WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 21, 2015
THE INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA
WHO YA GONNA
?
CALL Religious Studies professor ain’t afraid of no ghost ISABEL KIM Staff Reporter
Sure, ghosts might not exist, but that doesn’t mean they haven’t haunted our footsteps. Bridging subjects from religious studies to nursing to East Asian studies and more, the Penn Ghost Project consists of a group of interdisciplinary professors and academics, who all are interested in studying the social phenomena surrounding ghosts. The
initiative started three years ago and has recently expanded its project list. “Penn was really the only center that ever did anything like this,” Religious Studies professor Justin McDaniel said. Penn is unique in having a history of paranormal academia. The Penn Ghost Project even draws an uncanny parallel to the Seybert commission, a 19th century study on whether ghosts are real or not. The study was prompted by a monetary gift with the caveat that “the UniverSEE GHOST PAGE 2
THEDP.COM Video of Haunted Philly
State of the Union through eyes of ex-Obama staffer
Penn’s new goal: one billion for financial aid Gutmann raises fundraising goals for Penn Compact 2020 JACK CAHN Staff Reporter
Penn grad. Miguel Rodriguez spoke to students before SOTU
The Chicago Cubs, a round trip to the moon and the Solomon Islands — all things Penn could buy by 2020 with the money it will raise for financial aid. Following the Making History Campaign’s unprecedented fundraising success, Penn President Amy Gutmann recently announced the University’s intention to raise one billion dollars for financial aid by 2020. “We are continuing robust fundraising centered around the Penn Compact 2020. We’re branding it Penn Impact 2020 because we are committed to showing the impact of what we can do at Penn based on the incredibly generous contributions of alumni and friends,” Gutmann said. “We have set a goal of raising an additional $350 million dollars for undergraduate, graduate and professional student aid bringing the total of what we raise over the 15 years —10 years past and five years forward — to a billion dollars. That is an aggressive goal but we can show real consequences that are incredibly positive for our student body.” The $350 million breaks down into an additional $240 million in undergraduate aid and $110 million in graduate student aid. Between 2005 and 2012, the University raised $650 million as a part of their Making History
JONATHAN BAER Staff Reporter
CLAIRE HUANG/VIDEO PRODUCER
Miguel Rodriguez spoke and answered students’ questions after Penn’s State of the Union viewing in Rodin.
SUMMER ABROAD
For too long, the uninsured have gone
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SEE BILLION PAGE 5
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While polarization and gridlock continue in the Capitol, President Barack Obama’s State of the Union on Tuesday night outlined new Democratic proposals, an improving economy and the prospect of a new chapter of bipartisanship in D.C. Over 40 students gathered at Penn’s Fels Institute of Government to watch Obama’s address, which
was preceded by a talk by College and Law School graduate Miguel Rodriguez. Rodriguez was the director of the White House Office of Legislative Affairs in 2013. Penn In Washington, Penn Democrats and the Penn Political Coalition cohosted the event. “Helping hardworking families make ends meet, giving them the tools they need for good-paying jobs in this new economy, maintaining the conditions for growth and competitiveness: This is where America SEE SOTU PAGE 7
GLEE AT THE WHITE HOUSE PAGE 3
without life-saving medical treatment or lived in fear of bankruptcy. - Quisim Sione PAGE 4
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