News

Black-owned Hakim’s Bookstore in West Phila. gains support amid George Floyd protests

After a significant decrease in business during the coronavirus pandemic, Hakim's bookstore has seen a huge influx in orders due to Americans' desire to support Black-owned businesses and read anti-racist literature.

CURF Hassenfeld Social Impact Grant funds eight projects, with four related to COVID-19

The Center for Undergraduate Research and Fellowships has awarded eight Hassenfeld Foundation Social Impact Grants, which is funding projects that range from providing education to families struggling due to the pandemic to a mentorship program for Bangladeshi immigrant students in West Philadelphia.

Penn students join Black Lives Matter protests across the country

As hundreds of thousands of protesters continue to march over the death of George Floyd, Penn students across the country are joining the worldwide movement for racial justice.

Students and alumni protest on campus, demanding Penn divest from local police

The demonstration began at 4:15 p.m. on Saturday at LOVE Park in Philadelphia's John F. Kennedy Plaza. The group gathered and walked along Market Street until arriving at the Benjamin Franklin statue in the middle of the College Green.

Penn study finds few patients receive critical follow-up care after an opioid overdose

The LDI researchers also found a significant racial disparity in patients who received follow-up treatment, as Black patients were half as likely to receive follow-up treatment as non-Hispanic white patients.

‘A protest movement’: How Phila. bail funds are challenging the existing cash bail system

There are two bail funds in the city — the Philadelphia Bail Fund and the Philadelphia Community Bail Fund — which work in conjunction with each other. 

Penn Wharton Budget Model predicts Social Security Trust Fund will deplete by 2036

When accounting for the impacts of the pandemic, PWBM predicts the depletion date could be as early as 2032.

Sachs Program for Arts Innovation creates grant for Black artists at Penn

The program is inviting proposals for projects led by or primarily serving Black artists and practitioners in response to the George Floyd protests against racial injustice. 

Philadelphia County ranks among the most disadvantaged counties for children

The report ranked Philadelphia County at No. 2,169 out of a total of 2,617 U.S. counties, and No. 63 out of 64 counties within Pennsylvania. Overall, Pennsylvania ranked in the top half of all U.S. states at No. 18. 

Pre-Freshman Program for FGLI, underrepresented students to run virtually this summer

Through PFP, over 100 students who identify as FGLI and come from underrepresented backgrounds have the chance to move in early, take classes for credit, and meet professors and other students before the school year begins.

Universities crack down on students’ racist social media posts amid George Floyd protests

Institutions such as Penn and Temple University are reviewing old social media posts containing racial slurs that have resurfaced, while other universities have taken disciplinary action in response to inflammatory posts targeted at the George Floyd protests.

Trump vs. Twitter: How the tech giant’s clash with POTUS brings fact-checking to the fore

For years, Twitter has passively watched the president use its platform as a bullhorn to antagonize political rivals and spread misinformation, but on May 26, for the first time, the social media platform placed an addendum on the the 1968 Wharton graduate's false claims.

Annenberg survey seeking evolutionary ratings of demographic groups sparks backlash, apology

Participants were asked to use the 'Ascent of Man' image to indicate how evolved they considered various demographic groups, including undocumented migrants, Chinese people, the elderly, and people with COVID-19, to be.

University of Pennsylvania Health System predicts loss of $317 million in revenue by June 30

This loss does not include the $190 million in federal aid given to Penn's hospitals by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

People's Books & Culture closes due to COVID-19 losses after 58 years of operation

Co-owners Matthew Duques and Diana Bellonby planned to begin renovations in mid-March, but were forced to shut down the store on March 20 due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Students worry about coronavirus while rescuing possessions from Penn college houses

From June 4 until June 13, students are returning to campus to pack up their belongings and move out of their dorms. 

Penn cancels all fall 2020 study abroad programs

Penn Abroad has canceled all fall study abroad programs in light of global travel and health restrictions caused by COVID-19, affecting the plans of many students. The decision comes weeks after the original announcement date of May 15. 

Pride in a pandemic: LGBTQIA+ students discuss isolation, intersectional activism

QPenn, Penn’s annual LGBT pride week that usually takes place in mid-March, and Pride parades in Philadelphia and across the nation, have largely been postponed or cancelled entirely. 

‘The neighborhood lost its life’: University City businesses suffer from COVID-19

All non-essential businesses in Philadelphia, excluding bars and restaurants solely offering takeout and delivery, were ordered to close on March 15.

‘It had to come down,’ says Penn grad who sculpted city’s controversial Frank Rizzo statue

Protesters who attempted to tear down the statue during anti-police brutality protests say the statue stood as a symbol of discrimination and police brutality.