Don’t worry about eating at Commons or experiencing a dorm room flood over the papal weekend — most of Penn’s basic services will remain open throughout the pope’s visit. While students prepare for the fallout of pope-a-geddon, some employees for campus services will be housed near campus to keep doors open over the weekend.
Vice President of Business Services Marie Witt said the majority of Business Services employees do not drive to work, so the weekend’s road closings will not prevent many from getting to campus. Nevertheless, parking has been arranged for employees outside of the no-drive zone.
“For anyone who absolutely cannot get here, we have arranged rooms for folks in the Penn hotels to stay overnight,” Witt said.
Facilities and Real Estate Services also has hotel space set aside for its weekend staff, who will remain on site for the weekend starting on Friday.
Business Services and FRES will operate as if there were severe weather conditions.
“We operate like this pretty regularly,” Witt said. “We’ve had the time to prepare and I’m confident students will have the basic services they need over the weekend.”
The University hopes to resume normal operations on Monday, Sept. 28. Below is a list of schedule changes to campus services.
Dining:
Penn’s residential dining cafes — including 1920 Commons, Hill College House and Kings Court English College House — will be serving brunch and dinner only on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Retail dining cafes will experience reduced hours, with a complete listing of hours available on the Penn Dining website. Frontera will be closed for the weekend.
Student Health Service:
The SHS office will only be open for walk-in urgent care on Friday Sept. 25 from 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. SHS is not typically open on Sundays.
Maintenance Requests:
Facilities and Real Estate Services are keeping a staff of approximately 50 workers on campus throughout the weekend, including maintenance workers, housekeepers, the elevator repairman and supervisors to oversee weekend operations. Maintenance requests will be accepted and responded to throughout the weekend.
Transit Services:
Penn Transit will not be offering full service on Saturday and Sunday due to road closures up to 38th Street. Public Safety will still be offering walking escorts throughout the weekend.
Fitness:
Pottruck will be open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The Fox Fitness Center, Ringe Squash Court and Hecht Tennis Court will be closed over the weekend.
Counseling and Psychological Services:
CAPS is open for walk-ins and urgent referrals 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday, and will be closed as usual on Saturday and Sunday.
Career Services:
CURF will be closed over the weekend and there will be no on-campus recruiting events or interviews.
Arts and Museums:
The Penn Museum will be open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Friday but closed on Saturday and Sunday. The Annenberg Center, Arthur Ross Gallery and Institute of Contemporary Art will be closed throughout the weekend.
Bookstore:
The Penn Bookstore will remain open throughout the weekend.
The Daily Pennsylvanian is an independent, student-run newspaper. Please consider making a donation to support the coverage that shapes the University. Your generosity ensures a future of strong journalism at Penn.
DonatePlease note All comments are eligible for publication in The Daily Pennsylvanian.