January 16, 2003

• Special Report: A look at the lively arts on campus
  Student performing arts groups are just one slice of the many-layered campus art scene, which encompasses entertainment, education and even community problem-solving.
• Critic's picks
• Mark your calendar for these events
• Student performing arts groups keep campus theaters busy
• Artists frame solutions to myriad problems

• U-City cops can now talk to one another
• Seminar speakers educate and stimulate discussion
• Campaign tells drivers, bikers to share the road

• Research: Procedure cuts suffering from sinusitis
• Staff Q&A: Native son and child of immigrants Ajay Nair returns to his hometown to help Penn students cross the same cultural boundaries he has

• Ask Benny: Supervisor reference serves a purpose
• Test drive for a College House makeover
• Your career on track
  

• Event Listings
• Editor's Pick: Celluloid conflict
• Celebrate King's legacy
• People's Choice: They're our Mummers and we love them

• News Briefs
• Bookquick from the University Press
• Quoted recently
• Awards & Honors
• At Work with...Brod Barnville and Richard Graham
• Campus Buzz

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What's On

PERFORMANCES | LECTURES | EVENTS

Jan. 16-29

Planted firmly in Asian soil The photographic fruits of Morris Arboretum Director Paul Meyer’s two decades of Asian travel are now on display in “A Plantsman in Asia: 1979-1999,” through Oct. 5 in the Upper Gallery of the Arboretum, 100 Northwestern Ave., Chestnut Hill. Meyer’s photos showcase the floral splendor of the continent and the people who work with its many plant species. Exhibit hours: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily. Admission $8, students 13 to 18/seniors $6, children 3 to 12 $3, children under 3/Arboretum members/PennCard holders free.

Thursday, Jan. 16

TALKS

SPREADING THE WORD: University of Chicago anthropologist Flagg Miller describes how Yemeni political poets use new media technologies to communicate with each other and their audiences. 5:30 p.m. at the Kelly Writers House, 3805 Locust Walk. Info for all Writers House events: dept.english.upenn.edu/~wh or 215-573-WRIT.

FILM

“WAR IS…”: See “Editor’s Pick.” Tonight: Two films—”23rd Psalm Branch” and “Winter Soldier”—offer a personal and historical perspective on the horrors of the war in Vietnam. 8 p.m. at International House, 3701 Chestnut St.

Friday, Jan. 17

EXHIBITS

COMPELLING VISUALS: Four new exhibits at the Institute of Contemporary Art explore geometric abstraction, intricacy in architecture, American adolescence and B-movies. Opening reception: 6 to 8 p.m. at the ICA, 118 S. 36th St. Free.

SPORTS

SWIMMING: Penn vs. Notre Dame. 6 p.m. in Sheerr Pool, Gimbel Gym, 37th and Walnut streets.

FILM

“WAR IS…”: See “Editor’s Pick.” Tonight: “Steel Helmet,” Sam Fuller’s savage depiction of the Korean War. 8 p.m. at International House.

Saturday, Jan. 18

SPORTS

SWIMMING: Penn vs. Navy. Noon. in Sheerr Pool, Gimbel Gym.

MUSIC

BRAD MEHLDAU: The man Down Beat readers voted “Jazz Pianist of the Year” in 1999 and 2000 comes to campus for a solo concert. 7:30 p.m. in Zellerbach Theatre, Annenberg Center, 3680 Walnut St. Tickets $20, PennCard holders $10 in advance, $12 day of show. Tickets/info: 215-898-3900.

STRING-ALONG TIME: Folk musician Mike West is as versatile on strings—banjo, mandolin and guitar—as he is insightful in his songs about life in New Orleans. 8 p.m. in Harold Prince Theatre, Annenberg Center. Tickets $22; discounts for students, seniors and Penn affiliates available. Tickets/info for all Penn Presents events: www.pennpresents.org or 215-898-3900.

FILM

“WAR IS…”: See “Editor’s Pick.” Tonight: “The Olive Trees of Justice,” James Blue’s adaptation of Jean Pelegri’s novel of a man trying to reconcile his childhood memories of Algiers with the brutal Franco-Algerian struggle of the early 1960s, and Blue’s 1960 Algerian documentary “Amal.” 8 p.m. at International House.

Sunday, Jan. 19

SPORTS

SWIMMING: Penn vs. Brown. Noon. in Sheerr Pool, Gimbel Gym.

WRESTLING: Penn vs. Penn State at 1 p.m., Penn vs Purdue at 3 p.m. at the Palestra, 33rd St. below Walnut. Tickets/info: www.pennathletics.com or 215-898-6151.

FILM

“WAR IS…”: See “Editor’s Pick.” Tonight: Emile de Antonio’s acclaimed Vietnam documentary “In the Year of the Pig” (1969), John Ford’s 1942 “The Battle of Midway” and “No Game,” about the 1967 March on Washington to protest the Vietnam War. 8 p.m. at International House.

Tuesday, Jan. 21

READINGS

IN HER WORDS: Three contemporary women writers, Brenda Coultas, Deborah Richards and English doctoral student Kathy Lou Schultz, read from their work. 7 p.m. at the Kelly Writers House.

Wednesday, Jan. 22

PERFORMANCE

OPEN-MIKE NIGHT: Welcome the New Year—or wow the audience—with your original prose or poetry at the first “Speakeasy” open-mike night of 2003. 8 p.m. at the Kelly Writers House.

Thursday, Jan. 23

TALKS

PUT DOWN THAT GUN: Douglas Wiebe of the Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology discusses firearm issues in domestic violence. 9 to 11:30 a.m. in Room 255, Jon M. Huntsman Hall, 3730 Walnut St. Info: 215-615-0161.

ETHICAL EATING: Cheryl Shipman’s series on living ethically (“What’s On,” Current, Oct. 17) continues with a discussion of “Ethical Food Choices for Health, Ecology and Economy.” 5:15 to 6:30 p.m. at the Christian Association, 118 S. 37th St.

THE UNKNOWABLE OTHER: Penn State philosopher Alphonso Lingis talk, “Unintelligible Lines, Unknowable Paths,” ponders whether we can truly comprehend the mind of another human being. 6 p.m. at the Kelly Writers House.

IN SEARCH OF CLEOPATRA: Novelist Steven Saylor (“Roman Blood”) discusses the vagaries of writing historical fiction and his research into the life and times of Cleopatra. 6 p.m. in Rainey Auditorium, University of Pennsylvania Museum, 3260 South St.; reception and book-signing follow. Tickets $25, Museum members $20. Info: 215-898-4890.

PERFORMANCE

“POSTLUDE”: Actor Robert Wisdom and Center for Africana Studies Director Tukufu Zuberi join the Lone Wolf Recital Corps for a musical/spoken-word reflection on the life and thought of W.E.B. DuBois, using objects in Terry Adkins’ “Darkwater” exhibit. 7 p.m. at the Arthur Ross Gallery, 220 S. 34th St.

Friday, Jan. 24

TALKS

THE PRICE OF DISCOVERY: Alan Holmer, president and CEO of the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, speaks on “How Can We Not Afford Prescription Drugs? The Value of New Medicines.” Noon to 1:30 p.m. in the Colonial Penn Center auditorium, 3641 Locust Walk. Reservations: Jennifer O’Donohue, odonohu2@wharton.upenn.edu or 215-898-5611.

READINGS

“OPEN MIKE”: Avalon Foundation Professor of Humanities Michael Eric Dyson reads from his new book of essays on philosophy, race, sex, culture and religion. 1 p.m. at the Penn Bookstore, 3601 Walnut St.

FILM

“WAR IS…”: See “Editor’s Pick.” Tonight: “The Fall of Otrar” (1990) tells the story of the intrigues preceding Genghis Khan’s destruction of the lost East Asian civilization of Otrar in the 13th century. 8 p.m. at International House. Tickets $6, students/seniors $5.

MUSIC

EIGHTH BLACKBIRD: You loved this innovative new music sextet so much, Penn Presents brought them back for a second straight year. They will perform “di/verge,” a musical celebration of diversity, tonight. 8 p.m. in Zellerbach Theatre, Annenberg Center. Tickets $29, $25 and $22; discounts for students, seniors and Penn affiliates available.

A diva for Schuur Vocalist Diane Schuur began singing to recordings of Sarah Vaughn and Ella Fitzgerald when she was two. Now she has joined them in the jazz pantheon. She brings her versatile voice and swinging style to the Penn Presents stage Jan. 25. See Saturday, Jan. 25.

Saturday, Jan. 25

SPORTS

MEN’S TENNIS: Penn, Swarthmore and Lehigh meet. 9 a.m. at Levy Tennis Pavilion, 3120 Walnut St. (behind Class of 1923 Rink).

GYMNASTICS: Penn vs. Yale. 1 p.m. in Hutchinson Gym, 33rd St. between the Palestra and Franklin Field.

MEN’S BASKETBALL: Penn vs. St. Joseph’s. 8 p.m. at the Palestra. Tickets/info: www.pennathletics .com or 215-898-6151.

SPECIAL EVENTS

HAPPY NEW YEAR: The University of Pennsylvania Museum’s 22nd annual Chinese New Year celebration ushers in the Year of the Sheep. 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Museum. Admission $5, students/seniors $2.50, Museum members/PennCard holders/children under 6 free.

FILM

“WAR IS…”: See “Editor’s Pick.” Tonight: “Hiroshima, Mon Amour,” Alan Resnais’ 1959 classic love story set in post-atomic-bomb Hiroshima. 8 p.m. at International House. Tickets $6, students/seniors $5.

MUSIC

A DIVA FOR SCHUUR: Jazz vocalist extrarodinaire Diane Schuur has been compared to Carmen McRae, Sarah Vaughan and Ella Fitzgerald. Find out why tonight in her Penn Presents concert. 8 p.m. in Zellerbach Theatre, Annenberg Center. Tickets $39, $34, $30 and $26; discounts for students, seniors and Penn affiliates available.

Sunday, Jan. 26

FILM

“WAR IS…”: See “Editor’s Pick.” Tonight: Werner Herzog’s “Lessons of Darkness” (1992), a documentary on the devastation in post-Gulf War Kuwait, and two Italian films about the futility of war, “On the Heights All is Peace” and “Diana’s Looking Glass.” 7 p.m. at International House. Tickets $6, students/seniors $5.

Tuesday, Jan. 28

SPORTS

BASKETBALL: Penn women vs. Delaware at 5:30 p.m., men vs. LaSalle at 8 p.m. at the Palestra. Tickets/info for men’s game: www.pennathletics.com or 215-898-6151.

Wednesday, Jan. 29

SPORTS

SWIMMING: Penn vs. Rider. 5:30 p.m. in Sheerr Pool, Gimbel Gym.

TALKS

THE ILLUSTRATED WORD: Henry Jenkins of MIT speaks on “Comic Books and Convergence: Why the Digital Revolution Won’t Overthrow the Comic Book.” 5 to 6:30 p.m. in Room 200, College Hall, Locust Walk between 34th and 36th streets. Reservations requested: humanities@sas.upenn.edu.