Gregory College House
House Guide 2012-2013
TABLE OF CONTENTS
FROM FACULTY MASTER HEATHER LOVE
1
FROM HOUSE DEAN CHRIS DONOVAN
2
WEBSITE GUIDE
3
REGULAR WEEKLY EVENTS
4
TRADITIONAL EVENTS
5
RESIDENTIAL PROGRAMS
6
ACADEMIC PROGRAMMING
7
GREGORY GREETS
7
THE HOUSE OFFICE
8
GREGORY PERKS
8
GREGORY PLACES
9
HOUSE RULES
10
SENIOR STAFF
11
GRADUATE ASSOCIATES
13
RESIDENTIAL ADVISORS
16
HOUSE MANAGERS
18
HOUSE COUNCIL
21
ITA
21
MOVE-IN
22
FAQ
23
WELCOME FROM FACULTY
MASTER HEATHER LOVE
Greetings Incoming and Returning Gregory Residents!
Welcome to a new academic year at Gregory College House. As you will soon find out for yourselves, Gregory is one
of the best places to live at Penn. The House is known for its welcoming atmosphere, lively social activities and
academic programs, experienced and friendly staff, and fantastic residents.
Gregory consistently has one of the highest rates of student satisfaction in the Housing System and one of the
highest return rates for students. I moved into Gregory as a Faculty Fellow in 2003, when I first arrived at Penn as
an assistant professor. I got a very warm welcome from our former House Master Robert Lucid and from House
Dean Chris Donovan, and from all the Gregory staff and students. Whether you are just arriving or are returning, Dr.
Donovan and I along with the rest of the House faculty and staff want to make sure that you feel just as welcome as
I did.
I want to mention a few of the things that I think make Gregory special. We have long hosted Penn’s residential
language programs, which are some of the most successful academic programs at the University. We are also
thrilled about the Film Culture Program, which has recently partnered with Cinema Studies to offer a fun and
rigorous course of study (which is also open to all residents). The House sponsors a number of social activities from
weekly brunches to Bring Your Own Mug night to karaoke.
I hope to get to know many of you personally this year. You will see me at films, study breaks, and Dinners with
Gregory (when we invite in Penn faculty for informal dinners and conversation). I will also host events in the Faculty
Master residence (108 Van Pelt), which I share with my partner Mara Mills and our two children, Emaline and Juliet
Kelso. Dr. Mills teaches media studies, disability studies, and the history of communications technology at NYU and
is back and forth to New York. Ema is going to be a senior at the Lawrenceville School in New Jersey. Juliet will be a
junior at Friends Select School downtown. We also live with our Boston Terrier, Lily, whom you will no doubt meet
before too long.
Please feel free to drop by the Faculty Master residence (108 Van Pelt) to say hi anytime. I am looking forward to a
great year with you all.
Heather Love
Faculty Master
WELCOME FROM HOUSE DEAN
CHRIS DONOVAN
If you’re reading this, I’m going to go out on limb and assume you are new to the House—for the most part, our
returners have had quite enough of me by this point, thank you very much. That fact speaks to Gregory’s appeal,
though; you’re going to meet the people running the show… and I don’t just mean our wonderful Faculty, but also
the undergraduate and graduate students who really make this place hum. To that end, perhaps the best place to
start perusing this guidebook is to look over the staff profiles; those people are among your new neighbors, and
soon you’ll be hearing from them often. (As an exercise, take a look at your email inbox. Imagine an extra
thousand emails. A week. On the plus side, many will have the phrase “Free Food” couched somewhere inside,
often at the very end).
Of course, those undergrads playing such a key part in the life of the House—RAs knocking on your door,
Managers serving up hot chocolate, planning elaborate film series, inviting faculty guests to dinner, occasionally
dressing like superheroes—were once new here too. And that’s the point of the place, and of Penn’s College
House system in general: you are encouraged to become a contributor to your new home from the moment you get
here. You may not be able to post emails to the House—though you can post to the House forum on our
website—but you will have ample opportunity to discuss your ideas and enthusiasms with us; whether in our
apartments, at study breaks, or rafting over rapids. I’m sure some of you were eager to be in Gregory—whether
for the film and languages programs, the private bedrooms or the small community—and some of you had never
heard of us, or heard only that no one has heard of us. The reason so many residents choose to remain here,
regardless of which category they were in originally and despite the drabness of our brick-like buildings, is because
they read those emails, came to those events, joined our programs, hung out in the piano lounge, accepted invites
to visit our faculty, and shared what they wanted to see and do in the House. I’ve lived pretty much everywhere
you can live at Penn—my time here, in one capacity or another, dates back to sometime around Plymouth Rock—
and I can say for sure that one’s enjoyment of their House hinges on their active involvement in it. At Gregory, that
works better than almost anywhere, thanks entirely to the astounding students we have had over the years. I can
tell you some stories. But not in this forum.
So read on and find out about your home. And get here soon, the halls are too quiet!
See you in late August,
Chris Donovan
House Dean
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Under Services &
Operations: Check
out what is available
in the DVD Library
Participate in the Forum by
making a Dashboard
Announcement
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Programs: Learn more
about Modern Languages
and Film Culture programs
WEBSITE GUIDE
After you login,
update your profile
at My Account
REGULAR EVENTS
Gregory Week webpage: http://gregory.house.upenn.edu/Gregory_Week
{ BRING YOUR OWN MUG } BYOM (say it, don’t spell it) is a Gregory institution. Every Tuesday at 10:30 PM in the Van
Pelt 3rd floor kitchen, your BYOM manager serves up hot chocolate, cider, and some other goodies (including ice cream during
heat waves). Don’t have your own mug to bring? You can also purchase this year’s bargain-priced edition of the official
Gregory mug. BYOM is a snazzy way to meet and mingle with other Gregorians throughout the House and from all four years
(not to mention staff). Same time, same place, every week. BYOM is not just an acronym; it’s also a rule of thumb. Gregory is
a green-friendly place. Remember to bring your own mug, plates, and utensils to any/all Gregory events!
{ STUDY BREAKS } Since the dawn of time, Gregory has hosted study breaks Wednesday at 10:30 PM in the Van Pelt Piano
Lounge. The crowds are large, the tone is informal, and the food, well, sinful (we do try to have a few healthy alternatives
here and there). Our advice? Don’t sit around waiting for the email reminder; you know where and when to go, so be ready to
beat out the hungry masses for the best grub. And once you’ve stocked up, have a seat and chat awhile; it’s a STUDY
BREAK, after all. Sometimes there are bonuses: trivia questions, surprise performances, and more. Breaks are run by
Gregorians in single and doubles – on the House’s dime, of course. Students can be as creative as they wish, or just try to get
the most bang for the buck. You can sign up for a particular date at the beginning of the semester.
{ BRUNCHES } The lazy weekend equivalent of the Study Break, Brunches take place on Sundays in the Class of 1925
Greenhouse. Check your email because the time varies a bit, from late morning to early afternoon. Don’t worry about being
bleary-eyed or wearing your shirt inside out; borderline catonia is par for the course. In addition to standbys like bagels,
cereal, donuts, coffee, etc, brunches usually feature pancakes, waffles, and other goodies cooked up by Gregory residents.
Traditionally, quad rooms are assigned to a brunch or two during the course of the year; you can volunteer for a particular
date early in the semester. We’ll give you the cash, you bring the elbow grease (well, no literally) and ideas!
{ DINNER WITH GREGORY } DWG is another informal House even flush with free food, but this one is has a rewarding
twist – a visiting Penn faculty member or prominent administrator, joining us for dinnertime conversation in the Class of
1925 Greenhouse. You can learn about any number of academic fields, political, cultural, or social issues, state-of-the-art
technology, or exotic undertakings, all over hoagies, Chinese, Indian, or other generous dinner portions from local
restaurants. Have an idea for an ideal guest? Contact the DwG Managers with ideas. DWG takes place approximately twice a
month; don’t miss this opportunity to get to know one of Penn’s renowned professors outside of the classroom.
{ I <3 TV } Don’t want to be cooped up in your room watching the boob tube (or your computer screen) by yourself? Get
together with your housemates to catch marathons of your favorite shows – current or vintage – in the Van Pelt Film Lounge,
often with home-cooked meals.
{ WEEKEND MOVIE MARATHONS } Watch out for impromptu Movie marathons (James Bond? Indiana Jones? Harry Potter?
LOTR? Disney?), often on Friday or Saturday nights, and sometimes … ALL NIGHT.
{ GREGORY GOURMAND } Tired of eating at the same old campus haunts? Want to break out of the Penn confines and
explore Philadelphia? The Gregory Gourmand ventures out into this great city to sample its wide array of delectable cuisine.
They aren’t afraid to try anything or any place, so be prepared to be adventurous. Check out our webpage:
http://gregory.house.upenn.edu/gregory_gourmand
TRADITIONAL EVENTS
Gregory Year webpage: http://gregory.house.upenn.edu/Gregory_Year
{ HOUSE BARBEQUES }
Every year begins and ends with a grand barbecue on the
Beach, complete with volleyball, music and a throng of
hungry Gregorians.
{ OSCAR PARTY }
Every year the House puts on an Oscar bash, with fancy
desserts, plenty of adoration/heckling, and our annual
pick-the-winners contest (with DVDs and other prizes).
{ KARAOKE }
Several times a year, Gregorians try out their pipes
during karaoke nights; the House has its own elaborate
karaoke system. The first follows our New Student
Orientation (NSO) barbecue, and is one of the can’t-miss
events of the year; how better to get to know your
housemates than to see them center stage?
{ COLLEGE HOUSES STUDENT FILM FESTIVAL }
Penn’s aspiring filmmakers view their work on the big
screen at neighborhood theatre and compete for
impressive prizes and future festival bookings as the
Film Festival closes out the Spring Semester. Started at
Gregory and now run in collaboration with other college
houses, the Student Film Festival provides plenty of
incentive for future Scorseses to hone their craft.
{ BONFIRES }
For the closet pyromaniac or residents who simply love to
gather around the bonfire for some good conversation,
some study-break fun, or yummy s’mores – this one’s for
you.
{ OPEN MIC NIGHT }
Are you a painfully shy poet? Flamboyant performance
artist? Melodically challenged singer? Or just want to
show off your [not so] secret talents? Then Open Mic
Night is for you!
{ PROGRESSIVE DINNER }
Sometime in Fall semester, each floor in Van Pelt offers
up one course of a grand dinner for the House. If you’re
a Van Peltian, please be sure to help out your GAs and
RAs; they’re all great people, but not all of them can
cook!!!
{ THANKSGIVING }
In town for Thanksgiving break? No worries. The House
offers up its own grand feast in the Greenhouse, full of
good cheer and good food.
{ LUCID DINNER }
Named for Robert Lucid, the first Faculty Master of
Gregory, the Lucid Dinner is a performing arts showcase
for our residents and one of the fancier meals of the year.
Contact our Events Managers to sign up for a slot in the
lineup.
{ INTERNATIONAL DINNER }
Every spring, the Modern Languages Program puts on an
elaborate dinner, with dishes from all across the globe,
including a few not covered by our language houses. The
dinner is one of the highlights of the semester, usually
drawing a huge crowd… and often a fire alarm or two,
as fledgling cooks learn the ropes (it’s worth it).
{ SHAKESPEARE ON “THE BEACH” }
What better way to celebrate the end of classes than by
performing epic scenes from one of the greatest
playwrights of all time? This fun-filled event is for
thespians and amateurs alike.
{ FINALS STUDY BREAKS }
Each semester ends with breaks almost every night
during reading days and finals, to get you through that
rough patch of cramming. Some consist of mounds and
mounds of pizza; others have fancy themes. At one
break at the close of second semester, we hand out the
JOANNE LUCID AWARD, bestowed upon a senior who
contributed greatly to House community over their time
in Gregory, as well as awards for our freshmen,
sophomores and juniors of the Year.
RESIDENTIAL PROGRAMS
Gregory's residential programs aren't just for show; they're a way of life. Each week the Modern Languages Program (MLP)
and Film Culture Program (FCP) churn out the activities-- 20 or so, at conservative estimate. And you're invited; whether you
originally applied to the program or not, and whichever building you're in, you're very welcome to attend, either religiously
or once in a blue moon. The programs can play a substantial part in your academic and cultural development-- and they can
also fill your belly and provide a solid night's entertainment. See bios of our graduate Program Directors, Managers, and the
rest of the Gregory staff later in this guide.
{ The Modern Languages Program }
Worried about the oral exams in your language classes? Interested in studying abroad? International and homesick? MLP
has 5 language houses--Casa Hispanica, Chinese House (or 中文园地), Deutsches Haus, Arabic House and Maison
Francaise... Each offers weekly dinners (between one to four times a week, usually at the Dining hall or nearby eateries), as
well as a “coffee hour” one night a week to shoot the breeze with your fellow residents in a foreign tongue. There are also
biweekly or weekly film series, as well as occasional trips to operas and orchestras, movie theatres, campus lectures,
restaurants, museum exhibits and other Philadelphia resources relevant to their language and cultures. Schedules will be
announced early in the semester and posted on the Gregory website.
All the languages houses, with the exception of Chinese, have a credit option. Interested students looking to fully immerse
themselves in the language can sign up for a half-credit a semester; the grade is based on attendance and participation.
You'll get more details on the credit option at the introductory language house meetings, which usually take place the first
week of classes (don't worry about registering for MLP credit before then). Whether you're skilled in a language or just
starting out, MLP is a useful and engaging way to develop or maintain fluency.
Webpage: http://gregory.house.upenn.edu/modern_language_program
{ The Film Culture Program }
The Film Culture Program is devoted to movie-lovers of all sorts; accordingly, the program hosts several semesterly film
series (usually three or four screenings a week), from all sorts of genres, time periods, and national origins. Many screenings
are followed by discussions moderated by the Program Director, Dean or other staff. Venture out into the city on a regular
basis to see new releases--and film festival entries-- and discuss their merits (or lack thereof) over snacks, coffee, or ice
cream. Like MLP, the FCP has an academic credit option; students can receive a grade for participating in discussions, giving a
short presentation and submitting an end-of-semester written response. And if you're a filmMAKER as well as a film
aficionado, make your own masterpieces and enter them into Penn's student film festival, started right here in Gregory and
now a major campus wide event.
All of Gregory's residential programs are supervised by graduate students, assisted by undergraduate managers, and
supported by Penn faculty and administrators.
Webpage: http://gregory.house.upenn.edu/film_culture
ACADEMIC PROGRAMMING
Gregory features a number of academic-themed events throughout the year, and the House Office can help guide you through
Penn’s many academic-support services. These are just some of the academic resources in the House:
House Dean
Chris is an academic advisor in the College of Arts and Sciences and a Lecturer in English and Cinema Studies. You can make
an appointment to meet with him or just pop in when you find him in the office—which is often. With some advanced notice,
he is happy to give feedback on papers and written assignments.
Language Practice
We discussed MLP events on the previous page; check the individual language house homepages for schedules. There’s no
better way to improve your language skills than through practice—and no better way to practice than while having fun over
dinner. If you’re taking Chinese, French, German, Arabic or Spanish classes, you should definitely think about joining these
conversations!
Graduate School Information
Throughout the year, our GAs will give talks about their experiences preparing for, applying to, and succeeding in graduate
school. So whether you are interested in a career in classics or medical school, get some firsthand knowledge!
GREGORY GREETS
One of the House’s best attributes is its small size; if you don’t get to know any of the staff, you must be trying hard to avoid
us! That said, we want to make even easier to get to know our faculty, graduate students, and other resident celebrities. To
that end, all Gregorians new to Penn (and thus freshmen, exchange students and transfer students) will receive an invite
early in the semester for a little get-together in the apartment of one of our senior staff (Master, Dean or Fellows). These
informal welcome sessions are with just a few other new students, select staff, and some of our veteran House Council
members. Gregory Greets are an ideal opportunity to make some very useful contacts among your neighbors, so please be
sure to come—or if you can’t make it, let us know and we’ll find a spot for you on one of the other dates.
HOUSE OFFICE
You can often find the House Dean and the House Coordinator in 127 Van Pelt Manor; the Dean’s office hours are posted on
the website and throughout the buildings. You can stop by for questions about academic resources (or advising appointments)
or about the House, of course. You can also pick up show tickets, rent DVDs, send faxes, or make a small number of copies.
Or you can just pop in and say hello.
GREGORY PERKS
THE DVD LIBRARY
The House Office (127 Van Pelt) has a huge library of movies
for our residents to borrow, free of charge, including
blockbusters, classics, international cinema and TV series
boxed sets. The complete list, often updated, can be found
on the website.
THE GUEST SUITE
Residents can reserve the Guest Suite on the second floor of
Van Pelt for family members for $25/night. The airconditioned suite has a living room, kitchen area and two
bedrooms, one with a queen bed and one with two twins. The
suite is run by the House’s Hospitality Manager and bookings
are made from the website. Make reservations via our
webpage http://gregory.house.upenn.edu/guest_suite
RENTAL RULES
Residents are allowed to borrow 2 DVDs at a time and are
expected to return them within 2 weeks. Should students
keep the movies for more than 2 weeks, the House
Coordinator will send out massive amounts of emails
reminding them that other residents would probably like to
watch the movie as well. Before borrowing your first DVD, all
residents will also have to sign a CONTRACT acknowledging
the RULES & BILLING STIPULATIONS for unreturned DVDs.
GUEST SUITE RULES
Guests may only be family members and immediate
relatives of Gregory residents (note: Fraternity “brothers”
or sorority “sisters” are NOT family!!!) Maximum stay is 7
days. Check-in is at 3 PM; Check-out is at noon. Room
payments must be received 2 days after last evening of
stay. Residents are responsible for leaving the room tidy
and clean, including: cleaning sheets and towels; making
beds and putting towels neatly where they belong; cleaning,
drying, and putting away kitchen utensils; and removing all
trash. The key must be returned promptly to the Gregory
House front desk at check-out.
KITCHEN SUPPLIES
VIDEO GAME CONSOLES
Looking to cook that special meal? Or just heat up something
while studying? Then visit the House Office for cooking
supplies. We have pots and pans, cups and utensils, and
various other kitchen related items. Just remember to sign
them in and out and keep them clean for your fellow
residents.
Gregory has its own X-Box 360 and Nintendo Wii consoles
and games, available at the information center in Van Pelt.
Note that the 360 and Wii are ONLY for use in the VP Piano
Lounge.
GREGORY PLACES
THE BEACH
The grassy area (complete with grassy knoll) between the
two buildings is known as the Beach. No, there’s no sand or
water, but there are plenty of sunbathers when the weather
is hot, and volleyball, beach chairs, Frisbees and other
implements of idle pursuit can be borrowed from the Info
Center.
GREENHOUSE
The Greenhouse in Class of 1925 is the hub of Modern
Languages Program activities and a frequent locale for
House events. This air-conditioned lounge has a full kitchen
and plenty of seating for language coffee hours, brunches,
and Dinner with Gregory, and boasts a custom Isaiah Zagar
mural!
PIANO LOUNGE
The piano lounge on the first floor of Van Pelt Manor is
Gregory’s living room, spacious and air-conditioned, with
comfortable couches, tables, a grand piano, a 62” inch TV,
and student mailboxes. Many of the House’s major events,
from the first welcome of the freshmen to the senior award
presentation at the end of the year take place here: study
breaks, Oscar and Superbowl parties, TV watching groups,
the Lucid Dinner, karaoke. When not reserved for events,
the lounge is open for studying, piano playing, video games
and TV, what have you.
THE DARKROOM CAFÉ
The Darkroom Café is situated in the Class of 1925
basement, right next to the library. Swing by for La
Colombe coffee, Le Bus baked goods, and other treats!
THE KITCHEN
The air-conditioned Kitchen on the third floor of Van Pelt is
used for BYOM and floor events and often used for studying
or just hanging out. Please label anything you leave in the
refrigerator and don’t take anything that isn’t yours!
SEMINAR ROOM
The air-conditioned Seminar Room on the first floor of Van
Pelt Manor, complete with a large table, plenty of chairs and
a blackboard, is one of the best places in the House to study
(and indeed is reserved for quiet studying when not in use
for classes or meetings). There is often free coffee
available!
FILM LOUNGE
The Film Lounge on the 4th Floor of Van Pelt is home to the
Film Culture Program and often used for House Events. The
Lounge has blu-ray projection, a kitchen, comfortable bean
bags and couches, and three smaller lounge and study
rooms.
MLP LOUNGE
The MLP lounge in the Class of 1925 basement features a
projector, multistandard DVD, sound system, and plenty of
comfortable seating. The room is reserved for MLP films,
House events, and classes.
THE BASEMENTS
The VP basement has foosball, air hockey, pool and ping
pong tables (equipment available from the Info Center), as
well as a small music practice room, a big screen TV and
study spaces. The C’25 basement is air-conditioned and
features a pool table, two computer labs, several public and
private study rooms, the House library, a public TV and a
small music practice room.
LIBRARY
The old fashioned kind…. Books. The snug and cozy
Gregory library, in the C’25 basement next to the Darkroom
Cafe, has assorted novels, poems, textbooks, graphic novels,
maps and other sundry publications for browsing or
borrowing. Feel free to donate your old books!
COMPUTER LABS
There are two computer labs in Gregory College House,
located on the first floor of Van Pelt Manor and the
basement of Class of 1925. There is an additional group
workspace with computers in the VP basement. Open 24
hours a day, labs feature laser printing and academic and
multimedia software (including Adobe Acrobat,
Dreamweaver, and Photoshop, Maple, Dr. Java, Microsoft
Office, JNP, and others). The Van Pelt lab also features a
Mac and a scanner. The Class of 1925 lab features two
group study rooms with whiteboards and widescreen
monitors.
HOUSE RULES
LAUNDRY ROOM ETIQUETTE
There are scenic (not really) laundry rooms on the first floor of
each building. Some courtesy is called for: Please allow others
at least 10 minutes to collect their belongings from washers
and dryers before carefully removing their items and placing
them on the table. Please do not use more than two machines
at a time unless you are the only person using the laundry
room. If a washer or dryer does not work, tape a note to it and
notify the info center (and fill out the form if you lost money).
Do not leave your clothes unattended for long. Clothes left on
table will be donated to charity or discarded.
rooms and numerous floors. Think monsoon (and yes, we
speak from experience).
QUIET HOURS
During Quiet Hours, residents and guests should not be playing
loud music or otherwise making noise audible outside
individual bedrooms. Piano use is also prohibited during Quiet
Hours, and the music practice rooms are off limits after 11 pm.
During reading days and finals, these policies are in effect 247. Quiet Hours during the year are:
DUMBWAITER
Gregory does not have elevators (it helps keep off the
freshman 15!), but there are dumbwaiters in each building to
help carry items upstairs.
Guidelines
1. If others are waiting to use the dumbwaiter (such as
during move-in), please do your best to work
quickly (if safely).
2. Remember to close both the inner and outer doors
of the dumbwaiter before sending it to your desired
floor. If the inner door is left open, the dumbwaiter
may get stuck.
3. When finished using the dumbwaiter, be sure to
close both doors so that others can summon it to
their floor.
4. Do not try to ride the dumbwaiter. Seriously. You
will almost certainly get stuck, and the process of
extraction will be very lengthy and very, very
expensive.
5. If the dumbwaiter is not working, report the
situation to the info desk as soon as possible.
Sunday through Thursday: Midnight to 9 AM
Friday and Saturday: 1 AM to 10 AM
ALCOHOL
Yes, Penn is “the social ivy.” But that doesn't mean that we
throw Pennsylvania law out window. Please review Penn’s
alcohol policy at on Penn’s website. Please be aware that
residential staff are entrusted with enforcing the policy—but
they are not out to get you. Our priority is maintaining a safe
community for all our residents, so please behave with
maturity, be respectful of the rights of your housemates, and
be mindful of your own well-being.
SMOKING
Smoking is forbidden in Gregory, as it is in all college houses.
The designated smoking area for the House is the covered
concrete structure with benches near Class of 1925 and St.
Mary’s Church. Class of 1925 smokers must remain on the
other side of Irving Street; Van Peltian smokers outside the far
end of the bicycle rack. Please note there is a $50 fine for
violating this policy.
SPRINKLERS
For increased safety, both buildings are equipped with
sprinklers, visible in every room. While we appreciate the
added security, be careful not to strike or hang anything from
the sprinkler heads; they are fragile and easily broken, and
the amount of water is considerable and impacts numerous
SPRINKLERS
For increased safety, both buildings are equipped with
sprinklers, visible in every room. While we appreciate the
added security, be careful not to strike or hang anything from
the sprinkler heads; they are fragile and easily broken, and
the amount of water is considerable and impacts numerous
rooms and numerous floors. Think monsoon (and yes, we
speak from experience).
QUAD ROOM SWAP
Bedrooms in Gregory quads are of differing sizes, though all
are generous by the standards of Penn Housing. In accordance
with the Residential Occupancy Agreement, at semester break
(by the end of the first week of class, second semester), the
two students in larger rooms switch with the two students in
smaller rooms, who flip a coin to see who gets the end (biggest)
room. Although various arrangements are often made among
residents to avoid moving, the final decision rests entirely
with the “smallees.” Sometimes this process can stir up ill will,
so it is better to talk this through early in the semester if not
before; don’t hesitate to ask your GA for help. See room
diagrams at http://gregory.house.upenn.edu/housing.aspx
SENIOR STAFF
Heather Love, Faculty Master
Heather is Associate Professor in the English Department at Penn, where she has
taught since 2003. She has lived in the College House system for the past six
years as a Faculty Fellow in both Gregory and Ware. Professor Love received her
A.B. from Harvard University in Literature and her Ph.D. from the University of
Virginia in English. Her areas of interest include gender studies and queer theory,
the literature and culture of modernity, affect studies, film and visual culture,
psychoanalysis, race and ethnicity, disability studies, and critical theory. She is
the author of Feeling Backward: Loss and the Politics of Queer History (2007) and
is currently writing a book about the source materials for Erving Goffman's 1963
sociological work, Stigma: On the Management of Spoiled Identity ("The Stigma
Archive"). She lives with her partner, Dr. Mara Mills (Mellon Postdoctoral Fellow in
the History and Sociology of Science and Media Studies at Penn), their two
children, Emaline and Juliet Kelso, and their Boston Terrier, Lily.
Mara holds a Ph.D. in History of Science and a Master's degree in Biology from
Harvard University, as well as a Master's in Education and B.A. degrees in Biology
and Literature from the University of California, Santa Cruz. She is a 2008-2010
Mellon Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Pennsylvania and an Assistant
Professor of English at the University of California, Santa Barbara. Her research
interests include sound studies; disability studies; science and literature; and the
history and politics of telecommunications, biotechnology, and digital media. She
has been an Associate Faculty Fellow at Gregory and Ware for the last four years.
Mara Mills, Associate Master
Christopher Donovan, House Dean
Gregory’s dean since 1999, Dr. Donovan splits time between the house office in
127 Van Pelt and his movie-filled apartment on the fourth floor. A native
Philadelphian, he received a BA in English from Penn in 1992 and a PhD in
Contemporary American Lit from NYU in 1998. He frequently teaches courses in
Film and the Novel, often within the House. His book “Postmodern
Counternarratives: Irony and Audience in the Novels of Paul Auster, Don DeLillo,
Charles Johnson and Tim O'Brien”; was published by Routledge in 2004. In
addition to his academic expertise, Chris is a veteran of many years in Penn's
housing system, and he also worked for a couple of years at Vogue magazine in
Manhattan, though he displays no residual trace of fashion sense. Chris is always
willing to chat (argue) about films, whether the foreign classics and indie gems
shown by MLP and FCP or the most recent CGI-filled summer blockbusters. He's
also willing to take a glance at your papers, and as an academic advisor for the
College of Arts and Sciences, he's a good sounding board about schedule planning,
career goals, etc.
Lance Wahlert, House Fellow
Philippe Met, House Fellow
Winnie Tang, House Coordinator
Lance is Faculty Fellow in the Department of Medical Ethics & Health Policy in the
Perelman School of Medicine at Penn, and Assistant Professor of Medical
Humanities and Assistant Professor of English at Indiana University Purdue
University Indianapolis (IUPUI). He holds a Ph.D. in English from Penn, as well as
graduate degrees in the history of medicine and literary studies from the Johns
Hopkins University and the Imperial College of Medicine (London). Lance also
serves as Director of the international Project on Bioethics, Sexuality, and Gender
Identity, which has demarcated a subfield within bioethics that focuses on the
intersection of LGBTQ healthcare and medical ethics
(http://www.queerbioethics.org/). His scholarly interests include queer theory,
history of medicine, bioethics, cinema studies, poetics, and digital media. As a
Ph.D. student at Penn, Lance was a Graduate Fellow at Gregory College House for
four years, helping to establish its accredited Film Culture Program. So, he is
thrilled to be back at Gregory (his Penn home) as a Faculty Fellow!
Philippe is Editor-in-Chief of French Forum, a member of the editorial or advisory
board of several journals, and the author of over 60 refereed articles and book
chapters on a wide range of topics pertaining to literature (including graphic
novels) and film. His single-authored books include: Formules de la poésie. Études
sur Ponge, Leiris, Char et Du Bouchet (PUF, 1999) and La Lettre tue. Spectre(s) de
l’écrit fantastique (P. U. du Septentrion, 2009). He contributed to the prestigious
Pléiade edition of Francis Ponge's Collected Works, and edited André du Bouchet
et ses Autres (Ed. Les Lettres Modernes, 2003) as well as a volume of Nu(e) on
French poet Yves Charnet (2009). With Jean-Michel Rabaté, he co-edited a special
issue of L’Esprit créateur on Mallarmé (2000), and with Jean-Louis Leutrat and
Suzanne Lindrat-Guigues he worked on the critical edition of Frédéric de
Towarnicki’s script for a never-completed film by Alain Resnais, Les Aventures de
Harry Dickson (Capricci, 2007). He is currently completing a book manuscript on
the esthetic and phenomenology of poetic notebooks (Fausses Notes, to be
published by Rodopi), and researching two new projects: one on the figure of the
child and representations of childhood in horror films; the other on ghost cinema
(a study of uncompleted and inherently uncompletable film projects). He is
regularly invited to lecture at various academic or research institutions in the US,
Europe, Australia and Asia.
Winnie has a B.A. in East Asian Studies (Chinese/History/Philosophy) from Bryn
Mawr College and an M.S.Ed. in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages
(TESOL) from Penn GSE. After grad school, she moved to Hong Kong as a Fulbright
English Teaching Assistant. In the last few years, Winnie has taught English to
university students in Hong Kong and traveled all over the western hemisphere
(Australia, Asia, and South East Asia). She returned to Philly (& Penn) in 2012, with
her fondness for Oxford Commas and foodie adventures satiated. When not at
work, Winnie enjoys baking, blogging, and TV-watching (Community, Parks & Rec,
Downton Abbey, Mad Men, Portlandia, and Law & Order: SVU re-runs, to name a
few). She looks forward to meeting the new staff/students and helping everyone
with all things Gregory related!
GRADUATE ASSOCIATES
Daira Nocera, VP 1st Floor GA
Ekin Pinar, Film Culture Program &
VP 2nd Floor GA
Daira was born and raised in Tuscany were she developed an early interest in
archaeology. After completing her BA in Classics at the University of Pisa, Daira
moved to Sydney, Australia, to teach Italian and enjoy the beaches (not the
sharks!). After three years she went back to Italy and decided that archaeology
was still her most compelling interest and completed a graduated program in
Classical Archaeology at the University of Genova. She then lived for six years in
Rome digging in some major archaeological areas and teaching Roman History to
American undergraduates in a study abroad program. The experience with the
students and with American archaeological projects led her to enroll at UPenn
where she is a PhD student in Art and Archaeology of the Mediterranean World
with a focus on architecture. Apart from ancient Rome, Daira has a passion for
modern jazz dance, movies, cooking, American TV series, and intercultural sense
of humor.
Ekin is from Ankara, Turkey and has been living in the States for the past five
years. While holding a bachelor degree in architecture, she decided to attend
graduate school because of her enthusiasm to teach. At the moment, she is a PhD
student at the History of Art department with a focus on modern and
contemporary art, film and gender studies. From the early childhood onwards she
has grown an immense interest in a wide range of art forms and gained some
hands-on experience by publishing her poetry and essays in several magazines
and fanzines, singing in a hardcore punk band, painting, and organizing film
screenings. Nowadays, she fills the little free time she can find with live shows,
films, yoga, and books.
Andrew Stokes is a PhD student in Demography and Sociology at Penn and
originally from Gettysburg, PA. He received his undergraduate degree from Bates
College, in Lewiston, ME and was subsequently a post-bachelor fellow at the
Harvard Initiative for Global Health, in Cambridge, MA and later at the Institute
for Health Metrics and Evaluation, in Seattle, WA. In his fourth year of the PhD, he
is studying the effects of risk factors, such as smoking and obesity, on trends in
population health and is also interested in the social factors underlying these
trends. In his spare time, he enjoys reading, music, gardening at the Schuylkill
River Park Community Garden, camping on the beach and exploring new rail-totrail paths throughout the region.
Andrew Stokes, VP 4th Floor GA
Skylar, originally from Washington State, received her BA in Foreign
Language/International Affairs at the University of Puget Sound. She speaks
German and has spent two years living in Germany making wonderful friends and
going on many international adventures. While attending Puget Sound, Skylar
discovered the field of student development in higher education and is excited to
be pursuing an MS.Ed at Penn. Skylar is passionate about the intersection of
multiple identities and challenging unjust systems. She also loves skiing, playing
softball and volleyball, traveling, card games, expanding her growing cooking
repertoire, and curling up with a book and a hot cup of tea. In the last year,
Skylar has enjoyed getting a taste of hot, buttery southern culture with her
fiancée in Atlanta, GA and looks forward to experiencing the northeast while at
Penn.
Skylar Bihl, VP 3rd Floor GA
Katie Holmquist likes to think of herself as German, having grown up in a small
town near Frankfurt, Germany. After moving to the U.S. she has made sure to hang
on to her language skills; she pursued dual interests in German and Design at the
University of California, Davis, attaining both a Bachelor of Science in Landscape
Architecture and Bachelor of Art in German Literature & Language in 2005. After
working in San Francisco as a landscape designer for several years, she has
returned to school for a masters degree in city planning at U Penn. She has been
enjoying living on the east coast for the first time, taking advantage of the Philly
and New York museums, great architecture and music.
Katie Holmquist, Deutsches Haus &
C’25 3rd Floor GA
Sarah Blitzer, Casa Hispanica &
C’25 4th Floor GA
Sarah, a native of northern New Jersey, is a first year architecture student at Penn
Design. She left New Jersey for the College of William & Mary where she earned a
B.A. in Art History and Hispanic Studies. As an undergraduate, Sarah studied in
Madrid where she developed a love of churros with chocolate and exploring cities on
her own. After graduating from William & Mary, Sarah lived in Washington, DC
where she worked as a paralegal and later at the Inter-American Development
Bank. She also worked as a docent at the Smithsonian's National Portrait Gallery
(Have you been? The new roof that encloses the courtyard weighs 900 tons and does
not rely on the pre-existing building for support). In her spare time, Sarah likes to
bake, go on runs, take pictures or just relax with a cup of tea. She's also prone to
eating honey straight from the jar.
Alex S., Maison Francaise &
C’25 2nd Floor GA
Chunchun Tang, Chinese House &
C’25 1st Floor GA
Born in Switzerland, raised in France in a Persian family, and having lived in the
melting pot of Dubai, Alex enjoys travelling and likes to think of himself as a world
citizen. Before enrolling at Wharton to pursue an MBA, Alex has had varied
professional experiences ranging from the non-profit sector with the United Nations
in Geneva, to the investment banking world with BNP Paribas Arbitrage in Paris.
Most recently, Alex was working as a strategy consultant with Bain & Co in the
Middle East. He would be happy to share insights and tips with students considering
careers in these fields or regions. Alex loves to play basketball and table tennis and
is eager to take part in games. In addition to (obviously) French and English, he is
fluent in Persian and speaks conversational German.
A native of Shenyang, China, Chunchun Tang is an IEDP (International Educational
Development Program) candidate looking forward to being an educator in her home
country. Having studied and worked in Michigan for the past five years, she enjoys
the independent lifestyle while constantly missing her family, friends and the FOOD
at home. During her undergraduate years, the English Literature major had a fair
share of "quality time" with Shakespeare. She also loved getting adrenaline highs
when delivering speeches on stage. In addition to work, Chunchun is an absolute
movie junkie; her favorites include Gone with the Wind, Farewell My Concubine,
American Gangster, and Let the Bullets Fly. She also likes to help her friends pick up
a few Chinese words and cultural tips.
Omar Al-Ghazzi is a doctoral student at the University of Pennsylvania's Annenberg
School for Communication. His research focuses on Arab media and how they
influence imaginations of national identities and collective memories. A former
Fulbright scholar, he has completed a Master’s degree in International Relations at
the American University in Washington D.C. and a Bachelor’s degree in
Communication Arts at the Lebanese American University in Beirut, Lebanon. Omar
comes from a journalism and media analysis professional background and has
previously worked for the BBC and Al-Hayat Arabic daily.
Omar Al-Ghazzi, Arabic House &
C’25 2nd Floor GA
RESIDENTIAL ADVISORS
Jennifer Wu, 4th Floor RA
Jen Wu is a senior in the College majoring in Theatre Arts and (trying to major in)
Economics. From (the suburbs of) Boston, Jen (Wu) often finds it difficult to write
good. But she likes lists. For example: Things Jen Wu Likes: Grilled cheese with
tomato soup, Eugène Ionesco, white chocolate, coconut, dumplings, Peter
Sarsgaard, Colin Firth, string instruments, string theory, Parade, Adding Machine: a
Musical, Captain von Trapp (the Christopher Plummer version), Stephen Fry, Dr.
Pepper, Dunkin' Donuts (founded in her hometown of Quincy, MA), chai tea latte,
Henry Higgins, a bowl of rice topped with an egg that still has a gooey yolk bit,
pretending to be fluent in Mandarin and French, and last but not least, Rupert Giles
(and accordingly, Anthony Head). After Penn, Jen plans to either go to law school
or work for the BBC. But not before taking a long trip on board the T.A.R.D.I.S.
Tenaya is a movie-lover with a special fondness for artistic films and anything
featuring a mad painter, a good mystery, or produced by Hayao Miyazaki. Despite
her reclusive artistic tendencies, she is surprisingly friendly. Feel free to talk to
her about anything. She will be leaving Gregory at the end of Fall 2012 semester.
Tenaya Anue, VP 3rd Floor RA, Fa ‘12
Rachel is a senior majoring in Biomedical Engineering and pursuing minors in
Nanotechnology and Engineering Entrepreneurship. She likes puns, dancing, doing
tissue culture lab work, being useful, and making people happy. Ask her about
being a Bioengineer, or being from Massachusetts, or doing research, or anything
else. She will be your RA starting Spring 2013.
Rachel Liu, VP 3rd Floor RA, Sp’ 13
Katsiaryna, also known as Katie, spent half her life in Belarus and the other in
Oklahoma before coming to Philadelphia to major in Your Brains (Biological Basis of
Behavior) and minor in Wilderness Living (Environmental Science). She is fond of
reality, fantasy, and everything in between. (Especially superpowers. Please let
her know if you have any of those.) When not in her 3rd floor room in Class of ’25,
she can be spotted barefoot in the trees, meditating on a tower of chemistry
books, or finding other ways to exist as a cylon. She will gladly accompany anyone
on a mission to create, destroy, explore, or simply eat, at anytime, anywhere. This
offer does not expire and can be redeemed by anyone. Even muggles.
Katie Malykhina., C’25 RA
ROLES
{ The Faculty Master }
is a senior faculty member who builds a vibrant academic community in the
House and serves on the Residential Faculty Council.
{ The House Dean }
is the chief administrative officer, providing advice and support for residents,
supervising staff, and overseeing programming.
{ The House Coordinator }
is the administrative assistant to the House Dean.
{ The Fellows }
are standing faculty members or administrators who strengthen the connection
between the House and the intellectual life of the University.
{ Graduate Associates (GAs) }
are students from Penn’s doctoral and professional programs who sponsor
academic and social programs and provide an immediate resource for their
floors.
{ Residential Advisors (RAs) }
are undergraduates who focus specifically on the freshman community on the
third and fourth floors of Van Pelt
{ House Managers }
are undergraduate residents and student leaders who perform vital functions in
the House.
LOCATION
DAIRA
EKIN
ANDREW
SKYLAR
VP 112
VP 217
VP 317
VP 417
ALEXANDRE
OMAR
CHUNCHUN
KATIE
DIEGO
SARAH
C25 210
C25 207
C25 104
C25 307
C25 407
C25 410
JEN
TENAYA (FALL 2012)
RACHEL (SPRING 2013)
KATIE M.
VP 406
VP 306
VP 306
C25 301
HOUSE MANAGERS
Jennifer Preys
Events Manager
Jennifer, a proud member of the College Class of 2015, originally hails from that sunny land
of the stars, Los Angeles, CA where she cultivated a passion for culture and peaceful living.
An obsessive linguistics major, she enjoys discussing any and all aspects of human
communication patterns, chatting in and about foreign languages, and referring to herself in
the third person. Her official job within Gregory is to plan events for the house and ensure
that dietarily-restricted Gregorians (such as herself) do not starve at said events.
Unofficially, she prides herself on wiping out the competition for best attendance at house
film screenings. Feel free to approach Jennifer with whatever concerns, questions, and/or
suggestions you may have about anything to do with, well, anything.
Sara Ghebremariam is in her 9th semester at Penn (she doesn't like the term "super
senior", it makes her feel old) studying Psychology and Economics. She was born at UPenn
hospital, grew up in West Philly and went to high school on 45th and Chestnut, so in a way
she has been working her way back to Penn ever since birth. Also, she enjoys running more
than God probably intended any human being to and likes the occasional yoga class. As an
event manager in the fall Sara will help pull off some of Gregory staple events and then
what ever else strikes her fancy. She was in fact assigned a dorm room in Gregory VPM but
you are more likely to find her in the computer lab doing anything from studying, eating,
sleeping to occasionally goofing off with the ITAs.
Sara Ghebremariam
Events Manager
Melissa Sosa
Events Manager - BYOM
Michael Kraus
Film Culture Manager
Melissa is a junior in the College studying Biological Basis of Behavior and Cinema Studies.
She is also currently doing research in Autism as a Penn McNair Scholar. As a native Texan,
Melissa is filled with southern hospitality and her hobbies include: watching movies, eating,
sleeping, breathing, sitting at the Info Desk, baking for BYOM, coordinating events, talking
about Big Time Rush and various other silly things. You will find her either at the Van Pelt
Info Desk or the piano lounge. If you see her, say hi, make her your friend. She’s pretty cool
and witty. Charming too.
Michael is hoping to graduate with a major in English and a minor in Film, but who knows
how that's going to work out. He is unhealthily obsessed with movies, so it's a good thing
he's the Film Culture co-manager, otherwise he would sit in the dark and watch movies by
himself. He is also inordinately passionate about television (there's a surprise), religiously
watching everything from Mad Men to Doctor Who (the artificial name-dropping of which he
hopes will gain him some nerdy friends, but will likely only invite mockery and scorn, and
rightfully so). From his position of slight authority, he enthusiastically welcomes any
questions or comments or desires for advice, though if that indeed happens he will most
likely be a) baffled as to what people think he could possibly offer, and b) ultimately
unhelpful. He knows that his staff picture looks ridiculous. He is also very honest.
Jason Merrin
Film Culture Manager
Alex Yuan
Study Break / Office Manager
Rick Krajewski
Brunch Manager
Jason Merrin's hobbies include comic books, making movies, and long walks on the Beach.
In 2011, he installed a ball pit in his room, which he maintains was a very good idea. He
loves helping people and has difficulty saying "no," so be sure to ask him if you can borrow
money when you see him. You'll find him wandering around Van Pelt aimlessly (he won't
admit it, but he's probably gotten lost again). Feel free to ask him anything! But be warned:
if your question is not about Chris Claremont's run on Uncanny X-Men from 1975-1991, or
the subtle ways in which Golden Age Batman influenced the Grant Morrison penned Batman:
RIP, he probably won't be of much use to you.
From the bay area of the golden state, California, Alex never truly knew what cold weather
was like until coming to Penn. Thankfully, in the warm company of Gregory, he thrived
through two winters and will be back for his third year. Alex is currently majoring in Finance
and Operations and his hobbies include tennis, cooking, and any form of games (video, card,
board, you name it). He can be found in the piano lounge, at any of Gregory's events, at the
front desk, and (this year) in the office. If you see him say hi because he might be too shy to
be the first to introduce himself but is always willing to make a new friend or just talk about
anything.
Surmounting all odds and not flunking out despite playing an obsessive amount of video
games ("Is he even a student?"), Rick is a junior from New York City majoring in Electrical
Engineering. When not playing video games (which is never), Rick enjoys riding public
transportation, wandering around Philadelphia, and being approached by strangers due to
his seemingly inviting disposition (otherwise known as "staring blankly into space"). He
also likes photography, music, and movies, and is more than willing to talk about any of
them if it will allow him to procrastinate. Rick is excited to be a Publications Manager
because he can delude himself into thinking that he's still a hip New Yorker (back when it
was cool).
Cognitive Science Major, Economics Minor, Senior-in-Denial, and Procrastinator
Extraordinaire, Naqsh has been a denizen of Gregory since she first arrived at Penn. When
she is not studying, Naqsh spends her time playing hazardous amounts of video games,
listening to Prairie Home Companion, and drinking tea--usually at the same time. Naqsh
hails from Virginia via Sri Lanka, Egypt, and Pakistan, and calls them all home. She can
usually be found in the Piano Lounge, complaining about the mountains of work she has.
Naqsh Haque
Dinner with Gregory Manager
Andrew Dierkes was born and raised in the western suburbs of Philadelphia. As a
sophomore in the School of Nursing, he is one of the few male nursing students on campus.
He enjoys his position as a photographer for the Daily Pennsylvanian and is an active
member of Penn’s Newman Center. He greatly enjoyed his time with Casa Hispanica last
year, and looks forward to exploring the Film Culture program this year. Be sure to attend
Dinner with Gregory, which will be co-managed this year by Andrew.
Andrew Dierkes
Dinner with Gregory Manager
Noreen Sit
Cafe Manager
Mary Xia
Café Manager
A Connecticut native and fourth year resident in Class of 1925, Noreen is pursuing a degree
in Classical Studies with a minor in Linguistics. When not giggling at a Plautine comedy or
attempting epiglottal trills, she spends her time curled up with her yarn and needles,
indulging her tea and chocolate addictions, spending recklessly at thrift stores, observing
her hermit crabs' antics, making bad puns, and struggling to reach the top shelf. Noreen has
lost count of how many times she's seen The Room and is steadily nearing her goal of
memorizing the entire movie script. She is happy to be a part of the Gregory community and
looks forward to working in the Darkroom Café again this year!
If you ask Mary "Where are you from?", she will be all shifty-eyed because she isn't really
sure how to answer. It is therefore much safer to ask her about what food she currently
feels like eating. Mary loves food (especially whole wheat bread, peanut butter, McVitie's
Digestives, Vegemite, cheese, corn products...and the list goes on). When she is not fretting
about biology, she enjoys cooking, blogging, and running around the terrain. Non-food stuff
that make her happy include snow, drawing with oil pastels, internet, The Basil Brush Show,
hamsters, playing ultimate frisbee, reading Harry Potter books, and the idea that
correlation does not imply causation. She dislikes phones and bees.
Glen is a junior from Salt Lake City, Utah. He is a third-year resident in Class of 1925, and is
majoring in Physics and Astronomy (particularly Astronomy), with a minor in Computer
Science. Glen enjoys classical music, science fiction, and going on long excursions around
Philadelphia on bike or foot. He is a confirmed Anglophile, and watches more BBC news and
comedy than doctors recommend. He encourages you to come and visit him in the Darkroom
Café, buy a latté, and tell him your life story.
Glen Brixey
Café Manager
HOUSE COUNCIL
The Gregory House Council is a volunteer undergraduate body made up of residents from both buildings. Freshmen are very
welcome to join. Responsibilities for returning students include serving as House Mentors
(http://gregory.house.upenn.edu/upperclass_mentors) to new Gregorians by participating in welcome meetings with
assigned freshmen, exchange and transfer students early in each semester and in course selection-themed study breaks
during registration periods. Responsibilities for new students include proposing and mounting two larger-scale House
events. Time commitment is minimal: occasional meetings, regular listserv postings, and the execution of a number of
projects throughout the year. Council members represent the House during Penn Previews and other University functions, and
communicate the suggestions and concerns of our residents to the Senior Staff and other campus administrators such as
representatives from Housing and Conference Services, Facilities Services and Public Safety. The Council also appoints a
member to serve on the campus-wide Residential Advisory Board (RAB). To join the Council, contact Chris or Winnie or wait
for the introductory meeting in September.
ITAs
When you arrive at Gregory, an Information Technology Advisor (ITA) will help you set up your computer to access the wired
and wireless networks at Penn. Wireless internet is available throughout both buildings, including all bedrooms. If you ever
need assistance with your computer, technical support is provided by ITAs; just stop by the computer labs during staffed lab
hours (weeknights and limited hours on weekends; hours will be announced during move-in) or visit
http://www.rescomp.upenn.edu/ to submit a request. An ITA will contact you to schedule an appointment. ITAs also help
Gregory residents set up their email accounts and provide general support.
MOVE-IN
If you can, move in either really early or
later in the evening. Working around the
"rush hour" really helps alleviate stress
and fights between you and your parents!
– Melissa S.
Think about what you need to bring to
college, and cut that amount in half. You
should only bring what you absolutely need.
– Katie R.
Pack light & bring a fan.
– Michael F.
Pack light so you have room to create a
new space for yourself -- i.e. leave all but
your top 3 favorite movies at home, you'll
have plenty to discover and add to your
queue here.
– Katie M.
Try and limit yourself to bringing the
essentials. You will still pack way too much,
but image how much worse it would be if you
didn't at least try to limit it
– Sara G.
- Don't bring very much with you, you will
gather even more stuff over the course of
the year and have a lot to move out.
- Talk to your roommates right away,
introduce yourself and talk about cleaning,
space usage, and such.
- Print out your guest and parking passes
from Campus Express beforehand.
- Don't spend too much time unpacking and
arranging stuff on the first day, you will
probably end up rearranging it later.
- To save money on textbooks, buy them
from Amazon or the Penn Book Bazaar, or
check them out from the library.
– Glen B.
Move-in and NSO is the best time to expand
your horizons. Meet as many people as you
can and take as many opportunities as you
can to see the city.
– Alex Y.
It’s never too early to put in the request
for mousetraps.
– Jason M.
FAQ
Can I move in early?
Students looking to move in before the standard move-in day
should contact Housing and Conference Services (215-8983547). Students can usually move in a few days early, though
there will be a daily charge added to their bursar bill at a later
date. We don’t recommend freshmen coming earlier than a
day or so before their scheduled move-in date; summer work
might still be going on in the buildings, staff will be in training,
and Penn’s official welcoming and orientation activities will not
have started yet.
Can I see my room during the summer?
Possibly, depending on whether your schedule corresponds
with ours. Please contact the House Office (215-573-5171) to
try to work something out. We’d be happy to meet with you.
Wait, the rooms don’t have AC?
No, but both buildings have public spaces that do: in Van Pelt,
the piano lounge, seminar room, kitchen and film lounge; in
Class of 1925, the greenhouse and entire basement (which has
plenty of study rooms, etc). So there are places to go to beat
the heat. Bring a healthy-sized fan, of course.
How big are the beds?
Twin extra long.
Can I bring my own furniture?
Yes, but Housing will not remove and store the current
furniture; it is up to residents to make sure that the original
furnishings are back in the room when they move-out.
Is Gregory open over breaks?
Not winter break; students can usually find on-campus
accommodations in the high rises or the University City
Sheraton for that period. We ARE open for fall break,
Thanksgiving break, and spring break.
Who gets the large bedroom?
Roommates should discuss this before arrival to avoid early
conflict. Students in the two smaller rooms do have the option
to move into the two larger rooms after winter break. It is
entirely their decision.
Do first year students need to arrive by the
appointed freshmen move-in day?
Yes! On that first night, freshmen will meet with their GAs/RAs
and other staff to learn all about the House, programming,
rules, Penn, etc. These meetings are mandatory. New Student
Orientation activities are in full swing the next day and most
of those are quite useful.
Fridges?
You can rent them. Information on some vendors should be
available on campusexpress.
Furnishings?
There is a bed, desk, chest of drawers, lamp and chair for each
student. Students should bring additional lighting, like desk
lamps.
Is there housekeeping for the bathroom?
Nope, students are on their own. Roommates should discuss
cleaning schedules, supply costs, expectations, toilet paper, etc.
What do the rooms look like?
There are pics available on our “room selection” page of our
website (gregory.house.upenn.edu).
Is there a lock on my bedroom door?
The front door to the suite locks, of course, and you can lock
your individual bedroom door while you’re inside (no key).
Facilities will fine students who replace the lock on their
bedroom door. We have had very few instances where
roommates entered rooms without permission, etc; it’s
important to establish trust with your roommates and discuss
your expectations regarding privacy and personal space. You
can arrange for installation of a safe through Housing and
Conference Services over the summer if you want some piece
of mind.
Will I be isolated from other freshmen?
NO! In Van Pelt, the top two floors are almost entirely
freshmen, so you’ll be surrounded by 90+ first year students.
In ’25, floors are mixed between freshmen and upperclassmen,
but there are significant numbers of freshmen on each floor.
The House is 45%-50% freshmen in total, and almost all of the
upperclassmen were once Gregory freshmen who are
returning to the House for their second, third, or fourth year.
I didn’t apply to Modern Languages or Film Culture,
but since I’m going to be in the House can I still join?
Absolutely. There will be intro meetings after you arrive, but if
you want to put your name down for a program now, just let
us know.
Is there much closet space?
Yes. Each student has a closet in their bedroom, but there are
two extra closets in the common hallway that connects the
bedrooms (in a quad; doubles have one).