THE INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA | WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2014
Admins solicit feedback on new sexual assault investigation office
Special teams: Setting a ‘Golden’ standard for Penn football
ZAHRA HUSAIN Staff Writer
Over the past two weeks, administrators have been meeting with student groups to discuss upcoming changes to University sexual assault policy, including the establishment of a new office to investigate reported sexual assaults. Groups aimed at preventing sexual violence, such as One In Four and Abuse and Sexual Assault Prevention, as well as other groups, including the Interfraternity Council, the University Honor Council and UMOJA, were invited to meet to learn about the new policy and share their feedback. In addition to the new investigative office, Penn will hire a full-time coordinator for Title IX — the federal law mandating that colleges address sexual assault — and restructure disciplinary hearing panels for sexual assault so only professors are involved. Previously, the Office of Student Conduct has handled cases of reported sexual assault. Administrators hope to implement the changes by next semester. “It’s definitely a step in the right direction, but there are some lingering questions, such as how they will have a fully fledged training program by next semester for faculty and staff members,” said College junior Braden
Known as the ‘Gold Squad,’ these players form close-knit unit STEVEN TYDINGS Senior Sports Editor
Going to a Penn football practice, everything has a structure. Each player knows where
he is supposed to be, when he is supposed to be there and which coach will be working with him. Even the jerseys indicate the players’ place in the process: the offense dresses in white, the defense in blue, all while the quarterbacks wear red jerseys that represent that they are not to be hit during practice.
But amid all the order and structure that dictates the daily routine of the 100-plus Penn football players, there is one group that stands out from all the rest. One group that walks to its own beat. And that is the ‘Gold Squad.’ Penn’s special teams unit, consisting of six specialists that focus on kicking, punt-
SEE SEXUAL ASSAULT PAGE 8
TINA CHOU Staff Writer
The fall season means many hours devoted to reviewing applications for the Office of Admissions at the Perelman School of Medicine. Last year, the school received over 5,700 applica-
tions and interviewed 898 candidates, but accepted just 239 — a 4.1 percent acceptance rate. Admissions staff have been organizing interviews since August, and the interviews will continue into January. Unlike some schools that do not require an interview, Penn Med only considers applicants that it interviews. Applicants spend a day on campus composed of two interviews — one with
faculty, one with students — as well as the opportunity to attend lunch, sit in a class and participate in clinical simulations, Director of Admissions and Financial Aid Gaye Sheffler said. Brian Chang, a 2014 College and Wharton graduate, is now a first-year student at the Medical School, after applying to 15 schools. He said the interview process was long and required him to leave class during the day,
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but he would “absolutely” go through the application process again. “I love medical school now. I think that the privilege of being a doctor is very unique, because you hold a very valuable and unique position in patient care. It’s worth the time and energy,” Chang said. Chang’s positive outlook could be attributed to his passion for medicine. His father, who is a doctor, pro-
vided Chang his first exposure to a career in medicine. He also worked as a patient care technician and an EMT before coming to Penn. While an undergraduate, Chang said that he was able to develop “a more scientific understanding of medicine” to support his clinical exposure. He became involved in genetic research on aging, as well as research on the AfSEE INTERVIEWS PAGE 2
NOVEMBER 15
AUGUST 1
Deadline for Early Decision Program applicants to submit AMCAS application
2014
SEE GOLD SQUAD PAGE 15
ILANA WURMAN/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
For aspiring doctors, it’s interview season The Medical School had a 4.1 percent acceptance rate last year
ing and long snapping, refer to themselves as the ‘Gold Squad’ thanks to the gold jerseys that make them distinct from the rest of the team. But it isn’t just a different jersey or position that sets these players apart. The six players — senior
Deadline for all required materials
OCTOBER 1
Early Decision admission decision notification deadline
APRIL 30
Deadline for all accepted students to make their one school decision and submit advanced tuition deposit
U. to celebrate South Bank innovation at Friday forum Penn invested $35 million in building its Pennovation Center, restoring South Bank JESSICA WASHINGTON Staff Writer
Innovation: Penn sees it as essential to its future, and for the past few years has been developing a way to institutionalize this type of progress. For Penn, the culmination of that development is the University’s new South Bank campus and its Pennovation Center, an incubator for University-related businesses. On Friday, Penn will host a Silfen SEE PENNOVATION PAGE 7
Applications are reviewed by the Committee on Admissions for interview decision JUN
JUL
AUG
SEP
OCT
NOV
DEC
Verified AMCAS applications are received at Perelman
JAN
2015
AUGUST 15
MAY
MAR
APR
INSIDE NEWS
MARCH
Deadline for receipt of all Early Decision Program materials
American Medical College Application Service (AMCAS) application is available
FEB
Admissions decisions are released
CRIME LOG Read about what crimes occurred last week in the Penn Patrol Zone
OCTOBER 15
PAGE 8
Deadline for submitting AMCAS application
OPINION EMILY CHENG/DESIGN ASSISTANT
SOURCE: PENN MED
IN THE HOT SEAT Why the University’s Climate Action Plan 2.0 falls short
Students suggest improvements for Wharton curriculum Student leaders praise core classes ahead of curriculum review COREY STERN Staff Writer
As Wharton is poised to begin a review of its undergraduate curriculum, student leaders have differing
opinions on what can be improved, though there seems to be a consensus on the value of business fundamentals and other required courses. Matthew DeGagne, a Wharton senior who is the co-president of Wharton Ambassadors, praised the core curriculum, which includes introductory management, accounting, statistics,
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finance, marketing and operations and information management. “The core is a really fundamental preparation for classes later on and for professional development. It allows for a lot of flexibility, which is something that I’ve definitely appreciated throughout my time here,” DeGagne said, noting that he
did not speak on behalf of all Wharton Ambassadors. Though he likes the flexibility allowed when navigating the core, DeGagne isn’t sure that all students are aware of the alternate pathways to fulfill requirements. He would like to see increased promotion of these opportunities — such as a qualitative path, a quantita-
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tive path or a custom one of students’ own choosing. DeGagne also suggested adding a technology or entrepreneurship requirement to the curriculum, as well as expanding opportunities for business breadth courses and better integrating research into Wharton courses. SEE CURRICULUM PAGE 7
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SPORTS EVERYONE’S ALL-AMERICAN Coming off a strong NCAA finish, senior Lorenzo Thomas has a lot to prove BACK PAGE
NEW MAN IN CHARGE Penn wrestling has a new head coach: Alex Tirapelle BACK PAGE
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