University of Pennsylvania

March 19, 2005:
I went back to Penn to fill in many of the gaps from my previous visit. Shawn Hogan even came back with me for this short part of my adventure.

This trip was much better than my preceding visit in many ways. I finally attended the Mask and Wig show in their clubhouse. I visited a great private party in Hamilton Court. I saw the silly and wonderful map in 34th Street (the map, unfortunately, is only available in print), and I also went to a writers' meeting for the publication. I sat in the Blarney Stone at 2 p.m. on St. Patrick's Day. But mostly I met with dozens of students.

I met people who were interested in showing me the best parts of Penn and those who couldn't find the best parts of Penn. I found a couple of people who seemed moved to violence by my project, but most of my encounters were friendly. I met a talented actor, an inquisitive future nurse, a helpful tour guide, a member of a fraternity who grew to like Penn, a grumpy international student, a creative future editor, a Catholic student volunteer, a sorority sister used to warmer climates, a happy Wharton student, a relieved transfer student, and a kid who may be destined to take to an elevated position with a high powered rifle.

I owe my gratitude to the students who helped me—including the many students who wrote to me and those who initially encouraged me to return. The book will be richer for the time that you donated to this project.

March 16, 2005:
In a few minutes, I will be on my way back to Philadelphia to finish my chapter on the University of Pennsylvania. Since the last time I was on campus a few weeks ago, however, there have been some developments.

The Daily Pennsylvanian ran a story about my project, but they did it with a unique and cool twist: they wrote about my negative experience at Penn during my earlier visit.

That article prompted many emails. Some students wrote to tell me how much they loved Penn, and they offered to show me why they thought it was great. Others wrote to tell me how much they disliked the school, and how my experiences over a few weeks mirrored their experiences over a few years. I tried to send a note back to everyone who wrote.

But the article also provoked a flurry of anonymous, public postings by students and alumni unhappy with the DP's article and me. People wondered if I was actually lying about having attended Penn, or if I entered this chapter of the project with "ulterior motives." People complained that I was judging schools by my bad parking, and they bristled that I commented on their clothes. One student even wrote that I was "a huge fucking loser."

Of course, the best forum for my responses is in my book, but I should at least outline a few points here. I did graduate Penn, and I scheduled Penn for after the holiday break because I wanted to start the second half of the book in a place where I expected to be at least welcomed as an alumnus. After all, Penn is as much my school as it is anyone else's. In addition, I am not judging the school or its students based on parking, but I am certainly basing my experience during my visit on the two tickets that I received at broken meters. I mentioned how nice the students dress because almost every student that I met mentioned it to me and it was something that I observed—I have no idea why people perceived that observation as an attack. And, despite his anonymous posting, I identified the "loser" guy based on his comments. (I'll give you a clue: I mentioned him in a previous travelogue note.) I think I'll name him "Barry" in the book where we'll see him again.

Finally, I want to write a quick note about anonymity. I just can't relate to the weakness that causes people to snipe from a safe distance. It is cowardly, and my respect goes to the folks who were brave enough to write directly to me or to meet with me.

In any case, I'm heading back to Penn. My goal in this book is to explore institutions that I love and to meet the brilliant and talented students who walk the campuses. I am looking forward to meeting the students who say that they can show me the best parts of the school.

February 17, 2005:
On my way out of town, what can I say about Penn? Well, it hasn't been my greatest experience.

I've gone to the gym at every school that I have visited. I figured that I would have an especially easy time as an alumnus. I was wrong. I needed a new Penn ID card before they would take my $20 for a one-day pass. When I gave up and asked if I could just use the locker room to change out of my gym clothes, the folks at the membership office said no.

Despite many expired meters, illegal spaces, and generally bad parking, I had not received a parking ticket in the fall. At one school, I actually tried to get a parking ticket with no luck. At Penn, however, I managed to spend more than $100 in parking, and I still received several tickets.

I had a weird view of the student body. The community at large never knew that I was there. I found myself explaining my project to people who seemed skeptical or nervous about talking to me. I was uninvited to almost as many events as I was invited to. I encountered some of the most unabashedly arrogant people I have met in my life—caricatures of Ivy League stereotypes. I was told that Penn is the "social Ivy" but I sure didn't see it.

That said, I met some great people who have convinced me that I experienced a Twilight Zone version of life at Penn. I have met people who are very enthusiastic about their school, and many people who claimed that they could show me the "real" Penn.

So here's my plan: I'm coming back to Penn this spring. When Columbia goes on Spring Break in March, I will head back to Penn for a second shot. I will be in town from March 16 through March 19, and the folks who wanted to change my mind will have their chance.

February 11, 2005:
Everyone who knows me well knows Shawn Hogan—at least by reputation. Shawn has been my best friend since I was two, and he came out to see how my book was going at the University of Pennsylvania.

He caught my project at a weird moment. Although I've been here for a couple of weeks, I've only met a handful of students. The newspaper at Penn may turn out to be the first to utterly ignore my presence. My days end early, because the campus buildings close in the evening.

Nevertheless, Shawn witnessed some...interesting moments during his short stay.

We went on one of the most unusual campus tours that I had ever experienced. I suppose I should save something for the book, but suffice it to say that when it ended and our tour guide walked away, Shawn turned to me and said, "Is that really the tour they use to convince people to come here?"

We met some people involved in the Vagina Monologues (one show on February 16th—get your tickets now!) out on Locust Walk. As we talked to one of the organizers, one of the actresses came over and joined us. They were very enthusiastic about their show and Penn in general. Each invited us to separate events and parties.

We made it to one party last night. It was at a Greek house that I understand is not representative of Penn-at-large. It was, frankly, a bit scary and a little sad, but it is the only party at Penn that I have attended so far.

One of the single most helpful students at Yale introduced me to one of her friends at Penn, and Shawn and I met her for crêpes in Houston Hall. She was horrified that my chapter on Penn was taking a nosedive, and immediately began making a list of the things that we needed to do and the people we needed to meet. By the next day, I already had emails from her friends.

Tonight we will watch Penn's basketball team spank Columbia, and possibly catch another party. But I've already invited Shawn to visit me at the next school. His visit this time really isn't representative of my project.

February 7, 2005:
Many of the students that I have met at Penn have commented on how well dressed the campus is. It is common to find students walking across campus at noon on a Monday dressed like they are going to dinner parties rather than classes.

I suppose one reason for the trend may just be the city environment. Students have access to the latest fashions, so it is easy to stay in touch.

One student blamed the Wharton School. Business students commonly dress for internships, interviews, and even classes, and it drives a trend towards a dressier campus.

Whatever the reason for the fashion, it is certainly fun to sit on Locust Walk and watch students using dress shoes and high heels to stumble down the brick walkway. I've seen more ugly collapses at Penn than at any other school so far.

Speaking of ugly collapses, the Super Bowl was last night. I wonder if Penn students felt anything at the loss of the Eagles. I doubt that people transplanted in Philly for school would adopt the team—particularly since many Penn students are from New England—but I'd be interested to hear from students about this.

January 31, 2005:
So here I am at the University of Pennsylvania. It took me awhile, but I'm here.

My break took on a life of its own. The day that I planned to leave my hometown of Pittsburgh, a blizzard moved in with other thoughts. A few days later, the weather let up, but I was suddenly too sick to travel. Then whatever bug I had, the transmission in my car caught it next.

But I've had Penn on my mind. Many of the people that I met at other schools knew people at Penn, and I've contacted a few of those folks. I remember several professors from my days at Penn as a grad student, and I'm looking some of them up. I've also tried to reach the student newspaper, and I hope they will respond to me soon.

When I was here as a student, I didn't pay much attention to the world around me. I look forward to finding everything that I missed the first time around.

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