Your Comments
What 125th Attendees Have to Say
(To share your thoughts on the celebration, e-mail Bonnie Eisner.)

"I have been back to Penn eight times since graduation in 1955. At the Celebration I did not expect to see many old colleagues, or build a great career reference network. Since retirement three years ago I have audited three PennAdvance courses and I expected to see the professors and the teaching assistants of those courses and perhaps some of my classmates who were still on campus. I have formed an online bond with them. I also expected to meet some of those women who have followed me at Penn and who now are breaking the glass ceiling which I battled my entire professional life. My pride in their accomplishments is similar to mother's pride, even though I know I cannot claim any of the glory. The broad scope and depth of accomplishments of these women thrills me. I am also proud of those of us who came from an appreciable distance because we value our Penn education.
I expected and found that though many more opportunities are open to women now than in 1951 (Wharton, the Engineering Schools, and graduate programs now freely admit women) the attitude of the Penn male undergraduate has not changed much. A young male on the steps of Houston Hall commented, "What's all the hoopla about? We (men) have been here for over 250 years." I found more open communication between teachers and students. I was fortunate to be able to attend an online PennAdvance class and later to go with the professor, a House Master, to a 10 PM Open House for residents of his House. I was impressed with his homemade cookies hot from the oven, informal conversations of campus activities, and active involvement with the current problems of individual students. I was impressed with the ease and informality of the occasion and the students' acceptance of me and my guest. I was thrilled with my acceptance by my PennAdvance professors and teaching assistants and thoroughly enjoyed our informal meetings for coffee, conversation, or a meal, and the insight they gave me into education now at Penn. I'm duly impressed.
The planned events of the Celebration were beautifully staged. If at times the logistics involved in traffic flow may have been a little helter-skelter, I believe the number of participants was considerably greater than expected. Directions and guides to each event were clear and in evidence. Many of my generation probably don't understand the significance of "The Vagina Monologues." I didn't, but I am glad that there is enough freedom of expression in the University for its presentation. The seminars were informative and diversified. I was pleased with the diversity of women I met at the formal meals. I'm proud of the caliber of the Penn faculty, staff, and student body.
But what did I take home with me? Memories of the people I've met some with names-Dennis, Jason, Jean Daniel, Jackie, Erron, Tan Fai-and others without names. I was especially impressed by a couple I met while resting on the 36th Street walk between Locust and Walnut. They were sitting close together just watching the passing parade. They weren't quite holding hands just their hands on their laps, but very close together. They said little, just sat there. I ask if I could take their picture, she nodded with a little smile, and ask if I had gone to Penn. Proudly I said I graduated from CW in 1955. Then she began their story: She was a foreign graduate student in 1938 in Sanskrit and some other obscure languages but was forced to return to Florence, Italy when Mussolini came into power. Then he chimed in. They did not meet in 1938 though he was a graduate student studying German then. When World War II began the US Army needed German cryptographers and he was recruited and sent to Italy in a code-breaking unit. The unit was stationed near Florence. Friends in the US arranged for a blind date that very soon became an engagement. The war separated them, but after the war they returned to Florence and married. Then they returned to the University to finish their graduate degrees. They were just returned from Florence where they repeated their wedding vows in the same civil office exactly as they had in 1946. They are retired after 50 years teaching at various universities and prep schools and came back to Penn for the Celebration.
They too appreciate the stability the ivied walls of the University give to those of us who love her. There are some things that never will change and some that though they change remain constant. To see that phenomena repeated over and over I will continue to return to the campus again and again."
-- Jean McLennan, CW'55

"To the women I met at the 125th Anniversary of Women at Penn program: In deep appreciation of all that we have given to each other and hope to share together in the future, I send you this greeting. I hope the conference has had a lasting impact for you, as it has for me. For me, the event had many markings. First, it marked an opportunity to take stock of the University, and what its education has meant in my life. Second, the celebration was truly that: a chance to step away from work and family and simply celebrate our successes, for celebration's sake. Third, the event marked the real connection we made with each other. For me, the event was the chance to connect with other women 'just like me'—women who began life with the great advantage of a first class education, and went on to experience the full measure of the struggles and triumphs of life as a professional woman in today's world. Among us, we have experienced it all: careers begun, ended, redefined; marriages made (and sometimes broken); children born and raised in the great juggling act that defines so many of us. We've written books, opened businesses, founded law practices, parented our own parents; we've had triumphs and breakdowns,we've rebuilt our lives again and again. And along the way, we are each defining our own life's mission, what we stand for, fight for, and believe in. Finally, it also needs to be said that the meaning of the 125th Anniversary event was deepened for all of us by the events of September 11th. The 125th Anniversary event gave us the opportunity to see and appreciate all this in ourselves and in each other. It was a strengthening and defining moment for me. I remain inspired by Judith Rodin, inspired by so many of the panelists, and inspired and energized by my connection with you. I am looking forward to staying in touch in the months ahead."
-- Marianne E. Brown, L'86

"...just wanted to say thank you for including me in the 125th Celebration of Women at Penn. It truly was one of the greatest weekends for me at Penn, and I really appreciated all that you did to include me."
-- Dana Hork, C'02, Undergraduate Assembly Chair

"Thank you so much for allowing me to be part of the 125th Celebration. I had so much fun, and truly enjoyed re-connecting with Penn. I owe a lot to my Penn experience, and was so happy that I could give a little something back."
-- Mandee Heller, C'94

"...I also want to mention that I have never been surrounded by such a joyful, happy group of women as at the Penn Celebration. I concluded that all the 'doers' turned out ready to celebrate their life and the part Penn played in their lives to make them productive and joyful people. I was pleased to be among the celebrants..."
-- Nancy Peters Ryan, CW'81