Penn pitches itself at College Palooza
Undergraduates and prospective students at the University of Pennsylvania snacked on homemade ice cream, created art, took their picture with a cardboard President Obama and participated in physics experiments at the 4th annual College Palooza held on the campus green.
Undergraduates and prospective students at the University of Pennsylvania snacked on homemade ice cream, created art, took their picture with a cardboard President Obama and participated in physics experiments at the 4th annual College Palooza held on the campus green.
The five-hour event promoted the College of Arts and Sciences with more than 30 departments and campus groups representing their disciplines. Student-run tables ranged from English and Chemistry to pottery and various honor societies.
All to woo prospective students and encourage freshmen to pursue a major at the College of Arts and Sciences.
Joshua Warren, co-chair of the Dean's Advisory Board and a Penn junior, said the event is focused on getting to know the different departments in a non-traditional way.
"Chemistry is making ice cream, urban studies is giving out Philly cheese steaks - these aren't exactly things you'd see at your normal major's fair," Warren said. "It's more of a fun way for departments to express themselves."
College Palooza takes place during Penn Previews week when accepted and prospective students are touring the campus. The event is hosted by the Dean's Advisory Board. Musical performances and 60-second lectures from noted academics engaged students on their way to class.
Rebecca Bushnell, dean of the School of Arts and Sciences, gave a a one-minute speech titled "Will the liberal arts set you free?"
Bushnell said College Palooza is a combination between a fair and a celebration where students from various majors, programs, centers attract people to different areas.
"There is candy, food and games to play along with a serious purpose to show how important and how engaging all our areas of the study of liberal arts are."
Warren said this year's college Palooza has been the most successful.
"The college in my mind is really the heart and soul of the university," he said. "We have the most students and sometimes because we are so big we don't get to do events like this often."
Dennis DeTurck, dean of the college of arts and sciences, said the timing of the event coincides with the incoming freshman on campus.
"There's a lot of emphasis on professional kind of education or education training almost for a specific job, and a degree in the arts and sciences really prepares you to do a lot of different things, and we are just trying to emphasize that here today.
Jacqueline Voluz, 16, of Staten Island, decided to visit Penn with her family this week during her Spring Break.
"This fair has been really helpful," Voluz said. "I'm leaving with a lot more information about the school and definitely plan on applying."
