The Tribune Stouffer-Mayer
Volume 3 November 2014
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Stop by the House Office
ow that we have our new House Coordinator, Colleen, the house office will be open during the day. Feel free to stop by and introduce yourself to Colleen and get to know the newest member of our Stouffer family. Also, remember all of the great things we have in the house office. In addition to board games and DVD’s, we also have an air mattress, sports equipment, and it has been discussed at Steering that we may soon have a cart that students can take to Fresh Grocer and other local shops. If you ever want to see a full list of all the things we have available in the house office, see http://stouffer.house.upenn.edu/loans/available. So, if you ever want to check something out of the house office, you can now come between 9am to 10 pm on weekdays and 11am to 7pm on weekends. And if you don’t want to check something out, feel free to stop by, say hi to whoever is in the house office, grab some coffee, and then study in the Seminar Room.
Article By: Matt Lesser House Office Manager 1
Letter from the Editor H
EY EVERYONE!
Yet another edition of the Tibune coming right at you! Oh how awesome it is that we’ve arrived in the month of November. What we all should be thinking about are the things we are especially thankful for. Some of the things I’m most thankful for are: My family, my good health, my friends, and being able to live in Stouffer, of course. Obviously, I’m thankful for more things, but these few things are the ones I always revert back to and are ones that will never go away. That’s right, I plan on living in Stouffer FOREVER. Keep in mind, throughout the month, the things you’re all thankful for. Don’t take anything for granted, because you don’t know what you have until it’s gone. Be thankful for the samller things in life as well to put other things into perspective. We live in a world where sometimes people get so swamped in work, school, and other things that we forget what the most important things actually are. If you’re going back home for break, make sure you thank you parents, guardians, siblings, and anyone else who has served as a major influences your lives thus far. If you are unable to go back for break this time around, make sure you spend some time with others here at Stouffer. We are the family away from home, and we would like keep it that way. Year!
One last thing, let me be the first person to wish everyone Happy Holidays and Happy New
See You All Around, Isaiah Harris CAS 2016 Stouffer Communications Manager harrisi@sas.upenn.edu 2
Meet our New House Coordinator!
Carolynn Sullivan
Fun Facts about Colleen Cacace - email: ccacace@upenn.edu - female - has eyes - from Florida - got BFA at Florida State - moved to the north east for an ADVENTURE. NYC is crazy and expensive, but 'Philly's vibe is cool' and the people are weird in a good way here - she's been in Philly for 5 years and loves the seasons (which Florida doesn't have) - got pastry degree at Art Institute in Philly and has worked at a bread bakery, cakery, and a chocolate factory - she likes baking because it's delicious, technical, process-oriented, and perfect - her favorite animal is the llama - it used to be the hedgehog, but she bought one when she was 16 and they're not her fave anymore because they're pokey - she pronounces her last name differently than anyone else in her family - has a pit mutt named Edgar Marty Moscowian Allen Poe, named after the poet and an NPR reporter - she's going to the Dominican Republic this Thanksgiving for her Cuban boyfriend's family reuinon - she's getting married in 2 weeks to her boyfriend of 7 years!
Colleen’s Top Food Picks I've been thinking of inexpensive and delicious food around the city: Center City- Mama's Vegetarian on 18th near Ludlow. Best falafel sandwich ever, lg $7 sm $4 South Philly- Fountain Porter on Tasker and 10th. The best burger in the city for only $5, this is basically the only thing on the menu. This is a bar though, so I can think of something else if it isn't great to recommend a bar. Chinatown- Spicy C Hand Drawn Noodle House at 10th and Cherry. My favorite are the shaved noodle soup with dumplings for $6.50. A massive bowl of soup that will cure what ails you. All noodles here are hand made. Banana Leaf on Arch near 10th. Giant menu with a wide variety of options but predominately Malaysian. Their green curry is what I'd like as my last meal. West Philly- Saad Halal on Chestnut at 45th. Oh goodness. This place. The lamb shawarma sandwich is huge and insanely delicious $7. I also love the Chicken Shish Tawook sandwich for $6.50. Fresh and flavorful with this incredible sauce that I have no idea how they make. This is so close by, everyone should really take the time and walk there. Be aware they close for the whole month of Ramadan (we have made this mistake several times and are always heartbroken.) Fishtown- Loco Pez on Cedar and Norris. Nachos. SO MANY NACHOS! During happy hour (5-7) their ginormous "normal" nachos are only $4!!! These can easily feed 2 people. Their nachos "de Kenzo" have 3 types of meat (though they do have many veggie options) could feed 3 people and costs $12.50 I'll make another shoutout for this area, as I live there. Cedar Point, also on Cedar and Norris, has vegan wings that are better than chicken ones. Super crunchy and spicy fried seitan, I don't even bother with chicken anymore. $11 Can you tell I love food?
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Why the Building I Live in...
Article by: Phil Nichols, Faculty Master
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live in Stouffer Hall of Stouffer College House. The windows rattle and shake when the wind blows, and don’t really keep that wind out. There is a giant crack in the ceiling about our bed, and whenever there is a stiff rain that crack turns into a gushing leak. The pipes burst with some regularity, and there are moldy smells that I cannot quite identify. And I think that Stouffer is the most beautiful building in the world. Well, second to the Taj, but it is a close second. Stouffer is solid. It feels solid. You can jump up and down and nothing moves. We could all jump up and down and nothing would move. When the zombie apocalypse happens, Stouffer is going to be a pretty safe place to wait it out. Sure, there are lots of dings and dents and scrapes in our building, but those are beautiful too. Every one of those scrapes has a story, and behind all of those stories are the people in our community. A lot of the dents in the ceiling in the hallways where the bathrooms are were made by my head: before we had the wonderful and amazing staff that we now have every year, I used to have to run to deal with emergencies and I would always 4
whack my head where the ceiling changes heights – and even those dents remind me of stories and people. Stouffer is interesting. Some people claim that Stouffer is confusing; I am not sure how that is possible. There is an upstairs hallway and a downstairs hallway, and they each make exactly one turn. If you are in the hallway you will get to anyplace in Stouffer in a pretty direct line. I think what confuses people are the things that make the building so interesting: nooks and crannies, lots of doors, common rooms with balconies and spiral staircases. Sometimes I enjoy just walking around and finding new odd little places. And depending on the time of day, there are usually people in those odd little places. People can find places to do all sorts of things in Stouffer. Stouffer is home. Because of my job I sometimes get to stay in top end hotels. They seem to be well built, there often is a lot of cool marble and glass and stainless steel and walnut paneling. I once stayed in a suite in Las Vegas that had a side room with a hot tub and a penthouse view of the Strip. But I would not trade any of those, ever, for Stouffer. They are okay, but they are not home. I cannot walk down the hallway in a hotel and see lots of friends and acquaintances; nobody is having an event in a common room where I can just hang out with people I think are awesome. My job has also required that I stay in some places that are in pretty bad shape. I like those
... is Beautiful places too: big holes in the floors and roof, no electricity and little water, no sense in propping the door shut because if someone wanted to they could just come through the wall. All of these places are pretty interesting, but they are not home. Okay, I would take the hot tub, but other than that Stouffer is far more beautiful than any place I stay. And Stouffer has you. I get to see Stouffer in the summer, when it is locked and empty. It is as lovely as an echo. I cannot help but think of things that happened in this and that place, and of the people who filled it and made it a home just a couple of months ago. Stouffer is not really Stouffer unless it is full of people. The people who live in Stouffer make Stouffer awesome. Stouffer is a building, and as such it is quite serviceable. There are plenty of people in this country, and even more around the world, who would be supremely grateful to live in a building of the physical quality of Stouffer, and it would say something about us were we to complain about a building in which they would be grateful to live. But Stouffer is much more than a building. It is a place where we can find new places and things and experiences. It is a place filled with interesting people with whom we can do things. And it is our home. The Taj aside, I think that Stouffer is the most beautiful building in the whole world. And Mayer is second. Come to cookies. 5
Winter is Coming
Michael Bartholf
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ERIOUSLY, and considering that none of you guys are (very) prepared to deal with a climate much snowier and colder than where you came from, I have compiled a list of things essential (and optional) that you will need for the winter. I don’t want to find Brady standing frozen in the snow, one day, with his mismatched flip-flops stuck to the patio. While this list is somewhat humorous the items listed will get you through the winter in, relative, comfort.
THE ESSENTIALS
A Winter Jacket: the most obvious item on the list, you guys can find plenty of these for sale around the area or online. As a side note you could also get a warm overcoat (which won’t be as water/snow resistant as many jackets) but can get the job done with proper layering. Gloves or Mittens: Frozen fingers are a fresh kind of evil most of you have not had to deal with yet. Gloves or mittens can be of any material as long as they keep your hands warm (though non-water resistant cloth makes for less fun snowball fights). A Warm Hat: Hats provide that extra bit of warmth that can help make the cold a bit more tolerable. The material for hats doesn’t matter as much, so long as it keeps you warm. Surprisingly, those cheap Santa hats are extremely warm and come in a variety of styles (including sports teams). Shoes with Good Treads: Snow boots are the most helpful in snow (obviously) but a show with a good tread can work just as well in less snowy or icy environments. Make sure your shoes are warm and waterproof, as hiking boots (which have good tread) can let in the cold. Warm Pants: You don’t necessarily need snow pants. Jeans work pretty well when combined with layers, but they are generally not waterproof and, when covered in snow (say during a snowball fight, high snow or you have fallen into a snowbank) will absorb the cold. Have some form of pants that can insulate you from the cold and could be worn as a layer under jeans or stand on their own against the cold and snow. Warm Socks: Frozen toes are worse than frozen finger. Wool is one of the best materials for this purpose.
RECOMMENDED
A Scarf: When winter winds blow through a scarf can add a little bit of extra comfort to your neck and lower face. Trust me. The northern wind stings like no wind you’ve ever experienced. A Sweater: One of the best items to help layer, no matter how ugly, sweaters work great in tandem with Long Sleeve T Shirts. Earmuffs: Sometimes, it’s the little things that get cold… and drive you slowly crazy like having a small itch you can’t scratch. If your hat can’t cover your ears, and they get cold very easily, earmuffs can make a needed difference.
Amaze winter
Much cold Such sweater
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Stressed out over midterms and finals? Here are some tips from Weingarten! Article by: Cassie Lo Mayer 4 GA
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N addition to being a GA at Stouffer, I am also a Learning Instructor at the Weingarten Learning Resource Center. The Weingarten Center is conveniently located in Stouffer Commons, which is a super quick 1-minute walk from Stouffer Stouff and a 5-minute walk from Mayer. In addition to helping with time management, essay organization and project goal setting, we spend a lot of time helping students with exam preparation. Here are some helpful tips to get you through the next exam cycle: 1. Explore Canvas Your professor’s Canvas page is your best resource for exam preparation. You should carefully examine the course syllabus to see what you will be tested on and how you will be tested. Many professors will explain exactly what types of questions will be on the exams and which units need to be reviewed before the test. It is also helpful to figure out the dates and times of your exams well in advance in case any of them conflict. Additionally, most professors post some type of study guide, practice problems or even old released exams. Use all of these materials when preparing for your test. 2. Take a practice test in an optimal test setting After you’ve explored Canvas, you should take a practice test. Again, many professors post practice exams on Canvas. If they do not, you can develop your own using practice questions or homework problems. Select the same number of questions that were on your last exam to make a more accurate practice test. To create an optimal test setting, be sure to silence your phone and avoid all distractions. Weigel Information Commons in Van Pelt is a great place for practice tests (especially if a group of students want to take a practice test at the same time!), because you can reserve a booth or room for up to two hours. Time yourself while taking this practice test so you can see how much you are
able to get accomplished in the actual testing time. The more times you take practice tests in the optimal test setting, the easier the test will be come exam day. 3. Go to your professor or TA’s office hours Once you take a practice test and review the answers, bring any questions you have to your professor or TA during his or her office hours. Oftentimes, professors and TAs will hold extra review sessions right before the exam, which are always very useful as you prepare for your tests. Don’t be afraid to ask questions at these sessions – professors and TAs want to help you succeed in their classes! 4. Try “Tutoring in the College Houses” or Satellite Tutoring If you aren’t able to go to office hours or want a little more help, the Tutoring Center offers tutoring in the college houses and also satellite tutoring in Van Pelt and other locations. Both of these tutoring opportunities are one-on-one sessions, so make sure you go prepared with questions. Please check out the Tutoring Center’s website (www.upenn.edu/tutoringcenter) for information about satellite tutoring. Here is the information for tutoring in the college houses: Chemistry 101 & 102: Harrison College House, Room 101, Sundays 5 p.m. – 8 p.m. Economics 101 & 102: Ware College House, Bodine 305/306, Tuesdays 6 p.m. – 10 p.m. Math 103, 104 & 114: Ware College House, Bodine 305/306, Mondays 6 p.m. – 10 p.m. Rodin College House, Seminar Room M20, Tuesdays 6:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. If you want to meet with a Weingarten Learning Instructor, please call (215) 573-9235 or stop by our walk-in hours for a 25-minute session. Walk-ins are every Monday through Friday, 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. and Tuesdays and Wednesdays from
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Ben Franklin Raps
Naomi Fitter
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ISSED Stouffa Rhymes? Check out our lovingly crafted, extra-ghettofied raps about Benjamin Franklin, and then make sure to eagerly pencil Stouffa Rhymes into your calendar for next year! (Note that our raps, like modern rap music, contain a marginal amount of creative factual inac-
Name’s dirty Benny Face is on the twenty Discovered electricity Got women aplenty America’s first president Philadelphia’s resident All kinds of precedent Became rich But started as a peasant
Yo, we got my Philly homie B., Catching lightning on a key The Brotherly Love native, posted at City Hall, Calling down Broad St. flipping almanacs at the mall Made those bifocals but he couldn’t see this – Frat boys looking for him when they wanna take a (expletive) Haste is a waste so I’ll cut this verse real sudden Like the poppin from his stomach that fired out that button
I say dirty, you say Ben “Dirty”, “Ben,” “Dirty,” “Ben” (repeat last two lines ad infinitum)
Benjamin Franklin, gangsta fo life He founded our college – don’t give him no strife Drawn to bad weather, he flyin his kites Settin fly hunnies in alla his sights Our campus – it covered by his statues And truth be told, I got some Franklin tattoos Let’s go put pennies on his grave And then after that we’ll have a Franklin rave Coming through this game feeling extra fly Neva be hatin on my boy Benny I’m an eagle in this spot soaring in the sky How many playas’ lives he touch? – so many! Ben Franklin on the c-note he was balling back then,
Macking on the ladies and and they called him Big Ben. A revolutionary mind people wanted on their team. He was on his wu tang all about that C.R.E.A.M. Wrote books and papers all under various names. Challenged leaders of the day philosophically He wasn’t playing games.
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