relatives was dramatically splashed across countless newspapers and televison stations last weekend. And now that the government's return of the six-year-old to his father Saturday morning has ignited passionate nationwide debate, Cuban-American students at Penn are making their own statement about the controversial situation. Members of Penn's Chapter of the Youth Leadership Committee of the Cuban American National Foundation were out on Locust Walk yesterday to demonstrate against the government's decision to return Elian to his father. The political group -- which has about 12 members and was established at Penn last semester -- handed out copies of its statement regarding Elian and other documents on Cuban President Fidel Castro to students and other passers-by. Members said the goal of the demonstration was to educate Penn students on the issue, as well as to tell local media about their perspective. "This is about a child that's being returned to a father who is unable speak for himself," said the group's founder, Engineering senior Andro Nodarse. Nodarse, who lived in Cuba until he was 12, said the media has portrayed Cuban-Americans unfairly. "No one, no one can possibly be against a child being with his father," he said, but added that sending Elian back to Cuba is returning him to a repressive nation. As they handed out information and talked to students, the demonstrators got mixed responses, according to College sophomore Philip Riveron, a member of the Foundation, as well as treasurer of the Cuban American Undergraduate Students Association. "Some people were receptive, some were very skeptical," Riveron said. Although it is a cultural rather than political group, CAUSA -- which has 20 members, about half of whom are in the Foundation -- fully supports the Foundation statement and demonstration, Riveron said. In its statement, the Foundation chastised the U.S. government, saying that Saturday was "a sad and reproachable day in this nation's history." Since November, Elian has been trapped in a seemingly endless custody battle between Cuba and the United States. The boy was taken in by his Miami relatives after he survived a refugee trip to Florida, during which the boat sank and his mother drowned. The family had refused to give the boy back to his Cuban father, spawning a passionate response from Cuban-Americans in Miami -- who believe that if Elian does return to Cuba, the U.S. government is effectively caving in to the Castro dictatorship. Protests exploded on Saturday after armed immigration agents forced their way into the home of the boy's Miami relatives and took him to his father in Maryland. The father and son have reportedly had a happy reunion. Penn's Cuban-American faction also said the Miami protesters had been given a bad rap. "The vast majority of them were holding up posters," Riveron said. "I have family down there [and some were] tear gassed." Riveron said the Penn students may hold another demonstration in the upcoming week, possibly with the support of other universities, such as Harvard and Duke.
(04/26/00 9:00am)
Eleven Penn students will receive the prestigious grant for international study. Six Penn undergraduates and five graduate students with a passion for international living and a dream to conduct their own program of study have recently been awarded the prestigious Fulbright grant. As Fulbright scholars, these students have been offered the opportunity to travel to the country of their choosing and carry out a program of research and study that they have selected -- all paid for by the United States government. Additional students may still win the award. "I wanted to go to a new country and learn a new language," said College senior Katrin Fraser, a recipient of the grant. "And I will be able to learn the language at the beginning of this program." Fraser, an Asian and Middle Eastern Studies and International Relations double major, plans to travel to Korea as part of the program to teach English as a foreign language. The most current list of this year's undergraduate Fulbright recipients also include College senior Kristina Herbert -- who will head to Germany to study force measurements of nucleosome DNA using atomic force microscopy -- and College senior Miriam Joffe-Block, who will be researching migrant labor and civil society in Bangkok and northeastern Thailand. Also on the list are College senior Laura Robbins, who plans to go to Spain to study Spanish views on race in colonial Alta California; Wharton junior Adam Kaufman, who is traveling to Mexico to study information systems; and College and Wharton senior Christopher Murray, who has a bi-national business grant to Mexico. The grants provide students with travel expenses, tuition, language orientation courses and overall living expenses for one academic year. As part of the intensive application process, recipients conceptualize and plan their own intended course of study, which may include independent research, field work and/or traditional university course work. Fraser -- who has already traveled extensively to the Far East to countries such as Japan and Singapore -- said she is pleased that her year-long Fulbright will allow her to explore before committing to a "serious job." Her plans eventually include graduate school and extended study in China. And Murray, who is fluent in Spanish, said the program gives him an interesting post-graduation option. "I did not know what my plans would be after graduation," he said. "So I applied for the grant." The Fulbright program was created by the United States government after World War II. As a result of a piece of legislation sponsored by Senator J. William Fulbright, the grant allows American students to engage in a cross-cultural exchange with over 100 nations worldwide. With over 4,000 applicants nationwide, the program is very competitive. Of the thousands of applications received, only 800 students are offered the grant. Each year, Penn has approximately 55 applicants. Of those an average of 10 to 12 undergraduate and graduate students receive the grant, according to Clare Cowen, the on-campus Fulbright advisor. "Basically, Penn has a good way of working with the students," Cowen said, noting the high percentage of Penn student recipients. So far, graduate students in the College who have received the grant include Jeanne Nugent, who will travel to Germany to study history and identity in Gerhard Richter's photo paintings; David Heaney, who will also go to Germany to research Leberecht Migge and modern landscape in Weimar Germany; and Bruce Baird, who will travel to Japan to work on Butah philosophy and the burden of history. Also, Solimar Otero will go to Nigeria to study the Brazilian and Cuban Yoruba community in Lago, and Nick Sawicki will spend his time in the Czech Republic studying Czech art. "It is a prestigious award with an international reputation," Cowen added.
(04/26/00 9:00am)
In the United States, blacks have been officially free from slavery for more than 130 years. The Israelites -- the ancestors of the Jewish people -- were also enslaved, over 3,000 years ago, until Moses led them out of Egypt. This shared historical experience was the impetus for Monday night's program called "Once We Were Slaves." About 50 students -- most of whom were Jewish -- gathered in W.E.B. DuBois College House for an address by Asian and Middle Eastern Studies Professor Jeffrey Tigay, small group discussions and a symbolic meal. The program coincided with Passover, the annual Jewish celebration of the Exodus from Egypt. "I think it's a wonderful idea for these two communities to share a Passover meal," Tigay said, referring to the seder, a ritual feast at the beginning of Passover that marks the end to Jewish enslavement and the continuing struggle against oppression. Sponsored by Alliance and Understanding -- an award-winning program for fostering Black-Jewish interaction at Penn -- and Tzedek Hillel, a Jewish student community service initiative, the goal of the program was to "facilitate a dialogue about our histories and oppression," said College sophomore Noga Newberg, a member of both organizations. After Tigay drew historical parallels between African American and Jewish struggles, students from both communities enjoyed symbolic seder foods, such as parsley dipped in salt water -- a metaphor for the pain and tears of slavery -- and boiled eggs, which represent hope and rebirth. Four suggested discussion questions -- modeled after the four questions asked at the beginning of every seder -- prompted intense discussion at the five tables of participants. Some students noted the similarities between the experiences of African Americans and Jews, which have contributed to effective communication between the groups at certain points in American history. "If you have a real threat that you see and you feel, you tend to overlook differences," said Charise Lindsay, a College junior and member of Alliance and Understanding. Even today, some people -- such as white supremacists -- "have just as much hatred for both of our groups," added College sophomore Samantha Cohen. Still, some students felt that tension still exists between African Americans and Jews in America -- and at Penn. "The atmosphere at Penn is not neutral, so it's actually going against integration," Lindsay said. Others agreed that the University must actively facilitate interaction between different ethnic communities. College junior Beth Harkavy, who coordinated last night's program, said she believes that students don't voluntarily place enough emphasis on increasing African American-Jewish dialogue on campus. "I went to a Jewish school for 18 years," College freshman Jonah Lowenfeld said. "I come here and I don't know what to do with myself." And College sophomore and Alliance and Understanding member Wayman Newton emphasized the need to take individual responsibility for one's social circle. "I have Jewish friends. I choose to live at DuBois. It's a choice," he said. The program closed with a chorus of "Let My People Go," an inspirational song about the Exodus which is well-known in both the African American and Jewish communities. Alliance and Understanding, now in its third year of existence, sponsors African American-Jewish programming and educational spring breaks for Penn students. Newberg said last night's program was an important step in "creating awareness about the relationships that are possible between black and Jews."
(04/26/00 9:00am)
Although the folks at home might miss out on the flavor of the nation's loudest, most raucous track and field event, a national television audience will get a chance to watch action from the 106th Penn Relays. USA Track and Field announced last Wednesday a first-ever event that will pit America's finest track athletes against top international competition in a relays-only format. Using the Saturday of Penn Relays as a staging ground, ESPN will televise a series of intercontinental battles -- ominously titled "USA vs. The World -- on Sunday, April 30 from 4 to 5 p.m. Michael Johnson, Marion Jones, Maurice Greene, Inger Miller and Gail Devers will headline the event, which will feature five relays of international importance: the men's and women's 4x100 meters, the men's and women's 4x400 and the men's 4x1500. It's the hope of USATF that in this, an Olympic year, the tape-delay broadcast will prime the American public for the Sydney Games in September. "USA vs. The World is a new concept for our sport," USATF CEO and track luminary Craig Masback said in a press release last week. "With its deep heritage and 40,000-spectator crowds, the Penn Relays provides an ideal setting. It is a tremendous opportunity for our athletes." The USA vs. The World format is not only a convenient way for the Carnival to get back on the tube. It's also being billed as an opportunity for America's track athletes to begin the stretch run of preparation for the Summer Olympics in September. Two USA teams will enter into each of the featured relays. "The concept is basically to have the Relays serve as a U.S. Olympic training sight for the relay teams," Penn Relays Director Dave Johnson said at a press conference last week. In the pool for the 4x400 are Tyree Washington, Antonio Pettigrew and Michael Johnson, who were all part of the USA quartet that set a world record in the event in 1998. Pettigrew also ran the second leg of an Adidas team that won the 4x400 in 1999 at the Relays. Veterans Jerome Davis, Angelo Taylor and Calvin Harrison will also be on hand at Franklin Field to face teams from Jamaica, the Bahamas and Trinidad and Tobago. Michael Johnson, whose wife is very close to giving birth, is clearly in tip-top shape this spring. In his very first race of the season, the defending Olympic champion ran the fourth-fastest time in the 200 in history. The women 4x400 teams at Penn look like definite challengers for the gold Down Under. Shanelle Porter, national indoor 400 champion Suziann Reid, Kim Graham, Michelle Collins, 1996 Olympic 400 hurdles bronze medalist Tonja Buford Baily and former world champ Jearl Miles Clark will all appear on 33rd Street. In the 4x100 races, the Americans will turn hold the crowd captive as well. World record holder Green leads a pool that includes 1996 4x100 silver medalists Jon Drummond, Tim Montgomery and Tim Harden. On the female side, the U.S. will boast Devers and her 1996 Olympic teammates Chryste Gaines, Inger Miller and two-time world champion Marion Jones. With the financial support of GMC Envoy, Nike and the U.S. Air Force, this event brings the Relays back to television after a one-year hiatus. CBS televised portions of the Carnival in a two-hour, tape-delay special in 1996, '97 and '98, but the network's contract with the Relays expired two years ago. Last year, there was no TV coverage of the event, and the three-year stint for CBS marked only the second time that the Relays had been televised in their vaunted history. In 1966, ABC featured segments of the Philadelphia event in the very first telecast of Wide World of Sports.
(04/25/00 9:00am)
College senior Lauren Mucciolo won the $250 Burr Book prize for collecting interesting books. Most prizes awarded annually this time of year honor students for writing accomplished essays or completing difficult scientific experiments. But one award stands out among the others, offering kudos to students who spent their time in local bookstores scouring the shelves for interesting reading matter. The obscure Charles W. Burr Book Prize is awarded annually to the student who has collected the most interesting and intelligently selected library of books. After purchasing The Second Sex by Simone de Beauvoir, Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison and Ulysses by James Joyce among others, College senior and English major Lauren Mucciolo came away with the $250 prize this year. Students may include any book, except text books, purchased within the last academic year. The committee of Penn faculty and administrators generally looks for students who have pursued a particular theme or academic interest in building their library. "College is a place where you pick up a reading list for the rest of your life," said John Richetti, chairman of the English department. "Students who go to the bookstore just to pick up books -- that is what being educated is all about." A regular at used book stores around the city, Mucciolo pursued four categories -- feminist literature, African-American literature, French language literature and European authors. "There's no science to it," she said of her book collection. "If I see something that jumps out at me I buy it." Deborah Burnham, acting director of Writing Across The University and an English lecturer, serves on the selection committee. She emphasized that books become more than just objects; they are a collection of thoughts and ideas. Noted Sandra Schwartz, assistant director for student services and a fellow committee member, "We were impressed by Mucciolo's considerable depth of interest and eclectic taste in literature." The idea -- and the endowment -- for the prize came from Charles W. Burr, a man with quite an interesting history. A Philadelphia native and Penn graduate, Burr was a noted neurologist, psychiatrist and professor emeritus of mental diseases at the Penn School of Medicine. He carved out a niche for himself as a proponent of some very radical viewpoints. In addition to endowing the prize which he hoped would encourage ownership of worthwhile books by students, Burr is noted for having been largely responsible for the formation of the "Friends of the Library" organization. The Burr Book Prize, however, remains relatively unknown to most. Schwartz said that this year there were only five applicants for the award. "We were definitely disappointed with the response," she said. Still, Mucciolo was excited about her win. And how will she use the prize money? To buy more books.
(04/25/00 9:00am)
Kicking off the first meeting of its new term, the Undergraduate Assembly met last night to establish a stance on Penn's proposed electronic privacy policy. University Council informally proposed an Electronic Privacy Policy earlier this month. Currently, there is no policy in place to determine such things as when administrators can read students' or employees' Penn e-mail accounts without permission. The proposal, which has been debated throughout the year, is up for public comment until June 1. Electronic privacy took up more than half of the night's agenda, with Penn American Civil Liberties Union Chairman Yoni Rosenzweig informing the body about the ACLU's problems with the policy. Rosenzweig emphasized that the ACLU had two major complaints regarding the proposal. First, they disagree with the rules concerning which administrators would have access to student e-mail, saying that the Office of Student Conduct should not have those privileges. The policy would allow the deans of a student's school, the OSC and the Office of Audit and Compliance to access the content of students' messages in consultation with the Office of the General Counsel. Secondly, he said the wording on the conditions for searching e-mail was too broad and allowed too much access. The proposed policy as it stands gives the University the liberty to check students' e-mail if they feel that it is out of a "good faith effort," which Rosenzweig said lacked objectivity. He proposed that this terminology be changed to "probable cause," which would mean that there was legitimate and sound reason for invasion. After Rosenzweig's comments and a discussion among the body, the UA decided to release a statement today expressing their dissatisfaction with "the way in which the policy was created and the way in which e-mail messages can be accessed by the administration," UA Chairman and College junior Michael Bassik said. Along with its prepared statement, the UA will also propose several amendments to the policy that are similar to those demanded by the ACLU. The amendments ask that Penn maintain a proper log of searches and that the OSC not be included in the organizations that have access to e-mail. They also say that instead of the OSC, the Information Systems and Computing office should be allowed to monitor e-mail in order to "maintain the integrity of the network." Finally the body asks that the University require a "probable cause" instead of a "good faith effort" to search correspondence.
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When the Penn men's golf team left for the Princeton Invitational this past Thursday, it had one thing on its mind -- redemption. The Quakers finished behind Princeton last weekend in the Ivy League Championships and were confronted with a chance to save face. Unfortunately for the Quakers, the golf gods were wearing orange and black. Due to inclement weather, the tournament was shortened to just one day. Saturday's round saw the Quakers shoot an impressive 295. Princeton finished first, though, with a terrific four-over 288. Leading the Quakers was sophomore Mike Russell with a round of 72. Junior Kyle Moran fired an impressive 73, freshman Endel Liias posted a 74, senior captain Rob Goldfaden shot a 76 and freshman standout Chad Perman shot a 78. "Losing to Princeton is not my idea of fun," Perman said. "It always helps to play your own course." According to Perman, "If you hit the ball in the correct place, you can definitely score well on this course." Princeton's Judd Pritchard did exactly as Perman said, as he shot a blistering, three-under 68 to win top individual honors. For Russell, the gloomy skies and rain-soaked course could not put a damper on his excitement. A two-handicap, Russell fired a one-over 72 to lead the Quakers. His rise to the top of the Quakers, however, was even more impressive than his Saturday score. Russell began the season not knowing if he would ever see action for the Red and Blue. He tried out for the men's golf team in his freshman year, but narrowly missed the cut. This year, he made the team, although it took him nearly the whole fall season to do so. "I tried out the entire fall," Russell said. "I didn't make the team officially until I shot a 75 and led the team at the Princeton Invitational in the fall." According to Russell, his real break came during the annual spring break golf trip. "The seniors were unable to go on the spring trip," Russell said. "[Penn coach] Francis [Vaughn] gave me a chance. It felt good to get my first tournament [in the top five] under my belt." Since the spring trip, Russell has played in half of the spring tournaments. But it has certainly not been easy for Russell to qualify for these tournaments. Vaughn has each player try out the week prior to the tournament. "It's a dogfight," Russell said. "Four or five guys are all vying for one or two spots. Luckily, I played well at Philly Cricket and was able to get into the starting lineup. It's exciting." According to Russell, next year the Quakers will be extremely deep, especially in the bottom of their lineup. "If one guy isn't playing well one week, we have three of four guys who can replace him and play well," Russell said. As strong as the Quakers can potentially be next year, they will no doubt miss the leadership and outstanding play of senior captain Rob Goldfaden and senior Rob Hunt. Both of these players set the stage for what might be imminent dominance for the Red and Blue.
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Penn's Hillel director found the white powder in a piece of hate mail sent to the Jewish center. The Hillel Foundation received a virulently anti-Semitic piece of mail yesterday containing a suspicious powdery substance that the letter claimed was the lethal toxin anthrax. Federal authorities determined later in the day that the substance was in fact non-toxic. According to police, Hillel Director Jeremy Brochin was the first to open the envelope, which was not addressed to any specific person. Brochin called police at about 9:45 a.m. Within minutes, units from the University Police, the Philadelphia Fire Department, the FBI and a federal counter-terrorism task force were on the scene to close the building and investigate the matter. After quarantining both Brochin and the entire building, police and fire investigators determined that the substance was in fact not anthrax. The building was then reopened and the substance and letter were sent off to an FBI laboratory for further analysis. "The FBI has now determined [the substance] not to be a chemical hazard at all," said University Police Deputy Chief of Investigations Thomas King. "They're still not exactly sure what it is, but as far as the tests for dangerous substances, those have all come back negative." Neither Hillel leaders nor University Police would speculate on who might have sent the threatening piece of mail. "I have no idea [who sent the letter]," Brochin said. "The letter mentioned the Holocaust vigil last week and expresses disgust with the vigil." Earlier this month, the Jewish community observed Yom Hashoah, a holiday commemorating the Holocaust, with a vigil on College Green. Though they have few leads at this point, the initial belief of investigators is that the letter likely came from an individual with little or no affiliation with the University. "It's difficult if not impossible to tell initially where the letter came from, though we believe it came from somewhere far off campus," King said. University officials were shocked that someone would choose to send such a threatening and derogatory piece of mail. "It was a distasteful and despicable hoax and it has no place here or in society," University spokesman Ken Wildes said. Leaders within the Jewish community said that while acts like this should always arouse concern, this particular incident appears to be an isolated event and the work of an individual or a small group -- not that of a larger hate group. "It's important to look at the incident in a larger context," said Barry Morrison, regional director of the Anti-Defamation League of Philadelphia. "It appears to be an isolated incident not explicitly related to anything else anywhere in the country." The timing of the letter -- which was postmarked April 19 -- should also cause suspicion, Morrison said, as it could have likely been sent in conjunction with a number of infamous anniversaries. "We're certainly aware of the fact that April 20 both fell on Passover and was the anniversary of Hitler's birthday," Morrison said. "April 19 was also the anniversary of the Oklahoma City bombing, the fire at Waco and the execution of the white supremacist Richard Snell, so in one context these dates could mean something." Brochin echoed those sentiments, saying that while the incident was certainly disturbing, it was likely not indicative of any larger trend of anti-Semitism on campus. "I think this is a disturbed person, and there's not much you can do about it," he said. "I think I might now be a little more vigilant when it comes to opening a letter, and I think the staff [at Hillel] will be more vigilant as well."
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Penn lost the second game in the bottom of the ninth inning. PRINCETON, N.J. -- All day long yesterday, the Penn baseball team looked like it was on the verge of losing any chance at the Lou Gehrig Division title. After a brief glimmer of hope, the Quakers (17-18, 7-9 Ivy League) finally succumbed, and the Princeton Tigers(19-14, 12-4) captured the Gehrig crown with a doubleheader sweep. Needing a win to stay alive, the Quakers trailed 4-1 after six in the nightcap, and Tigers sophomore Tom Rowland was cruising. But Penn struck for four runs in the seventh to turn the tables and make it seem that they might force Princeton to wait until next weekend to clinch. The Quakers, however, failed to push home an insurance run in the top of the ninth, and in the bottom of the inning, Penn starter Andrew McCreery finally ran out of gas. McCreery, who pitched brilliantly to keep the Quakers in the game while they were trailing, hit Princeton catcher Casey Hildreth with a pitch with one out to start the rally. It was the fourth time that Hildreth had been plunked in the game, and McCreery's sixth hit batsman. The bases filled on a seeing-eye single and a walk before McCreery walked No. 9 hitter Jay Mitchell in the tying run. Penn coach Bob Seddon then went to the bullpen for Paul Grumet, but he gave up a long single to outfielder Jon Watterson to end the game and Penn's title hopes. "If we had won this one, then maybe we could have hoped for Cornell to pull something [and beat Princeton next weekend]," Penn first baseman Ron Rolph said. The only thing that was hard to take about the first game was Princeton ace Chris Young's pitching. The sophomore was simply dominant as the Tigers romped, 7-1. Fortunately for the Quakers, the opening game was only seven innings long. Young went the distance, allowing just one run on three hits with a career-high-tying 10 strikeouts. "I wasn't as sharp as I normally am today," Young said. "Trying to work my fastball, I couldn't seem to locate it." Young's ERA did jump from 0.90 to 1.00 with the Penn run, but he spent the day utterly dominating a Penn lineup that came to Clarke Field sporting a .321 team average. The Princeton sophomore struck out at least one batter in every inning and fanned every starter for the Penn except for Rolph and McCreery. With about 25 professional scouts looking on, Young only got into trouble once all afternoon. He walked designated hitter James Mullen to lead off the fourth inning. After a passed ball sent Mullen to second, Young looked like he might escape, retiring Glen Ambrosius and Jeff Gregorio. But Ron Rolph poked a single into right field to break up the shutout as Mullen hustled home from second. But by that point, the game was already all but out of reach. Penn starter Mark Lacerenza spotted the Tigers five runs in his 2 2/3 innings of work. The southpaw gave up three in the second and a two-run homer to right fielder Max Krance in the third before being pulled in favor of Brian Burket. Penn did not have to go to the bullpen so soon in the second game. Although McCreery was wild, plunking five in the first five innings, he pitched well enough to keep his team in it. "He's either throwing the ball on the corner or at your head," Tigers coach Scott Bradley said. "He was wild, but he threw strikes when he had to." But the Quakers didn't exactly have their hitting shoes on early in the second game either, as they only had two hits off of Rowland until the rally in the seventh inning. In the first six innings, only Chris May's double, a Mullen fly to left and an Ambrosius fly to right made it out of the infield for Penn. Rowland was as stifling as Young, although the scouts were long gone. But in the seventh inning, the Princeton southpaw ran out of gas. Rolph drew a leadoff walk and was driven home with one out on a triple by May. Ralph Vasami doubled him home and scored after a bunt single from Nick Italiano and a single by Mullen between third and short. Ambrosius capped the four-run rally with a single to right that brought in Italiano. But Penn lost the lead in the ninth and will have to wait for another day to beat the Tigers.
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The Red and blue rowers captured the Raritan Cup for the first time in a long time. For the Penn women's crew varsity eight, nine was the magic number this weekend. After winning the Raritan Cup in 1991, the Quakers never had it in their possession any time in the last nine years. Until Saturday, that is. With a time of 6:02.6, the Red and Blue edged Cornell -- last year's Cup winners -- by nearly two seconds and Rutgers by eight seconds. "To be successful under pressure is just continuing to build our confidence," senior co-captain Loren Berman said. "I have not beaten Cornell once in my Penn career, so it was nice to get that under my belt before graduation." The junior varsity boat did not fare as well as expected, placing behind the Big Red. The Scarlet Knights did not enter a boat in the JV race. "We just didn't row to our potential. We were solid, but there was just something missing. Now we're going to go back to the drawing board to try and pinpoint and fix what went wrong," senior co-captain Kealy O'Connor said. Both varsity four teams placed behind Cornell A and B, despite rowing solid races. "We've been working really hard on our aggressiveness?. We had a great race," Penn sophomore Cathlyn Sullivan said. The first and second novice races were both won by Cornell, with the Quakers placing third and second, respectively. "Both schools traditionally have strong freshman boats. Going in, we knew they were going to be very fast boats," first novice coxswain Haben Goitom said. Cornell won the Class of '89 plate, awarded to the team that wins the most races in the regatta. "Cornell raced extremely hard in every event. They have tremendous depth. Winning the points trophy was no surprise for them," Penn coach Barb Kirch said. All boats seemed to be pleased with the continued progress they have been making but still know that they have yet to peak, a good sign heading into the culmination of their spring season -- Eastern Sprints. "There's still more there -- we haven't reached our full potential yet. We're looking forward to tapping into that as Sprints come up," O'Connor said. The regatta, besides showing the individual strengths and weaknesses of each boat, demonstrated how solid the team has become as a whole. "They have succeeded so far based on courage, desire and strength. To go to the next level, they need a little more feeling for the boat," Kirch said. "They need to beat Dartmouth and come as close as they can to Princeton to be able to say they've had a tremendous season, no matter what happens at Sprints." Up next for the Quakers is a trip to Princeton with Dartmouth on Saturday. Rivalries will be abundant with both the Tigers and the Big Green. "Barb [Kirch] coached Dartmouth before she came here, so they're always looking to beat us. We want to make her proud," O'Connor said. "And the Tiger-Quaker rivalry is just as true in women's crew as it is in men's basketball." In the last regatta before Eastern Sprints on May 14, the Quakers are looking to build confidence and momentum that will hopefully result in their second trip to the NCAA Championships in three years. "We're definitely still improving. We need to keep up this intensity until Sprints," Sullivan said.
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Chris Young dominated Penn yesterday in front of scouts, Princeton hopes he won't leave for the draft. PRINCETON, N. J. -- With radar guns and camera shutters clicking away at Clarke Field yesterday, the most noticeable sound of all was a familiar one at Ivy League baseball games. It was the sound of Princeton pitcher Chris Young's fastball hissing as it sliced through the air, lacing its way to an inevitable pop in the mitt of Tigers catcher Buster Smalls. The 6'11" Young made mincemeat of the Ivy League's top offense yesterday, allowing just three hits and striking out 10 in a seven-inning complete game victory in front of a bevy of scouts. Penn catcher Jeff Gregorio was Young's most frequent victim. The Quakers' leading RBI man fanned in the first inning, was caught looking in the fourth inning and seemed fortunate to finally make contact when he bounced harmlessly back to the box in the sixth. Young said that despite his impressive afternoon, he did not have his best stuff and struggled to spot his fastball. Still, the scouts left Old Nassau with something to think about. "He's got a good fastball, throws well," one professional scout said. "There's interest in the kid. He was 87-88 [miles per hour on the radar gun]." As Young was busy shutting down the Quakers, questions loomed about that other place that he gives Penn headaches -- the basketball court at Jadwin Gym, barely visible beyond the hedges in center field. "It's a concern and a positive thing," one American League scout said of Young playing basketball for Princeton. "The draft and money aside, does he want to throw those next two years away? I've watched him play basketball, and you can tell on the court that he likes it." Young, who was a unanimous selection to the All-Ivy first team in basketball this past season, likes playing baseball, too. Since he is eligible for this June's draft, it will be interesting to see how his two-sport stardom affects his baseball draft position. "You can't even say enough about what this kid has done," Princeton coach Scott Bradley said. "To be a two-sport athlete, to be a student, to handle himself with more class than anyone I've ever been around in my life, it's just a real credit to him. "He's got a real future on the baseball field," Bradley added. "Chris is such a baseball rat. He loves the game. We talk a lot about baseball. He's such a special kid. We're in a spot where a lot of people at Penn and Cornell and Columbia and everyone else are hoping that Chris is selected pretty high in the draft, because he's going to have a decision to make." Penn coach Bob Seddon can't wait to get Young out of his hair, but he'll believe it when he sees it. "They'll have to throw a ton of money at him," Seddon said. "And personally, I don't think they will." Young has clearly had his eyes on pro ball for quite some time, even since before arriving at Princeton. "I think [not going to] Penn was probably more of a baseball decision," Young said. "With coach Bradley's expertise, and his having handled Randy Johnson in the big leagues, a 6'10" pitcher. From a baseball standpoint, if I was going to go to an Ivy League school, Princeton was the right place." It has indeed been the right place for Young. He has helped to lead the Tigers to Gehrig Division titles in both his years in the Orange and Black and was the first man ever to be named Ivy League Rookie of the Year in two sports. Although Princeton's basketball team has not risen to glory with Young, the scouts are impressed by his leadership qualities with both teams. "He's athletic and competitive," the American League scout said. "[Success] doesn't hurt. The further they go, the more exposure it is. And everybody wants a winner." Young was a winner yesterday on the mound, and he's been nothing but a winner for the Tigers all season. He is 3-0, and his ability to shut down a lineup at a moment's notice will definitely come in handy when Princeton plays for the Ivy League title after clinching the Gehrig Division yesterday.
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Penn finished behind Cornell but topped the visiting squad from Birmingham, England. For the Penn women's track team, it's starting to seem like a classic case of always being the bridesmaid, but never the bride. The Quakers secured runner-up position for the second consecutive week in a tri-meet on Saturday by recording 124 points, while Cornell led with 155 points scored. Also at the tri-meet, finishing a distant third, was visiting Birmingham (U.K.). The team, which arrived last Wednesday evening, ended the afternoon with 85 points. Saturday's competition marked the end of the regular outdoor season for the Red and Blue, as they now head into the much-anticipated Penn Relays to be held on Franklin Field's track this weekend. Though the weather on Saturday remained cloudy with light rain throughout the afternoon, the Red and Blue's performance had several bright spots. Recording first-place finishes in their respective events this weekend were junior Bassey Adjah, sophomore Liz Wittels and freshman Julie Siebert-Johnson. Adjah continued her dominance this season by finishing first in the long jump with a leap of 17'8". Sophomore Melissa MacIntyre finished second with a jump of 17'5", while freshman Meredith Bunche leapt to a fourth-place finish. Adjah's strong overall performance also included a second-place effort in the 100-meter hurdles. The junior also ran the third leg of Penn's victorious 4x400 relay. By the end of the afternoon, Adjah had contributed a total of 19 points to Penn's total score. The team has shaken off its slow and disappointing indoor season and has boldly proven itself thus far in the spring. Adjah attributes her personal as well as the team's overall success throughout the outdoor season to thorough preparation and to the squad's bonding over the past few months. "Everyone is finally stepping up and finally peeking," Adjah said. "The team is also coming together as [a unit] for the first time, and now it is more than just a few people doing the scoring." In the pole vault event, Liz Wittels' performance earned the Quakers seven more points, as she successfully cleared a height of 10'11" to win the event. The sophomore also recorded third-place points in the hammer throw event, throwing a distance of 136'6". Wittels' sophomore campaign has indeed been a successful one, as this week's performance almost eclipsed her first-place, school record-tying effort in the javelin throw at Yale last weekend. Also contributing to the Quakers' collective effort were senior captains Richelle Clements and Ruthie Neuhaus. Clements finished the afternoon adding nine points, as she finished second and third, respectively, in the 100 and 200. Meanwhile, Neuhaus led a dominant triple jump team that took second through fifth places. Finishing behind Neuhaus were teammates Jennifer Thompson, Bunche and Meghan Moran. In the 400-meter hurdles, sophomore Alicia Terry captured second-place as she finished just 2/10 of a second behind Cornell's Benita Gateman with a time of 63.0. And finishing fourth for the Red and Blue in the event was freshman Crystal Marsh, who recorded a time of 64.9. Though Penn finished the meet in second, the Quakers led Cornell early on. The Quakers ran into trouble down the stretch, however. "There were a few [events] that we should have won or scored in, and we didn't. That is what really hurt us in the end," Adjah said. Saturday's competition ended as the Penn 4x400 relay team won their event for the fourth time this season. The relay team, which on Saturday included Qianna Snooks, Adjah, Jeraldine Cofie and Petra Stewart, completed its outdoor season undefeated throughout Ivy League competition. Expectations are certainly high for the remainder of the outdoor season. The Quakers hope to prove themselves on a grand stage this Friday against Ivy League competition at Relays in front of thousands of visiting fans. The Quakers will follow up Relays with the Heptagonal Championships at home and IC4As.
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The Penn varsity eight took the cup home from New York by beating Yale and Columbia. The Penn men's heavyweight crew team made a victorious return to Philadelphia this past weekend after getting the best of Columbia and Yale on the Harlem River. With the win over the Elis and Lions, the Quakers made sure that the Blackwell Cup remained in the Penn boathouse for the second year in a row. The Red and Blue varsity eight was pleased to have a win to show for its efforts after a disappointing race at the San Diego Crew Classic and a down-to-the-wire loss only a week ago on Carnegie Lake in Princeton, N.J. With a time of 6:08.4, Penn clearly emerged the winner over Columbia and Yale, which clocked in at 6:12.8 and 6:13.5, respectively. Despite the less-than-perfect rowing conditions, Penn coach Stan Bergman was happy with his team's performance. "Our crew did a great job this weekend," Bergman said. "Although the conditions were tough, they handled themselves well. At this point we just hope to continue to improve and build off the victory." Penn was the favored crew entering the regatta and rowed with plenty of confidence, showing many improvements since their season opened on April 1. "We never underestimated our competition going into the race, but we didn't seem to attack it with the same mental intensity as the previous weekend against Princeton," sophomore varsity rower Mike Parker commented. "The first half of the race was somewhat tight, but once we hit the 1,000-meter mark, we separated the men from the boys and hammered it home." Despite an intense week of tough practices and a handful of sick or injured rowers, the Red and Blue were still able to come away in first place. "We are happy with the win since it is the first of the season. That was our goal -- to get the win," junior varsity rower Doug Sieg said. "However, we did not race technically as well as we would have liked and were also tired from a very hard week of training." The rest of the Red and Blue boats also showed progress, although they did not win their races. All other Penn crews -- the second varsity eight, the first freshman eight and the second freshman four -- finished in second place behind the Elis. This week, Penn will look to further improve as it prepares to race for the Adams Cup on the Severn River in Maryland on Saturday. "This week, we will focus on getting healthy and rowing better together," Sieg said. "We race Harvard and Navy on Saturday in Annapolis, and it should give us a good assessment of our speed. We expect to come away with a win." Parker echoed Sieg's sentiments and credits Bergman with the Quakers' continued signs of improvement. "We keep gaining more and more speed weekly thanks to a top-of-the-line coach who is constantly uncovering ways to increase boat speed," Parker said. "Our eight continues to gel as the season progresses both on the water at practice and on land at overpriced team dinners that charge us for extra bread." As the Quakers enter into the heart of their season, they anticipate more victories with each race. "This is just the first taste of success this boat will see," Parker predicted. "I have confidence in my boys to do whatever it takes to beat any crew out there. All nine of us have not given anything short of 110 percent all spring, and the Schuylkill Express will make no hesitation to plow through the Severn River on the 29th."
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Last night at the Kelly Writers House, acclaimed author John Edgar Wideman discussed his philosophies on literature and race before a standing room-only crowd comprised of about 90 students, faculty members and Philadelphia residents. Wideman is the third and final Writers House Fellow of the year. The program also brought Grace Paley and Robert Creeley to campus earlier this semester. His reading was co-sponsored by the Art Sanctuary -- a community arts program which celebrates African-American culture -- the Urban Arts Project and Writers House. Wideman, a 1963 College graduate who taught English at Penn in the 1970s is a past recipient of the Rhodes and Thouron graduate fellowships. He is also the only person to have won the Penn/Faulkner Award twice. In an attempt to keep the audience on its toes, Wideman read a not-yet-published short story entitled, Sharing. The story is a dialogue written in the voice of a white middle-aged suburban woman who is talking to her African-American middle-aged neighbor who had come to her door to borrow some mayonnaise. The author explained that this work forced him to adopt a persona of a character who was quite different from himself. "Seeing myself through her eyes. That was a real challenge, a challenge of voice, a challenge of sensibility," he said. Like this story, many of his literary works -- like Brothers and Keepers, Philadelphia Fire and his new release, Two Cities -- deal with race, a topic he believes should be addressed more substantially in society. "Our problem is that we are still dealing with an 18th century concept that has been quickly debunked," he said. "That idea of race was an invention with very specific purposes -- to justify oppression." The best form in which people can challenge racial assumptions, according to Wideman, is through writing imaginative literature. "I believe in literature," he said, noting that one must be willing to risk failure when creating. "I don't write books because I have answers. I write books because I have questions. What we are is the questions that we ask, not the answers that we provide," he explained. "It's all about that process of self-examination. I think that's what the best writing always contains." Not only did Wideman discuss changing common perceptions of race in today's society, he also pointed to the importance of cultural heritage. "Culture is real. There is an African-American culture that is very distinct and is very concrete, and I see myself as an inheritor of that culture. What I'm fussing about is the essentialism of race and the division of people into kinds," he said. Several members of Penn's English Department offered effusive praise of the author. Writers House Faculty Director Al Filreis said he believed Wideman's last novel is "among the few great books by an American. Finer and greater than anything Faulkner wrote." "He's really one of our most important writers," added English Professor Herman Beavers, who is also the director of the Afro-American Studies Program. Referring to the story that Wideman read earlier in the evening, Beavers said, "It's not about whether or not we can share a jar of mayonnaise. The story really is about the walls that we build up to keep us from asking questions." Most of the audience appeared to be longtime fans of Wideman's work. Many commended him for the political activism that has complemented his literary work. Most notably, Wideman wrote the introduction to a literary anthology called In Defense of Mumia. "The stance that he's taken on Mumia, as a writer and an academic, is really good," said Theodore Harris, a visual artist in Philadelphia. "We need those types of people working in that system to talk about what's going on with injustice."
