RNC at Penn

WHAT TO EXPECT | VOLUNTEERS WANTED | PENN I.D.: Q&A | PRESIDENTS' HOUSES AT ARBORETUM

What to Expect on Campus

As Philadelphia prepares for the Republican National Convention in late July, the Penn campus is also preparing for an influx of guests, visitors, events and campus activity generated by the RNC's presence in the city.

The Office of the Executive Vice President, Housing and Conference Services, Facilities Services, and the Division of Public Safety have been working to extend hospitality to our guests, promote Penn as a premier institution, involve and inform the campus community and otherwise celebrate this civic and historic occasion for the city and campus to campus activity:

  • The official dates of the Convention are Monday, July 31 through Thursday, August 3, 2000.
  • Convention activities will take place at the First Union Center at Broad
  • Street and Pattison Ave. in South Philadelphia. Convention activities at the First Union Center will take place from approximately 7-11 p.m.
  • Delegates, media and other participants will be staying at hotels throughout the city, including the Inn at Penn and the Sheraton University City Hotel. Youth participants and other groups associated with the Convention have contracted to stay in campus residences in Hamilton Village and Sansom Place.
  • Penn will be in use for a variety of events related to the convention. Expect some additional vehicular and pedestrian traffic on campus during the week as visitors participate in various activities in and around the campus.
  • Guest arrivals to Penn lodgings will peak on and around Thursday, July 27, with guest departures beginning on the morning of Friday, August 4.
  • Information tents will be located on campus to offer maps, directions and other information to convention guests, campus visitors and Penn faculty, staff and students.
  • Campus transportation is expected to operate on normal summer schedules, including LUCY and other Penn transport services.
  • Those using transient parking should expect additional lot use by various campus visitors, so please plan accordingly. Parking in University permit lots will not be affected.
  • SEPTA will issue a special limited-use transit pass for the Convention. Those interested can get more information at www.septa.org/store/rnc.html.
  • The Future of the City, a panel discussion on urban issues, sponsored by Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce, the Daily News, and WHYY, while not open to the public, will be held on Penn's campus.
  • Other broadcasts originating from campus include a preconvention C-Span taping of electoral issues; The Daily Show, by Comedy Central; MSNBC's Arianna Huffington, offering a Shadow Convention; and a taping of Room Full of Women for the Oxygen Network. These events are by invitation only.

During Convention Week, various city organizations are hosting a number of activities which are open to the public. For more information, go to www.gophila.com/rnc/. For more information, e-mail rnc2@pobox.upenn.edu.

Please note that Penn does not support or oppose any candidate for office or any political party.

--Housing and Conference Services

 

 Morris Arboretum's Garden Railway Display

This year's display commemorates the 2000 Presidential election and features Presidents' houses such as Monticello (above), the White House and Abraham Lincoln's log cabin. The display includes Philadelphia's historic landmarks including Independence Hall and the First Post Office. Paul Busse, the designer, is known for his creative use of natural materials to form a perfectly proportioned miniature landscape. For information call (215) 247-5777.

 Volunteer Campus Ambassadors

Interested in campus citizenship during the Convention?

Due to the large number of guests associated with the Republican National Convention, Housing and Conference Services will be operating three information tents on campus from July 28 to August 4, from 9 a.m. until 6 p.m. each day.

Volunteers are needed to help staff the tents, answer questions, give directions, and otherwise provide hospitality and assistance to campus guests and the Penn community at large.

The information tents will be across from the Bookstore at 36th and Walnut Streets, 38th Street and Locust Walk on the west side of the bridge, and 34th Street and Locust Walk.

Volunteers are asked to contribute a three-hour time block, and can volunteer for as many shifts as desired. Supervisor's permission is required, and volunteers are expected to arrange their commitment so as not to interfere with normal work responsibilities. A brief training session will be held for all volunteers; volunteers will be notified via e-mail.

To volunteer please e-mail rnc2@pobox : your name, department, contact information (e-mail or phone number), first and second choices for dates and times to work, and a preferred location if you have one. If you have any questions or suggestions please contact Lynn M. Rotoli at (215) 898-8610.

 

Penn I.D. During RNC: Q&A

As the University hosts thousands of guests, visitors, and media during the Republican National Convention, Penn employees are strongly encouraged to wear or carry their Penn I.D. cards (PennCard) to assist in the security efforts of Public Safety during the Convention.

--Tom Seamon, Vice President for Public Safety

Q: Should I keep my PennCard with me whenever I am on campus?

A: It is always a good idea to carry your PennCard since many buildings now require them to gain access. During the Convention, members of the Penn community are particularly encouraged to carry their PennCards with them at all times, even if they choose not to wear them.

Q: Why is it helpful for me to wear my PennCard during the RNC?

A: Wearing your PennCard will instantly identify you as a University affiliate to police and security personnel. This will help Public Safety personnel perform their tasks more efficiently and ensure that security procedures do not unnecessarily delay University affiliates in their daily routines. Working together, employees and students can help to ensure public safety during the Convention.

Q: When do I need to wear or carry my PennCard during the RNC?

A: In order to provide optimal security, Public Safety strongly encourages all University faculty, students, and staff to visibly display or carry their PennCards from July 24 through August 6 when they are on and around campus. While the dates of the RNC are July 31 to August 3, we expect significant activity related to the Convention on and around campus from July 24 through August 6.

Q: What happens if I don't have my PennCard during the RNC?

A: You may be asked for another form of identification, so you will want to carry some form of I.D. with you from July 24 through August 6. If you are a full-time Penn employee and you do not have a PennCard, you can get one at the PennCard office, 150 Franklin Building weekdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. As a special offer, the PennCard fee of $15 will be waived for full-time Penn employees on July 20 and July 21 only.

Q: I need a holder for my PennCard so I can wear it. Where can I get one?

A: For the RNC, the University will offer PennCard holders free of charge to Penn faculty, students, and staff. You can obtain one holder per person by showing your Penn I.D. at the following locations:

* Tables outside the Bookstore at 36th and Walnut Streets, 38th Street and Locust Walk on the west side of the bridge, and 34th Street and Locust Walk (weather permitting) on July 19, 20, and 21, and July 24 and 25 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

* Information tents across from the Bookstore at 36th and Walnut Streets, 38th Street and Locust Walk on the west side of the bridge, and 34th Street and Locust Walk from July 28 to August 4 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Q: I have additional questions. Where can I direct them?

A: You can e-mail rnc2@pobox.

WHAT TO EXPECT | VOLUNTEERS WANTED | PENN I.D.: Q&A | PRESIDENTS' HOUSES AT ARBORETUM


Almanac, Vol. 47, No. 1, July 18, 2000

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