THE INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA | TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2014
Congressional gridlock halts Penn’s legislative goals Penn’s lobbying for funding and patent reform were affected by gridlock JONATHAN BAER Staff Writer
While gridlock in Washington continues to cripple countless legislative efforts from across the political spectrum, Penn’s legislative agenda has been left to suffer. One recent Penn-sponsored bill halted by partisan bickering is the Manufacturing Universities Act of 2014, which would give Penn $5 million per year for the next four years. The University quickly endorsed the bill after it was introduced by U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.) and Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) on Aug. 11. The bill would also allocate additional funding to manufacturing engineering programs at 25 research universities across the country. Although the bill has bipartisan backing and the active support of major research universities, including Penn, the prospects of the bill passing Congress have grown increasingly bleak. “It is possible that something could happen during the lame duck session, but I kind of doubt that,” said Associate Vice President of Penn’s MANUFACTURING Office of Federal RelaUNIVERSITIES tions Bill Andresen, who ACT OF 2014 is Penn’s chief lobbyist in Congress. “I think the The bipartisan bill odds of any significant was introduced on legislation passing this Aug. 11. year are pretty small.” For Penn, this could It would give $5 be problematic for promillion to Penn, as fessors who want to dewell as to 24 other velop their research into universities, each a marketable product. year for the next “One of the things four years. that this manufacturing initiative would do is … U. officials aren’t provide funds to help optimistic the bill translate the research gowill pass this year. ing on in universities into SEE LOBBYING PAGE 7
Presenting to the UN Human Rights Council
INSIDE NEWS NEW SAS APPOINTMENTS
The School of Arts & Sciences appointed 22 new professors for this year PAGE 5
VICE PROVOST FOR EDUCATION TO STEP DOWN
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OPINION
College soph. Benjamin Fogel spoke on Europe’s last dictatorship CLAIRE COHEN Staff Writer
Convened for the United Nations Human Rights Council, dozens of world leaders took their seats as College sophomore Benjamin Fogel took the floor. “It’s exciting to know that at this moment what you have to say is just as important as what anyone else has to say in that body,” Fogel said. “I put all my energy into making sure I did the best job possible.” Fogel spent his summer in Geneva as an intern for United Nations Watch, a non-govern-
mental organization that monitors the UN’s performance. During his two-month stay, Fogel had the opportunity to track debates, take notes while the council was in session and attend side meetings where organizations and countries began tackling world issues. Despite the global nature of the council, Fogel spent much of his time researching the country on which he presented — Belarus. “[Belarus] doesn’t get a lot of media attention even though it’s the last dictatorship in Europe,” Fogel said. “Oftentimes the president of Belarus is quite open about his brutality and suppressing the political opposition, but it is rarely discussed.” While in Geneva, Fogel also
conducted research funded by the Hassenfeld Foundation’s Social Research Grant through the Center for Undergraduate Research and Fellowships. The piece, titled “Measured by It’s Own Yardstick: A Critical Look at the Human Rights Council” compares the work of the council to the preceding Commission on Human Rights and analyzes whether the council lived up to the principles of its charter. It will be on display at the CURF research expo on Sept. 9. “Something that really excited me was performing actual research and being able to experience what went on firsthand,” he said. SEE FOGEL PAGE 8
COURTSEY OF UNITED NATIONS WEBCAST
College sophomore Benjamin Fogel (center left) interned at United Nations Watch this summer in Geneva, Switzerland.
STOP SAYING YOU’RE POOR It is important to differentiate between ‘poor’ and ‘college student’ PAGE 4
SPORTS
NEW APPS AROUND TOWN
BACK LINE LEADER
These apps, some created with the help of Penn students or alumni, might help you handle the demands of your schedule.
Senior Haley Cooper’s contributions go far beyond jokes at practice BACK PAGE
WINFIELD LEAVES PENN VOLLEYBALL
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Friendsy
Humin
Hangify
Notice
Seratis
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