Illustration
by Bo Brown
Dear Benny,
Id like to know what happened to the lighting fixtures that used
to hang in the first-floor corridor of the John Morgan Building.
Curious
Dear Curious,
Theyre right back where they used to bealong with new fixtures
created to match the antique originals.
The original fixtures were removed for restoration and rewiring in the wake of the September 2000 steam-pipe leak that seriously damaged the buildings hallways and artwork. Eric Weckel, executive director of space planning and operations for the School of Medicine, said that the John Morgan restoration project staff worked closely with Lecturer in Urban Studies and Historic Preservation George Thomas to return the buildings corridors to their original 1903 appearance. That task included ordering eight new replicas of the original light fixtures to replace ones that had been lost over the years, as well as historically accurate shades for all of the fixtures. The new and restored lights were installed in early May.
Dear Benny,
I would like to take language courses at Penn, and Im eligible
for the tuition benefit. But the courses only meet during the day. Can
I take them anyway?
Speaking in Tongues
Dear Tongue-Tied,
If your supervisor permits it, you can. Human Resources Tuition
Assistance Policy, on the Web at www.hr.upenn.edu/policy/policies/406.asp,
states that employees are still expected to fulfill all their work obligations
while taking courses, but may take courses that meet during working hours
if they have received prior approval of their immediate supervisor and
made arrangements to make up for lost time or undone work. Supervisors
can deny such requests if they feel the employees presence is essential
during working hours. In addition, please note that English as a second
language is not covered.
Got a question for Benny? Send it to the Current, 200 Sansom Place East, 3600 Chestnut St., Philadelphia, PA 19104-6106 or e-mail it to current@pobox.upenn.edu.
Originally published on June 20, 2002