Hill’s floors are covered in white flyers– you know what that means: fraternity rush week. Phi Sigma Kappa, otherwise known as the Skulls, is wooing prospective brothers via a classic Philadelphia institution: a Pat’s vs. Geno’s contest. But after last year’s events, I’m beginning to hope that Pat’s pins Geno’s once and for all.

Back in May, Geno’s Steaks owner Joseph Vento proudly posted a sign declaring “This is America: When Ordering ‘Speak English.’” And to complete the point, below another sign reads: “Management Reserves the Right to Refuse Service.” To be fair, Vento explained that his intentions were to help immigrants in his South Philadelphia community by pushing them to learn English more quickly, just as Vento’s grandparents did.

“We try sometimes if they can’t speak too well, we’ll hold the cheese up to show it to them” “We work with them, they work with us.” Joe Perno, a gracious Geno’s employee on the night shift, talked with me of how the sign has affected the staff’s actions– not by much. He remarked in the classic South Philly accent, “We don’t refuse anyone,” which I admit, is a far cry from my first impression.

But despite their continued openness, the implicit effects of their policy cannot be ignored.

Vento’s surname betrays his Italian heritage, a heritage that includes a long tenure in the nativist hot seat. At the turn of the century, groups of Anglo-Americans bitterly rejected and despised Italian newcomers. This cycle of exclusion was repeated by Italian and Irish Americans when Asian immigrats came to the country a generation later (which, incidentally, helped to fast-track the inclusion of Italian Americans into the mainstream).

Vento’s sign ostracizing non-English speakers parallels earlier European immigrants who pioneered the Anti-Japanese legal movements, and benefited socially from Asian exclusion. We know Vento’s stated intent for the sign, but he must be sensitive of the historical continuum of oppression that it evokes.

But say we take Vento at his word–is he really trying to improve immigrant assimilation? Is the owner offering dual-language menus or sponsoring English classes with his profits?

No, instead Vento has contributed $10,000 in profits to the Hazelton Legal Defense Fund. In fact, Geno’s contribution comprises nearly a third of the entire fund. And lest you think this fund is defending immigrants’ rights and promoting their inclusion, be not surprised. This fund is devoted to supporting the Illegal Immigration Relief Act designed to prosecute landlords and businessmen who rent to and hire illegal immigrants in Hazelton, PA. This bill is focused directly on Hazelton citizens, over 90% white, rather than on the immigrants’ assimilation needs.

Geno’s is a symbol of Philadelphia– we should continue to consider the values of one of our most public trademarks. Or at the very least, care about where the money that bought your free rush cheesesteak is going.

And as it happened, a Hill House freshman who attended the Skulls’ rush admitted he enjoyed Pat’s better. Maybe I’ll join him for the next one.

My new year’s resolution is to show that nice guys don’t finish last. Not even close.

As a second semester senior, its tempting thrust myself into the new semester by holding onto my routines, fears, and preconceptions from the fall. You know the drill- we stare each other down before entering the classroom, check our planner surreptitiously to make sure we’re not in the wrong class. Again. We clamor for the closest seats, look around, find “that guy.” You know the one I’m talking about, the guy who puts his coat over the last open chair and answers three questions on the first day. Yeah, that kid. He’s going down. We longingly search for our friends, but instead see a blur of well-dressed competition. As the bliss of a break without pressure and stress fades, we quickly put up our defenses to cope with the prospect of another semester.

But here’s to a new year, a chance to let go of the typical Penn routine and try on a new attitude. Tear down
those mental walls– feel the excitement and uncertainty of the new semester. Allow the anxiety of looking at a syllabus for the first time, of standing in the impossible lines at the bookstore to penetrate your thick skin. Say hello to a person outside your ethnic group. We have so much mental baggage from last semester — disgust for the ruthless head hunters, envy for taciturn go-getters. Its time to let it go like your hopes of a snowstorm this winter

Do simple things — lend the person next to you a pencil or chat someone up after class. And hold the door for someone! I waited unknowingly as a woman scrambled out of the rain on Monday, and behold, she was the professor for my course!

Walking back to my dorm, I happened to smile at a stranger, and he turned and came back to ask for directions. After a short conversation, he smiled and (shock!) shook my hand gratefully. All because of a smile.

Here’s to a semester that can start and finish well for all of us, smile intact.