MONDAY, APRIL 2, 2018 VOL. CXXXIV NO. 22
THE INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA
Professor Biden returns to Penn’s campus
FOUNDED 1885
Strikes affect study abroad students in U.K.
Many students have missed weeks of classes DEENA ELUL Staff Reporter
SON NGUYEN | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
During his recent visit to campus, former Vice President Joe Biden discussed a variety of topics mediated by Penn President Amy Gutmann. He also answered questions from the audience and stayed afterward to meet the attendees. Read more about Biden’s visit on Page 2.
Fels Institute of Government reform sparks student and alumni concern
It will be restructuring its MPA program this year DEENA ELUL Staff Reporter
Penn’s Fels Institute of Government announced that it will be restructuring its Master of Public Administration program and will not be accepting applicants for the 2018-2019 academic year. Students and alumni have expressed confusion about the changes, and many say that Fels has not been transparent about the restructuring process.
The MPA program is a twoyear program that prepares students for careers in public policy and public service. Every year, about 30 students take courses in management, finance, data analysis, and politics. The Fels Institute also offers an Executive MPA program, which is geared toward professionals with full-time jobs. In December, students and alumni received a newsletter which tangentially mentioned that “the Fels Faculty Committee [had] recommended significant modifications to the future
Full-Time MPA program,” adding that new applicants would not be accepted for the 20182019 academic year “to allow faculty and staff time to focus on this important initiative.” The announcement stressed that current students would not be affected. The students and alumni who spotted the story in the newsletter say they found the announcement unclear regarding what specific changes were planned. “[The announcement] kind of just was completely out of nowhere and didn’t allow a
lot of time for students to respond,” 2017 College graduate and first-year MPA student Kellen Wartnow said. Students and alumni alike have taken action to address their concerns. Students have founded a committee to bring together students and administrators, while alumni have drafted a petition with hundreds of signatures. Wartnow, along with fellow MPA student John Pierce, founded the Fels Committee a few weeks after the announce-
HALEY SUH & UROOBA ABID News Editor & Staff Reporter
Penn broke another record this year with its lowest-ever overall acceptance rate of 8.39 percent. This year’s admitted students hail from all 50 states, Washington D.C., Puerto Rico, and Guam, with Pennsylvania, New York, California, New Jersey, Florida, and Texas having the most representation. There was a 6 percent increase in the number of admitted international students, who are from 104 different countries. Additionally, one in every seven admitted students to the Class of 2022 is the first in their families to attend college. The Daily Pennsylvanian spoke to some of the newest Quakers who just received news last week. It was Korea’s National Independence day when Jordan Seungjin Choi heard back from Penn the second time. A
JULIO SOSA | SENIOR PHOTOGRAPHER
There was a 6 percent increase in the number of admitted international students, who are from 104 different countries.
resident of Seoul, South Korea, Choi received the first round of news from Penn a few months earlier, when he learned he was deferred. Now, the email carried good news, as Admissions Dean Eric Furda wrote in the email that his admittance was “likely,” assuring him of his admission pending his current academic performance. “I disturbed my family’s
peaceful morning that day with a big shout, feeling relieved of all the stress and anxiety that had been with me throughout high school and especially through the application process,” Choi said. “On March 28, my admission became official.” As Penn was his dream school since ninth grade, Choi is certain that he will be at-
SEE U.K. PAGE 3
SEE FELS PAGE 3
From Seoul to Baltimore: Meet some of Penn’s newly admitted students 8.39 percent of students were accepted this year
Many Penn students studying abroad in the United Kingdom have missed up to five weeks of classes due to teacher strikes, and these students are unsure about whether or not Penn will give them course credit or reimburse them for missed lectures. On Feb. 22, members of the U.K.’s University and College Union began a month-long strike program to protest changes to their pension plans. Lecturers canceled classes for weeks at 64 universities and turned down a temporary agreement proposed on March 13. While the strikes ended last week, professors are planning two more weeks of strikes for the exam period in April and May. Penn Abroad Director Nigel Cossar wrote in an emailed statement to The Daily Pennsylvanian that, while it is too early to identify how many students were affected by strikes, Penn is “working with students to col-
lect important information about their courses and which have been affected, before any decisions are made.” He added that solutions would involve “[working] with each student based on their individual circumstances.” Student opinions have been divided, with many students supporting their professors but calling for tuition reimbursement for canceled lectures. In response to student petitions, King’s College London announced that it would be refunding students using money saved from striking lecturers’ salaries. However, Penn students studying in the U.K. pay Penn tuition, so they will not be affected by this policy. Because many London colleges have 10-week terms, some Penn students have missed almost half of their semesters. College junior Tyler Williams, who is studying at the University College London, said that all four of her courses were disrupted due to strikes and that one class was canceled for five weeks. Similarly, Wharton ju-
tending Penn’s Nursing School next fall. He said he is most excited to pursue a pre-med track in a place that turns “ideas and theories into realities and practicalities.” He also praised Penn’s students’ seeming drive to pursue extracurricular activities outside of the classroom. “On top of academic excellence, Penn students focus on self-development, teamwork, and life outside of classrooms and labs,” Choi said. “The school’s community aptly represents well-roundness and is full of leaders of today’s and tomorrow’s world. It would be anyone’s dream to attend school with such students.” Aneela Kanhai had to read her acceptance letter a few times before she could make sure she wasn’t dreaming, or waitlisted, the New Jersey resident said. “I was extremely elated. I was completely stunned, especially knowing Penn, and knowing what it means for me SEE QUAKERS PAGE 3
JULIO SOSA | SENIOR PHOTOGRAPHER
On Feb. 22, members of the U.K.’s University and College Union began a month-long strike program to protest changes to their pension plans.
OPINION | Keep Penn Out of My Bedroom
“Let’s demand more effective policy change from the administration - Penn can combat sexual assault without treating its students like minors.” - Isabella Simonetti PAGE 4
SPORTS | Setting the Pace After one of the most successful indoor seasons in recent memory, Penn track and field looks to carry the success outside. PAGE 9
NEWS New way to interact with professors PAGE 2
NEWS Career Services director to retire PAGE 6
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