You’ve probably seen the new Radian student apartment building being “constructed at seemingly record speeds” on the 3900 block of Walnut Street. With rooms priced at over $1,000 per month, Radian will surely attract a certain income class. As Urban Studies professor Sidney Wong said, “Maybe they’re looking for the top 50 percent [in income], not the bottom 50.”

An article in yesterday’s DP pointed out that Radian will have “a fitness center, WiFi, a game room and a private study room[.]”

Imagine if the only freshmen living in Hill College House in a few years are those on financial aid and those not wealthy enough to afford Radian. Imagine if Pottruck wasn’t used by any of the students living at Radian. What’s next? A dining hall in Radian? Penn could divide into a type of “barbell” society.

A free market allows people to buy what they want. Since Radian is so close to campus, I’m sure many freshmen who lived in Hill with me last year or this year and have that kind of money would opt out of the cramped, no-air-conditioner environment for something much more comfortable.

Radian will surely be a boon to West Philadelphia’s economy, but could it be a bane to the Penn experience?

It was great to see him again. The last time I saw former US Senator Rick Santorum, I shook hands with him. That was over a year ago.

Santorum spoke yesterday at Hillel, as part of “Islamo-Facism Awareness Week.” Although he talked about the threat of radical Islam, his speech was hardly radical. It consisted of the usual name-dropping — Bruce Bawer, Ayaan Hirsi Ali, and Theo van Gogh — of people who evoke a call to arms against radical Islam. Anyone who has basic world history knowledge and has regularly read the newspaper in this post-9/11 reality would have found no surprises.

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Here’s what impressed me about former Dean of Admissions Lee Stetson: his ability to always get quotes in the newspaper for nearly everything about the college admissions process. Even if an article featured colleges other than Penn more prominently, Stetson somehow managed to snag the pull-quote. Anyone else notice this? I mentioned it at a dining hall last week and Wharton freshman Josh Lipman duly agreed, “Whenever I opened up the New York Times or Wall Street Journal and read an article about college admission, [former] Dean Stetson, sure enough, was quoted.” Likewise, College freshman David Bournas-Ney said, “I read many articles about the college application process and the majority of them quoted [former] Dean Stetson.”

Here are some examples:

The flurry of Wall Street Journal articles: From an article on waitlists to a feature on transferring, Stetson seemed to be guaranteed a say.

The shout-outs continued, from the Washington Post to the New York Times–again, in articles that did not focus on Penn.

As I became aware of this, my first move whenever reading about college admissions was to locate the Stetson quotes. Chances were great that I would find his words tucked in somewhere. Now, of course, that won’t happen anymore.

The temperature drops around this time. It’ll dip into the 40’s tonight. It finally feels like Fall.

Fall Break is a major milestone–it’s when we get into our groove.

The dining halls clear out. Lines at Hill College House and 1920 Commons are shorter. You’ve either realized that Houston Market’s food is better or discovered where else to spend your hundreds of dining dollars. Maybe you just forgot about the meal plan altogether, with that stipend from your parents, and eat at the many campus restaurants.

Pottruck’s used less. People can’t seem to fit lifting weights and using the elliptical into any schedule. The course load, combined with your extracurricular activities, forced you to break that pledge of “I’ll hit the gym once a day.”

Class attendance shrinks. Is it the discovery of lecture notes online? Or the discovery that some lectures are pointless? Maybe you never went to class in the first place, so why start now?

Parties dull. After Fall Break you’ll rarely see a new face at frat parties. How boring. Maybe it’s the frosty temperatures that prevent careless frat-hopping. Way to meet new people.

Until next week, just enjoy your break.

Sylvan Green originally started Forest Affiliate as a business based on affiliate marketing. His goal: to operate as an online publisher; promoting the products and services of web based establishments by linking internet ads with target internet markets.

Sylvan then saw a better opportunity: An aggregate news video site where visitors could respond immediately to breaking news. So Sylvan transformed his site into that. It covers all realms of the world pulse from political to sports to entertainment. It’s even interactive–a “voice your opinion!” section allows you to comment on the news. Sylvan told me, “With this site, people who have busy schedules (such as college students) will be able to get coverage of the latest news in practically no time.”

Sure social networking sites like Newsvine and Topix exist. But we’re now a visual society. We hardly have the concentration to read anymore.

Keep track of Sylvan’s startup. It just might catch on.

Think you’ve got the next hottest Internet property? Shoot me an e-mail–tate@dailypennsylvanian.com–and we’ll take a look.

Across Minnesota universities, from Winona State University to the University of Minnesota, Macs are hot.

And they’re hot here too. Penn is flooded with Macs. I see more Macs in class than PCs. Most of my friends have Macs. What makes Macs so hot?

Is it education discounts? As if price is deterrence for Penn students. Is it the lack of computer safety on a PC? Just install ZoneAlarm and AVG Anti-Virus (both are free).

The reason: It’s pure aesthetics.

We are an aesthetic society. We want sun-kissed tans and movie star smiles. We want to be beautiful; likewise, our products must be beautiful.

Little difference exists between the performance of a Mac and a PC. The specifications are very similar. Macs and PCs are differentiated more in looks than logic. And, if we know anything about purchasing mentality, it has little to do with logic.

Competitors took notes. As the New York Times pointed out, Hewlett-Packard’s “effort to transform its personal computers from low-margin commodities into more stylish devices has started to pay off.” H.P.’s aesthetically rising from the grave (Simeon: Take note of this stock).

It’s no wonder. Aesthetics make people satisfied. After the newness wears off, you hope that product looks good. College Sophomore Michael Kleinman said to me that he purchased a Mac because it was “more aesthetically pleasing.”

Indeed, John Kneeland (Editor’s Note: John Kneeland is a former Spin blogger), Penn’s Apple Campus Rep, told me that “no doubt Macs are eye-catching, head-turning, and have good design.”

Still, the PC is just as safe (full disclosure: I use a PC). And just as powerful. College Sophomore Bayard Wilson highlighted the fact and said, “When I buy something, I go for performance. That’s why I bought a P.C. I don’t care what it looks like.”

CommenTATE

Watch out class of 2011 because Hill College House is about to become Capitol Hill. Whartonite and Hillite Keith Williams is now class president.

I previously posted ten tactics that win class office. Well, more deserve recognition.

What’s new?

1) Be Fast, Be First. Keith Williams told me that he woke up early on the first campaign period day to purchase Facebook Ads at 6 a.m. I live in Hill College House, and around 8 a.m. I saw a flyer for Keith slide under my door. No other advertisement was placed under my door until the next day.

2) Political Marketing. Keith Williams explained to me that he “marketed [himself] as a chill guy, someone you could relate to.”

And market he did. Indeed, his Facebook group’s description highlighted how he was “NOT [his] student body president.”

3) Research the Opposition. College freshman Grant Dubler, who won a UA seat, campaigned after he understood his opponents’ methods. Dubler said, “Less chalk. More walk.” He realized those who put up too many signs did not have as much time to meet more people.

4) Candidate Face Time. Never underestimate the value of face time. Most candidates were only seen in an image on a flyer or a wall ad.

I tracked Keith on the campaign trail. I saw him in common rooms from Hill College House to the Quad to Du Bois College House. Keith campaigned without appearing that he was campaigning–afeat few can accomplish.

College freshman Laura Jean Kemp said, “The first time I met Keith he talked with me and we…listened to music. I’m glad he won because he’s not too busy for the little people.” Kemp voted for Williams.

What worked?

1) Campaign Team. Williams told me he had a dedicated campaign team of close friends that papered the Quad, high rises and Hill, as well as put up big signs across campus. College freshman Adam Behrens, Freshmen Class Vice President, said, “I relied on a group of close friends who would go with me around campus to put up posters and chalk together.” Likewise, Engineering freshman Mario Lanao, Freshman SEAS Representative, enlisted volunteers.

2) The Power of Hill. It’s a goldmine of votes and victor indicator — like Iowa in U.S. Politics. Dubler lives in the Quad and said, “Hill was very important. Other candidates in the Quad dismissed the power of meeting people in Hill.”

The new Freshman Class Board and Undergraduate Assembly members had what it took to win, now let’s see if they live up to their standard of not only less chalk, but also less talk, and more walk. If not, they smiled like a politician and followed rule seven.

This is a special edition of CommenTATE.

CommenTATE

The big screen at A-Jad’s speech at Columbia.

He looks fresh off the pages of the latest GQ magazine and his rock star status allows him to wine and dine with media celebrities like Brian Williams and Christiane Amanpour. If his words weren’t translated, you’d never guess he denied the Holocaust and wished death to Israel and the United States. I’m talking about Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

It’s dangerous that millions of Americans still have no idea who Ahmadinejad is. Indeed, I’ve even encountered Penn students who’ve never heard of him (”Ahmadinejah-wha?”). That is, until the media storm that preceded and followed his Monday appearance at Columbia University.

On that Monday, I tuned into CNN with some friends to watch A-Jad speak at Columbia. I’d seen him talk before on 60 Minutes, but most of my friends hadn’t and watched him for their first time. They were shocked. The man they read about in the press was supposed to be a crank, not one for rational discourse. So when they watched how well he dressed, how many times he gave those looks of optimistic smiles, and how mild mannered he acted, they thought differently.

One friend in the room watching with me was College Freshman Eric Dein. After the speech, Dein said, “A-Jad puts on a show in the media to appeal to the American public. It’s scary because he appears so nice, and dresses like a pop culture icon.”

And I’m not surprised to hear that. Because it’s true. On television, A-Jad looks great, consistently sporting that jacket-sans-tie look. He appears not rash but fair tempered. Always calm and well-centered. His trademark jacket even attracted the attention of Newsweek’s “Look of a Leader” feature.

Other Penn students were impressed by his media image. College Sophomore Salmon Kadivar–Iranian-born, Farsi spoken, and Ahmadinejad fan–concedes the point that A-Jad knows the television language of the American people and “makes a careful effort to look spectacular, studious, and hard-working on television, dignified enough to command respect.” He said, “That’s part of his strategy.”

Likewise, Salah Chafik, a College Sophomore and Muslim Student Association board member, remarked that A-Jad knows how to take command of the media. “Consider him at Columbia when he is introduced as an evil tyrant. He shakes it off with a warm and friendly smile, looking professional.”

A question that a few were left with earlier this week after watching Ahmadinejad talk at Columbia probably was: What’s the big deal? Is he really that evil of a guy?

It’s because A-Jad’s image on television is impressive, enthralling and in the end–once you realize what he’s saying–disturbingly diametric to what he really believes.

CommenTATE appears every Monday and Friday

CommenTATE

Students mill about at a Wharton career fair last year.

If you’re in Wharton, Engineering or Nursing you’re probably not worried about a job. Well, at least you don’t act like it.

We in the College feel a lot of anxiety about getting a job because we think our degree is dismissed by those in Wharton and doubted by those in Engineering. They try to make us think a College degree is for novices and that a more “advanced” degree is essential. Throw out the doubt. It’s not.

Career Link 2007, the annual career fair at Penn, happened this past week. Patricia Rose, Director of Career Services, told me over the phone that students in the College are “sought after” by many employers there. Rose e-mailed me some very handy Class of 2006 raw data, which surveyed roughly half the Class of 2006. Over-half of those reported full-time employment with salaries in the range of $20,000 to $85,000.

Okay, so the statistic sounds great. However, the concern of becoming a College graduate struggling to find employment isn’t unfounded. Recently, I glanced at a New York Times article pointing out that the number of students in a master’s program had doubled since 1980. It featured people who claimed they wouldn’t have their job without a master’s degree. It surprised me because there’s also a reverse trend - I had just read a different article about people forgoing an M.B.A. because it’s “a waste of money and time - time that could be spent making money.”

Nevertheless, the question still burned: Is a College degree enough to carry me into a first job? Yes it is. Don’t let others discourage or dilute the value of a College education when solid evidence reveals we are entering the workforce successfully. Take that, Whartonites and Engineers!

CommenTATE appears every Monday and Friday.

CommenTATE

And here’s your proof. (Photo by Mike Tate)

Ah, underground tunnels. A hidden mystique of the Ivy League.

Talk to the right people at Penn and you’ll hear the stories of them.

Actually, probably not. Why does no one talk about tunnels?

We know Columbia has an extensive tunnel system. While Columbia’s tunnels are public knowledge now, other Ivies’ tunnels aren’t.

They’re mysterious at Princeton (is this a map?). Less documented at Yale. And only hinted at Dartmouth.

But it’s not just the Ivy League with tunnels - tons of colleges sport them. from MIT to UCLA.The University of Chicago to the University of Texas. Someone even posted an entire collection of university tunnel maps on Flickr.

Most were built in the early history of universities as steam and utility tunnels and are now explorable. Universities discovered that “using tunnels to pump heat to all the buildings on campus from one central underground boiler was a much cheaper option than putting separate boilers in each building.”

Does Penn have a tunnel system that the right social circles know?

Convinced that we do, I tried to find out.

A few days before this semester started I headed to the university archive. I searched for hours through stacks of paper categorized for College Hall. Only one item caught my eye. It’s dated 2-21-29 (or is it 1921? –see image) and titled “College Hall Contains Four Hidden Staircases.” No mention of publication. Nonetheless, it’s tangible.

What’s interesting are the descriptions of the hidden staircases and how they are “built into the walls” but one “lead[s] to the second floor from the basement while the other two go between the basement and the first floor.” These could lead to tunnels–steam tunnels below College Hall? A few sentences talk of tunnels. It states that a huge tunnel runs under College Hall and “is large enough to permit a wagon to be driven its full length” but is “now sealed tightly.”

So if we had any, some are sealed. But, I hear more exist–and I would know. Happy tunneling!

CommenTATE appears every Monday and Friday.