10.03.18

p.3

Coping With Addiction

October 3, 2018 | 34st.com

HOW LPS CAMOUFLAGES THE PENN EXPERIENCE

p.10 New at Wawa

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NY Film Fest Picks

October 3 , 2018 3 WORD ON THE STREET

Coping with Xanax addiction

4 EGO

EOTW: Kaylee Slusser, Reagan Mizrahi, Ivan Li

7 MUSIC

Lana Del Rey

Nick Joyner, Editor–in–Chief Remi Lederman, Managing Editor Angela Huang, Audience Engagement Director Annabelle Williams, Assignments Editor Autumn Powell, Media Director Cat Dragoi, Word on the Street Editor Caroline Riise, Ego Editor Jamie Gobreski, Music Editor Colin Lodewick, Senior Features Editor Sabrina Qiao, Special Features Editor Andreas Pavlou, Long–Term Features Editor Naomi Elegant, Developing Features Editor Liz Kim, Style Editor Ana West, Film & TV Editor Sherry Tseng, Arts Editor Eliana Doft, Lastpage Editor Ethan Wu, Photo Editor Morgan Potts, Copy Director Christopher Muracca, Print Director Ego Beats: Sophie Xi, Amanpreet Singh, Michelle Shen, Misty Liao, Katie Bontje Music Beats: Arjun Swaminathan, Sammy Gordon, Sophie Burkholder, Melannie Jay, Aleksei Kuryla, Srinidhi Ramakrishna, Shriya Beesam

9 STYLE

48 Hours of Free Food, Wawa, Penn Appetit

LOL

12 FEATURE

LPS students, TAs

LOL 16 FILM & TV

Sonari Chehidi, Maniac, NY Film Fest

19 ARTS

Shitholes, To the Polls, Alexis Masino

LOL 23 LASTPAGE

Overheards, Penn Bookstore 2

Features Staff: Angie Lin, Julia Bell, Paige Fishman, Hailey Noh, Chris Schiller, Katrina Janco, Sireesh Ramesh, Allison Wu

Style Beats: Emma Moore, Jen Cullen, Molly Hessel, Valentina Escudero Film & TV Beats: Zovinar Khrimian, Maryanne Koussa, Anna Collins, Samuel Yellowhorse Kesler, Kate Lindenburg, Shannon Zhang Arts Beats: Michelle Wan, Christina Lu, Josephine Cheng

Copy Associates: Kate Poole, Kira Horowitz, Sarah Poss, Serena Miniter, Erin Liebenberg, Lexie Shah, Carmina Hachenburg, Luisa Healey, Agatha Advincula Sofia Price, Analytics Editor Marketing Associates: Brittany Levy, Carly Shoulberg, Daniel Bulpitt, Ha Tran, Lauren Donato , McKay Norton, Merry Gu, Lauren Reiss, Kat Ulich, Serena Zhao

Design Editors: Lucy Ferry, Gillian Diebold, Ben Zhao, Christine Lam, Alana Shukovsky, Georgia Ray

Cover Illustration by Christopher Kwok

Lastpage Beat: Sami Canaan, Abby Goldstein

Contacting 34th Street Magazine: If you have questions, comments, complaints or letters to the editor, email Nick Joyner, Editor–in–Chief, at joyner@34st. com. You can also call us at (215) 422–4640. www.34st.com

Staff Writers: Margaret Zhang, Riley Wagner, Calista Lopez, Calais Cronin, Sarah Fingerhood, Katie Hartzell, Anjalee Bhuyan, James Morrison, Christy Qiu, Joseph Squillaro, Jordan Wachsman, Emily Gelb, Karin Hananel, Bebe Hodges, Claire Ochroch, Shunmel Syau, Rania Zakaria, Amanda Xu, Riley Kennedy Illustrators: Anne Chen, Anne Marie Grudem, Brad Hong, Carly Ryan, Catherine Liang, Jake Lem, Reese Berman, Saranya Sampath, Jessi Olarsch, Diane Lin, Christopher Kwok, Cecelia Vieira, Jacqueline Lou Staff Photographers: Emma Boey, Kaitlin Rowan, Chloe Schaefer, Eleanor Shemtov, Olivia Fielding, Riley Merkel, Sophia Dai, Sophia Zhu Video Staff: Jean Chapiro, Abdul Sohu

"Repent together?" That sounds hot.

©2018 34th Street Magazine, The Daily Pennsylvanian, Inc. No part may be reproduced in whole or in part without the express, written consent of the editors (but I bet we will give you the a–okay.) All rights reserved. 34th Street Magazine is published by The Daily Pennsylvanian, Inc., 4015 Walnut St., Philadelphia, Pa., 19104, every Wednesday.

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR W ell kiddos, I'm back. After back to back special issues that monopolized Sabrina's entire fall semester and almost killed the rest of us, here I am returning to my little text box to share some drivelous buffoonery.

Autumn said I should make this about the warm and cold fronts meeting and changing my aura. I wasn't sold on the idea, but coincidentally, it just started raining as I type this. But this is all secondhand information, since we don't have a window in this office.

Fall break is upon us, and I hope y'all are all on campus to pick up this copy of Street before you jet set, road–trip, or otherwise transport yourself out of UCity. And if you're not going anywhere, power to you. There's still stuff that's gotta get done around here in the meantime.

Senior year existential dread has started to rear its ugly head, and I've been able to successfully bat it away by filling my time with postgrad applications. It's hard to strike the balance between looking forward to fun senior year engagements and living in the moment–to–moment of your fourth year. Things feel simultaneously stale and ripe for rediscovery. Driven by a fear of leaving something unattended to, I've started to reconnect, sitting down with professors and acquaintances who I've been meaning to catch up with. I feel compelled to come full circle, and take advantage of what the school has to offer before I'm on my way out.

And time apart is also good for that. Soon, I'll be crammed in a

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car headed towards coastal Maryland in search of wild horses and maritime relaxation. Hopefully that will lead to some ponderous realization about how to maximize the rest of my second–to–last semester at the University of Pennsylvania. I can only hope, but maybe I'll read some good books and eat some oysters too.

Street will still be of course be on my mind all through Fall Break. I can never take remove this fixation. But as of recent, I'm feeling both liberated and trapped by the thought of leaving my post in two months time. And then I think, hey, Street is turning fifty next Friday, and she's still got it. I can only hope that I age as gracefully, and pursue answers like she has.

Autumn Powell | Media Director

WORD ON THE STREET

word on the

STREET

MY XANAX ADDICTION MADE ME FEAR EVERYTHING

I never thought anti–anxiety medication would make me panic at the thought of leaving my room.

Anonymous

I was in my grandmother’s bathroom when I first collapsed.

I couldn’t breathe, my hands became clammy, my vision­foggy.

Everywhere I looked, I was surrounded by a thousand pairs of nonexistent eyes, watching my every move. But I was still in high­school, and I was still doing well. The eyes I imagined are now all on Locust.

I never wanted to turn to treatment. I had seen my friends, my roommates go through it—I watched and felt as their personalities shifted, and as the failures of their medication vibrated through their lives. But on that day, I armed myself with a stolen bottle of pills. The war I started was, it turns out, against myself.

When a group of guys first passed me around in a dark, sweaty, loud basement, I thought it was because I was a freshman, and they found me easy to take advantage of. But the hands they ran across my chest were heavy, like pounds of stones—I couldn’t breathe, and more than anything, I wanted to go home.

And, as soon as I realized that I could carry it in my back pocket, home took the shape of a white bar.

Under the black lights and the sparkling white clothes, Xanax was as debilitating as it was invigorating. It doesn’t last for very long, I found. Soon after, all I could feel was something constantly crawling out of my mind, and for the next couple of months alcohol and sweat got the best of me. The party scene became what I constantly yearned for—pop a pill, drink, and then pop another one. I could talk to anybody, I could say anything, I could do anything. But I remembered nothing.

Reese Berman | Illustrator

I only ever had one sober experience with a boy. I remember the skin of his fingers intertwined with mine, and how he’d squeeze when he got scared, and how he was so nervous that he told me the wrong date for his birthday. I remember the way he’d smile with his teeth and it would reach his eyes, and not a single camera could ever capture it the way I saw it. Yet I could never commit to him.

My drug abuse never stopped, and he never found out about it. I was still blacking out, but this time, when I’d wake up, he’d be on top of me, doing as he pleased. When he’d leave, I would still feel him roaming my body, leaving unwanted kisses here and there.

We were still complete strangers, each living in our own realities that never quite lined up.

I took advantage of his kindness,

and he took advantage of my body. I’d ask for his forgiveness, but I never forgave him. In the end, it was violent. Later on, he’d tell me he could not control himself around me.

I tried to move past it, to think about the future. Every guy who would get near set me off in a panic, and I turned to other substances to disappear. I still wonder if I imagined the whole thing. I felt so weak, like a broken toy you couldn’t play with anymore.

But Xanax never let me go.

It wrapped its arms around me, rocked me back and forth.

Much like the boy, it played games with me. When I didn’t have it, I wanted it desperately; when I held on to it, I wanted it gone.

It took me a long time to realize the truth of my state. I’d forgotten how it felt to be normal,

attached to reality. Coming to terms with my assaults, from the blackouts to the violent screams, I was stuck in the past like it was my own grave, complete with a ceiling lined with lights, polka– dotted walls, and a fur–layered bed—marks of youth turned to ruins wrapped in black. I buried myself in my own grief.

I could no longer sleep in my own room, but I was terrified of the world. Panic attacks came in waves, and if I held my breath long enough, I’d pray they’d wash me away. I kept expecting other people to save me from myself. But this was my fight, and I thought I’d won it when I gave up on Xanax.

I tried to use time to scrape away the remaining traces of longing, yet each dark horizon left me quivering for a taste of the feeling of nothing—and nobody, not even I, could stop the

trembling of my lips as I longed to escape the lingering memories of unwanted hands.

The first date night that I went to, I left alone. I remember the champagne—lots of it—and the pouring rain that I walked in when I left my date. I felt numb, and that was the feeling I’d been chasing all along. I didn’t even notice that my shoes made my ankles bleed.

That night, I tried to commit suicide.

The world terrified me. At night, footsteps scared me, even though I knew they were just my roommate’s. I tried to put myself back out there: I started seeing this guy I’d met, but when we tried to hook up, I had a panic attack. He asked me what I was afraid of. I looked up at him and said, “you.” That was the end of it.

I took up too many clubs and enrolled in too many classes. I just wanted to fill up my time.

If I was busy, I wasn’t thinking about what had happened around me. That summer, too, was full of fear and isolation— yet on my resume, I looked absolutely fantastic. The girl who does it all.

I let Xanax take the lead again, and I only got lost. It doesn’t let you say goodbye—it chokes you until you cannot say no to it. It makes you think that you can’t do it on your own, and I hoped it would erase the words of the unrequited, and the shallow echoes of hurt bodies in the dark.

But the next morning, I woke up completely naked, alone, covered in hickeys and bruises. I found myself somewhere I never thought I’d be, going around in circles.

Read more at 34st.com

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EGO

EGO OF THE WEEK

By Amanpreet Singh

34 Street Magazine: How did you get involved with Greek Life?

Kaylee Slusser: It was definitely a low to a high. I think I was actually the last person to sign up for recruitment.

And then I went through and on the second day I was like “This is too much, I don't want to do this,” and I dropped out of recruitment. But then SK had a snap bid and my best friend down the hall, who’s in SK, thought I should do it. I thought I would try it and just loved being a part of it. Then I became the Panhellenic Delegate, because I wanted to learn more about other chapters in Greek life and how to make my chapter better. I really got the Panhel mindset of seeing how great the community can be.

Then I joined Omega, which really developed a community feeling between Panhel, IFC and IGC members. That made me want to be Panhel president.

I was also just so interested in being a female leader of other really empowered females. It’s

been a beautiful, great experience.

Street: More on your own personal Greek experience: what is your favorite part of being in SK? KS: I really loved it and it’s something that I never really saw my Penn experience being at all. I think the biggest thing is that my lin is absolutely amazing. I love all of them. It's such a cool thing to have people that graduated two, three years ago asking to stay over for homecoming and being just as close with them then as I am now, and having people to look up to. I think there's so many things on campus that I wouldn't have done if I hadn't been in SK. At the end of freshman year I really wanted to run for UA, but was way too scared.

But I still ran, because the SK community was so strong and so supportive, which is really refreshing at Penn. A lot of times people will be like “I have a job at Goldman” and others are like “whatever,” but then someone will say that at chapter and I

feel genuinely happy for them. I think that was just a great community to be a part of.

Street: Reflecting on your life at Penn, what have been some of the things that have really stood out to you?

KS: Wow, so many things.

I feel like every semester I've lived a completely different life, and I never know what's going to happen. And it's always interesting to see how we kind of fall into patterns, but I think something that stands out to me as being different from high school is that I haven't been afraid to let go of things and try new things. So like I said, I was on the UA for a very hot second. I tried it, loved it, and then was like, “Oh, I don't think this is necessarily for me.

Let me try something else.”

I think that ability to switch and that flexibility that we really have at Penn has been very irreplaceable to my experience here.

Street: If you could choose one story to define your Penn experience, what would it be?

KAYLEE SLUSSER ACTIVITIES | Penn Panhellenic President, Mock Trial (previously president, and captain for two years), Omega Senior Society, Sigma Kappa

KS: I guess I would say my house last year, just like being in my house. Mock Trial has been a really big part of my Penn experience and everyone in the program is a character.

In my house last year, everyone was so incredibly different. We had people that were in Greek life, not in Greek life, people

that were in Wharton, in the College. Just the fact that so many different people that really never should have crossed paths were all living under the same roof...it was just really representative of my Penn experience, being around such different people that are all loving and amazing.

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What fictional character would you be?

Any character Anna Kendrick is in any movie.

Bucket list item for your last year at Penn?

Last year at Penn—what have I not done. I would say, oh, I've haven’t been to New College House yet.

There are two types of people at Penn...

I feel like I have to say it: people in Greek life and people not in Greek life.

What is the best place to eat on campus?

Tap House for their hummus.

If you could recommend one class or one professor what/who would it be?

Professor Shaw. Art history. Absolutely amazing. Her class has every time changed my life.

What is the weirdest thing you've ever seen while at Copa?

I think just Copa at 10 p.m. I had no clue that it just went from Copa to like a nightclub. It just turned 10 p.m. and Cardi B started blaring and I was like, I am really into this, but I never knew this existed half a block away from me.

EGO

Spending a Day in Regan Mizrahi's Boots Meet the Penn freshman who used to play Boots on 'Dora the Explorer.'

Misty Liao Emma Boey | Photographer

Upon first glance, he may seem like just your average dog– loving, saxophone–playing, aspiring BBB student, but Regan Mizrahi (C '22) is all of that and more. Playing the voice actor of Nickelodeon’s animated character, Boots, on the show Dora the Explorer for seven years, Regan has lots to say about his acting experience as well as the lessons he’s learned from his time in the spotlight.

Growing up in Closter, New Jersey, Regan exhibited the signs of a brilliant actor at an early age. Debuting at the age of three as a Macy’s baby model, he quickly became acquainted with the world of acting. “I’m one of three kids and we were all involved in the business professionally in some way. My sister with theater, my brother and I with acting. It really was something I was just born into doing,” he says.

From guest starring in SNL skits alongside Jimmy Fallon and Justin Timberlake to playing minor characters in shows like Blue Blood and White Collar, Regan found a love for acting as he continued to expand his repertoire. Regan says, “I enjoy acting because of the opportunities it gives me to explore different parts of myself.

One of my favorite quotes relates to this, which is, ‘The great thing about acting is that you can push the pause button to do other things and press play when you’re ready.’”

While pursuing his acting

dreams, however, Regan still managed to live the life of a typical New Jersey child. While juggling casting calls and math homework, Regan managed to stay highly motivated and always aimed to make the best of his limited time each day. “Acting has helped me immensely with my people skills and being able to be comfortable going to interviews and talking to people in general,” he says. “My time management skills have improved immensely because of acting and it has helped me a ton at Penn too.”

It wasn’t until Regan turned seven that he got offered the role of every kid’s dreams. “I had about three rounds of interviews for the role of Boots. The first was on the phone, so they could hear my voice, and the following two were auditions.” Watching Dora the Explorer himself while growing up, Regan was shocked when he discovered he had landed the role as Nickelodeon’s beloved monkey, being still to this day the most competitive role he has ever auditioned for.

“One of the things that really stood out to me was when I sat down to sign my contract for Nickelodeon, they explained to me the importance of portraying a childhood icon. All of my actions influenced the children who watched the show and it inspired me to become more involved in charity events.”

And he did just that. From attending an LA children’s book festival to becoming a bedside

reader at local hospitals, Regan passionately dedicated his time towards providing Nickelodeon fans with an animated character they could look up to, both on and off the screen.

Although the curtains have closed on Regan’s time as Boots (thanks to puberty), a new kind of adventure has just begun for him here at Penn. “I always knew that when I went away to college, I wanted to experience new things that I hadn’t had the time to experience previously.

That’s why I’ve become involved in activities aside from acting here,” he says. Already, Regan has become an active member on campus, becoming a tour guide in Kite and Key, a member of SPEC Connaissance and the Penn Neuroscience Society, and playing the Alto Saxophone in Penn’s Wind Ensemble.

To those of you hoping to someday get your own shot at acting, take some wise advice from Boots himself: “Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there.

Auditions can be daunting, but they are also such a fun experience that you can learn so much from. I’ve been rejected many times, but I’ve learned how to put my best foot forward and move on from it.”

Like his animated character, Regan always manages to look on the bright side. Whether it be while he’s giving tours on Locust Walk or putting his sociable personality to good use, wherever you find Regan, you’re sure to find him with a smile.

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EGO

Ivan Li: The Savior of Math 114 Meet the highest rated TA in Penn’s history.

by Sophie Xi At 3 p.m. on a Friday afternoon, Ivan Li (W, C '19) went straight from his Math 240 office hours at David Rittenhouse Laboratory (DRL) to his Street interview. Although our first interview location was unexpectedly occupied, Ivan quickly redirected us to a stairway that leads to the upper floor. Amidst the convoluted, maze–like hallways in DRL, Ivan can easily navigate his way out. “I like DRL so much more than Huntsman,” he says while scaling the steps.

As the highest ranking teaching assistant (TA) in Penn’s recent history and on track to graduate this spring with a dual degree and triple major, Ivan’s had a strong academic impact on campus.

From providing his students with recitation recordings and extra lectures on Friday afternoons to crafting neatly organized book notes and

6

Khan Academy–style videos for every topic he covers, Ivan has built a body of comprehensive resources for his classes. What he does has almost reached the level of a for–profit education institute, yet everything Ivan has on his website is free and open to all. Ivan has been rated with a 3.90 out of 4.00 by his Math 114 students and 3.95 out of 4.00 by his Math 240 students, thus becoming the highest rated TA at Penn with two teaching awards.

Freshmen often have a rough time in Math 114 their first semester at Penn. The difficulties of the course are often compounded by the emotional unrest that comes naturally with being an incoming freshman, especially when you are suddenly surrounded by top students from high schools all over the world.

Coming to Penn from a public high school in South Dakota, Ivan was initially timid when

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comparing himself with others.

He recalled, “Coming to Penn, I had very low confidence because I went to a high school in the middle of nowhere.”

He took Math 114 his freshman fall and failed one of the midterms. He eventually managed to excel in the final and ended up with a good semester.

It was through his academic performance that Ivan gained his confidence. At the end of freshman year, he applied to be a TA for Math 114, the class he once struggled with. By merging his technological expertise and past experience of being in Math 114, he connects to each of his students and dedicates more time and effort than others.

Ivan told Street that calculus professors at Penn are often post– doctorates who place a greater emphasis on research rather than teaching. The professors are not bad, he says, it’s just that they are not interested in teaching math.

Cindy Chen | Staff Photographer

This increases the importance of having a good TA, and Ivan has definitely become a rock star among his students.

Ivan recently gained attention for his dedicated work as a Math TA last fall. After the first midterm of Math 114, he realized that the professor that he was assisting would cover the last two sessions of the course only two days before the final. As he knew for sure that those topics would still be tested, he began hosting a two–hour lecture every Friday afternoon for his students, on top of the 8 courses he was taking at that time. Jiazhou Li (E ‘21), who was in Ivan’s Fall 2017 Math 114 recitation, says, “[Ivan] is definitely the Math God. His review sessions are incredibly important. If Ivan had not been my TA, my grade would probably not have been as good as it was.”

In addition to his TA career, Ivan has taken on an academically rigorous schedule.

Currently a senior at Penn, Ivan studies Mathematics and Economics in the College and Statistics in Wharton, one of the 0.5 percent of students pursuing triple majors. A day in Ivan’s life can be seen as monotonous, but only a few could handle his workload. His day starts at 6:15 a.m. and ends at 10:30 p.m.

DRL has become a second home to him, as he spends a large chunk of time working there every day, between teaching classes and taking classes. The Undergraduate Physics and Astronomy Lounge is his go–to place to finish off homework and hang out with friends. Around 5:00 p.m., he takes the Penn Bus down to The Fresh Grocer, and goes home to cook and eat dinner.

Despite having a dual degree with Wharton, finance doesn't appeal to Ivan. Ivan interned at Capital One during his sophomore year summer, but concluded his internship with a realization that he wanted to go to graduate school. “The work was so boring. I hate office politics. I don’t want to work in the private sector anymore.

And I felt like I was making no difference,” Ivan said. Since then, the seed to becoming a professor has planted in Ivan’s mind. He is now thinking about pursuing a PhD degree right after Penn, potentially in the field of Economics.

“It might be something that runs in the family. It’s just something about teaching that's a lot more fun than other things,” Ivan said, “By far, the thing I enjoyed the most on campus was being a TA, hands down.”

MUSIC

On Growing Up with

Lana Del Rey

Two singles from her new album are out now.

Here's why I think I've outgrown her. By Amanda Xu There’s something magnetic about Del Rey’s presence.

Her voice is sultry, seductive, and just the right amount of haunting.

At age thirteenI had wire– rim glasses, baby chipmunk cheeks, and bright pink braces. But I’m not quite sure anyone would describe me as beautiful (besides my parents).

Yet listening to the self–styled Carly Ryan | Illustrator “gangster Nick Sinatra” croon about hot summer nights in Bel–Air, I felt as though I She’s edgy. She’s mesmerizing.

She’s been defined as “simply were Daisy Buchanan, deeply godly” and “jesus” on Urban unhappy about her life and naively in love with another man.

Dictionary.

And she’s back, this time, with Of course, I was neither of those things; the greatest lost love I had a new album.

Though her first major al- had at that point (and to this bum, Born to Die, was released day) was the bag of KitKats my in 2012, Lana Del Rey only ap- mom threw out in spring cleanpeared on my radar with “Young ing.

That’s the power of Lana Del and Beautiful” in 2013 when my Rey, though: she’s entrancing. mom dragged me to watch The Great Gatsby with her (an unsuc- She exudes old–timey vibes, but cessful attempt to divert me from didn’t make me feel as though I was watching an old movie. It Disney movies).

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felt as though I were right there, living in the gilded glamor of the Roaring Twenties. Because it’s always nice to playact, I fell in love with her persona and became addicted to the rest of her music. For the ensuing months, “Carmen” and “Born to Die” replayed incessantly. “Summertime Sadness” was my (and every other middle schooler’s) September anthem.

Not coincidentally, those months were the height of my angsty–teen phase—I wanted to be Lana, and Lana radiated angst. As with all my teen

idols, though, Lana faded into the background. I replaced her with the likes of Taylor Swift and Demi Lovato. As I graduated middle school, I also outgrew the artificial sensation of anguish she produced, trading it for real anguish—the uncertainty of high school.

It wasn’t until the release of “Venice Bitch” and “Mariners Apartment Complex” earlier this September that she made her reappearance in my life.

Both are forerunners of her sixth studio album Norman Fucking Rockwell, which will be released

in early 2019.

There’s something immediately different in her two newest songs: they’re softer, slower, (slightly) less angsty. Fittingly, Norman Fucking Rockwell will be more light–hearted. In an interview, Lana describes it as an album about “this guy who is such a genius artist but he thinks he’s the shit and he knows it and he like won't shut up talking about it.” Definitely a new attitude from Lana. However, a quick look at the music video to “Venice Beach,” which features blurry, off–color montages à la “Summertime Sadness,” will indicate that her persona is still very much the same.

Despite not really knowing what either song is about, the overall cadence of Lana’s “Venice Bitch” and “Mariners Apartment Complex” would have been immediate additions to my 2013 “Favs” playlist. Five years later, though, I’ve changed, and so have my music tastes. For better or for worse, Lana hasn’t—but either way, I don’t think I’ll be listening to Norman Fucking Rockwell.

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L A ST PAG E

2018 LEVIN FAMILY DEAN’S FORUM

Featuring MUGAMBI JOUET Monday, October 15, 2018 | 4:30 p.m.

World Forum, Perry World House 3803 Locust Walk, Philadelphia

Mugambi Jouet’s thought-provoking 2017 book, Exceptional America: What Divides Americans From the World and From Each Other, connects social changes and increasing polarization to American exceptionalism—the idea that American society is an exception compared to other nations due to its history, politics, law, religious beliefs, economic attitudes, and race relations.

Courtesy of Marco Image Center

Mugambi Jouet

Boulton Fellow at McGill University

Jouet has written for Slate, Salon, The New Republic, The Hill, and Le Monde and has been interviewed for National Public Radio.

He served as a public defender in Manhattan and a judicial clerk at the U.N. war crimes tribunal for Yugoslavia.

This event is free and open to the public.

Doors open at 4:00 p.m.

For information and to register, visit: sas.upenn.edu/2018deansforum

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I Survived 48 Hours on Free Food

ST YLE

THE FREE FOOD AT PENN FACEBOOK PAGE WAS MY BEST FRIEND.

BY TERESA XIE

Photos by Teresa Xie We’ve all had those days where we don’t want to eat at another dining hall, but we also don’t want to spend real money on food. Is it possible to avoid that dilemma altogether? This week, I tried to find out in the only way I knew possible: challenging myself to only eating free food for 48 hours.

Before taking on this challenge, I had to do some serious research. By research, I mean scrolling down endless pages of my “Events” feed on Facebook, messaging random groups if they knew about any free food opportunities, and going through my email for events being advertised. I also joined the “Free Food at Penn” Facebook group, but it proved to be more like “Leftovers at Penn.” I lined up all the places I planned to go to for the two days with the most events going on: Monday, September 25 and Wednesday, September 27.

Day 1:

Breakfast: Stealing your roommate's Nature Valley bar for breakfast does count as free food. Don’t let anyone tell you different.

Lunch: After my 12 p.m. class I went to the Bodek Lounge for the Penn Leads Voter Registration Kickoff, which was going on from 1-4 p.m. Walking in, I was immediately impressed. Right in front of my eyes were three tables filled with salads from Greek Lady, sandwiches, Insomnia cookies, and food plates from Fresh Grocer. This was the real deal. Thank God, because I was starving. This food had to last me until 5 p.m. Did I take three Insomnia cookies and an extra plate of pita bread? I did.

Dinner: From 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. there was a study break in the Hall of Flags sponsored by the College’s peer advising program. I went around 5:30 with a friend to find two tables stacked with

coffee and doughnuts. I was definitely not in the mood for doughnuts, but I really didn’t have anything else to eat until 7:30. I wolfed down a chocolate sprinkles doughnut with a cup of much–needed coffee.

Hopefully, the Philosophy Politics and Economics GBM at 7:30 would have some snacks at least. But when it rolled around, I found out to my great disappointment that all I had to satisfy my hunger were even more doughnuts.

A girl can only eat so many doughnuts in a day, but what else was I supposed to do?

To wake up my body from the aftermath of eating three donuts in a span of three hours, I took a break the next day to eat real food. After that first day, I also needed to prepare myself mentally for doing day two of this challenge tomorrow. Dining hall food never tasted so good.

dential Library. When I showed up, I was pleasantly surprised. There was a nice array of biscuits, fruit, chocolate pretzels, and of course, hot tea. I’m pretty sure the Philomathean Society had never seen a tea plate with snacks piled as high as mine. I ended up staying for most of the event and had a great time.

Dinner: At 6 p.m. I went to the PAVE Active Bystander Dinner, which I had gotten a bunch of emails for throughout the week. They had actual catering from Goldie, which included pita bread, hummus, and falafel. The portions were super generous and I was genuinely looking forward to eating a dinner that wasn’t donuts.

My final event for the day was The People vs. the Supreme Court: A Polybian Society Symposium. I found out about it on Facebook, but also because

Final thoughts:

Would I survive 48 hours on free food at Penn again? Definitely not. Would I go back to one of these events for a free meal again? Absolutely. If it weren't for this challenge, I would never have gone to some great events that not only fulfilled my hunger pangs but also my intellectual cravings. Most of these events are open to anyone—take advantage of the many clubs and gatherings that Penn has to offer while also relishing the fact that you're not spending a cent on dinner.

Welcome

Day 2:

Breakfast: I thought day one was rough, but nothing could prepare me for day two. My first event wasn’t until the late afternoon so I ended up living off of saltine crackers and granola bars until that point.

Lunch: I saw on Facebook that the Philomathean Society was hosting Thursday Tea with Professor Justin McDaniel. The tea talk was held on the 4th floor of College Hall (which I didn’t even know existed) in Philo's Harrison Presi-

one of my friends heard the symposiums were fun. There they had tables full of pretzels, chips, guacamole, Oreos, and hummus waiting for us. Not only did we get free food, but also had the chance to listen to a really well–rounded political discussion about the Supreme Court.

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ST YLE

Your convenience store favorites just got upgraded at Wawa's largest Philly location.

What's New at the Wawa on 34th and Market Ryan McLaughlin

Every Penn student knows about the classic convenience store on the corner of 38th and Spruce Streets. Whether it’s a late night stop after a long night of frat parties to grab some sustenance or a morning trip for $1 coffee before class, Wawa has been a student hotspot for a long time now. However, while the quaint corner has been the go–to place for a long time, the chain has just expanded, recently opening up its largest Philly store on 34th and Market Streets. And let

All-natural,

me just say that this is not your average Wawa.

Upon arriving at the store located on 3300 Market Street, I immediately noticed the soft white lighting and floor–to– ceiling windows, lending it a surprisingly sophisticated ambiance. The new storefront has a sit–down dining location in the store, with booths and tables along the walls for you and your friends to enjoy your hoagies and mac 'n' cheese in comfort. There are even outlets along the walls

that make the store feel more like a cafe where you can study and relax.

Not only does the new store up the ambiance of the classic Wawa, but the menu is even more diverse compared to the Spruce Street location. From different types of sandwiches to a whole new variety of drinks and snacks, here are some of the many bites that you can’t grab at the classic campus Wawa.

locally-sourced foods

& detoxes in town

Hearty paninis

Looking to jazz up your usual flatbread? Well you’re in luck.

The newest Wawa has introduced new variations of the popular sandwich with three new styles: Santa Fe Chicken, Chicken Club, and Spicy Sriracha Turkey. These flatbreads bring a whole new level of flavor without the expensive price of the typical flatbread found around other campus restaurants.

Coffees, Lattes, and Macchiatos

FAST and Fresh

The best juice cleanses

Flatbread Sandwiches

DIning Guide

Wawa is known for its cheap and diverse selection of coffee, but the Market Street Wawa takes their espresso game to the next level. Feeling up for a beverage that will satisfy your sweet tooth, but also give you the boost of energy mid–day? Try out the White Chocolate Cookies & Cream Macchiato, inspired by a Wawa associate. Being so close to Drexel’s campus, the location also has a Dragon inspired drink with the “Dragon Double Shot” Latte, a location–exclusive, caramel latte that is both salty and sweet with two shots to satisfy your caffeine addiction. They even offer almond milk to make any drink dairy–free!

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Your one stop shop on campus for salads, soup, sandwiches and coffee has added yet another reason for you to forget about your dining plan. Kitchen Gia’s new juices feature seasonal ingredients straight from the farm whenever possible, add-ins like avocado oil and whey protein to actually fill you up and absolutely no artificial sweeteners.

They’re made fresh as you

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actually are. But don’t worry, if you’re in a rush Kitchen Gia will also have pre-bottled juices made fresh every morning for you to grab and go. The masterminds behind these juices have seriously thought through it all.

The cherry on top of it all is the three day cleanse that Marco Lentini, the Founder and President of Kitchen Gia, just finished over which

kale) shot to get your day going with some anti-inflammatory goodness. The juices then start out on the greener side, and slowly add more fruits to give you more energy as the day goes on. You finish the day 30–60 minutes before going to bed with a high protein and healthy fat (non–dairy) shake.

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at a real restaurant rather than a convenience store. If you're a health nut, you can also make a “Lighter Style” salad with their range of healthy, low–cal toppings.

Mashed Potato Recipes

At the Spruce Wawa, you can find mashed potatoes under the "soups, sides, and more" section, but at the new Wawa, mashed potatoes have been given their own section with new and improved recipes. Options include Buffalo Chicken Bacon, Chicken Bacon Ranch, or Garlic Parmesan with Chicken or Meatballs.

Grilled Chicken

Chicken sandwiches are a classic Wawa item, but if you aren’t feeling something breaded or fried, the new Wawa has you covered. Either in typical Wawa hoagie form or as a normal sandwich, the Market Wawa has grilled chicken with different sauces such as Sriracha, Honey Mustard, BBQ, and Buffalo, so that you can enjoy your protein without all the extra carbs and sodium.

Delivery

Want to try the new items but not feeling up for the walk to 34th and Market? You’re in luck!

The new Wawa now delivers through Grubhub and UberEats.

This upgraded version of Wawa is not one to miss. You definitely will want to check out the chain’s newest Philly opening in person. Run, don't walk.

ST YLE

Penn appétit's 'Whisk' Cookbook: Penn Never Tasted so Good

Penn Appetit's first cookbook hits shelves this month.

Emma Moore

Noel Zheng // Photos provided by Penn Appetit

Mushroom risotto, French macarons, banana bread french toast, and oven–baked chicken wings are just a few of the recipes Rachel Prokupek, Wharton junior and Le Cordon Bleu alum, developed for Whisk, the latest Penn–produced cookbook.

This month Penn Appétit, Penn’s student–run food publication, launches their first cookbook, Whisk. Over a year in the making, Whisk showcases the recipes of twelve Penn student– chefs.

Inspiration for the cookbook started last fall as Penn Appetit launched the 21st edition of their magazine. “At 21 we’re kind of an adult now…what should we do with that? It was time for a cookbook,” explains Rachel Prokupek (W ’20), the executive director of Penn Appetit. Penn Appetit, the nation’s oldest college food magazine, puts out a semesterly print magazine and maintains a blog of recipes and restaurant reviews in addition to hosting an open cooking club.

What started as an idle dream quickly became an intense year– long project for the club. Recruitment for Whisk began last September. Penn Appétit sent out applications to the student body in search for the best chefs on campus and picked twelve from a pool of nearly 70 ap-

plicants. “We have a team of talented chefs who’ve worked in kitchens from New York to Paris to here in Philadelphia,” says Rachel, naming restaurants Abe Fisher, Zahav, and Talula's Garden.

Team assembled, the real work began. Each student chef developed at least three recipes, turning dorms into test kitchens, perfecting each recipe three times before the final photoshoot.

“We spent weekend mornings in Addams Hall setting up the shoot, photographing the food, blasting music, and of course eating the food afterwards,” says Noel Zheng (C ’20), photography director. To perfect their photography style, the club consulted Alex Lau from Bon Appetit Magazine for a crash–course in avant garde food photography.

From cooking to photography to layout and marketing, the project is entirely student– run. “For the entire year we worked on the branding of the cookbook, developing recipes, photographing recipes. We were reaching out to Penn alumni in the food industry to write forwards for the different sections,” explains culinary director Jen Higa (C ’20). “Our chefs are also full–time students so it was chal-

lenge balancing time for developing recipes, testing and retesting them, then holding hours of photo shoots on weekends."

Recipes are broken down by occasion into four sections: brunch, picnic, dinner party, and post–festivity (aka indulgent food). “We wanted the book to

be cohesive but also highlight the unique dishes of our chefs,” Rachel noted. 125 pages later and their dream is now a reality.

The first 100 hardcover editions go to print next week, selling for $25 each. They are sure to run out in their limited first release, so get your copy now.

You can pre–order Whisk on their website from October 1–14 or snag a copy at Penn Appétit’s launch party on October 18 at the ICA, 7 p.m.–9 p.m. At the launch party, there will be hors d'oeuvres and samplings of the dishes from Whisk prepared by the Penn Appétit team.

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F E AT U R E

FROM BOOT CAMP TO VP

F E AT U R E

"THIS WHOLE TIME, I THOUGHT THAT I GOT INTO PENN, BUT I GOT INTO PENN'S BASTARD STEPCHILD"

ALEXANDRA TOLHURST

FOR MANY LPS STUDENTS AT PENN—ESPECIALLY VETERANS—THEIR COLLEGE EXPERIENCE IS NOT THE SAME ONE THAT UNDERGRADS WERE SOLD ON.

BY ANGELA LIN It all started with men’s lightweight rowing.

On a whim, Joshua Christine (LPS ‘19) attended walk–on tryouts. He trained hard for two weeks. Finally, per his childhood fantasy of being a college athlete, he secured a spot on the team. Rowing would be good exercise, sure, but it was bigger than that: rowing would provide the community that Joshua had lacked since coming to Penn. Teammates who’d have his back, friends who’d bleed and sweat alongside him.

Joshua had served in the military, and in the civilian world, this brand of brotherhood seemed readily available only in sports.

Things were looking up. Then, one of the coaches got a call from Penn Athletics.

Rowing falls under the jurisdiction of the Intercollegiate Rowing Association (IRA), and IRA rules are built on those of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). NCAA bylaw 14.1.1 states that “a student–athlete shall not represent an institution in intercollegiate athletics competition unless the student has been admitted as a regularly enrolled, degree–seeking student in accordance with the regular, published entrance requirements of that institution.” As a student in the LPS school, Joshua was not considered “regularly enrolled.” He was deemed ineligible to play, and could not be added to the official roster.

So rowing was out. But the military had trained Joshua to persevere, and his goal of participating in intercollegiate athletics became a question for answers.

JOSHUA CHRISTINE

At 29 years old, Joshua doesn’t fit the conventional profile of a Penn undergraduate. He looks young enough for his age—there’s a vibrancy to his grin and easy laugh. Throw a “P” sweater on him and he could pass as a senior. As soon as he speaks, though, it is evident that his experiences are anything but standard.

“College was never a conversation, because we were broke,” Joshua recalls. Under the shadow of an abusive father, his family hopped between states, vans, and YMCAs until finally settling near Philadelphia for Joshua’s high school years.

Any resources tailored to helping low–income students flew over his head. “When you grow up poor you don’t know that [there is support for you], and you actively don’t think that is the case. You don’t know what you don’t know.”

Environments that breed children for the Ivy League are inherently different from those that cause others to join the military. Like Joshua, Alexandra Tolhurst (C ‘19) wasn’t on track to make it to Penn. She grew up in a military family in a military–oriented town in Michigan and enlisted immediately after graduating from high school. Alexandra has been on a different track since birth, and only after her father’s persistent efforts to have her be the family’s first college graduate did her path curve towards higher education.

Like Alexandra, Joshua did recognize from the beginning that was military service was a viable path. At 18, he enrolled in the Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center in Monterey, California, where he served for a year and a half before leaving on account of injury. Eight years later, after spending time in the workforce and starting his own business, Joshua applied to transfer from Portland Community College to the University of Pennsylvania.

With requirements like high school transcripts, teacher evaluations, and SAT scores, which expire after 5 years, college applications are not designed for people like Joshua. How would his years in the military and the workforce translate among peers whose wildest moments consisted of mission trips and varsity sports?

It had been nearly a decade since he was a high school senior. When he called Penn Admissions, the student on the other end of the

Photos by Emma Boey phone told him that he could not apply through standard means and instead referred him to the College of Liberal and Professional Studies (LPS).

Joshua transferred to Penn LPS in the spring of 2016. So far, he has “hated [his] college experience.” As a veteran in LPS, “you don’t have access to official intercollegiate sports, [or] the same financial aid. Your classes are billed at a different rate. Your classes will not be taught by standing faculty but will be taught by PhD candidate students,” he explained.

“This whole time, I thought that I got into Penn, but I got into Penn’s bastard stepchild,” says Joshua. “I’m not a special fucking student or at least I certainly didn’t want to be.”

Veterans may apply to any of the four undergraduate schools, but for one reason or another, most end up in LPS. When asked why, the admissions office said it did not have anyone available to comment. Alexandra doesn’t know of anyone else in her position—she’s a veteran studying in the undergraduate College of Arts & Sciences (CAS), not LPS. When Alexandra applied to Penn after a year and half of service, she too was rerouted. Having lived in the Philadelphia area, she knew that LPS was not the school for her and that there was nothing that mandated her to apply there. Alexandra was also 18 at the time, like most other applicants.

She disregarded the instructions of the admissions office and applied directly to CAS. Soon, she was singing Hurrah’s as part of the class of 2019.

Jesse Raines (LPS ‘19) is a high school dropout who worked as an infantryman and private contractor in Afghanistan for eight years. When he called the admissions office, he talked to those same work–study students that Joshua spoke to. “The students who work part–time, the ones that answer the phone—they told me I had to apply to LPS. I’ve since learned that’s not correct.”

Despite the misinformation, Jesse has enjoyed his time at Penn.

According to its website, LPS is “the home of lifelong learning [...] housed within the School of Arts and Sciences.” Unlike Joshua, Jesse sees little difference; he’s adamant that LPS and SAS provide the same bill of goods, and he’s never had one LPS class taught by a PhD candidate. It’s the veterans who “keep to themselves,” Jesse says, who say it’s not “a really positive experience.”

Jesse does acknowledge a lack of top–down assistance, however. The administrators he’s interacted with aren’t familiar with the nuances of the GI Bill or how his healthcare policy is covered by the Veterans Health

Administration. Does Penn support him as individual? Sure. “Do they support me as a veteran? Not really.”

But he isn’t sure there are enough veterans on campus to warrant special advocacy. The numbers are foggy, as the University publishes no official statistics. This is most likely because veterans have to self–identify, and there are certainly reasons not to—social stigma for one, politics for another.

Some traditional students have challenged Jesse’s legitimacy as a member of the Penn community. Others question his choice to go into the military.

Alexandra notes a sort of cultural dissonance between her and her classmates which stems not so much from her time in the military but from factors at play far earlier in her life. The higher education system— at Penn and beyond—is not set up for easy navigation by low income students or students from communities that encourage enlistment in the military. Students like Alexandra, Joshua, and Jesse at times struggle to fit their experiences and backgrounds into the climate of the greater university.

Joshua called the NCAA and the Ivy League, and petitioned the athletics department and Penn administration. He even emailed Amy Gutmann. He wanted back on the rowing team—a community that represented all he hadn’t been given as an LPS student at Penn.

So far, nothing has come out in favor of Joshua’s case; he’s been refuted, forwarded up the chain of command. In recent history, no LPS student has participated in intercollegiate athletics, veteran or not. Joshua will graduate this coming spring. Soon after, LPS will be phased out by an online counterpart.

Alexandra, who works as an assistant in the Penn admissions office, finds that LPS has “been very standoffish in telling the veterans” about the phaseout, only making it clear that students currently enrolled in the program will be able to finish their degrees. Vice Dean of LPS Nora Lewis confirmed that LPS “will continue to offer evening classes as long as we have students, until they all graduate.”

“For the students currently in the B.A. [LPS program], it’s going to be business as usual for them. It will probably be invisible to them— that there’s going to any kind of change,” says Kathy Urban, Director of Undergraduate programs.

Alexandra is worried, but not fatalistic. “If undergraduates knew that it was happening, they would want to speak up. [...] Nobody wants to see education taken away.”

As it stands, all LPS students, veterans included, face an uncertain future. As their program shifts to an all–online structure that offers four concentrations: creative studies; literature, culture, and tradition; organizational studies; and physical and life sciences. Only available online, the program will make impossible the on–campus community so central to Jesse and Joshua’s experiences at Penn.

Until then, Joshua is holding out hope that Amy Gutmann will respond to his email.

Angela Lin is a sophomore from Eden Prairie, Minnesota studying Philosophy, Politics, and Economics. She is a Features staff writer for Street.

JESSE RAINES

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F E AT U R E

MORE THAN JUST GRADING PAPERS: WHAT IT TAKES TO BE A PENN TA

N

GRADING DISPUTES, OFFICE HOUR TEARS, AND ALL THE OTHER HIDDEN WORK THAT GOES INTO BEING A TEACHING ASSISTANT AT PENN.

eed help catching up after a few missed classes?

Want to talk about that bad paper grade?

Having trouble with class concepts? Often, it’s not your professor who will help with these problems, it’s your TA. “Having the crutch of a support figure in a class where you don’t really know anyone and are too intimidated to go to a professor is great,” says Clio Sun (W '21). “But it really depends on how much the TA is willing to help and how good the TA is at explaining.”

Undergraduate students know firsthand how central teaching assistants are teaching in classes. TAs are often an undergraduate’s lifeline in the classroom. They can make or break their experience or their decision to keep or drop a class. And even though they are key to the success of many students, most teaching assistants did not choose their job, nor is it their primary focus.

“As grad students, we are supposed

BY PAIGE FISHMAN to be doing research. That is our main goal,” says fifth–year mathematics PhD student Marcus Michelen. “Being a TA is a job. What TAs do is labor, and it’s ostensibly not the main reasons TAs are at Penn.”

In addition to the hours of preparation and time–consuming grunt work necessary to run a class— like grading and holding office hours—TAs have to contend with “all of the emotional labor of getting to know people, being accommodating and figuring out who people are often gets put on our shoulders,” explains third–year Anthropology PhD student Mariana Irby.

Still, many TAs express a genuine interest in the lives of the undergraduates in their classes. Sixth– year Clinical Psychology PhD student Lauren Danzi Brumley had one–

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hundred students total in Introduction to Experimental Psychology.

She made a huge effort to know all of their names and get to know a little about each person. "I tried to be that sounding board to help students chew through the material,” Lauren explained.

“Learning eighty people's names every semester is a challenge,” says Marcus. “I always recommend to do that and I always do that, but that's something that takes a lot of energy.”

In addition to learning everyone’s names, TAs incorporate outside readings, hold additional review sessions and extra office hours all while striving to be caring and approachable to undergraduates. And because they're more accessible than professors, TAs are often the first people that students will reach out to with personal issues and grading disagreements.

“We are also at the first line of defense for if something goes really wrong with a student,” says Marcus.

“We’ll be the first to notice if a student is having a problem, whether that be physically, emotionally, or mentally.

We’ll be the people who have to feel out for that. That is something that takes a toll, that is kind of exhausting and that is labor.”

Some students, like fourth–year political science PhD student Zach Smith, want to see Penn take more concrete steps to acknowledge the unseen work that being a TA requires.

“Myself and many of my colleagues have had to deal with students crying in our offices, particular familial challenges or personal challenges,” says Zach. “There’s a lot of work that goes into TAs supporting students that goes unacknowledged and uncompensated.”

Many graduate students like Zach take issue with this lack of acknowledgement because being a TA is not a choice for most of the graduate students that do it. They receive full tuition scholarships, stipends, and health insurance through the five–year–long Benjamin Franklin Fellowships program, and serve as teaching assistants as part of their

F E AT U R E

funding package.

“We don’t have a choice, but I think it’s a really important component of graduate education,” says Mariana.

Exact TA assignments depend on the discipline as well as the specific professor. For many PhD students, the classes they’re assigned to teach don’t always align with their academic training or interests. TAs often have to learn the material and figure out how to teach it.

Before the semester begins, TAs rank classes in order of preference, but they don’t always get their top choice. Zach, for example, received teaching assignments outside of his wheelhouse. Though he concentrates on politics in the Middle East, he has taught classes ranging from Russian Politics to Sex and Power.

“Undergrads sometimes think that their TAs are experts in what they are teaching,” says Zach. “What I’m telling you, is that we are absolutely not in many cases [...]

Your TAs are not experts in what they teach always, but they are experts in learning really quickly.”

Marcus says that teaching assistants are often seen as “surrogates for the professor.”

“The way the professors view us is probably in line with the expectations of being a TA.” Marcus explains. “However, what happens in practice is that TAs get a little more involved with the learning that their students do.”

Fourth–year Philosophy PhD candidate Max Lewis also testifies to the intermediary position that TAs occupy. He describes his role as “being a voice to the students” while serving the professor.

“You’re sort of in a middle place where you’re trying to do what the professor wants you to do [...] but

you’re also there to support the undergrads to make sure they get what they deserve,” says Max. Zach is one of many graduate students who see unionization as a possible solution to this issue, and is a member of Graduate Employees Together— University of Pennsylvania (GET–UP), a group that has been campaigning for graduate student

professor who is not like that, unfortunately there is not much you can do about it at all.”

While the teaching requirement can be a burden for many graduate students, some undergraduates adopt the position voluntarily.

Ivan Li (W, C ‘19) is in his third year as a TA for Math 240. While pursuing a triple major in mathematics, economics, and statistics, Ivan chooses to TA because he enjoys the job. Over the summer, Ivan spent months making 25 hours’ worth of Khan Academy–inspired videos as supplementary aid for his students.

“Being a TA is definitely my favorite thing that I’ve done on campus,” Ivan says. “Grading is a grind. It’s like having continual homework, and I have to do it weekly. But it's definitely worth it. It is a lot of fun. I’m just doing it because I love teaching.”

Many graduate students also agree with Ivan and understand how valuable TAs are for undergraduates who are struggling in class or just looking for someone to talk to about their courses.

“Some—but certainly not all— faculty members value all the work that TAs do as much as they should,” Marcus says.

“One way you can look at how important a job is is by imagining the world without it. If you imagine what would happen if we had no TAs, a lot of learning would stop happening immediately.”

"There’s a lot of work that goes into TAs supporting students that goes unacknowledged and uncompensated." unionization for several years.

Mariana sees the power differential between professors and their TAs as “one of the main reasons” driving unionization efforts.

“A lot of whether you have a positive experience as a TA depends on the professor,” says Mariana.

“Whether or not you happen to get a professor who is understanding and sets reasonable expectations for you and for their students. If you have a

Paige Fishman is a sophomore in the College from Chicago. She is a Features staff writer for Street.

Marcus Michelen Ethan Wu | Photo Editor O C T O B E R 3 , 2 01 8 3 4 T H S T R E E T M A G A Z I N E 1 5

FILM & TV

Student Filmmaker Spotlight: Sonari Chidi

With his documentary, 'Shattering Refuge,' Sonari hopes to inspire viewers to be the change instead of watching it from the sidelines.

Karin Hananel Even though LA native Sonari Chidi (C '20) never envisioned himself behind the scenes of a documentary, there was a key element to documentary filmmaking that drew him to it: the ability to give a direct voice to those that are often ignored.

This is what he does in his film, Shattering Refuge, in which he explores the media’s representation of refugees. He interviewed refugee filmmakers in Kenya,

Eleanor Shemtov | Photographer

asylum recipients and immigrants in the U.S., as well as reporters who report on refugee and asylum issues.

Shattering Refuge was filmed over the course of a year and a half on three continents, with footage from Kakuma Refugee Camp in Kenya, Amman, Jordan, and Philadelphia. Getting access to the Kakuma Refugee Camp came with Sonari’s participation in the Penn–in–Kenya

program in Summer 2017.

He knew he wanted to go above what the program requires, which was to collaborate with refugee filmmakers in the camp to make videos for new arrivals. So on his own, he thought about the “biased and inflammatory” representations of refugees in Western media, and wanted to know what the refugee filmmakers, who were also his team members, felt

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about the media coverage.

Throughout the process of filming, there were moments of surprise. When interviewing a Kenyan national who is the head of operations for the NGO that runs the camp, he discovered that while American media has extremely anti–refugee rhetoric, Kenyan media broadcasts the same views.

Sonari described how this Kenyan woman's opinions of refugees changed as she started working with them: “The media made her think that refugees were these people that couldn’t help themselves, who were kind of just relying on resources… and she was so surprised when she went there. They’re starting their own businesses, they’re making films, they’re doing things for themselves, they want to improve their lives. Just because they’ve gone through a tough situation doesn’t mean that they are now defeated.”

It was also important for Sonari to not only talk to those who were being covered by the media, but also those doing the coverage. At a WHYY event about immigration and refugees, Sonari met a reporter, Emma Restrepo, who was an asylum recipient herself. Meeting and interviewing her enabled Sonari to include different perspectives in his film.

When asked about films or filmmakers that have influenced

him, most of the influential movies that Sonari listed were fictional (BlacKkKlansman, Sorry to Bother You, Mudbound, and Moonlight). However, he emphasized that documentary film "is a really powerful way to get at human truths in a multifaceted way."

"This is the person speaking for themselves. This isn’t a script.

This isn’t a story that someone dreamed up that never happened. These aren’t things that are fictional. These are things that are happening right now... they are real. Just like you and me.”

Sonari spoke with warmth and happiness about his work and the people he met throughout the process.

Whether it was interviewing professors here at Penn or refugees in Kenya, Sonari’s ability to connect with them over his passion for film and social change was electric.

As he continues to rack up awards and acclaim, his connection and passion don't seem to have faded at all. In the future, he hopes to have more screenings of the film in festivals and schools to help promote a more positive view of refugees and to humanize a situation that is constantly politicized.

He aims to keep working towards his main goal—to “galvanize people to do something."

FILM & TV

NETFLIX'S NEW DARK COMEDY 'MANIC' SKEWERS LATE CAPITALISM

Previewing the new limited series now streaming on Netflix. James morrison

A gorgeous, radiant chronicle of the many connections that created the universe grace the opening moments of Maniac, showcasing the masterful direction and ambitious scope of Netflix’s latest limited series. A well–produced, high–budget series like this one is a welcome return to form for the streaming giant. Maniac tackles the issue of human connection in today’s world, earning itself a place on everyone’s fall TV must– watch list.

A New York ravaged by late– stage capitalism sets the show’s tone and serves as its backdrop.

Diminutive Roomba–esque robots wander the streets, cigarettes and green computer screens are ubiquitous, and people sign up for dangerous drug trials to earn a quick buck. Corporations are everywhere and know the most intimate details of their customers’ lives.

And yet, intimacy and connection is in short supply. Some companies sell hired friends to the lonely, and others ask single men to become volunteer husbands to help mend broken families.

Friends are disinterested in each other’s lives, and conversations sputter and die from suffocation.

Perched at the end of a table in a boardroom, the viewer is introduced to Owen Milgram (Jonah Hill) as he answers the questions of his father’s lawyers. Owen Milgram is the epitome of New York’s alienation. A diagnosed schizophrenic, Owen is the black sheep of the wealthy Milgram clan. Called upon by his kin to defend his brother from sexual assault allegations, Owen is unwillingly drawn into the center of his family’s politics when he wants nothing more than to escape the city and live out in the country.

Adamantly independent, Owen refuses the handouts of his father–in–law, relying on his own meager income until he loses his

job. Desperate, Owen enlists in a dangerous drug trial to make ends meet.

Annie (Emma Stone) is just as desperate as Owen. Addicted to Neberdine’s experimental and exceedingly dangerous drug “A,” she puts off a trip to see her estranged sister to strong–arm her way onto the same drug trial as Owen.

Both on the run from their respective family situations, Owen and Annie are twin peaks of alienation on New York’s isle of loneliness. But Maniac isn't afraid to sprinkle in some dark humor.

Owen’s only confidant is his imaginary brother, who occasionally appears to peddle conspiracy theories and to assure him that one day he will save the world.

Annie, of course, has no one except a bottle of pills and her deadbeat dad, who lives in an iron–lung like machine and refuses to see the light of day. Owen is excluded from the family portrait, with a small picture frame of his face added next to it like an almost–forgotten addendum.

Annie is perpetually cast out by the people around her, with a security guard shooing her away from a pile of trash and a clerk questioning her ability to pay for cigarettes.

In essence, what director Cary Fukunaga has created is a funhouse mirror of our world, stretching its edges so as to show us its fault lines. Without the appearance of a single smartphone, Maniac captures perfectly the simultaneous connectivity and isolation that go hand–in–hand in a world dominated by social media. Owen and Annie are scarcely alone for a minute before being interrupted by some telephone call or unwanted conversation, and yet they cannot help but feel the all–too–familiar ache for human connection and intimacy.

The show declares in its opening monologue, “Hypothesis: all

souls are on a quest to connect.

Corollary: our minds have no awareness of this quest.” It is with this hypothesis that the show oc-

cupies itself throughout its ten– episode run, and it is with this hypothesis that we occupy ourselves with as students on a college cam-

pus. Maniac is the perfect show for those looking for validation in the tempestuous, isolating world of university life.

Orienting Corporate Governance to Generate Sustainable Growth: A Cooperative Discussion on Common Ground and Forging a Path Forward a conversation between

Hon. Leo E. Strine, Jr.

Jay Clayton

Chief Justice Delaware Supreme Court

Chairman U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission

moderated by

Lawrence A. Hamermesh Executive Director, Institute for Law and Economics

Thursday, October 4 4:30 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.

Silverman 245A, Penn Law

Reception to follow lecture - all are welcome.

Information: http://www.law.upenn.edu/ile

This program has been approved for 1.5 substantive law credit hour for Pennsylvania lawyers. CLE credits may be available in other jurisdictions as well. Attendees seeking CLE credit should bring separate payment in the amount of $60.00 ($30.00 public interest/non-profit attorneys) cash or check made payable to The Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania.

This event is sponsored by the Institute for Law and Economics, a joint research center of the Law School, the Wharton School, and the Department of Economics in the School of Arts and Sciences.

The Institute for Law and Economics is a joint research center of the Law School, the Wharton School, and the Department of Economics in the School of Arts and Sciences.

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FILM & TV

MOVIES TO LOOK OUT FOR AT THE NEW YORK FILM FESTIVAL Catch these films now before they get Oscar noms.

tion. The father and daughter live in isolation, as the sole remaining members aboard their aircraft.

High Life generated significant buzz after its premiere at the Toronto Film Festival, with A24, the distribution company behind Lady Bird, Moonlight, and Ex Machina, acquiring North American distribution rights to the film. High Life is the English language debut for critically acclaimed director Claire Denis.

Kate Lindenburg Each year, the Film Society of Lincoln Center assembles a diverse lineup of movies from across the world to showcase at the annual New York Film Festival. In 2017, two little–known indie films snagged spots in NYFF55’s main slate of twenty– five movies. Months later, Call Me By Your Name and Lady Bird were launched into the mainstream, each nominated for the Oscar and Golden Globe for Best Picture. If you’re like me, this lack of foresight about the future success of these two films had a direct consequence—the failure to meet Timothée Chalamet in person before he was taking selfies with Kobe Bryant and running around in Gucci suits.

Because no one should have to make that mistake again, here’s your guide to this year’s New York Film Festival, running Friday, September 28 through Sunday, October 14. Whether you want to pop on a Megabus

Photo by Yorgos Lanthimos // Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation

the Duchess of Marlborough (Rachel Weisz), and her servant Abigail Hill (Emma Stone). Lady Sarah has taken to governing in place of the increasingly frail Queen Anne (Olivia Colman) in addition to serving as her caretaker. Although Abigail initially charms Sarah, their relationship does not stop her from seizing the opportunity to replace Sarah as the Queen’s companion. The Favourite is slated as the NYFF56

to NYC to get in on the action or stay ahead of the culture curve leading up to awards season, here are five movies to look out for:

The Favourite: Dir. Yorgos Lanthimos From Director Yorgos Lanthimos, The Favourite is set in 18th century England in the midst of war with France and tells the story of the sexually–charged rivalry between Sarah Churchill,

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festival opener and will hit theaters November 23, 2018.

If Beale Could Talk: Dir. Barry Jenkins If Beale Could Talk is an adaptation of the James Baldwin novel by the same name. The film tells the story of two childhood friends, Fonny (Stephan James) and Tish (Kiki Layne), who fall in love as they enter into young adulthood. When Tish becomes pregnant and Fonny is convicted of a crime he did not commit, the couple must navigate their relationship within the context of the injustice and racism of their world. If Beale Could Talk is director Barry Jenkins’s follow–up to the highly–regarded Moonlight, which nabbed the Oscar for Best Picture in 2016. The film is slated to hit theaters November 30, 2018.

High Life: Dir. Claire Denis This sci–fi thriller takes place on a spaceship controlled by a group of death row prisoners, tasked with harnessing the energy of a black hole. The film also tracks Monte’s (Robert Pattinson) relationship with his daughter Willow (Jessie Ross), who he was forced to father against his will through artificial insemina-

Roma: Dir. Alfonso Cuarón Directed by Academy Award winner Alfonso Cuarón, Roma is the centerpiece of the 56th New York Film Festival. Cuarón is well–known for writing and directing the critically acclaimed film Y Tu Mama Tambien in addition to directing Gravity, which won him the Oscar for Best Director in 2014. Set in Mexico City in the 1970’s, Roma follows the story of a beloved live–in nanny and housekeeper who help a middle–class mother of four while her husband is away.

Non–cinephiles may be familiar with Cuarón’s work in directing Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, which should be noted is without a doubt the best movie in the series, in my extremely professional opinion. Roma will have a limited theatrical release on December 14, 2018, when it will also become available on Netflix.

Shoplifters: Dir. Hirokazu Kore–eda Shoplifters has already been recognized in the world of film, taking home the highest accolade, the Palme d’Or, from the Cannes Film Festival this May. Directed

by Hirokazu Kore–eda, the film tells the story of an unique “family,” connected by their propensity for petty crime and powerful love for one another. Based on its performance at Cannes, Shoplifters is well–positioned for a Best Foreign Picture Oscar nom.

ARTS

Philly Art Exhibit Reclaims Beauty in "Shithole" Countries Capturing the real side of the country, the exhibit proves that these countries are anything but "shitholes."

Sherry Tseng

Photo Courtesy of Le Chapeau Project

Walking inside Adrienne Theater in Center City, the first sight is unlike anything I had expected. On September 28, Le Chapeau Project held their one–day exhibition titled “Shitholes” in celebration of all of the beautiful artwork coming from countries famously described by President Trump as “shitholes.”

The first room is packed: paintings line up over a row of chairs, a seemingly indiscernible object stands a little off–center of the room, and to the back, there’s an amalgamation of color—abstract art, so to speak. The paintings on the chair are caricatures, one outlined in white set against a bright pink background and another looking rather melancholy, with its eyes shifted down. I’m not too sure what all this means, but I continue through to the next of five total rooms.

I say the first sight was unexpected because, when I walked in, there were people sitting down.

In most art galleries or museums, you rarely find people hovering inches away from the art without

a tape demarcating the end of allowed standing–space, let alone sitting down right in front of it.

Benches in conventional museums are always at a safe distance from the artwork. However, the very people sitting so close to the art were the lead organizers, Fatène Ben–Hamza of Morocco and Steve Garguilo of Mexico.

The casual nature in which they presented themselves was a testament to the intentional accessibility of the entire exhibit. “Shitholes” was not meant to simply be a showcase of aesthetics, but also an opportunity to learn about and overcome the fundamental mischaracterizations of a number of these countries.

The second room is downstairs. Treading down the concrete staircase, I am greeted by a door with a sign indicating that the theme of this room is “Spirit.” To my immediate left is a series by Timothy Wandulu of Rwanda, the three pieces which make up the series depicting him laughing. A collage made from news articles, the laughter

is symbolic of the reaction to all the degrading things that have been said about certain countries by the administration and the media. “It’s kind of like saying ‘Honestly, I find this funny,’” Ben–Hamza described. “The best response is just to laugh at it.”

On the other side of the room is a wall of photos taken by photographer Mwarv Kirubi. The photos, to me, at first seem like any other landscape photo. But that was the point. In taking these photos, Kirubi had tried to depict South Africa just as any other picturesque country—because that’s what it is. Yes, the country has its problems, but that did not mean that it could solely be defined in terms of its shortcomings. Looking at one of

the photos, “This just reminds me of what breakfast is like at home,” Ben–Hamza said. They show a sense of normalcy and a genuine interpretation of what a “shithole” country looks like to its natives.

One room over is titled “Place,” which, unsurprisingly, centers on artworks detailing specific cities or places. Set against a bright blue wall, the right–side wall draws a number of different cities, such as Morocco, Casablanca, and Marrakech. They show the often overlooked details. In one corner, a dog lays crouched down, wimpering. At the center is a large sign, welcoming visitors to whatever spectacle was occurring. The same can be said of the series in the next photo. A photograph taken by Mourad

Ben Cheikh, the photo is a representation of the little streets and undervalued places in Tunis. Because Cheikh was very involved in urbex (urban exploration), he aimed to capture the hidden gems of the city. As I looked at these photos, the characterization of these countries as “shitholes” was not just misrepresentative (as I had always thought), but the polar opposite of the truth.

These were only some of the pieces of art displayed in the exhibit. It's now clear to me that the artworks in the first room were a kind of underappreciated aesthetic from these countries. In setting up this one–day exhibit, Ben–Hamza and Garguilo have changed the way people see these countries. In response to the cutting words, they’ve reacted and done something. And whether it’s even just going to similar events or creating our own, the exhibit is our call to action to do something.

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ARTS

'To the Polls' Exhibition Politicizes the Past to Mobilize in the Present

The show, run by StreetsDept.com and Mural Arts Philadelphia, aims to increase civic engagement and voter turnout in the 2018 election.

By Annabelle Williams

The stairs sag under a film of sawdust on the way up to the warehouse’s second floor. On another night, the place might be deserted. But on Wednesday, September 26, it's the Philadelphia equivalent of a Bushwick art party, with local hipsters and families mingling with street artists whose work found shelter in this temporary warehouse. Entering the room, it's impossible to miss the greeter from Indivisible.

“Are you registered to vote?’

More often than not, said Nancy Cunningham, the coordinator of Indivisible’s presence at

the event, guests tonight answer yes. These are politically engaged people. The main question that Conrad Benner, the event’s curator and the founder of StreetsD-

ept.com, asked himself as a curator was "is it better when we have a government that’s more reflective of us if everyone voted?"

The scene at the "To the Polls"

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opening party is at once constructed and natural. During the day, the space would swell with light from the windows facing 10th Street. But tonight, colored lights dance around the white– washed walls and cast red and blue tints onto the murals.

The exhibition features ten Philadelphia–based artists and is co–sponsored by Mural Arts Philadelphia and Streets Dept.

Exhibiting artists received an 8– by–8 piece of plywood and an open–ended task: create art that encourages not just voting but civic participation. To choose the artists, Benner looked at "who was creating interesting street artwork that talked about issues of social and political justice."

On the night of the event, Benner held court by the doors, lamenting the “16–hour days” he’d pulled to get the exhibition and launch party running smoothly. Trendy locals, some with children but mostly millennial–looking couples and groups, milled around, drinking free beer and whiskey from the Love City Brewing and Powers tables set up in the back corner.

Filling the space were the artworks and artists themselves.

Some were more general, like BLUR's piece “AREN’T YOU TIRED” with Jenny Holzer– esque italics blaring “AREN’T YOU TIRED OF BEING SILENT?” on a background of open mouths.

Nilé Livingston’s piece, “To the Polls,”is a pastiche of George Caleb Bingham’s 1854 painting “The County Election.” While Bingham’s original work features an all–white cast mobbing a polling place, Livingston's featured black citizens congregating. Her artist’s statement cited an intent to “explore representation and amend what can be viewed as important by replacing many of the figures from the painting with subjects that can testify to the status of black people and black women throughout American history.”

While Benner said ahead of the event that “none of the

murals will be political, it’s not an anti–this administration or anti–that administration,” the atmosphere skewed towards social justice, and, if not the politicization of the present, at least a more inclusive revisionist history.

Willis "Nomo" Humphrey's “Washington, Portrait of an American President" held court in the center of the room. It featured a stark rendering of what from afar looks to be a simple portrait of George Washington.

A few steps closer reveal, making up his face and eyes, a rendering of enslaved people. The powerful and simple piece didn’t directly address voting at all. It didn’t have to.

The artist’s statement links “the origins of American history and the horrors of American slavery.” “I just felt as an artist, I could speak to all that,” Nomo said at the event.

Voting is in its essence a political act, and featured artists didn’t shy away from the often– ugly past of voting rights in this country. Benner, in advance of the exhibition, echoed a similar point, that voting systems are often "built purposefully confusing to keep a lot of people out, which sucks.”

While many of the people engaged enough to attend the event already were registered to vote— leaving the Indivisible volunteers to pack up early at the launch party—artists and organizers hope that this art will encourage turnout.

Down the line, Benner said, “there’s a chance that this could turn into a more regular thing every two or four years.” But in his time at Streets Dept and in the Philadelphia public art scene, “there hasn’t been anything quite like this.”

The exhibition will be on view at 448 N 10th Street from September 26, 2018 through October 3, 2018, with viewing hours and on–site voter registration from 12—5 p.m. with the exception of September 29.

The deadline for registration is October 9, 2018.

ARTS

Meet Alexis Masino, Penn's Resident Portraiteur She’s venturing into nude photography, but in a different way than you might think.

Christina Lu Alexis Masino’s (C '20) Tinder profile may cause many swipers to do a double take. “Hi,” it reads. “I am here for my project, and my project only. For anyone that wants a free photoshoot, I will photograph you, but I will be in my underwear.”

Last Wednesday, the creative writing and photography concentrator created her Tinder to recruit participants for a project

Photos Courtesy of Alexis Masino

that lies at the intersection of photography and performance art. This past Saturday, she executed her vision, taking shot after shot of clothed men while a separate tripod captured her in action—wearing only her underwear. According to Alexis, this unconventional idea, first conceived in her Body Photography class with Professor Gabriel Martinez, centers around the

theme of masculinity.

“I want to partially reverse the power dynamic of clothed men

behind cameras photographing women in lingerie,” she explains.

Her project switches the roles of

each gender, yet maintains the striking contrast in clothing, resulting in an unsettling patriar-

Penn Association of Senior & Emeritus Faculty Annual Fall Lecture 2018

CRAIG CARNAROLI Executive Vice President

INNOVATION @ PENN 3:30 p.m. Thursday, October 4, 2018 Class of ’49 Auditorium, 2nd Floor, Houston Hall 3417 Spruce Street Followed by the Annual 25 Year Club Celebration

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ARTS

chal balance. Though Alexis was initially unsure how the response on Tinder would be, she was more than surprised by the flow of people who expressed positive interest in her project.

It was a long road that led Alexis to the point of this bold undertaking. Her interest in photography started in preschool when she became obsessed with a Barbie Polaroid camera. Years later, in middle school, she dis-

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dium’s flexibility lends itself to a myriad of purposes. “Photography can be straightforward, like a formal event photoshoot, or very abstract with the use of digital enhancement. There’s a line of what’s real and what’s not real,” she says.

Even outside of the classroom, though, Alexis often recruits her friends for photoshoots and also engages in client work. She is involved in Penn Appétit as a

" There's a lot of work that goes into TAs SUPPORTING STUDENTS THAT GOES UNACKOWLEDGED AND UNCOMPENSATED." covered DSLRs. Alexis, a Philly native, would frequently visit sites such as Penn’s Landing along with her mother to snap photos with a beginner–level camera.

Her passion carried on throughout high school, yet it was only when she arrived at Penn, contrary to intuition, that she began to see photography as a serious career path and potentially lucrative pursuit.

The class that most strongly nurtured her interest, Fashion Photography with Professor Tony Ward, featured in–studio photoshoots with fashion designers and models. If impressed with the results, designers such as K. Vaughn Scarves and Old School Shirt Makers New York would elect to use the students’ photos for advertisements or social media posts. The adventure wasn’t limited to the classroom. For a project, Alexis ventured backstage at the show From Drags to Riches at the sports bar Tabu in the Gayborhood to capture portraits of the drag queens before and after they went onstage. The result? Raw portraits of striking expressions and makeup.

To Alexis, photography has become an “unlimited form of self–expression” that involves both herself and others. She particularly admires how the me-

photographer and is pledging the environmental fraternity Epsilon Eta out of her passion for environmental issues—an interest she hopes to incorporate into her work sometime soon.

Down the line, Alexis sees an uncertain, but hopeful future in photography. “I need to make money,” she says. “I do that now working for clients, but not consistently.” After a summer in India photographing the children of sex workers in one of South Asia’s largest red light districts, she was initially drawn to photojournalism. However, after doing more research, she discovered substantial barriers to the career path for women, given the existence of traditional cultural mindsets in many countries about women’s place in society. For the coming years, she is eyeing a possible stint in editorial photography for magazines or publications.

But there’s one thing Alexis knows for sure: at the end of the day, she simply wants to continue taking photos, especially portraits. “Even if it’s just a picture, you are still connecting so much with whoever is there. There is a ton you can show in a person, things you might not expect that just come out,” she says. “Nothing compels me as much as photographing people.”

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