First, we’re ranked the ugliest city in America. Now, apparently, we don’t know how to party either.

This past week, Maxim released their highly scientific list of top-10 party cities in the United States.

Based on such factors as male to female ratio, the number of bars per-capita, noise ordinance complaints, and number of four-year college students, Miami took the top spot, followed by Los Angeles and Atlanta.

While the results seem to be based on the cold, hard data, I can’t help but wonder if the formula is correct. While Philly didn’t even make the list, my hometown, Detroit, took number seven. As much as I love the D, I wouldn’t exactly call it a party town.

Tampa snagged the 6th spot, seemingly primarily on its 49 strip clubs. Ummm, did we mix up the “party city” and “sleazy city” lists?

While Philly overflows with college-kids (many from the “party Ivy,” no less), clubs, and bars downtown, Maxim overlooked us. But should they ever visit the Party-delphia, I’m sure they’d change their mind.

Just like my fellow blogger Nick, I had my suspicions about the motives behind AEPi’s recent “Rock for the Homeless” campaign. This Sunday, almost 24 hours after their expression of pure good will, some remnants of it still remained on the Green.

The trash bags weren’t the half of it (for the record, two empty trash cans sat less than twenty feet away in either direction). Pieces of paper and food wrappers littered the scene, and the wind made sure to spread it out evenly. Last time I walked by the spot, the ropes that held a giant sheet still hung from the light posts.

So, AEPi, next time you do a fundraiser on family weekend, consider asking Mommy to help you clean up afterward.

Many curious events make me glad I go to Penn. Walking through College Green, one can easily find groups of people playing sitars or outdoorsmen tackling tightropes (who were out today, by the way).

Today, I can add another crazy Penn sighting to my list– the running of the bulls.

If anyone else was late to class and happened to be on Locust Walk at 12:00pm, they should have seen Pamplona á la Locust. Let’s just hope this guy wasn’t involved.

I donned my costume and left for Amy Gutmann’s infamous Halloween party. I decided to dress up like none other than the “conspicuously retired” Dean of Admissions, Willis Stetson. I didn’t have to wait long before trouble brewed…

7:15 PM- I arrive at the soirée at Wynn Commons. Terrorist sightings: 0. The best costume, right off the bat, is a mummy, almost completely wrapped in toilet paper. The chocolate fountain calls…

7:20 PM- Still no terrorists. “Werewolves of London” is sort of a catchy tune. All the girls are wearing much longer skirts than they were on Saturday night.

7:22 PM- My first Gutmann sighting! She isn’t wearing a costume!! What sort of calamity is this?!? I try to go for a picture, but too many people are around. The terrorist count is still zero.

(more…)

I went to visit my math TA the other day, when I saw this sign in the hallway.

In fact, I’ve been seeing them all over DRL and the Chemistry Building. All I can say is, I wish I were a graduate student so I could check out all the hotties who will show up tonight. Thick glasses are a real turn-on…

Well, the grades are in, and Penn gets a … drum roll please … B!

Yes the College Sustainability Report Card grades universities across the country on issues such as Green Building, Endowment Transparency, or Food and Recycling, and this year Penn got, well, the same grade as last year.

The report did give a shout out to Penn as an “Administration Leader” — Gutmann signed the American College and University Climate Commitment. And the report sends major props to Penn Dining for the farmers’ market and the Earth Tub … whoa.

(more…)

A few weeks back, I blogged (once, twice, and three times) about Teach For America (TFA) and its impacts on Penn, Philadelphia, and the US as a whole. Today, Wendy Kopp, founder of Teach For America, and Princeton grad, spoke in Huntsman Hall to an audience of about 50 people.

The irony of Huntsman Hall as the location was almost too much to ignore.

(more…)

I’m not the only one who got this e-mail celebrating Penn’s fundraising kickoff, and I felt it needed to be decoded from administration-speak:

“Dear Donors,

Tonight, thousands of you — big-time donors, donors, future donors, and more donors — joined with me to launch Penn’s first of many fundraising campaigns in nearly two decades. Making History: The Campaign for Penn has an ambitious goal of $3.5 billion, and we’ve only raised $1.6 billion. Let’s pick up the slack.

We celebrated the beginning of a five-year endeavor that will require the slave-like devotion of our entire community. I promise you this: When we achieve our goal in 2012, our bank account will be overflowing!

A great campaign, however, is not just a goal to achieve or a distinction to reach; it is also a journey that strengthens the bonds of our fellowship while deepening our devotion to a great cause. So ask the people of Philadelphia for money, too. It’s called Penn Connects.

I encourage you to take a moment now to visit our campaign website and make a donation. No, really, now. I’m watching you.

It is time to be making history. And now it is time for my manicure! Toodles…

<3,

\\//\\*~AMY~*//\\//

Seeing a lot of pink today? October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, but that’s not the reason. And contrary to popular belief, not every guy at Penn is a giant douche bag (unless they pop their collars).

No, today is National Coming Out Day! Hooray!

Starting with the Second National March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights in 1987 (think AIDS quilt), October 11 has come to symbolize a day of freedom for the “invisible minority” of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) people.

While the LGBT community at Penn may be hard to notice, the resources for people looking at coming out shouldn’t be. The Advocate ranked Penn as the most gay-friendly school for a reason.

The LGBT Center offers a mentoring program for students who are questioning their sexuality or who have recently “come out.” Those who feel nervous about visiting the organization’s offices have another option: QSpace is the Center’s confidential and secure online chat service.

So reach for that pink polo and while you do, remember, closets are for clothes!

Hey hipsters! Today is the day you’ve been waiting for. None other than the beloved Che Guevara died 40 years ago.

It’s time to break out that red t-shirt with the Che silhouette. Maybe pop in a copy of The Motorcycle Diaries. “The revolutionary process is not yet over and we must change our scale of values.” Deep.

Or let’s remember the numerous executions Che ordered. Think fondly on his legacy and where it leaves Latin American democracies today. Contemplate how the current Cuban regime uses his cult image to fuel their suppression of all opposition. Not cool.

Somehow these facts got passed by when Che became an icon in the U.S. His iconic silhouette can be found anywhere, yet people don’t stop and think about what it represents. Hint: it’s not freedom from the man.

But on Che Day 2007, we should celebrate a little. He did give us really cool t-shirts, and props to Margaret Cho and the Penn College Republicans for doing some great adaptations. Thankfully, to wear those t-shirts, I don’t have to sacrifice my “scale of values.”

Che Guevara–Killer Cigars