Beckstreet’s Beck (Alright!)
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| I’m sorry, sir, I can’t hear - your AK47 is in the way. |
There are a lot of “myths” on campus that the University and its various do-gooders try to dispel. Trouble is they’re not really myths - they’re actually true. For example:
“Myth” #1
“Don’t go past 40th Street or you’ll get shot.”
A lot of people will tell you to feel free to travel as far west as you’d like. You can - if you like getting shot. There’s a reason the Kentucky Fried Chicken on 43rd and Market streets makes you pay through bullet proof glass. This should be a general rule: when you pass by a fast food restaurant where the workers are protected by bullet proof glass, it’s probably time to turn around.
“Myth” #2
“SEPTA is dirty and scary to use.”
Do-gooders tout that SEPTA is a safe, reliable, cheap, and environmentally-friendly way to get around town. It’s not. I use SEPTA all the time, because it is cheap, but it’s also absolutely disgusting. Maybe these people are confusing the ammonia in urine for that of cleaning products. Also, people will lecture you that we all need to use SEPTA because it needs more riders in order to quit losing money. I have no idea how they’re coming up with this solution, because every time I’m on the trolley or train it’s pretty much full. I can just imagine someone crunching numbers: “Alright, if we just get 1100 more people on each trolley we’ll turn a profit!”
“Myth” #3
“Don’t major in what is easy or what you think will get you a job - major in what you love.”
The do-gooders have a point here. You should major in what you love. Problem is, though you may love Physics now, you’ll soon realize you love not going to class even more. When you graduate, you’re also going to love not eating out of a dumpster. So just transfer into the major that is both easy for you and that employers respect. You forget about how much you loved physics pretty quickly when you play Madden all day.
Look out for more myths, coming soon to a blog near you.
Beckstreet’s Beck (Alright!) appears every Tuesday and Thursday.
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October 2nd, 2007 at 8:31 am
ummm bad example. Physics is probably the most marketable major the college offers. If you can successfully conquer the demanding physics major, nearly every employer will be very impressed, especially the investment banks that desire good analytical thinkers.
October 2nd, 2007 at 10:49 am
BS. I go up to 47th-48th street. It’s actually a really nice neighborhood around Baltimore. Penn students are just afraid the minute they see people who aren’t (how to put this nicely) … like them
October 2nd, 2007 at 11:14 am
You have no idea what you’re talking about: I can’t believe your editor lets you get away with writing such rubbish. All of these “myths” exist only in the vacant minds of a certain segment of the Penn population - those who refuse to actually explore this city and would rather exist in the bubble, imagining they know something about a city they ignore.
October 2nd, 2007 at 11:38 am
You’re not that savvy, sorry. West Philly might be sketchy at night, but not during the day, so I guess I’ll concede that point. SEPTA is not disgusting, it’s actually very functional, and while Suburban Station is dirty, and the EL might be crowded during rush hours, the buses and trolleys are always clean and not too crowded. You’re wrong on that. Furthermore, you are wrong the the major thing, too. Absolutely major is WHATEVER your heart desires. Why? Becuase the more you love it, the better grades you will get. Employers love good grades. And mroe importantly, so do grad schools. Once you have a grad degree, the major never mattered, so pick something you love and Ace the sh** out of it.
Cheers!
October 2nd, 2007 at 12:39 pm
Eli makes some good points. And as a west philly native, I’ve been stunned to hear how terrified Penn students are of going west. As long as it’s during the day and you look remotely like you’re from Philly (put on some nice sneakers, loosen up the jeans, unpop the collar), anyone will be fine almost anywhere in West Philly.
October 2nd, 2007 at 12:45 pm
You’re an idiot. 43rd Street around Lancaster is a hell of a lot different than it is around Baltimore. Maybe if you ever went to either place, you’d know that.
October 2nd, 2007 at 1:10 pm
Mr. Beck, what you’ve just said is one of the most insanely idiotic things I have ever heard. At no point in your rambling, incoherent post were you even close to anything that could be considered a rational thought. Everyone in this room is now dumber for having listened to it. I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul.
October 2nd, 2007 at 5:42 pm
You forgot another big myth that you’re apparently trying to prove true:
Penn students are snobby, suburban, superficial shitheads who only care about making money.
October 2nd, 2007 at 6:50 pm
another “myth” proven true: you’re an ignorant ass-clown.
October 2nd, 2007 at 7:55 pm
here here, west philly IS a shithole, Septa IS disgusting and totally unfit for purpose, and majoring in English Lit IS a waste of time.
October 2nd, 2007 at 10:53 pm
Collin, although it’s been said many times above, your article only perpetuates the stereotype of Penn students. I am also a Penn student and was initially hesitant to venture far west of campus. I am interested how much time you have actually spent in West Philadelphia before forming your opinions, though. If you know where you are going, West Philly is filled with all sorts of great places- Clark Park, with Green Line Cafe and farmers’ markets, all sorts of delicious ethnic restaurants, and beautiful old homes. I would challenge you to truly spend some time discovering how fantastic West Philly is and to write your next blog discussing whether you found your stereotypes to be founded or not. I think that you will find them to be very uninformed.
October 2nd, 2007 at 11:18 pm
collin, you are doing nothing but enforcing negative stereotypes. the people spreading these “myths” are not do-gooders; they are just simply more informed than you. living at 42nd and spruce has exposed me to an entirely new part of the city that constantly surprises me with its charm and convenience. as you continue to dispel myths across campus, i hope you test do the due diligence that statements like the ones you made above need to make them credible
October 4th, 2007 at 2:16 am
I can only assume around campus with 898-WALK on speed-dial. I just hope that there aren’t any freshmen reading this trash who end up spending the next four years in the 33rd-40th, Spruce-Walnut bubble because of your narrow-mindedness. West Philadelphia, if you’d actually bothered visit it, is an extremely diverse and vibrant neighborhood and just because people don’t walk around with popped collars doesn’t mean they’re going to shoot you for wearing one (though they’d undoubtedly be doing us a favor if they did). As far as SEPTA, clearly youve never used public transportation in other cities nor bothered to do any research about the economics behind it.
Lastly, ABSOLUTELY MAJOR IN WHAT YOU LOVE! Never again in your life will you get 4 years to pursue ANY passion with such a plethora of resources. Most of your job skills you will learn ON THE JOB. As arrogant as it sounds, the truth is with a Penn degree and a respectable GPA (basically a C+ average or better) you can get a decent job in just about any field you desire. And while perhaps the prospect of “settling” for less than a six-figure salary right out of college might horrify most Whartonites, you can still afford Lacoste and Polo on a “measly” $60,000/year.
Your column is a real testament to the rag that the DP has become.
October 7th, 2007 at 2:07 am
Mitch, you idiot. A C+ average won’t get you jack.