SASgov Weekly 2/7/2012

I. SASGOV

1.      SASGOV HAPPY HOUR FRIDAY Friday Feb 10 5:30-8:30pm in Amado Recital Hall (in Irvine Auditorium, 34 & Spruce).  Pizza Rustica din-din catered, AND A RUSSIAN LIFE WATER THEME—White Russians and Vodka martinis!  Leave your beer steins at home, this is FANCY FRIDAY.  Free for SAS graduate students, $5 for non-SAS-graduate-students.  Food runs out quick, drinks never do.  21+ id required.

2.      SCRABBLYMPICS!! Feb 24, 6-9pm in Amado Recital Hall (in Irvine Auditorium, 34 & Spruce).  Form teams of 4 from your department.  Wear team uniforms!  Snacks and drinks. THERE WILL BE A PRIZE of fancy dinner for all 4 members of the team at Bibou, one of Philly.com’s TOP FIVE RESTAURANTS.

         Teams of 4 should register before Feb 10: email Gabe Sessions at gsess@sas.upenn.edu subject line SCRABBLE ME.

3.      Do you tire of lugging your belongings all over Van Pelt?  Do you wish you didn’t have to pack everything up each time you need to step away?  SOLUTION: The library has purchased a dozen Moby units--lockable mobile storage units--that are available for graduate student use in Van Pelt.  Yours for the year, the Mobys live in a newly-renovated study area on the north side of the third floor.  Store anything you want in them, and wheel them anywhere you want in VP!  At the end of the day, return your Moby to its sleeping place in the corral and tuck (lock) it in safely until morning.  To reserve a unit, visit the Van Pelt Circulation Desk.  This is an experiment and all Moby users will be offered a survey at the end of the semester!

FOR STUDENTS WITH CHILDREN

6.      Emergency Backup (child) Care is once again available from the FRC!  Full-time students and eligible post-docs with children can receive a maximum of 5 days of backup childcare in 2012, appropriate to use whenever your childcare responsibilities will interfere with your ability to complete academic work and training.  Available in your home, 24hrs, 7 days a week.  Min 4 hours, max of 7 hours, you pay $5 an hour (and $16/hr for each hr over 7).  (care is provided by Parents in a Pinch, Inc.)

II. GAPSA

1.     Kick-off / informational meeting for Penn AMF (Altogether Moving Forward) TONIGHT in Houston Hall’s Griski Room, Rm 311.  The AMF is a peer-led support group that (1) is for students who are coping with the illness or death of a loved one, to talk with others “who get it”; (2) a service group open to all students; (3) opportunities for the faculty to mentor students in the group.

2.    THURSDAY at 12-noon South Asia Studies student colloquium presents Ananya Dasgupta, “Labors of Representation: Debt, Riba, and Muslim Self-making in Early Twentieth-Century Colonial Bengal.”  Williams Hall 816.

3.    Are you in a relationship?  Does your significant other have a job?  THEN THIS APPLIES TO YOU: "Dual Career Couples: Maintaining Relationship Sanity".  Feb 21, 5-6:30pm: hosted by GAPSA and CAPS at the GSC Rm 305.  Worry about getting jobs in the same place?  Concerned over demanding careers?  Heather Hersh, Psy.D presents strategies on how to maintain sanity in your relationship.  Career Services will be there for a Q&A too. Snacks from Cosi.  Please RSVP.

FUN AND NOW:

4.      FRIDAY Feb 10 6:30-9:30pm: Annual Date-A-Doctor Event!  treat yourself to a Penn Vet, Penn Dental, or Penn Med student at The Blockley Pourhouse 3801 Chestnut!  Tickets $5 in advance, $7 at the door.  Email Zachary Kern at ztkern@vet.upenn.edu and see fb event link above for more info.  Doors open at 6!

5.     SATURDAY Cupid's Chase 5k Race Feb 11! To volunteer, email Alyssa Hansen at halyssa@sp2.upenn.edu.  To run, register at www.comop.org/cupidschase !

6.     Speed Friending and Something More—Ben Franklin Rm, Houston Hall on Valentine’s Eve, Monday Feb 13, 7-9pm.  Buy your $6 ticket at gapsa.ticketleap.com now!  Limit 2, bring your 21+ i.d.

7.     The Mousetrap at Walnut St Theater – Tuesday Feb 14, 8-11pm.  Agatha Christie’s classic!  After 60 years, audiences are still guessing who the murderer is!  825 Walnut St.  Get your $20 tickets at the GSC now!  Limit 2.  email here for more Info.

OF CAMPUS RELEVANCE

8.  Annual Wharton Health Care Business Conference.  Feb 16-17.  Hyatt at the Bellevue, 200 S. Broad (Broad and Locust).  Get your $50 student ticket here.

9.     Service volunteer opportunity: Penn Med and Penn undergrad students began running Service Link last January at Sayre Health Center, where volunteers assist Sayre’s patients to secure non-medical determinants of health.  2 two-hour blocks per month requested of volunteers after mandatory training Friday, February 10, 1-5 pm in BRB 251.  Questions and RSVPs, please email (whether you can make the training or not) servicelinkatsayre@gmail.com.

10.     Toiletry Drive for the next three weeks—bring your donations to 3815 Walnut Street (SP2's research building), the Caster Building (3710 Locust Walk), or the Graduate Student Center. 

11.     Fourth year dental students are taking their licensing exams in March.  Their preparation? Giving you free (dental) screenings!  Including free radiographs, free head and neck, and possibly free treatment pending eligibility!  What’s up!  If interested, contact Marni at glick.marni@gmail.com or (410) 236-7586.

12.    Former Jordanian Deputy Prime Minister Dr. Marwan Muasheron will speak on "The Arab Awakening: One Year On."  Feb 22 4:30pm at the Law School rm G12.

13.     South Asia Studies colloquium series presents Matthew Sayers (Religion and Philosophy, Lebanon Valley College), "Feeding the Dead at Gaya: From the Buddha’s Enlightenment to a Modern Pilgrimage Site".  February 23, 12-1pm in Williams 816.

14.     Dental School's annual STOPLIGHT PARTY!  Wear RED – you’re already taken but you’re open to friends; wear YELLOW – it’s complicated, and give the all-clear if there’s no risk for arrest; wear GREEN – you’re single and ready to mingle!  More details TBA.  Email mpereira@dental.upenn.edu or straussg@dental.upenn.edu with questions.

15. February 24-25, 7:30 PM: Want to watch Wharton students make fun of themselves? Save the date for "Wharton Follies". More information will be available on the GAPSA calendar in the next few days.

MONEY SOURCES 4 U

16.     Professional student Interview funding newly available!  GAPSA has decided for the first time to establish a regular procedure for subsidizing interview costs for professional students. Please see the GAPSA website/Grants and Funding for more info, deadline 1wk before interview.

17.     Professional Student Research Grant newly available!  A fixed number of research grants will be awarded throughout a pilot period.  Please see the GAPSA website/Grants and Funding for more info, deadline March 14.

18.     Academic Event Funding for Research students: Students coordinating an academic event can receive supplemental funding from the Research Student Council.  Applicants, in person, are required to describe their target student audience, justify the academic nature of their event and demonstrate their general need of funding.  Info here!

19.     President Gutmann Leadership Award applications open here! Are you presenting at a conference (domestic or internatl)?  Get reimbursed 50% of eligible travel expenses up to $2,000.  Apply by April 20 for May-Aug travel.

20.     Apply for GAPSA-Provost Fellowship for Interdisciplinary Innovation!  Deadline March 30. 

HANDY RESOURCES 4 U 2

18.     New Transportation Service!  For a flat rate of $9, a Town Car service will drive you (and up to two friends) at anytime within a 3-mile radius of Penn’s campus.  (as far west as 55th St, 8th St to the east, Cecil B. Moore Ave to the north, and Morris St to the south.)  Call 215-225-5000 (with your Penn card) or www.victorycabco.com/reservations!

19.     Penn Commuter and Parking Survey: for one of two chances to win a free month of parking or $50 gift certificate to the Penn Bookstore and with Urban earphones from the Penn Computer Connection,

III. Graduate Student Center

2.    Year of Games art exhibition opening reception!  Thurs Feb 9, 5-6:30pm GSC common rm.  Please register in advance.

3.    Supportive Therapy Group for Non-Traditional Students: from CAPS (Counseling and Psychological Services) for help balancing life and work.  To learn more email vwils@upenn.edu or riverada@upenn.edu.

4.      What’s a great pair?  A wine and cheese pair!  DiBruno Brothers Cheese Emporium expert coming to teach you how to pair this glorious duo at the GSC on Thurs Feb 16 5:30-7pm.  Get your $10 ticket on sale at the GSC now!  Limit 2, bring 21+ id.  More event info here.

5.     Workshop on the basics of the art of crochet!  Friday Feb 17 1-2:30pm.  Get your $5 ticket at the GSC now!  Limit 1.  AND KEEP AN EYE OUT for the soon-to-come Basics of Knitting too!

6.      Apply to be a TA trainer!  Super competitive, but you stand to gain a $1400 and the gratification of a good deed well done.  Deadline Feb 24.

These happen EVERY WEEK, which makes them ALL THE BETTER:

7.    Writing and Meditation Mondays Mondays 10-12pm and 1-4pm at the Grad Center Rm 305. Register here.

8.     Meditation Circles Mondays 12-1PM, Grad Center Rm 305. Register here for 1 or 15!

9.    Teaching Workshops!  8 seminars co-sponsored by Center for Teaching and Learning!  This week:  Helping Struggling Students Wed Feb 15, 1:30-3pm, Grad Center Rm 305.

10.     Writing a Grant Proposal? Peer-to-peer mentoring for free! If you’d like to mentor, give your advice and be paid $50!

11.     Mentor A Penn Undergrad help an undergrad prep, apply and succeed in grad school!

12.    Language Chats German every other Thursday, 3:30-4:30 starting Feb 9 in rm 302.

       Japanese Wednesdays 3-4pm rm 302

       Spanish Fridays 2-3pm rm 302

FOR STUDENTS WITH CHILDREN

13.     Game Night for Students & Postdocs with children!  Friday Feb 10, 6-7:30pm at the GSC, and please register in advance.  Enjoy pizza and classic board games that children and adults will love.

14.    Family Resource Center Suite 240 Houston Hall 3417 Spruce St open M-F 10am-3pm.

15.    Family Yoga Series!  Thursdays beginning Feb 16 and until March 1.  3-4pm at Grad Center rm 305.  3 week series with yoga for parents and children’s yoga and infant massage techniques. A three-fer!

16.    Learn and Practice English Lessons for Students/Postocs, Spouses/Partners with Kids Mondays 1-2pm, Family Resource Center Suite 240 Houston Hall. Bring your kids for English language lessons!  All levels are encouraged, but please register in advance.  Parents will receive an English language proficiency questionnaire that should be returned before the start of class.

13.    Student Parent Mentoring new or expectant parents? Navigate being a scholar and parent with help from others who’ve been there.  Register in link above^.

FYI: The Grad center offers free meeting space, free coffee (bring your cup!), wireless computing, book swap, info on funding, employment, educational policies, student groups, notary services, resources and programs to students with children, and Philly events!