Dear DP Alumni,
This week, the DP took the campus and sidechat by storm (again) with its reporting on two Penn dining halls found in violation of Philadelphia health code.
Street is getting ready to launch the March magazine, and analytics is finalizing a new metrics dashboard.
With that, here to another week at the Pink Palace 🥂
Is Remy the Ratatouille working at Hill Dining Hall?
This story by Jin Kwon revealing that two of Penn’s dining halls are not in compliance with Philadelphia’s health code generated the DP’s highest unique page view this year. It was viewed 10,293 times and had an average time on page of 4.23 mins.
Hot off the presses this week
Retirement funds for Penn faculty managed by company with billions in fossil fuel investments By Elea Castiglione
City Tap House to close University City location after 13 years By Jasper Taylor
Fried chicken restaurant Wishbone closes University City location after 10 years By Jared Mitovich and Molly Cohen
Editorial | A Message to Penn Administration Regarding Turkey and Syria By The Daily Pennsylvanian Editorial Board
Memphis Grizzlies coach, Wharton alum Taylor Jenkins visits Penn By Walker Carnathan
From Italy to Penn, men’s tennis Graziani brothers stick together By Chloe Hunt
From the El to DRL By Sejal Sangani
The Underground World of Philly’s Basement House Shows By Hannah Sung
We’re Both Thinking It: Let’s Turn This Coffee Chat Into a Crack-Cocaine Chat By Zach Whiting
Commons Lowkey Sceney Tonight! I See My One Friend Over There By Maya Kreger
Reasons to love DP this week:
Sophia Liu (along with design139) and Anna Vazhaeparambil (along with photo139) collaborated to create this gorgeous back page design in this week’s print issue!
Reasons to love Street this week:
1. The March magazines have arrived 👀 and the 34th Street team will be tabling on Locust Walk this coming week.
2. The toast has gained 25% in subscriber growth since the beginning of the semester!
Get to know your Board of Directors Alumni!
Introduce yourself!
I was the EIC of Street (and before that, managing editor + ego editor + copy editor). I’m currently an editorial director at Vox, overseeing our culture and features coverage.
Favorite DP memory
Late, late Wednesday production nights; launching UTB; getting gossip scoops.
Advice for students
Read everything!
Fun fact
I voiced a Teen Vogue video game.
Reach out to me
I’m always so happy to talk about journalism, moving to New York, or anything else that might be on your mind. My email is julia.r.rubin@gmail.com
Introduce yourself!
I was the Managing Editor, Summer EIC, and a 4-semester beat reporter. Also Past President of the DPAA. Today I am a professional keynote speaker and business coach with an expertise in customer experience and marketing.
Favorite DP memory
When Sports Editor Adam Rubin W’95 and I met Penn’s unannounced new Athletic Director at 30th Street Station as his train was arriving. No one would confirm Steve Bilsky was the choice but we knew it. He came up the steps, we introduced ourselves, and his first words were: “boy you guys are good“.
Advice for students
Take advantage of everything the DP has to offer. I was a News guy but I wrote Sports articles, a 34th Street cover story, and even got a photo credit with one of my articles. The skills I learned at the DP — writing, editing, managing people — have served me well for my entire career. One thing I neglected to do? Connect with any alumni. Today that is SO much easier with iPhones and LinkedIn and Twitter. The alumni of the DP are second-to-none and they WANT to hear from current students.
Fun fact
I once delivered a pizza to Michael Jordan — a sausage and pepperoni from Domino’s!
Reach out to me
I want to invite any student to reach out to me, but also to any alum. Here’s the deal: When I have money to contribute, I give it to the DP — not Penn. When a Penn student calls me, I’ll respond if I can. When a DP student calls me, I will drop everything to respond. I am not the only one who feels that way!
That’s it for this week!
Signing off,
Jesse Zhang