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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

The racial burden of cleaning voter rolls
An illustration of an American flag shows the stripes separating into a maze and one winding up at a ballot box

A new study by Marc Meredith and Katie Steele looks at how cleaning voter rolls impacts minorities.

The racial burden of cleaning voter rolls

A new study by Penn political scientists shows that errors in removing people from voter rolls in Wisconsin disproportionately impacted minorities.

Kristen de Groot

A conversation with Stacey Abrams
Zoom call with a woman in a pink dress on the left and man in blue suit on the right

Stacey Abrams and Ben Jealous during their virtual talk at Penn.

A conversation with Stacey Abrams

The Georgia politician sat down with Ben Jealous, visiting scholar and former NAACP leader, to discuss topics from gerrymandering to romance novels in a virtual discussion.

Kristen de Groot

In conversation with MSNBC’s ‘Go-to data guy’
Steve Kornacki talking while signing his book.

More than 100 members of the Penn community attended an online event where national political correspondent Steve Kornacki shared insights on his career path, his takeaways from the 2020 election, and what polling and election nights might look like in the future.

In conversation with MSNBC’s ‘Go-to data guy’

Members of the Penn community heard from Steve Kornacki, national political correspondent for NBC News and MSNBC, in a conversation moderated by John Lapinski.

Erica K. Brockmeier

Honoring the life and legacy of a trailblazing civil rights activist
Sadie T.M. Alexander in a graduaction cap and gown.

Sadie T.M. Alexander in an academic gown on June 15, 1921. (Image: Penn Archives)

Honoring the life and legacy of a trailblazing civil rights activist

Penn Law is paying tribute to the legacy of Sadie T.M. Alexander, the first Black woman to graduate from the Law School, by launching three new full tuition scholarships created in her honor.

From Penn Carey Law

The influence and importance of language
A person in an American flag outfit and bandana carrying an American flag in front of a large group of people at the U.S. Capitol building. Many hold flags that read "Trump 2020."

On Jan. 6 2021, a group of Trump supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol building, resulting in the death of five people. (Image: Tyler Merbler)

The influence and importance of language

Labels for what happened Jan. 6 at the U.S. Capitol were very different from those used to describe the Black Lives Matter movement or the 2020 election results. How much weight do individual words actually have? It depends on the context.

Michele W. Berger

The state of U.S. democracy
the capitol building in washington dc

While a new administration transitions into office, the past four years have left the country asking, “How strong is our democratic foundation?”

The state of U.S. democracy

On the eve of a presidential inauguration following a historic election and its aftermath, experts from across the University weigh in on where we stand as a country.

Brandon K. Baker , Michele W. Berger , Kristen de Groot , Kristina Linnea García , Dee Patel , Louisa Shepard

Joe Biden’s longtime ties to Penn
Biden speaking in his offie at the Penn Biden Center

Joe Biden’s longtime ties to Penn

As the nation prepares for its 46th president to take office Wednesday, Jan. 20, Penn Today reflects on the lasting impact he’s had at the University.

Lauren Hertzler