Campus & Community

The University of Pennsylvania today reaffirmed its commitment to an all-grant, no-loan financial-aid program as its Board of Trustees authorized a $188 million financial-aid budget for 2013-14 while increasing total undergraduate charges by 3.9 percent.

The 2010 Census reported that the median net worth of African-American families was $4,955—22 times less than the $110,729 median net worth of white American families. This disparity has been referred to as the racial wealth gap, and it has been growing exponentially since the 1980s.

Time and again they pleaded with him to make the phone call. He wouldn’t have to handle the drugs. All he had to do was set up the buy.He knew it was wrong, and probably a crime, too. Each time the friends of his college roommate mentioned it, Kirk James found the courage to say no. Until the one time he said yes.

In 2007, Penn kicked off the public phase of the Making History Campaign, the largest fundraising effort in University history, and one of the largest ever launched by a U.S. college or university. From the beginning, the Campaign wasn’t just about reaching the numerical goal of $3.5 billion.

Dear Benny,Now that spring is almost here, I’m thinking about biking to work. Are there any arrangements I need to make for parking? Where can I park my bike? —Going Green by Biking Dear Going Green,Penn offers free bicycle parking all around campus.

MORE THAN A HOME: During their time at Penn, nearly all Penn undergraduates will call a College House home. The mission of the College Houses is to provide a supportive environment where students can thrive and learn outside of the classroom.

Civil rights scholar W.E.B. Du Bois’ groundbreaking sociological study, “The Philadelphia Negro,” was commissioned by Penn.

In April, the Morris Arboretum bursts into bloom, with a host of events to celebrate the season.

On Saturday, April 13, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Philadelphia residents can pick up a rake, paintbrush, or broom to participate in the city-wide 2013 Spring Cleanup. Volunteers will be bagging up trash, distributing recycling bins, and painting walls to help beautify places across the entire city.

In recent years, The David & Lyn Silfen Forum has tackled issues of far-reaching significance—from public debate in the United States to the 2012 elections.