Penn in the News

Brian Rosenwald of the School of Arts & Sciences writes about comedian John Oliver’s influence on politics and public policy.

Adam Grant of the Wharton School is cited for his book, Give and Take: A Revolutionary Approach to Success.

More than half of the states considered legislation this year aimed at preventing or coping with campus sexual assault, and experts predicted more will continue to weigh in on an issue that keeps making headlines. That’s welcome news to many who worry about how to combat this problem — and concerning to others, who think layering laws and regulations on colleges could just confuse things. Kevin Kruger, the president of NASPA – Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education, offers his opinion:

Daniel Soffer of the Perelman School of Medicine comments on the costs of cholesterol-lowering drug Praluent.

American higher education is failing “far too many of our students,” Education Secretary Arne Duncan was scheduled to say Monday, as he calls for colleges to be held more accountable for graduating students with high-quality degrees that lead to good jobs. In a speech outlining the higher education priorities of the Obama administration as it enters its final 18 months in office, Duncan will say it is time to “go further” than discussions about rising levels of student loan debt. He will urge a shift toward focusing on degree completion and educational quality.

A new program at Drexel University will teach the art of conflict management to engineers with the goal of preparing them to work in countries prone to conflict. It's peace-building, one brick at a time, under Drexel's new partnership with the U.S. Institute of Peace's non-profit arm, PeaceTech Lab. Drexel is the lab’s first academic partner in the effort to create “humanitarian engineers” who are focused on supporting peace - socially, economically, educationally and now technically.

Wharton undergraduate student Corey Fader is featured for having a condition called avoidant/restrictive food-intake disorder, ARFID. Doctoral student Hannah Zickgraf of the School of Arts & Sciences is quoted about leading a study on the attitudes and behaviors of adult picky eaters. Martin Franklin of the Perelman School of Medicine and the School of Arts & Sciences is also quoted.

Spelman College has discontinued a professorship endowed by Bill Cosby, a university spokeswoman said. After suspending the professorship last year in the wake of mounting accusations of sexual assault against Mr. Cosby, the college terminated the program and returned the related funds to the Clara Elizabeth Jackson Carter Foundation, the spokeswoman, Audrey Arthur, said in a brief statement. The foundation was established by Mr. Cosby’s wife, Camille. The Cosbys have had a long relationship with Spelman, a historically black women’s college in Atlanta. Two of Mr.

Anthea Butler of the School of Arts & Sciences is quoted about Republican president primary strategies.

Bruce Brod of the Perelman School of Medicine urges people not to fear contagion when others have a poison ivy rash.