We just got word of a robbery at the AT&T store at 38th and Walnut via the increasingly more frequent/terrifying/effective DPS text service. Fortunately there were no injuries reported, but the Penn (and Philly!) Police are investigating and advising students to stay out of the area. Safe to say this is a good excuse to make the weekend last a little longer and skip that first class.

Got any info? Send along to tips@underthebutton.com.

Update: AT&T’s closed for the moment and there’s undercover cop car parked out front, but no further updates from DPS. Apart from the armed robber on the loose, everything seems to have returned to normal. DP coverage here.

Photo by Rebecca Greenfield

It seems like Philadelphia these days is a veritable city of love. The New York Times loves Philly, Obama loves Philly, and Philly even loves us back. This week Street decided to send back a little love to Philadelphia’s BYOs, navigable streets and Phillies fans. We figured we’d take it one step further by venturing past 46th Street on the El to visit some oversized missives from Philly in the form of the Mural Arts Program’s Love Letter project.

If you’re down to check them out for yourself, we highly recommend it. Otherwise you can find the photos on the back page of Street, or a mapafter the jump. We hear it’s a great spot for a date — imagine it: brown bagging it on a crisp fall afternoon with SEPTA and some murals. What else could you want? Read the rest of this entry »

I know, I rule.

Today’s Wall Street Journal features an article in which they asked (threatened with scathing articles?) college presidents to submit a response to one of their own institution’s undergraduate application essay questions. We were delighted to see that our very own Amy Gutmann was chosen and was somehow coerced into answering the infamous “Page 217 of your 300 page autobiography” question. We were not delighted to see that her response was bo-ring.

Maybe it’s just that we had to had to struggle to actually come up with a decent piece of fiction (or else predict an untimely death), but we’re pretty sure that writing about something that’s already happened is a major cop out. In 564 words, Amy G. covers her tenure at Princeton, including “three enduring contributions to moral and political philosophy” along with her appointment to Penn and her creation of the Penn Compact. Since the WSJ insisted that the presidents couldn’t get any help from their PR folks, it seems likely that Leah Popowich didn’t churn this one out, but we’re not sure if the Kelly Writer’s House counts as friends and family. Maybe they could’ve spiced it up a bit? Nevertheless, the autobiography that we really want to read page 217 of is Lee Stetson’s — we’re sure that’ll be juicy.

Read Amy’s essay, after the jump.

Read the rest of this entry »

If you’re not a total zombie, chances are the last days of class and the run-up to finals are kicking your ass and making you feel like some evil higher power is holding you hostage with a fast forward button. Does that make any sense? We’re honestly not sure, but Street photo guru Thomas Jansen made this totally sweet time lapse video of the high rises, and you need to check it out.

Because we know you’ve been wondering… This year’s Fling looks to be rain free (knock on wood) according to The Weather Channel‘s convenient 10 day forecast. Of course, we’d like it to be a little warmer, but at least it won’t be all wet and soggy (Floggy?).

20% chance you won't be drunk Thursday, 0% chance on Friday and Saturday? Sounds about right to us.

Today’s 34th Street features illustrations by students taking Digital Design Foundations with David Comberg this semester. Their assignment was to represent a figure with a notorious reputation. Check out the graphics on the back page of the magazine, or by viewing the slideshow we put together:

After hibernating deep beneath College Green all winter, Amy the giant squirrel/rat emerges to lay siege upon the Radian.

About two weeks ago (while most of you were cramming for midterms and stocking up on sunscreen) sandwich-board-toting construction workers began picketing outside the Radian, occasionally accompanied by a large, inflatable rodent. Much befuddlement ensued among the half-a-dozen residents who were able to detach themselves from their BlackBerrys long enough to look up on their way to class.

Fear not though, confused souls! UTB is here with the scoop. According to a commenter on PhiladelphiaSpeaks.com, workers from the IBEW (International Brotherhood Of Electrical Workers) Local Union 98 are protesting Capogiro because:

“They fail to hire workers who are paid what is standard for the community, receive medical benefits for their wives and children and receive a fair retirement plan so they can retire with dignity.”

What say you, Penn students? If the workers are still picketing once Capogiro opens, will you cross the lines to quench your desire for gelato? Let us know in the comments!