Playingat Pennoni

By Erica Levi Zelinger

Pennoni Playground — an enjoyable objective — or an alliterative initiative — began in Fall 2022 just as Damian Mozier’s college career got underway.

Created to encourage students to play and experience joy, the aim is to make Pennoni Honors College’s home in Bentley Hall a place where students come to decompress, make new friends, grab study snacks, and have fun — with no strings attached.

The Playground team of Brian Kantorek, Dr. Melinda Lewis, Karen Sams, Julia Wisniewski and Erica Zelinger, informed by a survey of College students, began planning events involving crafts, games, live animals, low-pressure networking and activities where you can just stop by.

Damian, biomedical engineering ’27, acknowledges that playtime is just what he needs to unwind from his schedule jam-packed with classes and exams.

“College is so full of work and stress that it’s important to remember that there are other things in life that matter,” he says. “If I don’t take the time to relax and let my brain rest, I run the risk of burning out.”

The playful concept was introduced at Welcome Week and the Playground team rolled out a calendar of fun in autumn with pumpkin painting, Game Night (everything from bocce to bingo and Risk to raffles), Movie Night, Trick or Treating, and the beloved Philly Goat Project, a local non-profit that parades its Nubian and Nigerian Dwarf goats to Bentley’s front lawn for photo opps, feeding, petting and livestock learning.

During winter term, students came out in record numbers for Pennoni Playground’s Meet-Up & Mocktails. Whether it was the Dean’s Fizz, Class in a Glass, Enrich de Mint, Discourse Daquiri or Writer’s Mock, students were eager to sip a beverage and make casual conversation with others.

“I absolutely loved the mocktail event,” Damian says energetically. “The drinks were creative, and my friends and I had a blast. It was something low-commitment we were able to pop into and just relax while getting a chance to talk to some new faces.”

The college also handed out candies and snacks in the Bentley Lobby to celebrate the Lunar New Year, and a small group worked with Michele Rattigan, in Drexel’s College of Nursing & Health Profession’s Creative Arts Therapies Department, to learn how to be your own best cheerleader because, as Michele says, “self-compassion isn’t selfish!”

For Valentine’s Day, students blossomed at a bouquet-making workshop and in March they got their Bob Ross on with a Paint & Sip session. Masterpieces included the Matador, a duck holding a baguette, cats and attractive abstract designs.

“We believe all Drexel students need to step away from schoolwork once in a while and play,” says Erica Levi Zelinger, Pennoni’s director of marketing and media. “Play cards. Play ball. Play well with others.”

More impromptu programming included a pre-Super Bowl party with trivia (Dean Paula Marantz Cohen came out sporting an Eagles jersey), Pi Day with a special delivery of Philly’s favorite — Tastykakes, and adding jigsaw puzzles to the Annette Pennoni Living Room.

And Pennoni students seemed anything but puzzled over the growing number of puzzles that kept appearing in their space. It seems each time a new cardboard creation appears on the shelves of the Annette Pennoni Living Room, students piece together pictures of — dragons and Where’s Waldo? — even a clear puzzle and a co-op-painted image-turned puzzle of Bentley Hall.

Abracadabra — spring term included a magic show with English professor and man of mystery, Fred Siegel; what was supposed to be yoga on the Bentley lawn (but got moved inside because of rain) with the Honors College’s favorite Karen, Karen Sams; and an old-fashioned Bingo Night with gift cards and raffle prizes.

“No matter how old you are who doesn’t like a good magic show or a chance to play games with their friends?” jokes Damian. “It’s not just about recharging either. ‘Play’ is a great way to foster new relationships and get to know those around you in a non-academic environment where you have more freedom to let loose.”