Amira Fawcett is an Engineering senior from Houston. Her e-mail address is fawcett@dailypennsylvanian.com.
The Greek culture at Penn is one rich in history but replete with stereotypes. And one of those, unfortunately, is an image of intolerance. Whether substantiated or not, the belief that the Greek community is unwelcoming, specifically to gays, is a problem in and of itself.
As a freshman who couldn't find Greek Lady with her NSO-issued map, there was one landmark that was easy to find: the LOVE statue. My peer adviser, as well as many others, instructed the 12 of us to meet in front of the sculpture, which we all remembered from tours and brochures - a near-miracle, considering that it was only days after we arrived on campus.
The Latest
Recently, Georgia state Senator Seth Harp caused an uproar in the community of higher education by proposing that two of the state's historically black colleges be merged with predominantly white ones. Specifically, his resolution stipulates that Savannah State University and Albany State University (both historically black public schools) be merged with the predominantly white colleges, Armstrong Atlantic State University and Darton College, respectively.
Is a nose job medically necessary? Sometimes. What about a sex change? That has been the question raised recently by transgender individuals and their supporters. They contend that the University's lack of health care coverage for sexual-reassignment surgery violates Penn's non-discrimination policy.
Janice Dow is a College sophomore from Los Angeles. Her e-mail address is dow@dailypennsylvanian.com
Janice Dow is a College sophomore from Los Angeles. Her e-mail address is dow@dailypennsylvanian.com
The Greek culture at Penn is one rich in history but replete with stereotypes. And one of those, unfortunately, is an image of intolerance. Whether substantiated or not, the belief that the Greek community is unwelcoming, specifically to gays, is a problem in and of itself.
As a freshman who couldn't find Greek Lady with her NSO-issued map, there was one landmark that was easy to find: the LOVE statue. My peer adviser, as well as many others, instructed the 12 of us to meet in front of the sculpture, which we all remembered from tours and brochures - a near-miracle, considering that it was only days after we arrived on campus.
Few movements have seen more recent success than our country's march toward greater diversity representation. The past two decades have borne witness to a flood of historic "firsts," culminating in last month's inauguration of President Barack Obama. These landmark achievements have boosted the diversity crusade to new heights, with no sign of stopping soon.
Last Monday, at 7:36 p.m., Philadelphia police responded to shots fired at 39th and Ludlow streets, about a block away from Hamilton Court, Chestnut Hall and the Hub. A black Escalade drove off from the scene, later apprehended by police. Seven casings were found, no injuries reported.
Ilana Millner is an College junior from Washington's Crossing, Pa. Her e-mail address is millner@dailypennsylvanian.com.
For most freshmen, NSO is a time to travel in hall-sized groups, stumble down Spruce, drink too much jungle juice and figure out the stereotypes that define each fraternity house (and to figure out how to pronounce Greek lettering). But that is obviously not the way everyone envisions spending their first nights away from home, and the Undergraduate Assembly is right to acknowledge this fact through their creation of late-night alternatives.
We look forward to several traditions when February rolls around: the symmetrical nature of the month's four weeks*, the repeated airing of Groundhog Day, the repeated airing of Groundhog Day and for seniors, the start of Feb Club, a chance to socialize with the people whose phone numbers you have from NSO, but whom you never got around to calling (Sylvia, we sat on the bus together to the Philadelphia Museum of Art.
Alicia Puglionesi is an College senior from Havertown, Pa. Her e-mail address is puglionesi@dailypennsylvanian.com.
Before being considered the next Jackie O., Michelle O. was a senior at Princeton, and like countless before and since her, she wrote a senior thesis. The university's Web site proudly states that the thesis is "quintessentially Princeton" and claims it to develop "mental discipline" and "the skills of analysis, synthesis and clear writing.
For over a year now, a quiet but heated dispute has been taking place literally on the periphery of campus: On one side, Penn and its partners are trying to clear the way for a hotel development at 40th and Pine streets; on the other, a committed group of neighborhood activists are saying "not in our backyard.
The University recently announced that renovations to Du Bois College House - originally set to begin next year - will in fact start next month. This decision to renovate the increasingly dilapidated low rise could not be more welcomed. For years, students and staff who live and work in Du Bois have pushed for these updates, charging that the dorm was ignored in favor of the Quadrangle and high rises, which are more popular with on-campus residents.
Daniel Schwartz is an College junior from Decatur, Ga. His e-mail address is schwartz@dailypennsylvanian.com.
A challenge to sustain Penn To the Editor: I attended the Founder's Day Symposium on sustainability and left feeling thoroughly uninspired. As a student who feels a deep commitment to working toward solutions to the environmental crisis, I was greatly discouraged by what amounted to 120 minutes of professors patting themselves on their backs for the progress Penn has made in the field of sustainability.
For the past few years, comedians have had it pretty good. With his political blunders galore and unfortunate ineloquence, bashing former President Bush became somewhat of a national pastime. I'm all for a little humor - a few good jokes at his expense can keep the president's ego in check.
Rush just ended, which, though a relief (or disappointment) for many, also means for the time being we won't be judging people as much, at least formally. Throughout history, in admitting people to various clubs, we often judged them on their origins - race, gender, religion, wealth: largely superficial ideals about who we wanted to belong.
Last Saturday, I went down to the Wachovia Center to attend the extras casting call for M. Night Shyamalan's upcoming film, The Last Airbender. Based off a popular Nickelodeon cartoon series with a cult following, the movie depicts a fantasy world divided into four regions, each dominated by a particular element: Fire, Water, Earth and Air.
