March 2005

March 24, 2005
Did You Know...that U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan, a Nobel Peace Prize recipient, will receive an honorary law degree from Penn and deliver the University’s Commencement Address on May 16th? Other honorary degree recipients are expected to be announced next week.

For more information see:
http://www.upenn.edu/pennnews/article.php?id=772

March 18, 2005
Did You Know ... that the University Board of Trustees Budget and Finance Committee approved a $100 million project to convert the surface parking lot located on thenorthwest corner of 34th and Chestnut streets into new mixed-use buildings? This project will consist of seven-to eight-story luxury apartment buildings that will house 295 units, and approximately 26,000 square feet of ground-level retail and commercial space.

For more information, please click here.

March 25
Showtime CEO and 1972 Wharton alumnus Matthew Blank speaks with moviegoers about Reefer Madness. [more]

March 18
Spruce College House was officially renamed Riepe College House yesterday after an evening dedication ceremony that honored the gift of University alumnus James Riepe and his family. [more]

March 16
Wharton alumnus and clothing executive Rick Helfenbein discussed the economics of international trade yesterday... His stories of 35 years in the apparel industry ranged from accidental imprisonment in a Guatemalan jail to his friendship with basketball player Wilt Chamberlain... Helfenbein's rise began in 1979 with the success of the Le Tigre brand, which he created. Le Tigre gained overnight popularity after Helfenbein, spying President Reagan wearing a French Lacoste shirt on television, sent a box of Le Tigre shirts to the White House with a note encouraging the president to "wear shirts made by Americans." [more]