UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA
Tuesday November 26, 2013 Volume 60 Number 15 www.upenn.edu/almanac
$15 Million Vagelos Gift to Lead the Way in Energy Research With a gift of $15 million, University of the Vagelos Integrated Program in Energy Re- Pennsylvania trustee emeritus P. Roy Vagelos, search (VIPER), a dual degree undergraduate C’50, Hon’99, and his wife, Diana, parents ’90, program of the School of Arts and Sciences and are continuing to ensure Penn’s leadership in the School of Engineering and Applied Science energy research by endowing two professor- (Almanac October 4, 2011). The highly-selec- ships dedicated to this critically important field. tive program prepares students for advanced de- “Energy use and its impact on the world is grees in energy science and engineering, focus- one of the most challenging problems that we ing on the science and technology of alternative face today, and Penn is committed to being and efficient methods of production, conversion part of the solution,” said Penn President Amy and use of energy. Gutmann. “Roy and Diana Vagelos are helping Scholars recruited for the Vagelos Profes- us to lead the way by supporting the expansion sorships will be leaders in their fields and build of a dynamic, interdisciplinary energy research upon Penn’s existing strengths in energy re- environment at Penn—from a new program in search, particularly in the study of photonics undergraduate education to the recruitment of and plasmonics. top faculty. We are grateful to Roy and Diana “This generous gift not only endows the pro- Diana and Roy Vagelos for partnering with us on this critical priority.” fessorships, but also provides for the research our research efforts,” said School of Arts and Their gift to endow two professorships rep- and start-up funds associated with recruiting Sciences Dean Steven J. Fluharty. “Thanks to resents a continuation of the Vageloses’ gen- new faculty, enabling us to attract the most tal- this commitment from Roy and Diana Vagelos, erous support of energy initiatives at Penn. In ented researchers who specialize in energy cap- Penn will be well-positioned to become a global 2011, they committed $13.6 million to launch ture and storage and who can help transform leader at the frontier of energy research.” The Joseph H. Lauder Institute of Management and International Studies Launching The Lauder Institute Challenge: Investing in Global Leaders The Joseph H. Lauder Institute of Manage- highlights included a reception at the Neue Gal- international executives who had the cultur- ment and International Studies of the Universi- erie, Indra K. Nooyi, chairman and CEO of Pep- al savvy and business acumen to be successful ty of Pennsylvania and the Wharton School are siCo as the keynote speaker and a gala at the in the global marketplace. In 1984, the Lauder pleased to announce the launch of its inaugu- Museum of Modern Art, at which The Lauder Institute admitted its first class of 51 students, ral fundraising and engagement campaign: The Institute Challenge was unveiled. who hailed from 13 countries. Today, its gradu- Lauder Institute Challenge: Investing in Global “While the Lauder Institute’s approach to ates work around the world in industries rang- Leaders. This five-year, $20 million campaign business education—and its alumni network— ing from consulting and financial services to en- is supported by the Chairman of the Institute’s is unlike any other, we must continue to evolve ergy, marketing, media and entertainment, gov- Board of Governors Ronald S. Lauder and the to be at the forefront of global business educa- ernment, education and the nonprofit sectors. Lauder Foundation. tion and to deliver on our founding mission: to The program’s Lauder Fellow alumni all Together with his brother, Leonard A. Laud- prepare global leaders who speak the language hold dual degrees, integrating an MA in Inter- er, and nephew, William P. Lauder—chairman of business, politics and culture fluently,” Pro- national studies from Penn’s School of Arts emeritus and executive chairman of Estée Lauder fessor Mauro Guillén, director of the Lauder In- and Sciences with an MBA from the Wharton Companies Board of Directors respectively—he stitute and Dr. Felix Zandman Professor of In- School or a JD from Penn Law. Lauder Fellows will provide up to $10 million in matching contri- ternational Management at the Wharton School also earn a certificate of language fluency. butions. Pledges from Lauder alumni and friends said. “The Lauder Institute Challenge will truly Ronald S. Lauder is a 1965 graduate of the will reinforce the tremendous value of the Laud- transform our ability to deliver the best integrat- Wharton School. In 1987, he established the er experience and degree and enable the Institute ed education available.” Ronald S. Lauder Foundation, which is dedicat- to continue to educate new generations of promi- “My brother Leonard and I,” said Ronald S. ed to revitalizing Jewish communities in Central nent, influential Lauder students from across the Lauder, “set out to create a unique environment and Eastern Europe. He is currently chairman globe by investing in student fellowships, curric- in which to nurture and develop our future glob- of Clinique Laboratories, which is part of Estée ular innovations and technology. al leaders. Our goal was to attract candidates Lauder. His brother, Leonard A. Lauder, is a 1954 “The Lauder Institute is a world-renowned who honored the best qualities of our father, Jo- Wharton graduate and chairmen emeritus of Es- leader in global business education with an in- seph: intelligence, curiosity and an openness to tée Lauder. William P. Lauder received his bach- novative interdisciplinary approach that has be- the world. We could never have imagined 30 elor’s degree from Wharton in 1983. He is the come a hallmark of Penn,” Penn President Amy years later we would be celebrating such an ac- son of Leonard and Evelyn Lauder and has been Gutmann said. “The Lauder Institute Chal- complished group of leaders—and a program executive chairman of Estée Lauder since 2009. lenge is an exciting opportunity to engage alum- that continues to define global business educa- ni, business leaders and friends in reconnect- tion. We are delighted to have the next genera- ing with the enduring mission and vision of the tion of Lauder family commitment with the ad- IN THIS ISSUE Institute. We are tremendously grateful to the dition of William to the board.” 2 OF RECORD: Rules Governing Final Examinations; Lauder family for such a generous match, which The Institute was established in 1983 by Walk-Back Program; Speaking Out: College Houses; will double the impact for everyone who wants Leonard A. Lauder and Ronald S. Lauder in Council: Agenda 3 Deaths; Baker Retailing Center; Vet Med Vice Dean to contribute to ensuring that the Institute has an honor of their father Joseph H. Lauder, who co- 4 Honors & Other Things even stronger, indeed stellar, future.” founded the Estée Lauder Companies with their 6 Penn Museum: Shop Around the World and The Lauder Institute Challenge is launch- mother, Estée Lauder. An international com- Peace Around the World; Penn VIPS Coat Drive 7 Suspension of Normal Operations; ing concurrently with the Institute’s 30th an- pany, Estée Lauder had a critical need for tal- Discounts at One Day in Pompeii; CrimeStats; niversary and was formally announced during ented business leaders who understood cultures Penn’s Way Campaign & Raffle the recent 4th Lauder Global Alumni Weekend and languages outside of the United States. In 8 Talk About Teaching and Learning when hundreds of Lauder alumni from around founding the Institute, the Lauders aimed to Pullouts: December AT PENN the world gathered in New York City. Weekend broaden the field and produce a new breed of Holidays Penn-Style ALMANAC November 26, 2013 www.upenn.edu/almanac 1 OF RECORD COUNCIL From the Office of the University Secretary Rules Governing Final Examinations 1. No instructor may hold a final examina- 7. No classes or required class activities may tion nor require the submission of a take-home be held during the reading period. Agenda for University Council final exam except during the period in which -fi 8. The first examination of the day begins at 9 Meeting nal examinations are scheduled; when neces- a.m. and the last examination concludes by 8 p.m. Wednesday, December 4, 2013 4 p.m. sary, exceptions to this policy may be granted There will be one hour between exam time blocks. Bodek Lounge, Houston Hall for postponed examinations (see 3 and 4 below). 9. All students must be allowed to see their No final examinations may be scheduled during final examination. Exams should be available as I. Approval of the Minutes of October 30, the last week of classes or on reading days. soon as possible after being graded with access 2013. (1 minute) 2. No student may be required to take more ensured for a period of at least one regular se- II. Follow Up Questions on Status Reports. than two final examinations on any calendar day mester after the exam has been given. To help (5 minutes) during the period in which final examinations protect student privacy, a student should have III. A discussion of Penn’s current efforts and are scheduled. If more than two are scheduled, access only to his or her own exam and not the future plans to combat climate change. (40 the student may postpone the middle exam. If a exams of other students. Therefore, for example, minutes) take-home final exam is due on a day when two it is not permissible to leave student exams (or IV. The Middle States Reaccreditation Self- final examinations are scheduled, the take-home grades or papers) in publicly accessible areas. Study Report. (30 minutes) exam shall be postponed by one day. 10. Students may not be asked for their So- V. New Business. (5 minutes) 3. Examinations that are postponed because cial Security Numbers. Instructors may not pub- VI. Adjournment. of conflicts with other examinations, or because licly display a student’s Penn ID or any portion more than two examinations are scheduled on of the Social Security Number, nor use name, the same day, may be taken at another time dur- initials or any personally identifiable informa- Walk-Back Program During Finals ing the final examinations period if the -facul tion to post grades. Even when an identifier is The Division of Public Safety offers addi- ty member and student can agree on that time. masked or absent, grades may not be posted in tional walking escort options during finals. As Otherwise, they must be taken during the offi- alphabetical order, to protect student privacy. always, students, staff or faculty may call 215- cial period for postponed examinations. 11. Final exams for the College of Liberal and 898-WALK (9255) anytime for a walking es- 4. Examinations that are postponed because of Professional Studies (LPS) courses must be giv- cort within the Penn Patrol zone, and even far- illness, a death in the family, for religious obser- en on the regular class meeting night during the ther, via the UCD walking program. Additional- vance or some other unusual event, may be tak- week of final examinations. No change in sched- ly, during finals (between December 11 and De- en only during the official periods: the first week uling is permitted without unanimous consent of cember 20, 2013) there will be an AlliedBarton of the spring and fall semesters. Students must ob- all students in the class and the director of LPS. Security Officer stationed at the Button, in front tain permission from their Dean’s office to take a LPS final exams may not be administered during of Van Pelt Library, ready to provide walking postponed exam. Instructors in all courses must be the last week of class or on a reading day. escorts. The officer will enter the lobby of the willing to offer a make-up examination to all stu- In all matters relating to final exams, students library every half hour between 10 p.m. and 3 dents who are excused from the final examination. with questions should first consult with their a.m., to check and see if anyone would like a 5. No instructor may change the time or date Dean’s offices. Faculty wishing to seek -excep safety officer to escort them home (or, if they’d of a final exam without permission from the ap- tions to the rules also should consult with their like, to a SEPTA transit stop where the officer propriate Dean. Dean’s offices. Finally, the Council of - Under will wait with them until they are safely aboard 6. No instructor may increase the time allowed graduate Deans and SCUE urge instructors to public transit). for a final exam beyond the scheduled two hours see that all examinations are actively proctored. See www.publicsafety.upenn.edu/security- without permission from the appropriate Dean. —Vincent Price, Provost services/walking-escort/
SPEAKING OUT
Early College Houses at Penn House, Modern Language College House and dance was high. Every Sunday, the House Your November 12, 2013 article on the others, formed in rapid succession. It was an ex- had brunch together in our lounge. President ground-breaking for a new and welcome col- traordinary time and experience. Meyerson came by in our early weeks and lege house states that “Penn’s College House The College Houses were governed by stu- encouraged students to paint the corridors system [was] begun 15 years ago.” In fact, dent-elected undergraduate councils, and the (which the Residence Office had forbidden Penn’s College Houses and the system-wide resident faculty and grad students were there as until then), initiating a burst of remarkable Council of Housemasters, were begun in the human, intellectual and cultural resources, with visual creativity. 1970s. Four professors—Mark Adams, Rich- doors most frequently open and with voluntary We have had several reunions since then, ard Solomon, Skip Rosoff and I—co-found- non-credit seminars offered on the widest vari- with everyone marveling at how remarkable it ed Van Pelt College House (the first dorm to ety of subjects. We had no powers in loco pa- all was. Anyone interested can read about Van be half men, half women; have all four class- rentis whatsoever, and in Van Pelt, we were all Pelt College House, in its early days, in a rem- es; and be co-ed on the same floor) in 1971 on a first-name basis with students. The House iniscence in the Pennsylvania Gazette: www. (opening in 1972) with the strong and excep- was popular (about three applications for ev- upenn.edu/gazette/0999/lonkevich4.html tionally active support of President Martin ery space) and wholly voluntary; students chose —Alan Charles Kors, Meyerson and Provost Eliot Stellar. We had if they wished to live in a College House or Henry Charles Lea Professor of History 180 undergraduates, eight resident Graduate not. The House dined together, in a dedicated Fellows and four resident Faculty Fellows. space in Commons, four nights a week. Hill College House (largely for fresh- In Van Pelt (much later merged with Modern 1998: A Turning Point at Penn man and a few sophomores) already exist- Languages College House into Gregory Col- “Nineteen ninety-eight marks the turning ed under Professor Robert Lucid. The first lege House), we had a weekly wine and sher- point in Penn’s history when, under the leader- Housemaster was Richard Solomon, an em- ry hour (students were treated as young adults ship of President Rodin, all undergraduate res- inent professor of psychology whose 1995 in those days) where students invited “faculty idences on campus adopted the College House obituary in the DP discussed his great role in associates” to join us for drinks, free dinner and model, hence the reference to 15 years.” Van Pelt: www.thedp.com/article/1995/10/u. conversation. Every Tuesday, Van Pelt invited —Sue Smith, CGS’94, GGS’03, mourns_psych_profs_death a faculty member to our commons area to talk Associate Director for Communications, After Van Pelt, Penn saw Ware College about a subject of his or her choice, and atten- College Houses & Academic Services
Speaking Out welcomes reader contributions. Short, timely letters on University issues will be accepted by Thursday at noon for the following Tuesday’s issue, subject to right-of-reply guidelines. Advance notice of intention to submit is appreciated. —Eds.
2 www.upenn.edu/almanac ALMANAC November 26, 2013 Deaths
Dr. Greene, Obstetrics & Gynecology Dr. Taskar, Computer and Information Science Dr. John W. Greene, Dr. Ben Taskar, former associate professor “He was an inspiring teacher, advisor and former assistant profes- in the department of computer and information mentor beloved by his students and colleagues. sor of obstetrics and gy- science at the School of With his brilliance, warmth and kindness, Ben left necology in the School Engineering and Ap- a deep impression on everyone who knew him,” of Medicine, died No- plied Science, died of an said Dr. Sampath Kannan, chair of the department vember 17 at age 87. apparent heart attack on of computer and information science. After serving in the November 17, in Seattle, At Penn, his contributions to the CIS depart- US Army, Dr. Greene at the age of 36. ment, the GRASP Laboratory, the statistics earned his undergrad- Dr. Taskar came to department and beyond had an enormous impact. uate degree from the Penn in 2007 and was Dr. Taskar received his bachelor’s, master’s University of Pitts- the Magerman Term As- and PhD from Stanford University. burgh in 1948. He be- sistant Professor until Dr. Taskar is survived by his wife, Anat gan his career at the John Greene his promotion in 2012. Caspi; daughter, Aviv Taskar; his parents, Mark University of Pennsyl- He was the founding and Tsilya Tasker and his sister, Alina Beyer. vania, first earning his medical degree in 1952 co-director of the Penn If you would like to share memories, pictures and then completing his internship and residen- Research in Machine and/or contribute to the Ben Taskar Family Ben- cy in obstetrics and gynecology at HUP. Af- Learning (PRIML) Cen- Ben Taskar efit Fund, visit bentaskar.com ter finishing a fellowship in endocrinology, Dr. ter and held a secondary appointment in the Greene was appointed to the faculty in 1960 department of statistics at the Wharton School. To Report A Death where he worked on research that involved He left Penn last year and became the Boeing Almanac appreciates being informed monitoring of fetuses of diabetic mothers. Professor of Computer Science & Engineering at of the deaths of current and former facul- He left Penn in 1963 to set up research, teach- the University of Washington. ty and staff members, students and other ing and clinical facilities for obstetrics and gyne- Dr. Taskar was widely recognized and hon- members of the University community. cology at the University of Kentucky’s College ored for his groundbreaking research in machine Call (215) 898-5274 or email almanac@ of Medicine, which opened in 1960. He chaired learning, natural language processing and com- upenn.edu the department until his retirement in 1990. puter vision, receiving the Sloan, ONR Young However, notices of alumni deaths Dr. Greene authored more than 70 scientif- Investigator (Almanac April 27, 2010) and NSF should be directed to the Alumni Records ic papers and five books. He was an examiner CAREER (Almanac July 12, 2011) awards and Office at Room 517, Franklin Building, for both the American Board of Obstetrics and was named a Distinguished Research Fellow at (215) 898-8136 or email record@ben. Gynecology and the National Board of Medi- the Annenberg Center for Public Policy in 2011. dev.upenn.edu cal Examiners. He was a member of the board of trustees of the Frontier Nursing Service and the board of directors of the Planned Parenthood Baker Retailing Center: State-of-the-Art Knowledge Creation & Education Association of Lexington, Kentucky. disciplinary faculty and tapping into a high-cal- Dr. Greene is survived by his wife, Eugenie; iber industry network for classroom speakers, daughters, Nonnie Riney, Susan Abner and Iso- academic-industry projects and career mentor- bel Chewning; and six grandchildren. ing. In addition to a retail curriculum and ca- reer placement, the Baker Retailing Center has addressed the fast-paced changes in retailing Penn Vet Vice Dean for Research and through knowledge creation activities such as Academic Resources: Phillip Scott industry-academic conferences, roundtables and Dr. Phillip Scott has industry-relevant research under the theme of been promoted to Vice “retailing in a digital, mobile world.” Individual Dean for Research and Yudkoff Photo by Shira programs have included the blurring boundaries Academic Resources at Barbara Kahn and Jay Baker between retailing and advertising, online-offline Penn Vet. This recog- The Jay H. Baker Retailing Center at the interaction, impact of social media on the om- nizes the expanded re- Wharton School of the University of Pennsyl- ni-channel process, how customer and employ- sponsibilities that Dr. vania recently celebrated its tenth anniversary ee emotions can be managed and leveraged and Scott has taken on since with a gala at the Annenberg Center. This in- sustainability in retail. he was appointed As- terdisciplinary research center, led by Whar- The Center’s activities over the last decade sociate Dean in 2006. ton marketing professor Barbara Kahn, was es- have raised the recognition of retail as an aca- In addition to provid- tablished by Patty and Jay Baker, a 1956 Whar- demic discipline and business career across the ing support and infor- ton graduate and the former President of Kohl’s Penn campus and have greatly enhanced stu- mation for the School’s Corporation, to be the global leader in retail dents’ interest in retail management careers. In research mission and knowledge and education through cutting-edge the most recent academic year, the number of acting as a conduit for undergraduate and MBA students taking full- Phillip Scott academic research, joint academic-industry pro- communication be- grams, student and alumni activities, global ini- time or internship positions in retail has in- tween the University’s Vice Provost for Re- tiatives and career placement. creased to a total of about 160. search and Penn Vet, Dr. Scott has stepped into “Retailing is changing and getting more The Jay H. Baker Retailing Center, an inter- areas of faculty mentoring; research infrastruc- complex every day. We want to support the in- disciplinary industry research center, was estab- ture including space, facilities and IT; and man- dustry by getting our faculty to think about chal- lished in 2002 and expanded in 2010 through aging and advocating for resources to support lenging business questions that are at the top of generous gifts by the Bakers. Since retail is the the School’s academic mission. He has also ini- retailers’ agenda. Our students benefit from it largest industry in the United States, it was fit- tiated research strategic planning and most re- through the curriculum,” explained Dr. Kahn. ting that the nation’s first business school would cently reviews of School research centers. The center works with a C-level industry advi- join with industry leaders to establish an unpar- Dr. Scott earned his undergraduate degree sory board and accomplished Wharton faculty alleled partnership for retail research, educa- from Villanova University and his PhD from the thought leaders to foster the exchange of ideas tion and practice. Working with our faculty, stu- University of Pennsylvania. He worked at the and initiate collaboration. “We’ve been able to dents, alumni and industry partners, the Baker National Institutes of Health Laboratory of Par- get the industry and academia to work together. Center is building the premier retailing center in asitology from 1981-1989. In 1989 Dr. Scott re- It’s something we’ve nurtured and built, and it’s the world, and has become the epicenter of re- turned to Penn, accepting an assistant professor really working now,” said Mr. Baker. tailing at the Wharton School and the Universi- position in pathobiology at Penn Vet, advancing The Baker Retailing Center has expanded ty of Pennsylvania. For more information about to full professor in 1996. He served as chair of the Wharton School’s scope of content exper- the Baker Retailing Center, visit www.wharton. the department of pathobiology from 1995-2007. tise to retailing, leveraging the School’s inter- upenn.edu/bakerretail ALMANAC November 26, 2013 www.upenn.edu/almanac 3 Honors & Other Things
Environmental Award: Dr. Block tem who is now at the University of Virginia, de- Emerging Leaders in Science and On October 24, the signed an advanced elective course to help im- Society Fellows Perkiomen Watershed prove cost consciousness and decision making Four University of Pennsylvania graduate Conservancy present- for fourth year medical students and residents. students have been named to the inaugural class ed Dr. Timothy Block The course includes a syllabus of didactic lec- of Emerging Leaders in Science and Society Fel- of the Morris Arbore- tures combined with a value analysis project that lows. ELISS is sponsored by the American Asso- tum of the University requires calculation of the cost of an ideal care ciation for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). of Pennsylvania with plan for a real patient and comparing this to the They are among 16 from four founding part- the 2013 Advocate of patient’s true costs of care. ner institutions: Penn, Stanford University, the the Watershed Envi- This course will initially be offered in Jan- University of Washington and Purdue University. ronmental Award, rec- uary 2014, and once it has been piloted, it will The Penn students, are all PhD candidates, ognizing outstanding be integrated into the Perelman School of Med- and their fields are: contributions to the lo- icine’s curriculum. The classes and value anal- Ben Chrisinger, city and regional planning, cal environment. The ysis project will be replicable at any medical School of Design. Perkiomen Watershed Timothy Block school that has an affiliated hospital. Johannes Eichstaedt, psychology, School of Conservancy presents Arts and Sciences. annual awards to those individuals who partic- Namesake Prize for Research: Ruth Masterson Creber, nursing science, ipate in community efforts to protect and im- Dr. Delivoria-Papadopoulos School of Nursing. prove the local environment surrounding the In honor of Dr. Ma- Maddie Stone, earth and environmental sci- Perkiomen Creek Watershed. ria Delivoria-Papado- ence, School of Arts and Sciences. The Perkiomen Watershed Conservancy’s poulos, professor emeri- The new AAAS multi-campus, national mission is to serve all who live, work and play tus of pediatrics and initiative is a one-year competitive program de- within the Perkiomen Creek Watershed by con- physiology in Penn’s signed to complement graduate and professional serving and protecting the land and water re- Perelman School of student studies by producing leaders to help the sources of its 362 square miles. Founded in Medicine, Johns Hop- nation understand and address issues related to 1964, today the Conservancy helps ensure qual- kins University School community, the economy, health, energy and the ity drinking water for hundreds of local commu- of Medicine, Children’s environment. nities including Philadelphia. Center NICN, estab- The Fellows will receive financial assistance, lished as of Novem- career development and networking opportunities RWJF Funding: Dr. Brooks Carthon ber 6, 2013 the Maria Maria to assist them in mounting interdisciplinary and Dr. J. Margo Brooks Delivoria-Papadopoulos Delivoria-Papadopoulos professional development programs for students Carthon, assistant pro- Prize for Research in Neonatal Neuroscience in rec- at their institutions. fessor of nursing, has ognition of her lifetime of service she has provided The pilot class of 16 fellows will begin in been awarded $350,000 to students of neonatal medicine. January. in funding from the The prize will be awarded to a fellow of Neo- Penn Ranked #1 in Safety Robert Wood Johnson natal Perinatal Medicine that has accomplished Foundation (RWJF) to The University of Pennsylvania ranked #1 in an outstanding research project in neuroscience. safety and security in the higher education sec- study “Nursing and pa- Dr. Delivoria has expanded the science of tient perspectives of tor, according to Security magazine’s “Security neonatology and continues to make significant and 500” list. This is the seventh consecutive year hospital readmission lasting contributions to the health of the world’s disparities.” that Penn has taken the magazine’s top honors children. She is revered as an outstanding leader in in their respective vertical market. Dr. Brooks Car- academic pediatrics and is perhaps best known for thon's research will The Security 500 Benchmarking Sur- performing the world’s first successful ventilation vey tracked 17 vertical markets and collected examine how nursing treatment for premature infants in North America. interventions, such as J. Margo Brooks unique data where appropriate (such as patients discharge planning and Carthon Namesake Scholarship: Ms. Kinney in health care) and applied this data to key met- coordination of care, A new scholarship rics. The key metrics collected this year include: influence repeat hospitalizations among older for the study of health Security Spending/Person, Security Spending/ minority patients. The study will employ a mixed care management has Revenue, Security Officers/Employee and Se- model approach and will elicit viewpoints of been named in hon- curity Officers/Facility. The survey received its older minority patients through focus group or of June Kinney, the information from data supplied directly by na- interviews and survey responses of nurses. long-time associate di- tional universities and colleges, as well as data rector of the health obtained through public resources and records. ‘Bright Idea’ in Education: care management de- Security magazine states that the “purpose of Mr. Daughtridge partment in Wharton the Security 500 is to create a reliable database A medical student and a senior fellow of to measure your organization versus others and in the Perelman School Penn’s Leonard Da- create a benchmarking program among security organizations. The results will enable you to an-
of Medicine is among Photo by Stuart Watson vis Institute of Health the winners of the first Economics. swer the question, ‘Where Do I Stand?’ as a ba- ever Teaching Value June Kinney Organized by the sis of an ongoing peer review process.” and Choosing Wise- Wharton Health Care Management Alumni As- “It is no surprise that Penn has a consistently ly competition held by sociation (WHCMAA), the June Kinney/WHC- top notch program,” said Mark McCourt of Secu- the Costs of Care and MAA scholarship fund was officially launched rity magazine. “They are successful, in large part, the ABIM Foundation at the organization’s annual conference last because [they] understand the credibility, rela- for innovative projects month. tionship and language issues in an executive set- that promote high- Ms. Kinney, who joined the Wharton School ting. He continued, “the team is well trained and value care by reducing in 1981, is credited with fostering one of the executes in a manner that enhances Penn’s brand waste and overuse in largest and most respected health care manage- while ably managing risk and resilience issues.” health care. ment programs in the country. “The ongoing support of our President Amy Giffin Daughtridge Awarded in the Whereas the Kissick Scholarship is designed Gutmann, Executive Vice President Craig Carn- “Bright Idea” category, for students who are already enrolled in Whar- aroli, Provost Vince Price, and the dedication of second year medical student Giffin Daughtridge, ton, the new Kinney Scholarship will be differ- the women and men of the Division of Public along with his faculty advisor, Richard P. Shan- ent in that it is aimed at students who haven’t Safety and Penn Medicine Security keep us at non, former chair of the department of medicine yet made their final decision about which school the top of our field,” said Maureen S. Rush, Vice of the University of Pennsylvania Health Sys- to attend. President for Public Safety. 4 www.upenn.edu/almanac ALMANAC November 26, 2013 Grand Challenges Explorations Recognizing Penn as a Leader in Green Purchasing Grant for Penn Veterinary Medicine Office Depot, a global provider of office sup- product categories. The award was presented at The University of plies and services, announced the University of the GreenBuild Conference & Expo on November Pennsylvania School Pennsylvania as an award winner for leadership 22 at the Pennsylvania Convention Center. of Veterinary Medi- in a specific aspect of green purchasing—green Penn Purchasing provides efficient and ef- cine (Penn Vet) an- spending analysis. For the past seven years, Of- fective buying methods, purchasing policies nounced that it is a fice Depot has recognized a small group of con- and procedures and customer support for Penn Grand Challenges Ex- tract customers who proactively seek out products faculty and staff. The department also manages plorations winner, an with environmental attributes and ecolabels. For the University’s economic inclusion program, initiative funded by 2013, the University of Pennsylvania was one of Green Purchasing initiatives and establishes the Bill & Melinda 28 organizations selected out of 17,000 customers. strategic supplier relationships to provide low- Gates Foundation. Dr. Office Depot’s Special Recognition Awards est “total cost” products and services. Robert M. Greenberg, are based on specific aspects of a customer’s pur- For more information, visit www.purchas- will pursue an inno- chasing program or leadership in greening certain ing.upenn.edu vative global health Robert Greenberg and development re- search project, “Hel- Excellence in Economic Development: Penn Medicine minth ABC transporters as targets for combina- Penn Medicine was recognized with two adelphia. The non-profit IEDC is a membership tion therapy.” Gold Excellence awards by the International organization serving economic developers. Its Grand Challenges Explorations (GCE) Economic Development Council (IEDC) for its Excellence in Economic Development Awards funds individuals worldwide to explore ideas efforts to create positive change in the commu- recognize the world’s best economic develop- that can break the mold in how we solve per- nity. Penn Medicine was honored for its work ment programs and partnerships, marketing ma- sistent global health and development challeng- redeveloping Philadelphia’s former Civic Cen- terials and the year’s most influential leaders. es. Dr. Greenberg’s project is one of more than ter into a matrix of world-class medical research The former Civic Center site now houses 80 Grand Challenges Explorations Round 11 and treatment centers. The award included the Penn Medicine’s Perelman Center for Advanced grants announced recently by the Bill & Melin- Philadelphia Industrial Development Corpora- Medicine, the Smilow Center for Translational da Gates Foundation. tion (PIDC), who owned the land, as well as the Research and the Roberts Proton Therapy Cen- To receive funding, Dr. Greenberg and other Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), ter, all of which have taken shape since 2005. Grand Challenges Explorations Round 11 win- which has also built in the area. The area is also the site of the Colket Translation- ners demonstrated in a two-page online applica- The two honors, in the categories of Public- al Research Building and the Buerger Center for tion a bold idea in one of five critical global heath Private Partnerships for communities with pop- Advanced Pediatric Care, slated to open in 2015. and development topic areas that included devel- ulations greater than 500,000, and Partnerships Together Penn Medicine and CHOP invested opment of the next generation condom, agricul- with Educational Institutions for communities more than $2 billion in its facilities on the site ture development and neglected tropical diseases. with populations greater than 500,000, were and construction on another one million square presented at an awards ceremony earlier this feet of space is expected to finish by 2015. Parasitic worms such as schistosomes and fi- month at the IEDC Annual Conference in Phil- larial and soil-transmitted nematodes infect as many as a billion people worldwide and have devastating effects on human health and eco- 2013 HAP Achievement Award for Pennsylvania Hospital nomic development. Dr. Greenberg and Dr. Ber- Pennsylvania Hospital (PAH) of Penn Medi- reacting to infections after they occurred by tak- nadette Ardelli of Brandon University in Mani- cine was named a winner of The Hospital and ing a proactive approach to CAUTI prevention.” toba will explore ways to enhance the effective- Health System Association of Pennsylvania’s In July of 2012, Ms. Vacca and her team began ness of drugs against these infections. They will (HAP) 2013 Achievement Award. implementing weekly rounds on each patient in test whether the potency of current drugs can be PAH was one of 19 hospitals recognized the NICU. They assessed specific criteria es- enhanced by co-administration of compounds for innovative programs addressing critical and tablished by the Centers for Disease Control to that block protective mechanisms the worms timely issues concerning: patient satisfaction, prevent CAUTI. They then developed and refined use to transport the drugs out of cells and tis- workforce issues, public health and education, a rounding tool for data collection and analysis to sues. This approach could potentially increase influenza, falls, infection prevention, mortality assist with weekly rounds. Findings were com- drug effectiveness and prevent the emergence of reduction, oxygen therapy and disaster prepared- municated via email to the health care team in real drug resistance. ness. Chosen from 131 hospital programs submit- time and unit nurses were also educated in real Grand Challenges Explorations is a $100 ted from across the state, entries were evaluated time as issues were identified and resolved. The million initiative funded by the Bill & Melin- by a 15-judge panel representing the public and team utilized the rounding tool as a guide to as- da Gates Foundation. Launched in 2008, over private sectors and included leadership from the sess patients, educate their peers and collaborate 850 people in more than 50 countries have re- National Patient Safety Foundation, The Joint with physicians and advanced practice providers ceived Grand Challenges Explorations grants. Commission and The Patient Safety Authority. to expedite the catheter removal process. The grant program is open to anyone from any On November 4, HAP President Andy Carter Over a nine month period from when the discipline and from any organization. The ini- visited PAH to personally present the award to initiative began, the NICU went from an average tiative uses an agile, accelerated grant-making Maria Vacca, infection prevention specialist, CAUTI rate of nine percent per 1,000 patient process with short two-page online applications Diane Angelos, clinical nurse education special- days—to zero—with an estimated direct cost and no preliminary data required. Initial grants ist and fellow winning team members for their savings of $40,000. The process, which has been of $100,000 are awarded two times a year. Suc- Patient Safety entry, Prevention of Catheter-As- successfully adopted by other clinical units at cessful projects have the opportunity to receive sociated Urinary Tract Infection in a Neurological PAH, continues to evolve as the staff becomes a follow-on grant of up to $1 million. ICU Using a Proactive Approach to the Institute more engaged in maintaining patient safety by for Healthcare Improvement Bundle. preventing CAUTIs. Correction: In the November 19 issue, the de- “This award recognition confirms the com- “We look forward to continue seeing positive scription of Dr. Eline Tjetske Luning Prak’s re- mitment of our staff to quality and continuous results in our NICU and all Critical Care Units search should have read B cell autoimmunity. improvement in the delivery of health care,” of the hospital where the rounding process has Dr. Luning Prak, an associate professor of pa- said Dr. Daniel M. Feinberg, chief medical officer been adopted,” said Ms. Vacca. thology and laboratory medicine, is the recipi- of PAH. “It is a tremendous honor for Maria and Additional team members involved in the award ent of the Lady Barbara Colyton Autoimmune Diane and the whole team. What they accom- winning initiative are: Christopher Huot, nurse Research Award that recognizes a faculty mem- plished with this initiative is truly impressive.” manager, Critical Care; Dr. Paul Kinniry, medical ber who has been engaged in innovative discov- “Our initiative began over a year ago when director, Medical Intensive Care Unit; Danielle C. eries and outstanding research in the area of au- it was identified that the Neurological Intensive Reynolds, Quality and Performance Improvement toimmune diseases. Dr. Luning Prak has made Care Unit (NICU) had a significant increase in coordinator; Debra Runyan, director of infection significant contributions to the field of B cell au- their Catheter Associated Urinary Tract Infections prevention; and the registered nurses of the PAH toimmunity. We regret the error. —Ed. (CAUTI),” said Ms. Vacca. “Our idea was to stop Neurological Intensive Care Unit. ALMANAC November 26, 2013 www.upenn.edu/almanac 5 Shop Around the World this Holiday Season at the Penn Museum Gift Shops Recognized for its global jewelry selection, beer lovers. The tablet is a receipt from 1200 and Senet) as well as Rome (Nine Men’s Mor- the Museum Shop at the Penn Museum in Phila- BCE written in the Akkadian language for one ris), a game of Oriental strategy, offers children delphia is offering unique gifts evoking ancient of the earliest recorded beer runs. the chance to play as the ancients did ($12.99– royal style. The Pyramid Shop for Children $44.99). A Byzantine mosaic kit offers a unique Among the collection are Sofala bangle The Penn Museum children’s gift shop, the twist for 8- to 11-year-old puzzle aficionados. bracelets from South Africa, fair trade items Pyramid Shop, provides exciting and education- The finished result is an image of the woman which support women’s employment. Inspired al toys and games for explorers ages 5 and up. Ktisis, a personification of the act of generosi- by the 16th-century trade prowess of the Mu- An array of board games from Egypt (Mancala ty. Floor mosaics inscribed with her name have tapa Kingdoms of modern-day Zimbabwe and survived at sites throughout the former Byzan- Mozambique, the bracelets’ symbols and pat- tine Empire ($12.95). terns celebrate the ancient tradition of adorn- Shoppers can find additional toys, games, ment and a rich culture of craftsmanship. The stuffed animals, jewelry and a treasure trove bangles are 100% handmade and take hours to of children’s books about ancient civilizations weave ($12.99 each, or three for $30). and modern world cultures at the Pyramid Shop. Besides the Sofala bangles, there are Lapis The items appeal to a wide range of ages and are Leaf earrings inspired by the jewelry of Queen offered at a range of prices. Puabi in Iraq’s Ancient Past: Rediscovering Ur’s Visitors coming exclusively to the shops can Royal Cemetery. Each earring is a delicate brass enter the Museum for free. The Museum Shop leaf anchored to a vibrant lapis bead ($59.99). is open during regular Museum hours: Tuesday, Hundreds of unique gifts from around the 10 a.m.–5 p.m.; Wednesday, 10 a.m.–5 p.m. world are available at the Museum Shop. The (until 8 p.m. on Wednesdays if the Museum is Pyramid Shop for children offers a variety of open); and Thursday–Sunday, 10 a.m.–5 p.m. fun and educational toys, games, stuffed ani- (closed Mondays and major holidays). The Pyr-
mals and books. Photo by Penn Museum amid Shop is open Tuesday–Sunday, 11 a.m.– Shoppers can save at the Annual Holiday 3 p.m. For more information, call (215) 898- Sale from Wednesday, December 4 through The Pyramid Shop offers an array of board games 4040. A selection of items are available at the Sunday, December 8. Both the Museum Shop from Egypt as well as Rome to give children the Museum’s website: www.penn.museum/muse- and the Pyramid Shop offer 15% off all purchas- chance to play as the ancients did. um-shops.html es for Penn, University of Pennsylvania Health Peace Around the World at the Penn Museum: December 1 System and Children’s Hospital of Pennsylvania staff and students (with PennCard or employee ID) and 20% for Penn Museum members (with membership card). Highlight of the Museum Shop According to Shop Manager Kevin Freitag, a Himalayan Salt lamp from the mountainous region of Pakistan is a bestseller. It is a popu- lar gift idea for both home décor and for chil- dren to use as a night light. The high-mineral crystals range in color from sheer white to vary- ing shades of pink, to deep reds. Himalayan salt originally formed from marine fossil deposits more than 250 million years ago and is still ex- tracted from mines by hand, according to tradi- tion, without the use of any machinery ($30, or $15 with purchase of any other item). For Teachers, Lawyers and Event Planners In addition to accessories, shoppers can also purchase ancient artifact replicas such as Bab- ylonian School Tablets ($9.99) used in ancient Nippur. A popular gift for teachers, the tablet shows how the teacher inscribed the signs in the first two rows, which students then copied in lines three and four. Many guests browsing for law school gift ideas select the Mesopota- mian Legal Tablet ($19.99). It features cunei- form writing of the Laws of Lipit-Ishtar, which Photo by Penn Museum pre-date the Code of Hammurabi by 150 years. Joe Tayoun, (above) internationally acclaimed Middle Eastern percussionist, will lead an instruc- There is also the Mesopotamian Beer Tablet tional drum circle at the 18th Annual “Peace around the World” celebration, Sunday, December 1 keychain ($6.99) to amuse event planners and at 1:30 p.m. Visitors are encouraged to participate in the session and a limited number of drums are provided. The celebration includes music and dance performances, arts and crafts, storytelling and meditative yoga from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Penn Museum. Guests are invited to bring a new, unwrapped toy to donate to the Penn VIPS holiday toy drive to benefit West Philadelphia charities.
Coat Drive: December 2-16 Does your gently used winter coat still have some serviceable miles on it? Warm coats in good condition, for both children and adults, are needed by a number of charitable organiza- tions in the Philadelphia area. Join Penn Volunteers in Public Service in the Netter Center for Community Partnerships (NCCP) office in organizing a Winter Coat Drive. If you have a coat (or coats) to contribute to our drive, you are welcome to donate them to the following site: NCCP, 133 South 36th/5th floor. We do not have the facilities or funds to clean donated items. Freshly laundered (or recent- Photo by Penn Museum ly cleaned) items are especially appreciated. Bring in your gently used coats to be donated to Ancient artifact replicas of a (L-R) Mesopotamian area shelters. Contact Isabel Mapp at (215) 898-2020 or send an email: sammapp@pobox. Legal Tablet, Babylonian School Tablet and upenn.edu for additional information and/or to make a donation. Mesopotamian Beer Tablet keychain available in —Isabel Mapp, Associate Director, Netter Center for Community Partnerships the Museum Shop at the Penn Museum. 6 www.upenn.edu/almanac ALMANAC November 26, 2013 Suspension of Special Offer for PennCard Holders: Normal Operations Discounts at One Day in Pompeii Although Penn normally never stops The Penn Mu- operating, emergencies such as severe seum is collaborat- weather conditions may sometimes result ing with The Frank- in the cancellation of classes and/or the lin Institute during full or partial closure of certain areas of their special exhi- the University. Decisions affecting work bition, One Day in schedules and class cancellation are Pompeii, running made by the Executive Vice President in now through April consultation with the Provost. The Uni- 27, 2014. One Day versity will announce a closing or other in Pompeii features modification of work schedules through more than 150 arti- the following means: facts on loan from • the University’s emergency informa- the collection of tion number: (215) 898-6358 (215-898- the Naples Nation- MELT) al Archaeological To designate a contribution to one of the thou- • communications from the Division Museum in Italy. sands of worthy organizations, log on to www. of Public Safety Courtesy of the Franklin Institute Wall-sized frescos, upenn.edu/pennsway Through the combined marble and bronze • KYW News Radio (1060 AM) Pompeii-Crouch strength of the University and Penn Medicine • the UPennAlert Emergency Noti- sculptures, jewel- faculty and staff, we are confident that we can fication System (for University-related ry, ancient Roman reach this year’s ambitious goal of $1.45 mil- incidents & crises) coins and full body casts of the volcano’s vic- lion. To date we have raised more than 98% of The University’s emergency radio tims are featured. our goal. The campaign officially concluded on identification code numbers (KYW News All PennCard holders enjoy the special dis- November 15, although donations will continue Radio) are “102” for day classes and counted price of $6 per person (a savings of to be accepted through November and December. schools/centers and “2102” for evening $12) after 5 p.m. on Thursday, Friday and Sat- —Penn’s Way Co-chairs and Faculty Advisors classes. The message that accompanies urday through April 5, 2014. The exhibition is open until 9 p.m.; last admission entry is 7:30 the code number will provide the operat- Happy ing status of the University. Be sure to p.m. each night. The ticket price does not in- keep this information in a place you can clude general museum admission. Thanksgiving! easily access. For those preparing to visit The Franklin Even when Penn is officially closed due Institute or inspired by what they experience, to an emergency, there are some essential the Penn Museum features a suite of Classical services that must still be provided, such as World galleries, Worlds Intertwined: Etruscans, Public Safety or Facilities. Staff members Greeks and Romans, to delve deeper. The sun- in essential positions are still required to drenched ancient Mediterranean world—the work as normally scheduled under these “classical world” of myth, legend and lore, of science, art, philosophy, fashion, politics and ar- circumstances. No Almanac December 3 For more information on suspension chitectural glory—is explored. More than 1,400 ancient artifacts—including exquisite marble There is no Almanac scheduled for De- of normal operations, visit www.hr.upenn. cember 3. Members of our staff will be edu/myhr/resources/policy/other/suspen- statuary, pottery, weapons and armour, coins, available to assist contributors planning in- sionofnormaloperations jewelry and engraved gems—are on display. sertions for December. Breaking news will —Division of Human Resources As always, the Penn Museum is free to be posted online to “Almanac Between Is- PennCard holders. sues” if necessary. —Eds. AT PENN Deadlines Subscribe to Express Almanac The November AT PENN calendar is online at Sign up to receive email no- www.upenn.edu/almanac The deadline for the Janu- tification when we post breaking ary AT PENN calendar is Tuesday, December 3. news between issues. Send an 3910 Chestnut Street, 2nd floor Information is on the sponsoring department’s email to [email protected]. Philadelphia, PA 19104-3111 website. Sponsors are in parentheses. For locations, edu with “subscribe e-almanac
ALMANAC November 26, 2013 www.upenn.edu/almanac 7 TALK ABOUT TEACHING AND LEARNING
Teaching Long: Reasons and Ways to Assign Big Books Paul K. Saint-Amour I’m that disastrous thing: a slow reader who teaches long novels. This chance to contend intimately with a passage, to make decisions about how wouldn’t be such a problem if I retained what I read with photographic to perform and interpret it, to feel it has become their own. clarity. But I don’t: the pages start to fade quickly, like retinal after-imag- World Extension. Capacious books invite readers not only to traverse es in low light. So every time I teach Vanity Fair or Bleak House or Mid- but also to extend them. As an alternative to a conventional analytical es- dlemarch or Ulysses or Gravity’s Rainbow, I must carefully re-read the say, I sometimes offer students the option of writing a “lost” or apocryphal whole book alongside my students. And each year while I’m putting to- section of a long book—a nineteenth episode of Ulysses, say, complete gether my course readings, I’m confronted anew with two questions: Why with annotations and a brief scholarly introduction. By fusing imitation, teach 350,000-word books in the age of the tweet? And what is the most invention, critique, and analysis, such an assignment allows students to effective way to teach such a book or books? break out of exclusively genuflective or resistant relationships to the work. There are a few standard answers to the why question. Lengthy, cultur- It suggests that the rewards of immersive reading can take many forms, in- ally consecrated books are writing’s answer to the great cathedrals, long in cluding parody, pastiche, tribute, immanent critique, and creation-in-kind. the making and worthy of immersive study. Such immersion is a good in Sometimes Only Too Much Is Enough I. Although a dense and lengthy itself, mending our shattered attention spans and connecting us with oth- book might be a semester’s worth of reading on its own, it can also cause ers through a medium that will outlast Snapchat. College affords students palette fatigue. An obvious way to reduce the burnout risk is to supple- the time for undertaking such readings, and the college course can provide ment the main readings with critical texts that refocus the discussion from the ideal mix of guidance, structure, and company. Finally, teachers can week to week. But I’ve found a more extreme version of supplemental as- harness the prestige of the masterwork—its way of glamorizing immer- signments even more appealing. My Finnegans Wake seminar, which I’ve sive reading as an extreme sport that confers bragging rights on the read- taught to both grads and undergrads, pairs weekly readings from Joyce’s er—to get students in the door. novel with a series of “collateral” texts: mostly post-Joycean experimen- Although there’s some truth to each of these answers, I’ve never found tal works that are in some kind of dialogue with Joyce’s. Three months on them very satisfying. The problem is not just that they’re variously circu- the Wake alone would be a slog for most readers. But by offering what’s lar, uncritical, scolding, and opportunist. They’re also unspecific. They in essence a double syllabus, the seminar preserves the benefits of a full treat Big Books as a genre and don’t get us any closer to the particular reading of the Wake while admitting more voices to the proceedings and intellectual and pedagogical questions that should drive a given course. raising questions about how the central work has been venerated, resisted, I’ve learned that there are different kinds of length and difficulty, differ- and repurposed by other writers. ent paces at which long books move and can be taught, and a variety of frames in which a given book can be productively read. So my first piece Sometimes Only Too Much Is Enough II. My friend Eric Hayot, who’s of advice to anyone considering assigning a long book is to know as clear- in Asian Studies and Comparative Literature at Penn State, teaches a grad- ly and specifically as possible your motivations for doing so. Yet it’s also uate course on global prose fiction from the eleventh century through the true that confronting the how can sometimes clarify the why. What fol- nineteenth. His syllabus lists a major work between 500 and 800 pages lows are some practical suggestions about how to build long books into a long for each session: Murasaki’s Tale of Genji one week, Malory’s Le course, offered in the hope of catalyzing other instructors’ thinking about Mort d’Arthur the next, Cervantes’s Don Quixote later on. But here’s the field- and course-specific reasons for doing so. kicker: only one student is responsible for finishing the reading each week and acting as that work’s ambassador to the rest of the class. This design The Book As Syllabus. A course syllabus storyboards a series of read- forgoes the shared, immersive reading experience on which my previous ings and meetings that are necessarily modular, looking for some optimal examples are based, but it gains something else: a broader cultural sweep, balance of variety, coherence, and cumulative force. Bearing this in mind, a greater chronological velocity, and an unusual distribution of readerly I’ve found that many long books are born syllabus-ready. Exhibit A in my labor. It asks students to consider what kinds of comparative insights we field would be Joyce’s Ulysses, which consists of 18 episodes, each one miss by defaulting to close and unified reading. stylistically distinct yet revising and building on its predecessors; many a Joyce survey has let the book’s structure be the organizational lattice for Less As More. Heavyweight texts tend to produce robust interpretive part or all of the course. Long works that were first published in weekly or industries. There’s a strong temptation to reproduce that burliness in the monthly installments, as was true of most nineteenth-century British nov- course apparatus—to assume that a group ascent of The Critique of Pure els, can lend their pacing and suspense to a course while giving students Reason, Capital, or The Golden Notebook requires massive provisioning. an understanding of how plots were shaped by the material constraints of This isn’t always a temptation to resist, and most of us have stories to tell serial publication. The simple takeaway here: long works don’t always about how our courses have been enhanced by reading-journals, response have to be “carved up” into assignments but can often cue the instructor papers, discussion boards, and the like. But courses, like courseware, can as to the course’s form and tempo. suffer from feature creep. Whether they revolve around 12 long books or just one, reading-intensive courses with a light apparatus can offer our pe- The Long Book As World. Students of an extensive text don’t just read rennially multi-tasking students something rare: the chance to mono-task it; they co-inhabit it. I’ve found it helpful to imagine the long work as a for several hours a week. world the class is collectively mapping, and whose laws we’re attempt- Why teach long books? Again, the best reasons are specific to the ing to fathom over the course of weeks or months. This can entail many course rather than to the generic matter of a work’s length. But to the ex- kinds of collaborative work, from discussion threads and course blogs tent that long books aim to encompass a world, a field, or a problem, they to more discrete group projects. It’s equally important, though, for each exert, as a class, a particular pressure on our reading and teaching. They student to become engrossed by at least one corner of the book-world in put questions of scale unavoidably on the table. They model worldedness, question. A brief presentation and annotated bibliography about a specific introducing the problem of how to represent or imply a totality without theme or thread can lead to this sense of local mastery. So can a detailed simply replicating it. And they invite us to think about the phenomenology engagement with a particular passage. I ask each student in my Finnegans of comprehension, including the speed and depths at which we read and Wake seminar to select, memorize, and perform a page of the book for the the different ways we apportion the work of sense making. The book that class, then to gloss the passage extemporaneously and in detail. Although seems unteachably long might alter the pace and scale of our teaching— students sometimes quail at the prospect, I find they end up valuing the as well as our sense of what it means to do the reading.
Paul K. Saint-Amour is an associate professor and graduate chair of English in SAS.
This essay continues the series that began in the fall of 1994 as the joint creation of the College of Arts and Sciences and the Lindback Society for Distinguished Teaching. See www.upenn.edu/almanac/teach/teachall.html for the previous essays. 8 www.upenn.edu/almanac ALMANAC November 26, 2013