4.21
Education, Business, & Law
Howard Stevenson on creating change through racial literacy
In the wake of the series of police killings of Black people that sparked historic protests and heightened national conversation about race, and amid persistent structures of systemic racism, how can people of color promote their own emotional well-being and healing? How can leaders and organizations create lasting change to advance anti-racism and social justice?
Gamification isn’t all fun and games. It’s serious business
In “For the Win,” Wharton professor Kevin Werbach and coauthor Dan Hunter argue that gamemakers need not be the only ones benefiting from game design.
How the dialogue on diversity is reshaping business
The final panel discussion in the Beyond Business series, “Race & The Selling of America,” brings together Wharton dean Erika James with professionals in film and sports to discuss how diversity is reshaping businesses and brands.
What you need to know about the antitrust suits against Facebook
Antitrust expert Herbert Hovenkamp breaks down the recent lawsuits against Facebook, why he thinks the arguments have merit and how big tech companies can adapt.
Leadership in a time of crisis
Wharton dean Erika James and Wharton’s Stephanie Creary discuss inclusive leadership during a time of crisis.
What role should insurers play in covering pandemic business losses?
Wharton’s Howard Kunreuther speaks about businesses lacking insurance for losses during the pandemic.
Penn has four new Schwarzman Scholars
Penn seniors Cristina Pogorevici, Paulina Ruta, and Yixi (Cecilia) Wang and 2019 graduate Annie Sun have received the Schwarzman Scholarship, which funds a one-year master’s degree in global affairs at Tsinghua University in Beijing.
The best books for young readers of 2020
The sixth annual list of books, chosen by Penn GSE’s Humanizing Stories team, highlights stories of love, joy, loss, strength, and resilience.
Whatever happened to the right to petition?
Maggie Blackhawk of the Law School discusses the First Amendment’s right to petition, how the right was exercised historically, what it looks like in its current form, and why it changed.
Black borrowers are hit hardest by the student debt crisis
Released by the NAACP, a report by Penn GSE’s Jalil Mustaffa Bishop argues for the cancellation of student debt and reinvesting in institutions that serve the most Black students.
In the News
Relief, calm, and a sense that ‘justice was served’ as Philadelphia watches Chauvin’s guilty verdict
Krystal Strong, an organizer with Black Lives Matter Philly and assistant professor in the Graduate School of Education’s Literacy, Culture, and International Education Division, says justice was not obtained in the guilty verdict for Derek Chauvin. “Justice means that George Floyd would be here,” she says.
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Anger, anxiety, stress, relief: Therapists say it’s OK for Black people to feel it all
In addition to the next slate of trials for Chuavin’s colleagues, Philadelphians are still processing the fatal police shooting of Walter Wallace Jr. and the city’s own checkered history of policing Black and other communities of color. Ariane Thomas of the Graduate School of Education comments on the importance of talking about feelings and leaning into their complexity.
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Set up branches of elite colleges to expand access?
Rebecca Stein of the Online Learning Initiative responded to an op-ed that suggested universities open multiple campuses in order to diversify the student body. “Teaching online allows universities to reach more students, and more diverse students. It is the path to meeting both the high bar of quality and the goal of inclusion,” she wrote. “Instead of building a campus in Houston, let’s be bold and build a virtual campus.”
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Americans will likely have to navigate a maze of vaccine "passports"
Eric Feldman of the Law School spoke about the legality of businesses requiring proof of vaccination. “In general, private businesses can decide who they're willing to admit into their businesses and serve so long as they don't violate either the federal Civil Rights act or a state law,” he said.
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Don’t fear cryptocurrencies. Manage them
Brian Feinstein and Kevin Werbach of the Wharton School wrote about calls to regulate cryptocurrencies and claims by crypto advocates that regulatory actions will depress trading activity. Feinstein and Werbach’s research “found no evidence that regulatory announcements affect crypto trading volume,” they wrote.
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