Colin Kavanaugh
Recent articles
Farewell Column by Colin Kavanaugh | It’s graduation, Charlie Brown
We all take different paths through Penn. Not only are we not going to be on the same chapter of our lives at the same time, we won’t even be writing the same book.
The Sooner, The Better | A tale of two cities
Unlike our counterparts stuck in college towns, we can learn more from Philadelphia than from any book or lecture given at Penn. The experience has the potential to change our lives.
The Sooner, The Better | In your DREAMs, UA
Supporting the spirit of the DREAM Act is a noble cause. But the UA has been blinded by delusions of its own grandeur and efficacy if it thinks its actions will have any real influence.
The Sooner, The Better | ‘Bravo’ to the orchestra
The Philadelphia Orchestra is a unique and sacred gem in the midst of revitalization, is a flagship for this city’s long-term health and offers a stunningly low cost of admission for college students.
The Sooner, The Better | JFK’s call for service
John F. Kennedy was elected President 50 years ago today. Though we tend to over-amplify JFK’s influence, we can still learn a lot from our 35th President — particularly his call for service.
The Sooner, The Better | Calm down about politics
We should all calm down about politics because there are bigger issues. Even after the “hope” of Obama’s 2008 victory, Muslims, gays, Latinos and, yes, still blacks and women are harassed on a daily basis.
The Sooner, The Better | Keep the fear alive?
Sarcasm aside, Penn seems to be doing a good job on the no-yelling front. Students could engage in legitimate discussion and debate policy issues — if only people didn’t write their opponents off as nut jobs.
The Sooner, The Better | The great escape outdoors
Camping with friends engenders a sense of camaraderie and adventure that our generation has forgotten — particularly in a competitive environment like Penn.
The Sooner, The Better | Penn should be political
Well, whether the University likes it or not, it is inherently political. Despite distaste for appearing partisan, Penn’s administration does not — and should not — excuse itself from the political process.
The Sooner, The Better | (Not) rocking the suburbs
In the 2010 midterm elections, treating every Pennsylvania voter equally is a strategic mistake. For Penn’s Democratic students, time should be spent not in West Philly, but just outside the city limits.
The Sooner, The Better | #Hoping for real dialogue
Twitter’s rules of engagement oversimplify our political discourse. When it comes to dialogue on challenging and complicated issues, Twitter falls flat.
Colin Kavanaugh | Opening up the gates to the ivory tower
In a recent set of undergraduate business school rankings from Business Week, the Wharton School was ranked third behind the University of Virginia and the University of Notre Dame business schools, respectively. This was quite a shocker to a school full of students accustomed to ranking dominance in their undergraduate division.
Colin Kavanaugh | Building a more effective EFCA
I have a confession to make: I don't want the Democrats to have a filibuster-proof majority in the United States Senate. I know, I know, this is heresy, and I'm betraying all kinds of liberal-college-campus protocols here. But with a 60-vote supermajority, Democrats could pass whatever legislation they want without the slightest input from Republicans.
Colin Kavanaugh | Keeping the conversation open
I love Pink Floyd. I'll shamelessly spend hours in my car on summer days listening to the British rock band. Give me a surround-sound system and the album Dark Side of the Moon, and I'll never complain about anything ever again. It's very easy for me to make connections between their lyrics and a number of situations, including the one between the district attorney's race in Philadelphia and the song Welcome to the Machine.
Colin Kavanaugh | Lessons from Mayor Rendell
Philadelphia is strapped with a massive fiscal deficit. Budget cuts are looming over its vast infrastructure, threatening city jobs and services. The city's "savior" is a fresh-faced mayor facing a laundry list of problems who will likely make more enemies than friends by year's end.
Colin Kavanaugh | Turning rhetoric into responsiblity
Nearly 130 million people voted in November's election. Millions donated money, or forwent a day of work or school to talk to their neighbors about health care, crime on our streets, or the state of our public schools. And on Jan. 20th, America got a new president because of that hard work, with 1.
A trip to Obama's inauguration
Inauguration tickets are on every political junkie's holiday wish list this year. But falling short of that, the Office of the Vice Provost for University Life is getting a lucky group of students as close as possible. At midnight on Jan. 20, a bus full of Penn students will leave campus bound for Washington, D.
Penn Dems elect new president in close race | With audio
In a remarkably close election, the Penn Democrats has elected College sophomore Jordan Levine as its next president.
Obama, govs. talk economy
President-elect Barack Obama met with the nation's governors in Philadelphia yesterday to discuss state issues affected by the financial crisis. Obama called on the National Governors Association to assemble at Independence Hall, in a move Pennsylvania Gov.
Penn Med to build 'home away from home' for families of transplant patients
Thanksgiving isn't until tomorrow, but Penn Medicine is already in the spirit of giving. Last night, Penn Med unveiled the Clyde F. Barker Transplant House, a "home away from home" for transplant patients' families during and after transplant surgeries. "The transplant is one of the most graphic acts of giving," said Ralph Muller, chief executive officer of the University of Pennsylvania Health System.
