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President Gutmann votes at Houston Hall
Amy Gutmann leaves voting booth

President Amy Gutmann emerges from a booth in Houston Hall, just after casting her vote.

President Gutmann votes at Houston Hall

Exercising her civic duty, Penn’s leader participated in Pennsylvania’s 2021 general election.

Penn Today Staff

1 in 3 Americans say they might consider abolishing or limiting Supreme Court
U.S. Supreme Court building.

1 in 3 Americans say they might consider abolishing or limiting Supreme Court

A new survey from the Annenberg Public Policy Center finds that more than a third of Americans say they might be willing to abolish the Supreme Court or have Congress limit its jurisdiction.

From the Annenberg Public Policy Center

Americans’ civics knowledge increases during a stress-filled year
U.S. Capitol at night.

Americans’ civics knowledge increases during a stress-filled year

The Annenberg Public Policy Center’s annual survey follows increased media coverage of the powers, functions, and prerogatives of the three branches in a year marked by impeachment proceedings and a pandemic.

From the Annenberg Public Policy Center

What you need to know about the protests in Cuba
Amalia Dache sitting criss-cross applesauce on a sea wall in Cuba reading a book.

Amalia Dache during a research trip to Cuba. (Image: Courtesy of  Santiel Rodríguez Velázquez)

What you need to know about the protests in Cuba

Penn GSE’s Amalia Dache traveled to Cuba in 2018 and 2019 to research the Afro Cuban experience, and the opportunities that existed—or were closed off from—the island nation’s significant Black population.

From Penn GSE

Supreme Court decision rules Arizona’s laws constitutional
Glass doors read "polling station" with opening times listed

“What you should be doing with voting is trying to make it as easy as possible for people to vote with the fewest restrictions,” says Mary Frances Berry. 

Supreme Court decision rules Arizona’s laws constitutional

In Brnovich v. Democratic National Committee, the Supreme Court ruled that Arizona’s election laws—pertaining to out of precinct ballots and whether or not third parties can pick up and deliver absentee ballots—do not violate the Voting Rights Act.

Kristina García

Anti-trans legislation: ‘Game pieces in the culture wars’
progressive lgbtq flag

Philadelphians celebrate the outcome of 2020’s presidential election, waving the Progress Pride Flag while marching through Center City. The U.S. saw the rollback of trans civil rights protections in health care, education, housing, employment, and other areas under the Trump administration. (Image: Rashaad Jorden, also featured on homepage)

Anti-trans legislation: ‘Game pieces in the culture wars’

With 117 bills proposed across 33 U.S. states, 2021 is a record-breaking year for anti-trans legislation.

Kristina García, Julian Shendelman

Journalism, law, and freedom of the press
Two journalists take photos in a crowd with a person wearing a face shield in the foreground.

Journalism, law, and freedom of the press

Law student Peter Jacobs draws on his background as a professional journalist for his forthcoming Comment on freedom of the press in the University of Pennsylvania Journal of Constitutional Law.

From Penn Carey Law

Inaugural SNF Paideia fellows reflect on an inspiring first year
three women wearing mask smiles at each other in front of an old stone building

SNF Paideia Fellows Angelina Oh (left) and Amy Krimm (center) chat with Lia Howard, student advising and wellness director, at an informal welcome event held in Penn Commons this spring. (Image: Courtesy of the SNF Paideia Program)

Inaugural SNF Paideia fellows reflect on an inspiring first year

The fellowship program for undergraduates connects their general education and major requirements to public engagement and community building through dialogue across differences.

Kristen de Groot

To the voting booth for Primary Day in the commonwealth
Two masked people standing and one poll worker seated at a table in Houston Hall.

To the voting booth for Primary Day in the commonwealth

Just one day after presiding over the University’s 265th Commencement, Penn President Amy Gutmann, along with voters throughout the commonwealth, picked representatives from their parties to put on the ballot for the November general election.

Penn Today Staff

Five things to know about Georgia’s new voting law
Voters stand in line outside against a white wall, socially distanced and wearing masks.

Georgia’s new voting law has been decried by opponents as designed to disenfranchise minority voters, while supporters argue it in fact expands voting rights. So, which is it?

(Image: Infrogmation of New Orleans)

Five things to know about Georgia’s new voting law

Political scientist Marc Meredith of the School of Arts & Sciences shares his takeaways from the controversial new bill.

Kristen de Groot