Congratulations on becoming a member of a great College House and dynamic Quad community! Riepe College House—the second largest community in the Quad—is home to an extended family of 482 fun-loving, passionate, smart, creative, innovative, talented students, faculty and staff. The House is actually comprised of twelve residential buildings clustered around the “Lower Quad” (adjacent to the 36^th street entrance) and around the “Baby Quad,” a grassy oval that becomes a social hub for sunbathing, picnics, barbecues, games, and reading and snowball fights throughout the year. Our buildings are considered to be among the most beautiful and historic on Penn’s campus.

Riepe is famous for a number of outstanding programs but it is particularly famous its’ homey atmosphere, and food plays a major role. Our event calendar features an array of home-cooked dinners, comfort-food study breaks, dessert and ice-cream sundae nights, and picnics and barbecues in the Baby Quad. Riepe also organizes several outings to restaurants in Philadelphia, as the city has become a Mecca for discerning “foodies.” Dean Dennis DeTurck—Riepe’s renowned faculty master—has garnered quite a (well-deserved) reputation for his cookie nights. Every Wednesday at 10pm you can mix and mingle with other Riepe-ites or join him in his apartment at his piano for an impromptu jam session with fellow residents while enjoying warm freshly baked cookies and cold milk. On Sunday afternoon we celebrate the weekend by having freshly brewed espresso or cappuccino at the Rosen’s. Dr. Betsy Rymes—the “paper doctor”—frequently offers residents late night snacks while helping them with their writing projects.

Off campus excursions are also part of the on-going roster of House events. Riepe staff and faculty lead trips to Philadelphia Outlets and the King of Prussia Mall, Atlantic City and the Jersey Shore, and regular shopping trips to Center City at The Reading Terminal Market or at the colorful Italian Market in South Philadelphia. The House sponsors regular movie night excursions to popular and “indie” film venues in Center City and University City.  Attending jazz, pop, and classical music concerts is also a favorite pastime, and, as is our tradition, we have already planned a trip to the opening night concert of the Philadelphia Orchestra at the Kimmel Center.  While the Riepe event calendar includes dinners, movie nights, tutoring and exam prep study breaks, sports nights, intramural and House gaming competitions, you can always find a quiet corner where you can simply kick back and enjoy a good book. Riepe is also home to the 11^th Hour Grotto, a fully stocked mini convenience store situated on the first floor in the Thomas Penn building which is open daily until 2 am.

At Riepe we strive to offer a nice balance of fun, food, and intellectual stimulation within a supportive yet laidback lifestyle.  Of course we are always looking for new activities to add to our schedule—so if you have any ideas please send us your suggestions. In short, Riepe is a great place to live and I look forward to welcoming you into our family.

Marilynne Diggs Thompson

House Dean