July 3, 2014

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THE INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF THE UNIVERSIT Y OF PENNSYLVANIA

online at thedp.com

THURSDAY, JULY 3, 2014

Water main break closes Chestnut Street The street was closed off from 36th to 38th Streets BY KRISTEN GRABARZ News Editor A strip of Chestnut Street was closed between 38th Street and 36th Street for part of Monday and Tuesday due to a water break beneath the road. At approximately 5:30 p.m. on Monday afternoon, Penn Police and the Philadelphia Police Department responded to a water main break near 37th and Chestnut

Streets, according to the Division of Public Safety. The Philadelphia Water Department also responded to the incident. The water break caused buckling in the asphalt, resulting in a series of bumps and cracks in middle of the road and rendering it unfit for driving. Police blocked off the closed section of the road while repairs were made, directing cars along a detour route along 38th street to Walnut or Market Streets. Another severe water break occurred in South Philadelphia on June 20.

Kristen Grabarz/News Editor

Police cars and caution tape blocked off the 36th to 38th Blocks of Chestnut Street on Monday evening while repairs were made to the road.

Law grad tackles cases of ‘trust and betrayal’ Antonio Ponvert represents plaintiffs in injury and wrongful death cases BY ZAHRA HUSAIN Staff Writer One Penn Law graduate wants to help the victims pursue their bullies. Antonio Ponvert III — a 1990 Penn Law graduate — is making huge strides in the courtroom. Though he started out as a civil rights lawyer, Ponvert shifted his focus to complex and high value injury and wrongful death cases about 10 years ago. In this position, Ponvert only represents plaintiffs, individuals who have been hurt in some way, so he does not represent any corporations or governmental bodies.

Ponvert said a common theme among his cases is “representing people who have been victimized in some way by someone who was in a position of power over them.” To date, his most high profile case is that of Cara Munn. At 14, she traveled with her boarding school to China, where the group entered a forested area as part of an excursion. In the forest, a tick bit Munn, who contracted encephalitis and permanently lost her ability to speak. After suing the school for negligence, Ponvert won his client $41.75 million. Ponvert said that the case’s national impact made it special. “[The verdict] had a really positive effect all over the nation because it caused organizations to be SEE PONVERT PAGE 2

Pottruck Director of Rec. allegedly stole equipment Amy Wagner has been charged with 24 offenses, including theft and forgery BY ARIEL SMITH Staff Writer The former Director of Recreation at Pottruck Health and Fitness Center on the 3700 block of Walnut Street has been charged with 24 counts of theft and forgery, among other offenses. Amy Wagner was arrested on May 7, 2014 by a member of the Philadelphia Police Department, according to the Penn Division of Public Safety. An official criminal docket released by the Municipal Court of Philadelphia County was filed on May 8. According to the criminal docket, Wagner’s charges include four counts each of theft by unlawful taking, theft by deception, receiving stolen property, theft by failure to make required disposition of funds, forgery and tampering with records. A University staff member who wishes to remain anonymous sent a tip that claimed Wagner had been arrested for stealing equipment from the gym and selling it on eBay, “among other things.” The staff member also said that

Spruce St. Wawa robbed on Sunday

Alvin Loke/File Photo

Former Director of Recreation Amy Wagner allegedly stole equipment from the gym, including treadmills and ellyptical machines. upon her arrest, Wagner was handcuffed in Pottruck and taken out in the middle of the day by police. Wagner was allegedly stealing treadmills and elliptical machines, saying they were sent off for maintenance, and then actually selling the equipment on eBay, the source said, noting that it is unclear “how she was actually shipping the items.” The University employee was told that Wagner was selling the equipment on eBay by a staff member who

works at Pottruck, the latter of whom also claimed that the thefts had been going on for three years. The tipper alleged that Wagner was “even going into people’s lockers and taking money.” An administrative officer at Pottruck could not reveal substantial information about Wagner because her thefts were “not public information” at the time of inquiry. SEE POTTRUCK PAGE 2

Penn Glee Club takes its talent overseas

The suspect presented a note demanding cash BY JENNIFER WRIGHT Staff Writer Philadelphia Police are investigating an armed robbery that occurred Sunday morning at the Wawa on the corner of 38th and Spruce Streets. T he s u s p e c t e nt e r e d t he Wawa around 4:45 a.m. with a note demanding cash, Penn’s Div ision of P ublic Safety reports. DPS reports that the suspect did not use a weapon and no injuries were reported. The suspect is described as being a black male in his mid 20s to mid 30s wearing a black shirt and blue jeans.

HIGH TEMPS IN HIGH PLACES Courtesy of Jackson Foster

The Penn Glee Club went dune bashing in Qatar, climbed Mount Kilimanjaro and sang their way across three countries as part of their 55th annual Spring Tour.

The club split their adventure between performances and exciting excursions BY ZAHRA HUSAIN Staff Writer

Luke Chen/Senior Photographer

A construction worker helped build girders for the new office building on 39th and Chestnut Streets despite the hot weather. The structure replaced Philly Diner and will house several offices for Penn’s administration.

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The Penn Glee Club may have lost their voices during their two-week international tour in late May — but not solely from singing. While abroad, the group embarked on a plethora of shout-worthy adventures. They even kept a daily record of their world travels on an online blog, appropriately titled, “A Whole New World.” “The great thing about the Glee Club is the opportunity to go to places you’ve never dreamed of going to,” Publicity Manager and College junior Daniel Carsello said. “I had never even been out of the country before this tour, and to go on a trip to these places was

unimaginable.” Their tour took them from Qatar — a Middle Eastern country — to Tanzania, before ending the trip in Dubai. At each destination, the Glee Club members gave performances for up to of 200 people per venue. But the most unique parts of the trip took place off the stage. In Qatar, the club spent time at Qatar Academy, where they listened to the Academy’s Choir before taking the stage themselves and performing a boy-band medley and “I Can See Clearly,” among other songs. In addition to visiting renowned museums, exploring local markets and sampling regional cuisine, the club members embraced some extreme sports. In Qatar, they went ‘dune bashing,’ an activity in which the group piled into SUVs — with experienced drivers, SEE GLEE CLUB PAGE 3

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