As the leaders of Pennsylvania research universities, we represent institutions that are large and small; private and public; urban and rural; ivy and land-grant. Yet, for our many differences, we are united in our commitment […]
Category: Opinion
A Matter of Leadership
By Frank Linnehan A recent op-ed piece in the Inquirer by Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moody’s Analytics, offered sound financial reasons why Philadelphia is unlikely to follow Detroit in filing for bankruptcy. Among the […]
Co-op Can Help Students Enter the Workforce
By Sandra Kirschenmann One of the most cherished ideals in California is our belief that “anybody can become somebody.” And one of the most successful vehicles for becoming that “somebody” and achieving the American dream […]
Philadelphia’s 30th Street Can Be More Than a Train Station
By John A. Fry The United States is witnessing something that seemed next to impossible not long ago – the rebirth of its urban centers. Nowhere is this seismic shift more prevalent than along the […]
Making Demolition Safe
By Dr. Robert Brehm In Philadelphia a building collapses, six people are killed and 14 injured creating outrage, a public outcry and pressure to determine the cause and to reform regulations to prevent future tragedies […]
Prepare Teens for Work
As the school year ends, teens will be flocking to apply for summer jobs at local stores and restaurants. Most of them will be turned away. Overlooked in many discussions about the Great Recession is […]
As Schools Evolve, So Should Athletics
In a sports-crazed society where more than 40 million youth participate in organized athletics and the multibillion-dollar college sports industry entertains the masses, it seems counter-intuitive to argue in favor of more colleges dropping intercollegiate […]
Psychology of Terrorism
As Boston recovers from a week of terror, the questions remain: Why did this happen? What could have motivated the suspects, 19-year-old Dzhokar Tsarnaev and his 26-year-old brother, Tamerlan, to terrorize a city, creating the […]
Venezuelans Won’t Go Back
By Dr. George Ciccariello-Maher Hugo Chávez is gone, but he remains as controversial in death as he was in life. This is of no small import as Venezuelans head to the polls this weekend to […]
If Past is Prologue: Lost in the School Closing Transition
By Tina Richardson Last year the School District of Philadelphia closed six schools. This year it will close 23 – almost quadruple last year’s level. Closing schools is only half of the challenge; the other […]