THE INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA | THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2014
Trayvon Martin’s mother to speak Civil rights leader Michael Skolnik will also speak in January EUNICE LIM Staff Writer
INSIDE
Sybrina Fulton, mother of the late Trayvon Martin, and civil rights leader Michael Skolnik will speak at Penn next January as part of a week-long commemoration
of Martin Luther King Jr. Fulton and Skolnik will speak at an event called “Love in a Time of Horror,” hosted by the Office of the Chaplain and the AfricanAmerican Resource Center, which focuses on black youths’ struggle for civil rights, justice and healing amid police violence. “To have Ms. Fulton visit our university will not only
be a tremendous honor, but it’s a powerful opportunity for healing and hope during a very difficult time in the U.S. and around the world,” University Chaplain Charles Howard said. “What she has been able to do in the face of the violence and pain that her family has faced is an amazing and beautiful model that I think Penn students, faculty SEE SPEAKER PAGE 3
SYBRINA FULTON Mother of the late Trayvon Martin
The Identity Issue
NEWS ‘BLACK PENN’ THEN AND NOW Students and alumni discussed the state of the black community at Penn PAGE 3 LUKE CHEN/WEEKLY PENNSYLVANIAN EDITOR
State of the School is an annual event hosted by Penn Student Government that involves all associated branches in their annual report to the student body.
GSE CONFERS
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OPINION SEEING IN COLOR Why racial colorblindness is problematic PAGE 4
Student engagement discussed at State of the School SHOBA BABU Contributing Writer
The Sheraton was abuzz with chatter as students and faculty leaders gathered Wednesday night to discuss the future of student life and government at Penn at the
State of the School address. This year’s event featured discussions of new innovations for the upcoming year by speakers from six different student government committees, followed by a Q&A session. This year’s State of the School com-
memorated the 50th anniversary of the Student Committee on Undergraduate Education.The event cost $2,300.70, according to last week’s Undergraduate Assembly GBM. It also introduced two new awards for a selected student govern-
ment faculty member and undergraduate participant. The need for student engagement in government and the importance of serving the community as undergraduate representatives SEE SCHOOL PAGE 3
Obamacare architect’s comments at Penn draw ire U. accused of coverup after video was briefly taken offline JESSICA WASHINGTON Staff Writer
Penn was in the news this week after a controversial video at a University conference re-emerged featuring MIT economics professor Jonathan Gruber, who helped draft the Affordable Care Act, saying the law only passed because of the “stupidity of the American voter.” The video, which was posted on Penn’s Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics website, showed Gruber addressing an audience at a health economics conference in October 2013. The video gained views on Monday after a conservative group, American Commitment, posted an excerpt on YouTube. The clip was originally uncovered by Philadelphia investment advisor Rich Weinstein, who has been researching Gruber’s statements in an attempt to discredit the health care law. The University briefly removed the video earlier this week, sparking speculation that Penn attempted to cover up the controversy. However, a University spokesman said this is not the case. “The video was offline [Monday] for about an hour after a question had come in regarding rights to it,” Vice President for University Communications Stephen McCarthy said. “There are all sorts of conspiracy theories floating around on blogs that continue to say that it is still offline. It is not. It was offline for about an hour midday on Monday and has been back online since Monday afternoon.” Executive Director of the Leonard Davis Institute Daniel Polsky did not respond to requests for comment. Gruber’s remarks came in response to a discussion about political transparency during Penn’s 24th Annual Health SEE GRUBER PAGE 3
Harrisburg is starting to look like Washington Can a Democratic governor and a Republican house get things done? JONATHAN BAER Staff Writer
SPORTS
Affirmative (Re)Actions to admissions policies
M. HOOPS TIPS OFF After a long wait, Penn basketball begins its season against Delaware State BACK PAGE
ONE LAST TRIBUTE
Panelists shared experiences with affirmative action JASON TANGSON Contributing Writer
BACK PAGE
ONLINE SUSHIRRITOS TO CAMPUS Hai Street Kitchen is slated to open its second location at 40th and Sansom THEDP.COM
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Benefactors of affirmative action spoke on Wednesday night about their experiences and complicated relationship with the topic at an event entitled, “Affirmative (Re)Action.” The panel, moderated by UA President Joyce Kim, was attended by approximately 100 undergraduate and law students at Houston Hall. Two law professors and three students each made 10-minute cases in favor of racial affirmative SEE AFFIRMATIVE PAGE 6
YOLANDA CHEN/NEWS PHOTO EDITOR
Anita Allen, Vice Provost for Faculty and Professor of Law and Philosophy, was one of the panelists who spoke at Affirmative (Re)Action, a panel discussion that focused on the impact of affirmative action.
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After the Nov. 4 midterm elections, the Pennsylvania state government and the federal government now look quite similar: a Democrat in the executive branch and a Republican-controlled legislature, both fighting for their legislative objectives. Pennsylvania Governorelect Tom Wolf, a Democrat, won by nearly 10 points in an election year that proved very favorable for Republicans. In the Pennsylvania legislature, Republicans picked up eight seats in the Pennsylvania State House and three seats in State Senate, solidifying conservative control of both chambers. With a new balance of power also comes new leaders. On Nov. 12, Republicans elected Rep. Mike Turzai (RAllegheny County) as the new Speaker of the State House and Sen. Jake Corman (R-Centre County) as State Senate majorSEE ELECTION PAGE 5
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