In support of food trucks, recognizing community service, Alumni Weekend notes.
THE PENN EXPERIENCE: THE QUAD, HEY DAY … FOOD TRUCKS?
While driving back to Washington, I stopped to have lunch on campus. I was happy to see that the Magic Carpet was right where I’d left it, as was its neighbor, the Mexican truck. Business was brisk on the sunny day. The proliferation of new trucks affirmed their popularity. So now the University wants to move and remove the trucks, creating truck ghettos somewhere out of sight? [“Gazetteer,” October]
How many alumni, faculty, and staff have left Penn to lament at lunch, “I wish we had those food trucks here,” then proceeded to tell their co-students, co-workers, and anyone else who would listen about the joys of food-truck dining! The vegetarian meals of the Magic Carpet are far better fare than the hot dogs and potato knishes we resorted to in New York. Blaagh!! The food trucks are as much a part of the Penn experience as Hey Day or the Quad. Leave the trucks alone!
PHYLLIS FUNG , C’89
Washington, D.C.
GREEKS PERFORM COMMUNITY SERVICE YEAR-IN, YEAR-OUT
Dr. Judith Rodin’s article on community service [“From College Hall,” June] lists several examples of Penn volunteers working in West Philadelphia. I would like to add one oft-overlooked item: Members of fraternities and sororities perform community service year-in and year-out as an integral part of their membership in a house. It is easy (and sensational) to bash fraternities and the Greek system in general when individual members are accused of committing antisocial acts. The Gazette should portray a more balanced picture of fraternity and sorority life by reporting, at least occasionally, on the positive efforts of the dedicated brothers and sisters and on the volunteer leaders of those activities.
DANIEL GREENBERG, EAS’86
Pittsburgh, Pa.
FIFTY YEARS DOESN’T SEEM LIKE SO MUCH
There are innumerable things I could say about the delightful
50th Reunion of our Class of 1947 this past May, but I’ll mention only
one. Our big 50th anniversary dinner was held in the large exhibit hall
on the top floor of the University Museum. There, intermingled with
sarcophagi and mummy cases, were our dinner tables where we celebrated a
joyous reacquaintance. I was seated by a beautiful mummy case adjacent
to our table, enjoying myself greatly, and then realized that the guy
next to me had been dead for 5,000 years!
ROBERT W. SHOEMAKER
C’47, G’50, Gr’51
Naperville, Ill.
FUTURE PENNSYLVANIANS ON PARADE
The verity of alma mater was proven on Alumni Day, May 17.
The warm glow on Locust Walk rendered the chill wind null and void. The
friendliness, the smiles, the greetings — one couldn’t ask for more.
The many beautiful future Pennsylvanians, in strollers and
carriages, in arms, on shoulders, or walking, were great to see. Their
presence made a beautiful walk more beautiful. Then if ever, spirits
soar.
Thanks for the therapy.
MORRIS BRAILOVE, W’27
Jamesburg, N.J.
TOO SMALL HONOR FOR HONORARY DEGREE RECIPENTS
I am writing to point out the very poor coverage given to the
eight honorary-degree recipients on page 15 [“Gazetteer,” June]. Surely
these outstanding individuals could have been given larger type, and
maybe even
pictures, to point out the importance
of these honorary degrees to the
University.
ROBERT L. SMITH, W’43
Elmont, N.Y.
WELCOME BACK, DR. HACKNEY
It is good to see Dr. Sheldon Hackney throw off the shackles of Washington politics, but even better to have him back on campus at Penn [“Gazetteer,” June]. As president, Sheldon Hackney did so much to make the University great, and now he will make available his knowledge, experience, and outstanding personality to the students and faculty. Sheldon and Lucy Hackney bring “class” to the University.
MORTON H. WILNER, W’30
Washington, D.C.
BELATED TRIBUTE
I was saddened by the death of Dr. E. Dale Saunders
[“Obituaries,” April 1996]. He was a tremendous influence on me. The
several courses I took from him taught me much, not just about Japanese
civilization and the history and development of Buddhism, but about
being a scholar. In addition to being an excellent teacher, he was a
great role model. I always regarded him with awe for his depth and
breadth of knowledge, but at the same time I always felt that he was
concerned that I actually learned something — not just the subject, but
how to think and study and learn generally. I regret that he passed
away before I could tell him this.
AEON J. SKOBLE, C’86
Department of Philosophy
Southeast Missouri State University
