March 2, 2017 by The Daily Pennsylvanian

THURSDAY, MARCH 2, 2017

THE INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA

Student on leave of absence dies at home

Aran Rana was a member of the Class of 2019 CAROLINE SIMON Senior Reporter

Aran Rana, a member of the Class of 2019 in the College of Arts and Sciences who was on a leave of absence from Penn, died on Monday at his home in Hong Kong.

Vice Provost for University Life Valarie Swain-Cade McCoullum announced his death in an email to all undergraduates on Wednesday afternoon. Aran’s “friendliness, his kindness, and his vivaciousness is what stands out … that’s really what touched most people,” Aran’s parent, Aditya Rana, said in a statement included in

the email. Rana lived in Riepe College House as a freshman. “Every loss of a member of the Penn community is a loss to our entire community, and I urge you to comfort each other as you process this difficult news,” Cade said. “Talk, listen, and be there for your roommates and classmates. Check in

with friends and family.” Rana’s friends remembered him as a bubbly, friendly person who loved helping people. College sophomore Naome Elegant, who was on Rana’s freshman hall and lived in a house with him before he began his leave of absence SEE RANA PAGE 3

UA budget increases by 2.4% for next academic year UA BUDGET OVER THE YEARS: Budget increase is lower than the previous years’ increases of around 3.8%

2012-2013

$2,044,506

OLIVIA SYLVESTER Staff Reporter

$2,116,000

2013-2014

$2,197,000

The Undergraduate Assembly passed its budget for next year, and Class Board events like Hey Day will be cheaper and more accessible because of it. Two of the biggest changes this year in the UA’s 2017-2018 budget include a 22 percent increase in UA operations and administration funding and a $26,000 increase in Student Activities Council funding. College junior and UA Treasurer Michelle Xu said the 22 percent increase from $4,980 to $6,085 in the UA operations and administration grant occurred because Penn is hosting an upcoming conference for the

2014-2015

$2,282,000

2015-2016

$2,369,300

Philadelphia Big 5 — Penn, La Salle University, Saint Joseph’s University, Temple University and Villanova University. The conference is for members of student government to discuss issues, make suggestions for improvement and share general ideas. College senior and UA President Kat McKay said Penn has not hosted this conference during her tenure on the UA. According to Xu, the location rotates so that it only occurs at each school once every five years. “It was so helpful to meet these other student government leaders and get their perspective on issues that affect the student-city community,” McKay said. In addition to increased funding for the Big 5 conference, funding for junior and senior Class Boards increased by 3.17 percent and 2.79 SEE UA BUDGET PAGE 3

2016-2017

$2,425,643

2017-2018 Source: Penn Undergraduate Assembly

Some graduate students’ federal loans canceled

Only one student has an individualized major at Penn

SRFS notified students at the beginning of spring semester

Others say the process is too complicated to design their own major

REBECCA LIEBERMAN Staff Reporter

KELLY HEINZERLING Staff Reporter

Out of the 6,311 students enrolled in the College of Arts and Sciences, only one is enrolled in a major that she designed herself. The individualized major is a program in the College that allows students to design their own curriculum and, essentially, create their own department. The College offers more than 50 majors and 80 minors, but some students have a unique vision for what they want to study. “There are students who find that the standard majors may not satisfy their interests or goals,” said Hocine Fetni, assistant dean for academic advising in the College. “Exceptional, creative, self-motivated students are encouraged to explore the individualized major so they can create a major that is based on various interdisciplinary fields of knowledge.” Fetni said he typically meets with students interested in the program about once a week. As of now, though, only one current Penn student has successfully created her own major. College junior Caroline Ohlson has created her own major called arts, entertainment and popular culture.

FILE PHOTO

Graduate students talked about their loans with officers from Student Registration and Financial Services in the Franklin Building on Walnut Street.

RISE OF HOUSING MKT PAGE 2

SEE MAJOR PAGE 2

Imagine checking your email on the second day of classes and discovering that you would not receive the loan you had applied for — even though it had already been approved. Multiple graduate students in the School of Nursing were advised to apply for federal direct loans of up to $20,500 for the spring and summer semesters of 2017, and their applications were approved. But at the beginning of this spring semester, these students received emails

Surely this outage deserved more outrage — or at least more interest.”

from Student Registration and Financial Services saying they would need to apply for an alternative loan, as their direct loans would be discontinued for the spring semester. SRFS blames the abrupt shift in policy on the Department of Education, but some students suspect Penn’s financial aid officers made the mistake. In a Jan. 12 email, SRFS announced the policy change, which requires students who used an unsubsidized direct loan to fund their education in fall 2016 to now use an alternate source of funding, such as a direct PLUS loan. Though SRFS characterized the PLUS loan as a “solid” alternative, it SEE LOANS PAGE 2

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THURSDAY, MARCH 2, 2017

Prof. studies gun’s role in domestic violence Prof. Susan Sorenson partnered with Phila. police WESLEY SHEKER Staff Reporter

gun involved. That is paired also with the fact that when a gun was used, it was used most often to threaten the victim, rather than to shoot or shoot at or pistol-whip her. The combination of those two things is why there was less physical injury. The primary purpose of the gun is to intimidate and coerce — to increase the compliance of the victim. Another piece of information in the data that supported this interpretation is that when a gun was used there was substantially more

also because it’s important to assess the usefulness of these policies. We really need to know about enforcement and implementation. That’s one piece. The other piece is federal law prohibits the possession and purchase of guns by those who are under certain domestic violence restraining orders and those who are convicted of a domestic violence misdemeanor. The relationship that is specified for a spouse, somebody you’ve lived together with or someone with whom you have a child in common. What’s left out of that is dating partners, with whom you didn’t have a child together and didn’t live together. We know that both current and former boyfriends can be a danger to women, and we have some research underway right now that will help address this very issue. DP: What about this topic has led to your interest in conducting research? SS: Guns and health and violence in relationships are two controversial topics, and they have been controversial for decades. They’re not simply current, hot-button issues, but they have long-standing implications for our country and society.

Research by one Penn professor produced a surprising result about intimate partner violence: The involvement of a gun reduced the likelihood of injury. Susan Sorenson, a professor in the School of Social Policy & Practice and director of the Evelyn Jacobs Ortner Center on Family Violence, conducted a study in partnership with the Philadelphia Police DeWhat we’ve found partment on more than 35,000 cases of intimate is that there was partner violence. One of less injury, less physical the most important findings was about the use of injury, when a gun was guns in cases as a means used.” of coercion. Sorenson discussed her research - Susan Sorenson in an interview with The Daily Pennsylvanian. The Daily Pennsylvanian: likely to be fear on the part of With the Philadelphia Police the victim than if the perpeDepartment, you studied more trator used just hands, fists, than 35,000 domestic violence and feet. In other words, the incidents. One of the more woman would acquiesce. She surprising findings for me is would back down. If somethat in male-on-female vio- body was coming at you with lence incidents that included a hands, with fists, you might gun, there were less injuries. try to defend yourself. Where Why do you think this oc- if somebody brandishes a gun, curred? you might say “Woah, can Susan Sorenson: One of we settle this another way, the reasons we did the re- and then simply back down.” search is because one can There’s going to be less injury The interview was lightly reasonably expect that if a gun in a situation like that. edited for clarity. is used there would be more DP: Do you think that curinjuries. At the same time, rent public policy is sufficient you could reasonably expect to address these issues? that there would be less injury. SS: We have some very What we’ve found is that there good policies in place. Then was less injury, less physical there are two things that come injury, when a gun was used. to mind that could merit some It appears from the pattern attention. One is the officers in the data that the perpetra- documenting their compliance tor — and I’ll use the gender with any state laws that are pronoun “he” because in 80% related to gun-removal at the of the cases it was male-on- scene, and about half of U.S. female violence when a gun states have such a law in place. was used — was less likely I think it’s important that ofto punch her, kick her, hit her, ficers document that they’re those kinds of physically vio- doing what state law requires SUSAN SORENSON lent behaviors, if there was a for the sake of integrity and

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MAJOR

>> PAGE 1

“I have always loved music, film and TV and thought that I wanted to work in the entertainment industry,” Ohlson said. “I felt there was nothing offered here that was really getting at what I was really interested in, which is the business and more practical sides of entertainment and arts.” After struggling to find a major that fit her interests, Ohlson decided to submit an intensive application detailing the plans for her major in the spring of her sophomore year. “I put an incredible amount of time and effort my sophomore spring meeting with professors, discussing my idea, sorting everything out and convincing people how passionate I was about this,” Ohlson said. “I emailed every professor I could find.” Having now worked on the major for almost a full year, Ohlson said that the experience was worth all the work that went into planning it. “It’s been so worth it, I absolutely love every class I’m taking for this major,” Ohlson said. “I’m really happy that I was given this opportunity because I understand how selective it is and how difficult it is to get it approved.” College junior Serena Bian was not as successful in pursuing an individualized major. “I knew the subjects that I wanted to study were more intersectional with environmental sustainability, positive psychology, and management,” said Bian, who is currently studying psychology. “I enjoy learning about the things that I enjoy learning, and I don’t really find that, to be honest, in the classes I’m taking for psychology.” Bian said she decided that pursuing an individualized major was

LOANS

>> PAGE 1

actually has a “slightly higher origination fee” and a higher interest rate than normal direct loans — 6.31 percent compared to 5.31 percent. Nursing graduate student Cara Gouldey said she searched online for a Department of Education policy change regarding direct loans but could find none. “If this was a change, why were we notified on the second day of class, and why can’t we seem to find any information about systemic changes from the Department of Education?” she asked. “It seems to us like maybe it was something that Penn missed or that they had been doing wrong.” Gouldey, who is pursuing her third degree and has been in school since 2000, has experience dealing with student loans and said she had never encountered such a situation before. “I just feel like if it was this overreaching thing that was coming top-down from the Department of Education, I don’t understand why we can’t just be provided with some simple web link or a document that [SRFS] received,” she said. Gouldey reached out to SRFS, hoping for a clear explanation for the sudden change. “I just really was curious about why the change was so abrupt, and to get more information about it for going forward,” she said.

COURTESY OF ALDEN TERRY

Caroline Ohlson, a College junior, decided to create her own major in arts, entertainment and popular culture in her sophomore year.

“so complicated” that it wasn’t worth it. “If it was easier and if I had been more supported, I think I definitely would have gone through the individualized major,” Bian said. “It’s very difficult to get approved and it rarely happens, even though Penn advertises the fact they have an individualized major.” This advertising is what persuaded 2014 College graduate Shoshana Akabas to transfer to Penn and double major in English and organic chemistry, concepts and communication. “Double majoring is more difficult at other schools [and] I wanted to be able to study high-level organic chemistry and English,” Akabas said. “My major was mostly graduate organic chemistry courses ... I knew that I wanted to focus on organic chemistry very early ... I didn’t want to have to be undergrad first to get to [the courses].” Akabas said that having an individualized major allowed her to land her “dream job” at Pfizer, editing academic and scientific articles right out of college — a

job that typically goes to graduate students or those with a doctoral degree. “I was able to get a high-paying job doing exactly what I wanted to do coming out of college, and if I had only had a Chemistry major that wouldn’t have been enough,” Akabas said. “I would not have gotten this if I didn’t have this specific major.” Yet her advice for students considering this route is, “Don’t do it.” “It was so difficult, and made so difficult by the school in a way that I thought was unnecessary,” Akabas said. She cited the complicated process of going through her advisors and the committee in order to change just one of her classes. “The bureaucracy associated with it was such a nightmare.” For Penn’s only current student who designed her own major, the program has been worth it. “You have to be someone who is willing to take a lot of initiative and keep yourself on track,” Ohlson said. “I think that it’s a really unique opportunity that I’m really grateful to have, and it’s the perfect fit for me and what I want to do.”

She emailed University Director of Financial Aid Elaine Papas Varas on Jan. 13 asking for a clarification of the policy. Varas responded two days later asking to set up a time to meet, to which Gouldey responded with her availability. On Feb. 6, still without a meeting scheduled, Gouldey said she was still unclear about the change in a follow-up email to Varas. That email still has not been responded to as of Feb. 28, Gouldey told the DP. “It’s kind of a big deal and it’s a lot of money, especially for graduate students,” Gouldey said. “We work, we have families. For us to scramble to find a loan really quickly and then the insult to injury of getting late fees for not having the loans in on time, that was pretty messed up.” Nursing graduate student Erin Andrew was also told by the Nursing financial aid officers to borrow a direct loan but later received the same email as Gouldey from SRFS. “Obviously, I was taken aback by what they had said,” Andrew said. “I didn’t understand it. They blamed it on the government.” Andrew was charged $123 in late fees, which have since been waived. Both Gouldey and Andrew now must use loans with higher interest rates than the direct loan. Karen Hamilton, a spokesperson for SRFS, said in an email to the DP that the email the students

received was “sent to a small number of (mostly graduate) students, after a Department of Education change with minimal impact to Penn students.” Hamilton added that Penn’s graduate and professional programs “benefit from the successful administration of funds through the Federal Direct Student Loan program to help finance their education.” Varas declined to further comment. Dean of Admissions Eric Furda said he was unaware of the direct loan situation and noted the separation between the Office of Admissions and SRFS. He said he could not speak in detail about financial aid matters, but added, “The federal government, with Direct Student Loans as an example, wields an incredible amount of resources, and then also, depending on where they put their priorities, a tremendous amount of persuasion.” While Penn administrators attribute the sudden change to the federal government, Gouldey said she feels the University is not blameless. “Universities have so much power in terms of having the upper hand in what they charge students and students really having no say in the cost of their education once they’re enrolled in a university,” she said. “So I think it really behooves them to be transparent about loans and about changes and things like that.”

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NEWS 3

THURSDAY, MARCH 2, 2017

Local housing market on the rise, thanks to Penn The Spruce Hill neighborhood is gaining popularity according to realtors CHRIS DOYLE Staff Reporter

The city’s “hottest” housing market is just blocks off Penn’s campus — and this market heat-up has a lot to do with Penn itself. Redfin Real Estate forecasts that Spruce Hill will be the most desirable neighborhood in Philadelphia this year. The district, which extends west from 40th Street to 46th Street and nor th from Woodland Avenue to Market Street, has in recent years been characterized by low homeownership rates. However, the past year has seen demand for longterm residences rise, with the median home sale price climbing to $530,000 . Redfin lists this value, which is $315,000 higher than the city median, as

UA BUDGET >> PAGE 1

percent, respectively. Each received a $1,000 increase in its budget. McKay said that the UA wants to make Class Board events, like Hey Day, more affordable and accessible to all Penn students regardless of socioeconomic status. “It’s visibly clear who participates in something like Hey Day,” McKay said. “We want to make sure everyone can participate.” According to McKay, the Hey Day package decreased from $35 to $20 between 2015 and 2016. She said she thinks Class Board 2018 now plans to make the price even lower. “The goal is to make it so that your family’s income doesn’t determine whether or not you can participate in Class Board events,” McKay said. Xu pointed out that the

RANA

>> PAGE 1

in the fall of their sophomore year, described Rana as one of her closest friends. Both are from Hong Kong and were passionate about photography. “He was just this real goofy, funny weird great kid,” she said. “Everyone that met him loved him and was like, ‘Wow, he’s such a beautiful person.’” College sophomore Navya Dasari met Rana when she dropped her keys in the dark during New Student

an indicator of real-estate development. Redfin realtor Jimmy Caraway attributes much of Spruce Hill’s recent growth to Penn. He reports that recently staff and graduate students have been purchasing homes in Spruce Hill to live closer to their jobs at the University and the hospitals. Meanwhile, the University itself has accelerated this trend through Penn Home Ownership Services, which incentivizes faculty and staff to purchase and renovate homes in West Philadelphia. Seeking to “foster the Unive r sit y’s c om m it ment t o neighborhood development,” PHOS offers forgivable loans and closing cost reductions only in certain West Philadelphia regions. PHOS Ma nager Nicole Andrews and Penn Business Services Director of Commun ications a nd Exter na l Relations Barbara Lea-Kruger say the forgivable loan and

increase in funding to the junior and senior Class Boards was prompted by student feedback. She encourages student input in the budget because “every dollar goes to student activities.” McKay agreed with Xu, noting that UA members get to determine the student body’s operating budget. Their contingency of $16,000 also serves as a source of funding with “very few restrictions” for which any student can apply. “Students don’t recognize the power of the UA to help

KAT MCKAY

Orientation their freshman year. Even though they were strangers, he helped her find them. “Aran was my best friend, the person I trusted and depended on most at Penn, and someone who was with me every step of the way,” she said in a Facebook message. “I’m so grateful to have known someone so incredibly special.” Dasari remembered Rana bringing her to an art show he’d found on Facebook. When they arrived at the location, the art show turned out to be

CCR programs exemplify how Penn has reached out to communities like Spruce Hill in the last decade. “From the late ‘90s to 2004 … there was a comprehensive initiative involving safety, lighting, home ownership, retail, education.” Kruger said. “And [PHOS was] part of that larger program to ingratiate the area,” Andrews added. Of Penn’s contributions to Spruce Hill, perhaps the most impactful has been the Penn Alexander School. Penn Alexander is a K-8 public school for children in West Philadelphia. The University subsidizes Penn Alexander with $1,330 per student and provides student teachers from the Graduate School of Education to maintain optimal class sizes and a high-quality curriculum. Since it fully opened in 2004, it has been rated as among the best in Philadelphia. Spruce Hill Zoning Director Barry Grossbach believes Penn

them,” McKay said. “In times of need or in times of crisis or when your group perceives an issue, students can come to the UA, so that we can, at the very least, help connect you to the right people at Penn to fix that issue.” Xu also noted that the budget i ng com m it tee — consisting of Xu, College freshman Max Grove and W ha r ton sophomore Nile Nwogu — prioritized SAC this year, granting it $1.26 million of the $2.4 million total budget. College and Wharton junior and SAC Chair Edward Jing said money allocated to SAC is divided among the approximately 200 student groups that SAC funds. Xu said that she was “particularly happy with the amount that SAC got” because SAC recognized 12 new clubs this year. “I am very optimistic about the budgeting we received,” Jing said.

Alexander has had a tremendous impact on his district’s home ownership. He observes that Spruce Hill is now an area people live in to take advantage of affordable, Penn-sponsored education. “[Spruce Hill] became a destination of choice for a lot of people, particularly families, who were either expecting to have children or had kids of school age,” Grossbach said. “The area itself received a jolt of adrenaline as a result of the creation of the school … [and] so Spruce Hill became a hot market for property purchase.” Grossbach is also grateful for Penn’s overall contributions to his district. “They saw it was in their best interest to help the community stabilize … and so they worked with the community to go through a Spruce Hill plan.” Grossbach said. “It created a more favorable market for people to consider Spruce Hill as a desirable place to live.”

MACKENZIE MAUGER | CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER

The Spruce Hill neighborhood lies between 40th Street and 46th Street, and between Woodland Avenue and Market Street.

Huntsman Jr. being considered as U.S. ambassador to Russia He formerly served as ambassador to China from 2009-2011 CHRISTINE OLAOGUN Contributing Reporter

Former Utah Gov. and 1987 College graduate Jon Huntsman Jr. is “in talks to serve as U.S. ambassador to Russia,” according to CNN. Huntsman previously served as ambassador to China under the Obama administration. The son of 1959 Wharton

graduate Jon Huntsman Sr., Huntsman was last seen on campus two weeks ago when he gave a talk at Huntsman Hall, named after his father. The former ambassador spoke about his vision for U.S. foreign relations, and pointed out that “neither Trump nor Pence has visited” China. In his remarks Huntsman also criticized President Donald Trump’s phone call with the Taiwanese president prior to his inauguration. The criticism isn’t isolated. Huntsman called for Trump to drop out of the race after the

release of Access Hollywood tapes in which Trump made lewd comments about women. Despite this history, an anonymous senior administration official told CNN that Huntsman has been in touch with “Trump’s top advisors and possibly Trump himself.” And Huntsman is not entirely unfamiliar to the Trump administration — His name had shown up in earlier discussions of potential secretary of state nominees. A spokesperson for Huntsman did not respond to requests for comment from CNN.

a private showing, but Rana was so friendly that the hosts invited them inside for dinner. “His unique way of looking at the world, whether in his mind or through his camera, made me see everything in a new light,” Dasari wrote. “And he’s the person who knew everything about me, because he made me feel safe enough to tell him, no matter what it was. His presence was bright, beautiful, powerful, and reassuring. I love him so much.”

CREATIVE WRITING CONTESTS CREATIVE WRITING CONTESTS FOR PENN STUDENTS FOR PENN STUDENTS The Creative Writing Program is sponsoring the following contests this

spring for Penn students. Contest winners will be selected by judges who The Creative Writing following haveProgram no affiliation withawards the university. the The contests are open to students of any school. prizes annually to University of Pennsylvania students: Entries may be left in the designated box at the Center for Programs in

The William Carlos Williams Prize Writing (CPCW), 3808 Walnut St. Entries should bear: Contemporary student's name, year, address, email address, and category of from the Academy of American Poetsschool, ($100) submission. Do not submit the same piece for more than one contest. Awarded to the best original poetry by a graduate student. Submit up to 5 poems (max. length of entry, 5 pages). This year’s deadline: WEDNESDAY, MARCH 18, NOON POETRY: Submit two copies of up to 5 poems (5 page total). Undergraduate The College Alumni Society Poetry Prize ($500 first prize) $400 first prize, Graduate prize $100. Awarded to the best original poetry by an undergraduate. Submit up to 5 poems (max. length of entry, 5 pages). FICTION ($400 first prize): Submit two copies of one short story only, maximum 7000 words (Undergraduate only)

The Phi Kappa Sigma Fiction Prize ($400 first prize) DRAMATIC WRITING first prize): Submit two copieswords). of one script for stage, Awarded to the best original short story by an ($400 undergraduate (max. 7,000 screen, television, or radio (Undergraduate or Graduate)

The Judy Lee Award for Dramatic Writing ($400 first prize) REVIEW ($400 first prize) Submit two copies of one review of a current Awarded to a graduate orbook, undergraduate student fororthe best script (stage, screen, play, film, cd, art exhibition, performance (Undergraduate only) television, or radio).

LITERARY TRANSLATION ($400 first prize) Submit two copies of up to 3 pp. of verse or 5 pp.

of prose translated into first English from any language; include two copies of the original text and a The Lilian and Benjamin Levy Award ($400 prize) brief words) about the of work and authorplay, if notfilm, well-known or Graduate) Awarded to the best review bynote an (75 undergraduate a current music(Undergraduate release, book, or performance. CREATIVE NONFICTION ($400 first prize) Submit two copies of one nonfiction piece only, maximum 7000 words The Ezra Pound Prize for Literary Translation (Undergraduate only) ($400 first prize)

Awarded to the best English-language translation of verse or prose from any language by a graduate prize)or 5 pages of prose; include a copy of the or undergraduate student.JOURNALISTIC Submit up to 3WRITING pages of($600 poetry Submit copiesabout of one newspaper or magazine article, feature story, original text and a brief note (75two words) the original work and author. exposé or other piece of investigative journalism, maximum 7000 words work can already have been published (Undergraduate only)

The Gibson Peacock Prize for Creative Nonfiction ($400 first prize) Awarded to the best creative nonfiction piece by an undergraduate (max. 7,000 words). http://www.writing.upenn.edu/cw/prizes.html The Parker Prize for Journalistic Writing ($600 prize) Awarded to the best newspaper or magazine article, feature story, exposé or other piece of investigative journalism by an undergraduate, published or unpublished (max. 7,000 words).

DEADLINE FOR ALL ENTRIES: FRIDAY, MARCH 3, 5:00 pm Submit your entry here: writing.upenn.edu/cw/prizes.html These contests are subject to the University Code of Academic Integrity. Open to students of any school at the University of Pennsylvania.

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OPINION

What happens when the media doesn’t get tech? COMMON SENSE | A national technology incident shouldn’t leave this many people scratching their heads

THURSDAY MARCH 2, 2017 VOL. CXXXIII, NO. 29 133rd Year of Publication CARTER COUDRIET President DAN SPINELLI Executive Editor LUCIEN WANG Print Director ALEX GRAVES Digital Director ALESSANDRO VAN DEN BRINK Opinion Editor SYDNEY SCHAEDEL Senior News Editor WILL SNOW Senior Sports Editor CHRIS MURACCA Design Editor CAMILLE RAPAY Design Editor JULIA SCHORR Design Editor RONG XIANG Design Editor VIBHA KANNAN Enterprise Editor GENEVIEVE GLATSKY News Editor TOM NOWLAN News Editor ALLY JOHNSON Assignments Editor

As you might have noticed, the news media has spent much of the past two years focused, seemingly solely, on the comings and goings of a certain Penn alumnus. But it was pretty surprising on Tuesday, when a severely seismic server outage at Amazon Web Services’ Amazon S3 hosting service — specifically its data center based in Northern Virginia — was scarcely reported by major news networks and publications until shortly before the servers were brought back online. During the four hours of outage, GroupMe, Venmo, Quora, Business Insider, GIPHY, Slack, our very own Canvas and many, many more services were either partially or totally down including, ironically, Is It Down Right Now?, a website that identifies sites that are down. In fact, this publication’s website wasn’t able to render images yesterday because our content management system lives, you guessed it, on Amazon Web Services. Amazon S3 is used by 148,213 websites, including one that belongs to me.

Which is why it was almost insulting when, at the depth of the four-hour crisis when messages couldn’t be sent or received, payments couldn’t be processed, vital health information couldn’t be accessed and some people literally couldn’t turn on their lights, CNN was offering wall-to-wall coverage of “President Trump set to address Congress in six hours.” In fact, no major news networks offered more than what seemed to be a passing mention of the calamity, as if it had annoyingly interrupted their vital analysis of a speech that had not yet taken place. Of course, the tech media had a field day. TechCrunch and The Verge offered minute-byminute updates, like sports blogs, cataloguing the various platforms and services that were totally inaccessible. Wired lambasted Amazon Web Services, opining in one headline that “The Amazon S3 outage is what happens when one site hosts too much of the internet.” But why was this very real nationwide internet outage — something that

affected millions of people and thousands of businesses — sidelined to the niche of technology news? Even more curiously, this type of malfunction is so rare that it should have provoked breaking news headlines, alerts or even a semblance of extended coverage. Ac-

thousands of storefronts on the east coast were simply shuttered, inaccessible. Would we not expect a small respite from “all Trump, all the time,” the new guiding principle for television news and mainstream publications? Perhaps the reason that

Perhaps the reason that the major news media is unequipped to offer extensive coverage is simply because their primary reporters lack the technical understanding to actually inform people about what is transpiring.” cording to TechCrunch, S3 has achieved 100 percent annual availability, with the exception of an overnight hour or so in 2015. Surely this outage deserved more outrage — or at least more interest. Imagine, if you will, a four-hour period in the middle of a busy Tuesday where

the major news media is unequipped to offer extensive coverage is simply because their primary reporters lack the technical understanding to actually inform people about what is transpiring. The first question on most people’s minds when confronted with the news was, what is Amazon Web Ser-

COLE JACOBSON Sports Editor JONATHAN POLLACK Sports Editor TOMMY ROTHMAN Sports Editor

vices? In fact, Vox summed it up in a headline: “A flaw in a little-known Amazon service is causing havoc across the web.” The better story would be why this Amazon service, like its competitors from Google and Microsoft, is so little-known. Sure, unless you worked in technology or operated a website or platform, you would never need to interact with a web hosting service. But given that the internet is so important in all of our daily lives, isn’t it curious how little people know about how it actually works? And the media is partially, if even mostly, responsible for that. If you have ever seen the way that technology is reported on in the media, it reads like a laundry list of successful venture capital rounds, IPOs and stagebased product launches. But that rosy picture is not the reality of what happens day to day in the tech world, and it creates a false narrative. Technology is exciting, fast-paced and often newsworthy in its own right, on its own merits. When ma-

REID JACKSON jor — and I mean really, really major — incidents make only quiet murmurs beneath the chorus of unrelenting Trump-tastic coverage, even a politics junkie like me might begin to wonder where the media’s perspective has gone. Either perspective must be returned, or perhaps journalists need to develop a better understanding of technology as it becomes more central to Americans’ lives. That way, people might know next time why they can’t swipe right on Tinder. REID JACKSON is a College junior from New York, N.Y., and London, U.K., studying political science. His email address is reja@sas.upenn.edu. “Common Sense” usually appears every other Thursday.

CARTOON

AMANDA GEISER Copy Editor HARRY TRUSTMAN Copy Editor ANDREW FISCHER Director of Web Development DYLAN REIM Social Media Editor DAKSH CHHOKRA Analytics Editor ANANYA CHANDRA Photo Manager JOY LEE News Photo Editor ZACH SHELDON Sports Photo Editor LUCAS WEINER Video Producer JOYCE VARMA Podcast Editor BRANDON JOHNSON Business Manager MADDY OVERMOYER Advertising Manager SONIA KUMAR Business Analytics Manager MARK PARASKEVAS Circulation Manager HANNAH SHAKNOVICH Marketing Manager TANVI KAPUR Development Project Lead MEGHA AGARWAL Development Project Lead

THIS ISSUE ANDREW ZHENG Sports Associate BREVIN FLEISCHER Sports Associate

BEN CLAAR is a College sophomore from Scarsdale, N.Y. His email is bclaar@sas.upenn.edu.

GRACE WU Copy Associate ZOE BRACCIA Copy Associate

Finding richness in the down times

ALISA BHAKTA Copy Associate SUNNY CHEN Copy Associate WEIWEI MENG Photo Associate ANGEL FAN Photo Associate SAM HOLLAND Photo Associate CARSON KAHOE Photo Associate CHRISTINE LAM Design Associate JULIA MCGURK Design Associate ROSHAN BENEFO Design Associate

LETTERS Have your own opinion? Send your letter to the editor or guest column to letters@thedp.com. Unsigned editorials appearing on this page represent the opinion of The Daily Pennsylvanian as determined by the majority of the Editorial Board. All other columns, letters and artwork represent the opinion of their authors and are not necessarily representative of the DP’s position.

CHANCES ARE | On making the most of failure and bad work CAMBRIDGE, U.K. — I’ve been happy lately — really happy — and when I’m happy, I don’t want to write. It’s unfortunate, this sensation. It’s not unfortunate to be happy, but it’s unfortunate that for me, it often feels like I can only have one or the other. I only want to write when I am utterly miserable, when something inside me hurts so badly that I can’t stop thinking about it, when I feel like I am trying to make up for some hole but can’t discover what it is that will fill the emptiness. That’s often where my best writing comes from — straight from the deepest secrets of my heart. As F. Scott Fitzgerald notes in a letter to a friend, writers “only have [their] emotions to sell” and they must write about things that are “still bleeding as fresh as the skin wound on a hemophile.” Like Fitzgerald, when you read my work, you’re read-

ing the blood that flows through my veins. But when I am happy, I don’t have anything I want to talk about. I want to experience this little taste of heaven on earth. I don’t want to tell people about my happiness. I want to try to keep it to myself, because I know how quickly it can slip through my fingers. And I’m starting to think that there’s nothing wrong with that. I’ve been beating myself up about my work for a while now. I can’t think lucidly when I sit down to write. A million random thoughts run through my head as I try to focus on the words. I can’t expand on an idea logically from beginning to end. And I hate that. I hate when my writing doesn’t make sense in my head. I hate when the words don’t flow out of me like water. I hate when I read the

page I’ve produced and it’s jumpy, painfully written and meaningless. However, this weekend, as I was joyfully seeing Dublin

bridled. Sometimes, we are too busy doing other things — living, experiencing, being happy — to focus on our work.

Moreover, we never have more freedom than when we feel as if we are failing. It is in these times that we experiment and learn the most.” for the first time, breathing in the sea air and waking to the sound of gulls, I suddenly realized that writing poorly sometimes is okay. We all go through stages in life. Sometimes, the things we do are great. They come easily to us, and our passion for them is un-

Or maybe we aren’t occupied by something else and we are just out of steam and out of ideas — in which case, that’s okay too. No one can be great all the time. In those down periods, we should take advantage of the other opportunities we have. We should

make the most of our happiness because it’s fleeting. Life isn’t just about working and success. It’s also about the small moments — dancing with friends, watching favorite TV shows, making coffee and listening to Ed Sheeran in the morning — that make the success worthwhile. Moreover, we never have more freedom than when we feel as if we are failing. It is in these times that we experiment and learn the most. It was in my sophomore year of college when, after my English professor told me that I wasn’t a clear and serious writer, I discovered that I didn’t care about whether or not I was good at writing. I loved it, and I was going to do it anyway. It’s been in this semester of writer’s block that I have discovered there are a multitude of ways to write. It doesn’t always have to be about pain and hurt. It can

AMY CHAN be about light things; it can even be a little boring. I can see how well I write about topics I’m uncomfortable with. I can outline my writing. I can play with expanding my vocabulary. I can keep the tactics I like for future works. In the end, that will only make my writing — and my life — richer. AMY CHAN is a College junior from Augusta, Ga., studying classics and English. Her email address is chanamy@ sas.upenn.edu. “Chances Are” usually appears every other Thursday.

THEDP.COM | THE DAILY PENNSYLVANIAN

SPORTS 5

THURSDAY, MARCH 2, 2017

M. HOOPS

>> BACKPAGE

ILANA WURMAN | SENIOR PHOTOGRAPHER

Freshman center AJ Brodeur and his teammates have one final shot at capturing the final spot in the inaugural Ivy League Tournament, as the tean is currently tied with Columbia in the standings.

Where will Penn teams be over Spring Break? Hanover, NH Cambridge, MA

in the end, Dartmouth forward Evan Boudreaux gave Penn more than it could handle, recording a double-double that included a game-sealing jumper inside two minutes. Also notable were his 12 rebounds, significantly more than Ryan Betley, who was Penn’s most effective rebounder with a mere five. “Evan is a 20-and-10 guy in league play, and I don’t remember anyone ever doing that,” coach Steve Donahue said. “You just have to gameplan for him. The crazy part is his game against us last time was one of his average games.” The Quakers will be confident going into Friday’s game, not in the least because it is on their home f loor, which has turned from a theater of head-in-hands moments into a fortress of late. Home was where the Red and Blue began their charge back from the death several weekends ago against Columbia and Cornell, and they will hope it is where it culminates as well. Fortunately for Penn, history is on their side. In each of the past four seasons, the Quakers

have earned a season split with the Big Green, which is exactly what they would earn with a win on Friday. In fact, you would have to go back to the 2008-09 season to observe the last time Dartmouth swept Penn. But, as any sports fan would tell you, that was then and this is now. More so than ever, Donahue is leaning on his rotation of players that finally — after being tinkered with throughout the season — he feels comfortable with. “I’ve been saying that I would love to get to the point where I know what I’m getting from each guy,” Donahue said. “I think these last couple weeks have gotten me to that point. We have a solid eight-man rotation that I feel great about.” And what a difference a few weeks can make — in the loss to Dartmouth, twelve different Quakers earned playing time. Now, with that number down below ten, it is clear that Donahue is putting his trust in his players. That trust will be necessary on Saturday against Harvard (18-7, 10-2), where the Red and Blue will be seeing a different animal. A well-rounded team that has several weapons and a stifling defense, the Crimson

will be Penn’s toughest test since Princeton. “I think what they do the best is get out in transition,” Donahue said. “But really their strength is their defense. We are going to have to really execute if we want to see offensive success on Saturday.” There is, of course, the danger of looking ahead to Harvard and slipping up against Dartmouth. Donahue and his players have made sure that preparing for the Big Green remains priority number one despite the challenge of Harvard looming. “We know we have two tough games this weekend, but we don’t want to get caught up thinking ahead,” freshman guard Ryan Betley said. “We’re zeroed in on Dartmouth, and as soon as that game ends, we’ll immediately start preparing for Harvard.” Undoubtedly, this weekend’s slate of Penn basketball games are the most important the program has seen in a long, long time. With the team fighting for it’s life, you can count on two close, competitive contests. “We’re playing our best basketball right now, and that’s what matters,” Donahue said. “We just have to put it all on display this weekend.”

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6 SPORTS

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Available on iTunes, Soundcloud, and theDP.com Quite�Frankly��explores�stories�about�students,� higher�education�and�Philadelphia.� Catch�new�episodes�every�three�weeks�on� Mondays!

In�the�Cut�explores�non-mainstream�worlds� and�cultures�at�Penn�and�is�partly�comedy,� partly�news. Catch�new�episodes�every�other�Thursday!

1600�Penn�explores�how�politics�aﬀ�ect�the� lives�of�college�students�and�stories�related� to�politics�on�campus. Catch�new�episodes�every�other�Sunday!

Bottoms�on�Top�is�conversational�and�deals� wtih�LGBTQ+�issues�in�and�around�campus. Catch�new�episodes�every�other�Sunday!

Locust�Pocus�is�a�comedy�podcast�that�looks� back�on�speciﬁ�c,�strange�histories�of�Penn� and�their�implications�for�today. Catch�new�episodes�every�other�Thursday!

THEDP.COM | THE DAILY PENNSYLVANIAN

SPORTS 7

THURSDAY, MARCH 2, 2017

Penn opens season in Florida with packed stretch SOFTBALL | Quakers to

face 10 teams over break

TOMMY ROTHMAN Sports Editor

Florida is a popular Spring Break destination. You can catch some sun, go in the water and get some relaxation. Or you can play 10 games of softball in one week. Penn softball is going with the latter route. The Quakers will open their 2017 season with an actionpacked trip down to the Sunshine State. This will be the teamâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s first chance to generate some positive momentum after a disappointing 2016. More importantly, it will be a major measuring stick for the team and a precious opportunity to gauge the makeup of the team before the games start to count in the Ivy League standings. â&#x20AC;&#x153;A lot of what weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re looking for is to try to establish our lineup, what weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re gonna be utilizing when we start Ivy play against Harvard,â&#x20AC;? coach Leslie King said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;So weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll be trying a lot of combinations, different batting lineups, different defensive combinations

to try and figure out what works best for the teams so we can put out the best nine or 10 players we can against Harvard.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;We use Florida to see where weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re at and see where our potential is going as a team,â&#x20AC;? senior captain Sydney Kranzmann added. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I think itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a really good opportunity to assess what we have and what we need to work on, and get excited for Ivy League play, because, obviously, thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s our main focus.â&#x20AC;? The Quakers will open on Friday with games against St. Bonaventure and Ball State. They will play Syracuse and Fort Wayne on Saturday and Towson on Sunday before getting the day off on Monday. On Tuesday they will face SIU Edwardsville and Central Michigan, then face off against Boston College and South Florida on Wednesday before finishing the trip with a game against Central Connecticut on Thursday. Most of those teams, unlike the Quakers, have several games under their belts, but King isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t too focused on that: â&#x20AC;&#x153;I mean, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the same every year. Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re used to it. Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll go

ANANYA CHANDRA | PHOTO MANAGER

Senior captain Sydney Kranzmann heads into the season with high hopes for her team. The San Antonio, Texas native started 15 games at shortstop in her junior season, receiving the teamâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Alumnae Award in the progress.

down there and itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll be our first game and usually the teams down there will be like 12, 15, 16, 18 games into their season. It is what is, weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re used to it, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not a big

deal anymore.â&#x20AC;? If the Red and Blue have a bit of rust going into the trip, they sure wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t by the time they get back to Philly.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;I think itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a great way just to really get a lot of reps in, and itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s great for team bonding,â&#x20AC;? King said of the packed slate. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I mean, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not easy on the body,

especially for the older players. But, I think itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s great to get a ton of reps in, especially because we havenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t played really competitively since last April, so this is a great way to get started.â&#x20AC;? And rust isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t the only thing the Quakers will be shaking off. Teams up north also suffer from cabin fever. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Being in the Bubble [Pennâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s indoor complex] in February, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a tough month, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s really a grind,â&#x20AC;? Kranzmann said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re all really looking forward to being outside and having some beautiful weather, and, hopefully, doing a really good job of bringing everything that we can.â&#x20AC;? But donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t worry that the team wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t get to have any fun over their Spring Break. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Usually as a team, we break up into different hotel room groups and we do skits,â&#x20AC;? Kranzmann said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We make fun of ourselves... Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s like five different skits, and we usually do in front of the parents and the rest of the team. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a great energy booster.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;We do a couple other things,â&#x20AC;? King added, â&#x20AC;&#x153;but I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t want to give the game away.â&#x20AC;? Let the games begin.

Warmer climates await for Quakers as teams ready for spring trips

TENNIS | Women head to Florida, men to Louisiana ANDREW ZHENG Associate Sports Editor

Time to turn up the heat. Over spring break, Penn menâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s and womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s tennis will have their hands full as they make their annual road trips in search of competition and warmer climates. This year, the menâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s team (7-5) will take its talents to Louisiana for a span of three days from March 8-10. Just a week after Mardi Gras festivities, the Quakers make the trip south where they will play a slate of four teams over the course of three days. Their trip will be bookended by home matches against Denver on March 5 â&#x20AC;&#x201D; where they will be looking for revenge after last yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s lost â&#x20AC;&#x201D; and then a meeting with William and Mary on the Sunday following their return. First up for the Red and Blue in Louisiana comes against UL-Lafayette on Wednesday, after which they will make the drive to New Orleans to face Loyola, New Orleans and No. 20 Tulane.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;You want to play a couple Few would turn down Spring since October. The training matches where youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re favored Break trips to these southern will serve well for upcoming to win, and you want to play a destinations, but the amount Ivy competition which is often couple more where youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re not of tennis the Quakers willNew be York split between and out- Sales Corporation The Times indoor Syndication favored to win,â&#x20AC;? menâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s coach playing certainly provides a door play. 620 Eighth Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10018 David Geatz said. strong test for both the talentFor Information â&#x20AC;&#x153;I expect to see even1-800-972-3550 more Call: The women (2-5) will find and endurance of the two Penn For mental toughness becauseMarch there 3, 2017 Release Friday, themselves in a similarly en- teams. will be more elements with the joyable environment when they â&#x20AC;&#x153;I think everybodyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ex- outdoor aspect,â&#x20AC;? Kunovac said. land in Florida on March 6, cited,â&#x20AC;? senior Marshall Sharp â&#x20AC;&#x153;I do expect them to build off but not after hosting Drexel in said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve always got to the confidence from the last a local rivalry on March 4, the be careful because itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s going few matches.â&#x20AC;? Saturday prior. to be real humid and real hot. Wins are clearly the objecOver the course of an entire Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve got to make sure weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re tive for Penn tennis over this week in the Sunshine State, the in shape.â&#x20AC;? stretch of play, but 3 32 Nix 49 one Likeweek marriage ACROSS 1 2 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Red and Blue will come face to â&#x20AC;&#x153;I want the guys to play,â&#x20AC;? the real tests will come when supported 1 Feature of the 33 Sound the how they by Loving face with four opponents, three Union Geatz said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I thinkofthatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s return tov.campus. 15 16 European Northwest Virginia of which are from Florida and you get better. Good players â&#x20AC;&#x153;Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re looking to have a 12 Half a ten-spot 17 18 Endgood of the Kingsenior the fourth being Boston Uni- play.â&#x20AC;? 34 With 20-Across, 52 few wins,â&#x20AC;? Luba 15 Slipped relocate James Bible? versity. The chance to play so many Vazhenina said for the womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 19 20 21 22 16 Loafer Fixer-upper, On Monday, Penn will face- matches35inMany the open will come 53 team. â&#x20AC;&#x153;[But] our main focus for a large alternative, for often break is to get our team deskfor or both sofa teams spring 23 24 ALEX FISHER | SENIOR PHOTOGRAPHER off with BU in Miami, shortwhere as a shakeup 54 up Unlikely towe need to be for According to menâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s coach David Geatz, the only way to improve is to play. the team will stay until it faces but especially the women who to where 36 Ingredients in 17 â&#x20AC;&#x153;Definitely not 25 26 27 change Ivies.â&#x20AC;? It seems safe to say that28 both Penn teams will see a good amount of that. No. 40 FIU on Wednesday. outdoor action upcoming the national that!â&#x20AC;? Re- have not seen 55 Course that drink of Puerto maining action takes place 29 30 31 18 Part of ain press offers mixed Rico, to Puerto Tampa against USFkit on Saturresults? Ricans 32 33 34 day and then Florida State on Abbr. 19 Flat, e.g.: 9 bedroom, bathroom house 37 An6 elephant Sunday. 20 See 34-Across 35 36 37 DOWN seal will fight â&#x20AC;&#x153;Success is to get to rotate as 21 Grave robbers $7200/month. for Available one June 1st. 1 Bradley with many players into the lineup,â&#x20AC;? 38 39 40 location! 40th and Pine. LandKunoin which Great many medals 38 Vassal womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s coach 23 Sanela political parties1 Block from UPenn campus and 41 42 2 One getting close 40 to Bridge Cinema and Fresh vac said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The second goal is to are banned Part-human framed Grocer. 1 block from Vet school. come back with the gods 24 wins. She created a Refinished 43 44 45 46 47 hardwood floors. 3 Brand with the â&#x20AC;&#x153;I canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t put a number on it monster 41 â&#x20AC;&#x153;Be my guest!â&#x20AC;? Laundry in basement. flavor French 48 49 50 51 because the teams 25 weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re First playname in All utilities included Silk 42 Moors ing are really good and trickyâ&#x20AC;Ś hot dogs except electric and cable. 4 It gets tons of 52 53 but we do expect 28 more Goes wins from 43 Melodious traffic than losses.â&#x20AC;? stem to stern, Contact us at 215-817-5094 OR 54 55 5 Where many 44 Romance CanavanApartments.com maybe? Loyalists novelist Tami 29 Off resettled after PUZZLE BY JOHN GUZZETTA 45 TV band the American 30 Fix, as some Revolution neckwear 24 The 4-Down 44 For the goose, 33 Red stuffing? 48 Part of some has millions of not the 6 Real name of punt returns 31 Bambino 34 Sights at a them gander? 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Take a break Start Spring with us.

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8 SPORTS

THURSDAY, MARCH 2, 2017

THE DAILY PENNSYLVANIAN | THEDP.COM

Red and Blue seek revenge in Ivy tournament rematch W. LAX | Penn will play

three games over break

BREVIN FLEISCHER Associate Sports Editor

For many, Spring Break is a time to relax and recuperate after a strenuous string of midterms and essays. For others, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a time to cut loose and unwind, partying with friends on a beach. For Penn womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s lacrosse, Spring Break doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t necessarily live up to its name. Instead of lying on a couch or dancing at a concert, the Quakers (3-0) will forgo their break and enter a tough stretch of three games in eight days. The first of those contests will be against rivals Cornell to open Ivy League play. The Big Red (1-1) are ranked 16th in the nation by the Cascade Womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Media

Poll and will be eager to prove their mettle against No. 13 Penn when they travel to Franklin Field on March 4. The last time these teams met, Cornell defeated Penn to win the Ivy League Tournament, so the Quakers should have no shortage of fuel for this early season test. The matchup will pit two of the top scorers in the conference, Cornellâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Amie Dickson and Pennâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Alex Condon, against each other in what could be a high-octane matchup. But if Penn goalie Britt Brown has anything to say about it, Dickson and company wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be scoring easily, as Brown was stopping shots at a 68 percent clip prior to Wednesdayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 11-9 win over Rutgers. Immediately following the Cornell game, the Red and Blue must brace themselves for a quick turnaround, as they are set

ALEX FISHER | SENIOR PHOTOGRAPHER

Leading up to Wednesdayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s game against Rutgers, senior goalkeeper Britt Brown had posted a 68 percent save percentage protecting the Red and Blue net. The New York native has been Pennâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s top goalie choice this season.

to battle Lehigh (1-1) on March 7. The game, which will be held at Penn Park, could prove

to be another tightly contested matchup. Last season, Lehigh boasted a 13-5 record en route to

a third-place finish in the Patriot League. The Mountain Hawks will look to continue their strong

play and to take take down Penn in hopes of earning a national ranking. To close the â&#x20AC;&#x153;break,â&#x20AC;? Penn will remain in Philadelphia and play host to Georgetown on March 11. The Hoyas (1-3) have struggled thus far this year, but the quality of their schedule has been impressive. Theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve lost to No. 1 Maryland and No. 17 Towson, and theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll travel to No. 18 John Hopkins before battling Penn. Needless to say, the Hoyas will be well-prepared to matchup against a team of Pennâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s caliber. Penn will certainly put that caliber to the test over this break, as these games could go a long way in determining the Quakersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; national standing for the remainder of the year. So, if all goes well, Penn womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s lacrosseâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s version of Spring Break will be just as enjoyable as that of their fellow students.

No. 8 Quakers hope to keep momentum rolling against rivals

M. LAX | Red and Blue

to visit No. 5 Penn State MARC MARGOLIS Sports Reporter

Like a fine wine, Penn menâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s lacrosse is aging very well this season. After starting a primarily underclassman group on offense last season, the maturing team has soared to new heights to start 2017. Although the season is young, No. 8 Penn (2-0) is looking very likely to surpass last seasonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s mediocre benchmark of 8-7. Riding an experienced defense and a young but talented offense, Penn has looked unstoppable with wins against St. Josephâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s and then-No. 6 Virginia. Still, with Spring Break around the corner and three tough matches coming up, it is important the team doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t lose momentum.

Luckily, with no classes, that may be significantly easier. â&#x20AC;&#x153;For a week, we have no school; weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re like professional lacrosse players,â&#x20AC;? senior defenseman Kevin Gayhardt joked. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s always a really important point in our season where we are just learning more about ourselves and start revving up as we hit Ivy League play.â&#x20AC;? However, Ivy League play is not that focus quite yet. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The motto we have is take it play by play,â&#x20AC;? sophomore attack Alex Roesner said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We are going to take it one game at a time. We are just thinking about Penn State next week. We arenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t even thinking about Ivy League play. When that time comes weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll start thinking about it.â&#x20AC;? The win against Virginia is a great gauge for Penn State. Both Virginia and Penn State play a frantic style that seeks to push the

ball on the offensive end whenever possible. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s important that Penn plays smart and waits for open shots. No. 5 Penn State (4-0) has a lot of firepower on offense. Grant Ament, a Pennsylvania high school lacrosse legend, spearheads a Nittany Lion offense averaging over 18 goals per game. It will be a tall task to slow down Ament and freshman sensation Mac Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Keefe. Fortunately for Penn, the boasts an experienced defense. With three senior defenders starting and junior All-American Connor Keating playing long stick midfield (LSM), the Quakers have the personnel to match up with almost any offense in the country. After traveling up to State College, the Quakers welcome Navy (1-3), a scrappy Patriot League powerhouse who has struggled to get off on the right foot this

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NEWYORKTIMESCROSSWORDPUZZLE Edited by Will Shortz Crossword ACROSS 1 To wit 7 Weakness 13 One traveling in a basket 14 Place where people are rushing 15 Lively 16 Deadlock 17 Lively 18 White House pets for Reagan and both Bushes 20 Le Duc ___, decliner of the 1973 Nobel Peace Prize 21 â&#x20AC;&#x153;Huh! No kidding!â&#x20AC;? 22 Black ___ 25 End of some business names 27 Actress Benaderet 29 Prophet who anointed Saul 32 â&#x20AC;&#x153;Spit it out!â&#x20AC;? 35 ___ fries

36 Secretâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s source â&#x20AC;Ś that can be found four times in this puzzle 39 Up 40 Bowled over 41 One whose business has a lot of overhead? 43 Dec. 31 44 It keeps a team together 48 Ice cream purchase 49 â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Name of the Roseâ&#x20AC;? author 51 Reject 52 Greek 57 Percolate 58 Voting requirement in some states 60 â&#x20AC;&#x153;Letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s go someplace privateâ&#x20AC;? 62 Best Picture subject nine inches shorter than the actor who portrayed him

63 Whisky first produced for King George VIâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 1939 visit to Canada 64 Refines, in a way 65 Intensify

DOWN 1 Platoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s â&#x20AC;&#x153;tenth Museâ&#x20AC;? 2 Supervillain in a 2015 â&#x20AC;&#x153;Avengersâ&#x20AC;? sequel 3 Rosemary, for one 4 That guy 5 Ancient symbols of sovereignty 6 Station 7 Forces 8 Common spot for a sunburn 9 Constant 10 Subject of an 1820 compromise 11 â&#x20AC;&#x153;___ alive!â&#x20AC;? 12 Word of support 13 Exceeds 21, in a ANSWER TO PREVIOUS PUZZLE way E D A M J A B F S T O P S 14 Dandy N I L E E M U O N H I R E 19 Aeschylus tragedy D A G N A B I T L A Y L O W S L A T E S T R I P H S N 23 Sports star with a signed jersey in H O R S E H O C K E Y the Vatican C O R O N A O S H E A 24 Foxy H A U L S C A M A N T I C A T M S H A Z B O T E C O 26 Not tip P H O N Y N O I R G R E G 27 Club alternative R I C C I A B A S E S 28 â&#x20AC;&#x153;___ & Duke at the CĂ´te O H B A R N A C L E S Dâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Azurâ&#x20AC;? (1966 S K A M O G U L N B C T V jazz album) P A S S O N J E E Z A L O O 30 1 chain x 1 A P I A R Y U R L G I R L furlong M I T T E N S K I S P I T 31 Obfuscate

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PUZZLE BY HAL MOORE

33 Rock follower? 34 Fortune 500 company founded in 1995 36 Name of a family with a combined 7,228 hits 37 One may be exploited 38 Suffix with real

53 Bibliography 39 â&#x20AC;&#x153;The ___ of the abbr. moral universe is long, but it bends 54 Shabby toward justiceâ&#x20AC;?: M.L.K. 55 Cool people 42 All that is left? 56 Ice cream purchase 45 Feature of many a minion in â&#x20AC;&#x153;Despicable Meâ&#x20AC;? 57 Ice cream ___ 46 Actor Culkin of â&#x20AC;&#x153;Igby Goes Downâ&#x20AC;? 47 Boot 50 Give up

58 Scoreboard figure: Abbr. 59 Start to hesitate? 61 Afternoon hour in Italy

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PRANAY VEMULAMADA | ASSOCIATE PHOTO EDITOR

Sophomore attack Alex Roesner started all fifteen games in his freshman season and recorded the teamâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s third most goals with 18.

season. Despite struggling on offense, Navy boasts outstanding net minder Ryan Kern, who has already earned Patriot League Goalie of the Week honors. Lastly, the Red and Blue will travel up to Ann Arbor to face Michigan (4-1). Although the Wolverines have posted a strong start to the season, Michigan has yet to face a real test. In a game Penn should win, Michigan might

provide a nice tune-up before Penn embarks on its Ivy League quest. Though the Red and Blue go in with a lot to be happy about, staying content with early season success is dangerous. Spring Break is a time for the Quakers to reflect on the positives and negatives from their two games. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The biggest thing that we probably need to work on over Spring Break is eliminating

unforced turnovers,â&#x20AC;? Roesner said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I think we can still get better at transitioning the ball and getting in and out of our sets. But overall I think we did a good job, and if we continue to move the ball like we did [against Virginia], I think we are going to be in a good place for the future.â&#x20AC;? Fortunately, Spring Break is the perfect opportunity for the Quakers to iron out such issues. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It is nice because they do not have the burden of having to go to class and do all the extra work,â&#x20AC;? coach Mike Murphy said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s nice for them, but the most important thing is that we stay focused, try and get better and win games.â&#x20AC;? One area the Quakers hope to improve in during spring break is at the face-off X. Junior Chris Santangelo is 18-41 with face-offs this season. Even with two goals against Virginia, the junior and his wings need to step up. It will be tough to contend in the Ivy League with face-off that subpar. â&#x20AC;&#x153;If we can gain confidence and build on the good things, and get better at the things we didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t do well â&#x20AC;&#x201C; face-off, wings, clearing and riding â&#x20AC;&#x201C; weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll be productive,â&#x20AC;? Murphy said. These past two wins are indicative of a team ready to contend for an Ivy League Championship. In order to avoid last seasonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s frustrating third-place finish, Penn must continue to build and get better as the beginning of Ancient Eight play approaches.

W. HOOPS

>> BACKPAGE

This weekend represents the start of a potentially grueling stretch for the Red and Blue. If they win their first game in the Ivy Tournament next Saturday, Penn will have to play five games in the span of nine days. This also includes their longest road trip of the season. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Coach said at the beginning of practice that heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s helping us physically, heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s doing the best he can. So mentally, we all just need to do what we can outside of practice,â&#x20AC;? Nwokedi said. On top of that, with Harvard being the presumptive No. 3 and Princeton coming into town for the regular season finale on Tuesday, the Quakers have a chance to see the same team twice in less than a week. Despite this, the team is not fazed by these challenges, and in fact has already adjusted to the tough schedule. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We were off Sunday, we were very light on Monday, we did individual workouts on Tuesday, and today we shortened what we did,â&#x20AC;? coach Mike McLaughlin said. What we did was very impactful, very short. At this point in the year

WRESTLING >> BACKPAGE

â&#x20AC;&#x153;There are pros and cons [to the familiarity],â&#x20AC;? Martino said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We can scout them. They can scout us. They know what we do. We know what they do. I wouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t say that itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a bad thing as opposed to going up against someone that Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve never wrestled

GRIFF FITZSIMMONS | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Junior forward Michelle Nwokedi is heat up at just the right time for the Quakers, with double-doubles in four straight contests.

we just to be sharp, so Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m not going to keep them out here any longer than I have to.â&#x20AC;? With one final weekend to gear up for the tournament, Penn has a

chance to repeat as regular season Ivy champs. But this year, that wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be enough to close the book on the Quakersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Ancient Eight journey.

before.â&#x20AC;? Hopefully for Penn, that familiarity will breed success, as the Quakers have high expectations for this weekend. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We have two or three guys that have a shot to win the conference,â&#x20AC;? coach Alex Tirapelle said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I think at 165 [Martino], the competitive field is fairly even, so we have a shot there. I think

we have a shot at 157 [Bethea]. I think weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve shown that. Then, Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d say we have a shot at 197 [Mattiace].â&#x20AC;? For Tirapelle, those potential wins would be doubly sweet â&#x20AC;&#x201D; his wrestlers would fulfill their dreams of going to the NCAA Championships, and his squad would have a chance to win the coveted EIWA title.

THEDP.COM | THE DAILY PENNSYLVANIAN

SPORTS 9

THURSDAY, MARCH 2, 2017

Penn baseball kicks off season with Florida trip Quakers to play nine games against four teams TYLER SHEVIN Sports Reporter

Many Penn students will be basking in the Florida sun this Spring Break, and the Quakers on the diamond will be no exception. Penn baseball kicks off its spring season with nine games against four teams in Jacksonville and Port St. Lucie, from March 5 to March 12. The Red and Blue face North Florida, Valparaiso, St. Bonaventure and Fairfield over the week. “The nice thing about playing so many games is that we will be able to get guys opportunities at bats. And there should be enough innings to go around,” coach John Yurkow said.

The Quakers have been training all year and are eager to get the season officially started. They have benefited from some warm Philly winter weather lately. “I think this is a little bit different compared to where we’ve been the last few years. One of the things that’s been different just two weeks leading up is the break that we caught with the weather here in the Northeast,” said Yurkow, whose Quakers went 2-6 during last season’s trip to Florida. “It has put us ahead of where we typically are, just being able to get outside and scrimmage outside for eight to ten days. So I‘m hoping that that helps us get up to game speed a little quicker than we have in the past.” Penn has a long road of nonconference games ahead before its first Ivy League competition

on April 1 against Dartmouth at home. Last season, the Quakers finished 19-22 (10-10 Ivy), three games behind Princeton for the Lou Gehrig Division title — the team’s third consecutive secondplace finish. As such, the Red and Blue are determined not to suffer the same agonizing fate yet again. “We are more experienced, and I see a pretty big jump in guys from the sophomores this year, as far as just like their approach to the game in general,” the fourth-year head coach said. “It’s a lot more mature, a lot more advanced as far as their approach to the plate, which should help us cut down on our strikeouts, which was a point of emphasis coming into the season.” Penn will rely on the leadership of its two senior captains, catcher Tim Graul and pitcher

Mike Reitcheck. As the first unanimous Ivy League Player of the Year since 2009, Graul led the Ivy League in hits, doubles, home runs and RBIs last year. Reitcheck, a two-time All-Ivy selection, finished ninth in Ivy League ERA last season at 3.96. “They are both good kids, both very mature. We are fortunate that we have Timmy for the pitchers and Mike for the positions players,” Yurkow said. “I think the other thing is that we have five senior pitchers this year too. They know how to get things done. They know how to prepare. It’s been kind of fun watching the young guys latch on to the older guys’ ways of doing things.” If the team’s stacked senior class and its rising young talent can mesh as well as anticipated, the Quakers just might be ready to finally break that elusive title drought.

NICK BUCHTA | SENIOR SPORTS EDITOR-EMERITUS

Senior captain Tim Graul will look to build on his incredible 2016 campaign, as he was unanimously named Ivy Player of the Year.

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A SUNNY START

ON THE ROAD

Penn baseball will start their season over Spring Break with a trip to Florida

Penn men’s lacrosse will have a busy break, including a trip to Penn State

>> SEE PAGE 9

>> SEE PAGE 8

THURSDAY, MARCH 2, 2017

WIN AND ADVANCE

Quakers seek second straight Ivy title

W. HOOPS | Penn can clinch regular

season title with two wins this weekend JONATHAN POLLACK Sports Editor FRIDAY

Dartmouth (7-18, 2-10 Ivy) 7 p.m.

Hanover, N.H.

SATURDAY

Harvard (20-5, 8-4 Ivy) 6 p.m.

Cambridge, Mass.

FRIDAY

Dartmouth (6-19, 3-9 Ivy) 7 p.m.

The Palestra

SATURDAY

Harvard (18-7, 10-2 Ivy) 7 p.m.

The Palestra

ILANA WURMAN | SENIOR PHOTOGRAPHER

M. HOOPS | Postseason hopes

hang on weekend results JACOB SYNDER Associate Sports Editor

Above: Freshman Guard Ryan Betley

The stage is set. After a dreadful 0-6 start to conference play, if you had suggested that Penn men’s basketball was Ivy League Tournament-bound, you would have gotten responses ranging anywhere from disbelieving laughter to cautious optimism. Just a few weeks later, here we are. With one final weekend of games remaining, the Quakers (12-13, 5-7 Ivy) have the opportunity to complete one of the most remarkable season turnarounds ever witnessed in Ivy League athletics.

The teams standing in the Red and Blue’s way? Dartmouth and Harvard — two teams that Penn lost to earlier this year but will be hungry to avenge. For the sake of transparency, it is worth mentioning that Penn does not control its destiny. However, barring surprising results elsewhere, two wins this weekend would secure the desired fourth-place finish and Ivy tournament bid. The first test for the Quakers will be Friday’s matchup against Dartmouth (6-19, 3-9) at the Palestra. It was a surprise to many when the Red and Blue failed to win against the Big Green during a road trip earlier this season. The game swayed back and forth, but SEE M. HOOPS PAGE 5

Last weekend might have been “Championship Weekend” for the Ivy League, but Penn women’s basketball will make their case to extended it another week. With the Ivy League Tournament looming in just a week, the Quakers are set to take their final Ivy road trip of the season. Penn (17-7, 10-1 Ivy) will travel to Dartmouth to take on the Big Green (7-18, 2-10) on Friday, then to Cambridge, Mass. to take on Harvard (20-5, 8-4) the next day. After clinching a spot in the tournament last weekend, the Red and Blue have set their focus on capturing the regular season Ivy title and top seed. Penn currently holds a two-game lead over Princeton with three left to play. They can secure a share of the title as early as Friday with a win, and can take it with pair of wins or a win and a loss from the Tigers. These games at the end of the regular season used to be some of the most important of the season, with the final Penn-Princeton game oftentimes deciding the conference championship. Now, with three of the four teams already having locked in their position for the tournament, they’re just precursors to the main event. In their opponents this weekend, Penn will find two very different teams. Dartmouth is dead-last in the standings and are the only Ivy team with a negative plus/minus ratio, whereas Harvard is in the upper echelon with both Penn and Princeton. Nevertheless, the Quakers readily dispatched both teams the first time they played back in the beginning of February, topping Harvard by 20 and Dartmouth by 30. One of the biggest trends for the Quakers in recent weeks has been the dominant performance of junior forward Michelle Nwokedi. The Missouri City, Texas, native has been on an absolute tear in the past two weekends, recording four straight double-doubles. “It’s crunch time,” Nwokedi said. “Last year it would have been different, considering the fact that we didn’t have the tournament last year, but this year it’s each game at a time, and each game is as important as the next.” Nwokedi’s stat line in those four games is astounding: she is averaging 18.3 points on 44% shooting along with 11 rebounds. She has also led the Quakers in scoring in each of those four games, and her hot streak could not be coming at a better point in the year. SEE W. HOOPS PAGE 8

Red and Blue to grapple for conference championship WRESTLING | Penn heads

to Bucknell for EIWAs

BREVIN FLEISCHER Associate Sports Editor

In a sport defined by pushing one’s mental and physical abilities to the brink, this weekend presents the greatest test in fortitude that Penn wrestling has faced all year. For this weekend, Penn will travel to Bucknell to compete in the Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association Championships, a two-day event that will determine which Red and Blue wrestlers will resume their seasons March 16 in St. Louis at the NCAA Championships. In order to to solidify a spot in St. Louis, the Penn wrestlers will have to place at or near the top of their respective weight classes. Each weight class has been allocated a certain number of spots that would guarantee NCAA qualification. This allocation process stems from the collective performance

of the conference in relation to the other conferences in the sport. Fortunately for the Red and Blue, they compete in one of the best conferences in America, and accordingly, the EIWA has been granted 43 spots spread across 10 weight classes. These 43 spots will make the EIWA the secondmost represented conference in the country at the NCAAs. However, the strength of the EIWA is a double-edged sword for Penn wrestling. Sure, more opportunities to make the field have been granted, but they’ve only been granted because the quality of the field is so apparent. For this reason, Penn must put its best foot forward. “Regardless of how many slots you receive, you need to wrestle hard and just not make any mistakes,” senior captain Brooks Martino said. “It’s grind time, and everyone out there is vying for a spot.” Headlined by junior captain Joe Oliva in the 149 pound bracket, junior captain May Bethea at 157 pounds, Martino at 165 pounds, 2016 All-American

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and senior Casey Kent at 174 pounds, junior Joe Heyob at 184 pounds and senior Frank Mattiace at 197 pounds, the Quakers have the talent to qualify across several weight divisions. Still, no matter how great the talent, it must be augmented by a specific, detailed practice schedule. “This past weekend we did simulation matches where we came in on Saturday and Sunday,” Martino said. “We did morning and evening sessions just to simulate getting up, wrestling, taking a break in the middle of the day, and then coming back being ready to wrestle again.” Although the tournament’s schedule might be different from most of those in which Penn has competed this year, the opposition won’t be new at all. The fact that this is a conference tournament naturally means that the Quakers should be quite familiar with the competing wrestlers, having faced most of them already this year. SEE WRESTLING PAGE 8

GUYRANDY JEAN-GILLES | SENIOR PHOTOGRAPHER

As one of the top seeds in his weight class, senior captain Brooks Martino is one of several Quakers who could make progress towards NCAA qualification this weekend at the EIWA Championships.

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