Opinion

Jenny Zhan | Size matters (to universities)

The time was Oct. 20, 2007 and the place was College Green. Attendees of the campus-wide fiesta queued up for some promising opening remarks from President Amy Gutmann, an array of scrumptious food, gratis booze and ear-splitting hip-hop beats. Just like that, Penn's much-anticipated capital campaign was officially set into motion.

Jason Karsh | I am student voice (and so can you!)

After this past weekend's Celebration on the Green there's no denying the increased visibility of the Capital Campaign. It's amazing to see how the weekend really brought together all members of the Penn community from students to alumni, faculty to staff and even the occasional passersby who happened to stumble upon our festivities.

Jim Newell | Why I won't donate to the capital campaign

During my wanderings on the Saturday of my first Homecoming as a Penn alumnus, I came across what appeared to be Epcot Center on College Green. As I found out, the campy festivus was actually the kickoff of Penn's new, $3.5 billion capital campaign. Penn, you slut! Anyone else go to this thing? Lasers! Amy Gutmann in strapless red! Promotional campaign videos featuring students with fun ethnic names! But hey, what about that three-beer limit? If you're throwing a party celebrating the end of the world, at least get the kids drunk.

Opinion Art | Alicia Puglionesi

Alicia Puglionesi is a College junior from Haverton, Pa. Her e-mail address is puglionesi@dailypennsylvanian.com

A successful weekend

After much anticipation, the secret's out. On Saturday night, Amy Gutmann announced that Penn's goal for the five-year capital campaign will be $3.5 billion. Gutmann also announced that Penn had already raised a whopping $1.6 billion in the quiet phase of the campaign - 43 percent of the target number.

Opinion Art | Avery Lawrence

Avery Lawrence is a College senior from Charlotesville, Va. His e-mail address is lawrence@dailypennsylvanian.com.

Guest Opinion | Craig Carnaroli

During a recent excursion to Chestnut Hill, my wife and I came across vintage maps of West Philadelphia at the turn of the last century. These illustrated images depicted land-use patterns of a heavily industrialized area, while a few tiny adjacent parcels defined the new campus of the recently transplanted University of Pennsylvania.

Opinion Board | A letdown on the Green

Got plans this Saturday night? Much to the University's chagrin, we're guessing they don't involve partaking in the "Celebration on the Green," - a University-wide party on College Green to kick off the highly anticipated capital campaign that will fund Penn's development of the postal lands.

Guest Opinion | Puneet Singh

This Saturday, the University will be kicking off the largest fundraising campaign in its history. The multi-billion-dollar goal is set to expand programs like student financial aid, academic research and infrastructure. Along with these goals are plans to transform the postal lands, which will have an enormous impact on the Philadelphia community.

Opinion Art | Joanne Tong

Joanne Tong is a Wharton senior from Manila, Philippines. Her e-mail address is tong@dailypennsylvanian.com.

Your voice | Letters to the Editor

Stop the whining To the Editor: In the fall break-shortening article ("Come fall 2009, freshman and sophomores can kiss their four-day weekend goodbye" 10/12/07), some comments from students and faculty reflect an unfortunate disassociation from life.

Rina Thomas | A wicked problem down south

Halloween approaches, and our thoughts turn to wicked things. Vampires, ghouls and . problems in urban planning. Wicked problems are practically indefinable. Issues like poverty, crime, broken infrastructure, failing schools and racism are tangled in a knotted mess.

Stephen Krewson | Warming up to Gore, almost

Who's honoring Al Gore now? These days it seems like just about everybody is. Last Friday, Gore - along with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change - won the Nobel Peace Prize for their efforts "to build up and disseminate greater knowledge about man-made climate change, and to lay the foundations for the measures that are needed to counteract such change.

Guest column | Art Casciato

Hello, I must be going. Thus Groucho Marx, who knew better than even cousin Karl that every statement turns into its opposite, that all that's solid melts into air. And so - after two years as the first house dean of Harrison College House followed by seven as the first director of the Center for Undergraduate Research and Fellowships - hello becomes goodbye and poof! - I'm gone.

Your voice | Letters to the editor

System of standards in place for TAs To the editor: Let me correct some misconceptions voiced in your recent staff editorial, "Making TAs better," (10/2/2007) regarding the preparation of teaching assistants at Penn. Contrary to the editorial, there are, in fact, basic standards of preparation for new teaching assistants that apply on a school-by-school basis.

Stephen Krewson | Exit Music (for an era)

Imagine a world in which everything cost as much as you wanted to pay. Airline tickets for fall break? $50 sounds reasonable. That Porsche you've had your eye on? Yours for a grand. Dinner at Le Bec Fin? No more than the Dollar Menu. Such a state of affairs is both ludicrous and impossible.

Opinion Art | Avery Lawrence

Shawn Safvi | A successful Open Forum

This past week I had the pleasure of hosting the DP's first Open Forum of the semester. What began as a simple experiment last year has blossomed into a great way for you to share your thoughts and give us feedback. As usual, you had a lot on your mind.

Mara Gordon | A ride on the 'fun bus'

It was sort of an urban safari. They were young professionals, clad in business casual, intrepid explorers of Philadelphia's concrete jungle. They sipped champagne as they boarded the bus, ready for an adventure into uncharted territory. "With drinks in their hands," the driver chuckled, "I gotta be careful with the brakes.

Rina Thomas | Fasting for New Orleans

Every day we dodge and weave past the flyer-laden students on Locust Walk. We turn down offers of cookies, parties, executive-board positions and concerts by unknown artists. Sympathy for the Locust loiterers might impel us to grab a few leaflets before dropping them into the next trash can along the way.