We are lucky to live in the neighborhood of Temple, Penn, Jefferson, and other research hospitals offering state-of-the-art care to Philadelphians. Unfortunately, not every resident has an insurance plan to make life-saving treatments affordable, even less so now with the federal termination of Obamacare subsidies. Philly\u2019s research achievements are also threatened by the Trump administration\u2019s haphazard, vindictive, and irrational withdrawals of research funding, sometimes abandoning patients in the middle of research trials.<\/p>\n
Philadelphia has our own hero in combatting the Trump administration\u2019s war on science and expertise. Paul Offit,<\/a> Director of the Vaccine Education Center and professor of pediatrics in the Division of Infectious Diseases at CHOP, engages in daily battle with Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., the misguided Secretary of Health and Human Services. Offit\u2019s leadership and his clear, effective explanations of medical science convince many to trust vaccines that save children\u2019s lives. It isn\u2019t easy to combat dangerous CDC recommendations on the hepatitis B vaccine and other long proven lifesaving vaccines, but Paul Offit manages to cut through the falsities and conspiracy theories now dominating our national health agencies.<\/p>\n Penn\u2019s courage and integrity <\/p>\n The University of Pennsylvania has shown courage and integrity in dealing with the federal government\u2019s war on higher education. Penn has cooperated with the Equal Opportunity Employment Commission (E.E.O.C.) on their investigation into alleged antisemitism. But the university has steadfastly refused<\/a> to turn over to the government lists of Jewish employees, Jewish student employees and those associated with Jewish organizations, or their personal contact information.<\/p>\n In November the Trump administration asked the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of PA to compel the university to comply with these privacy violations. A wide range of campus groups, including Penn Hillel and MEOR have strongly supported Penn\u2019s decision. The Jewish groups issued a joint statement saying, \u201cAcross history, the compelled cataloguing of Jews has been a source of profound danger, and collection of Jews\u2019 private information carries echoes of the very patterns that made Jewish communities vulnerable for centuries.\u201d<\/p>\n Ted Mitchell, President of ACE (American Council on Education) reinforced Penn\u2019s position and efforts,<\/a> stating, \u201cThis is an abuse of power that singles out Jewish employees even as it fails to advance Penn\u2019s strenuous efforts to combat antisemitism.\u201d<\/p>\n Now that the Republican-led House Education and Workforce Committee in Harrisburg has announced an antisemitism probe into the School District of Philadelphia,<\/a> we can hope that Penn\u2019s courage in resisting inappropriate methods will set up guardrails in this pending investigation.<\/p>\n I\u2019m also grateful for Penn\u2019s bravery in refusing to sign<\/a> Trump\u2019s Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education. Rather than debating the specific demands in the Compact, Penn rejected the promise of favoritism in grant funding, arguing that merit should be the only reason for taxpayers\u2019 investment in scientific research. Thank you, Penn, for joining MIT and several other of the nine universities in changing the narrative.<\/p>\n Imagination, commitment and resilience on the Avenue of the Arts <\/p>\n I\u2019m deeply appreciative of Temple University and enlightened developers for transforming the ashes of the University of the Arts (UArts) into a phoenix, regenerating art and culture on Broad Street. After the disgraceful sudden closing of the University of the Arts, the Citizen published my post, Keeping Avenue of the Arts for the Arts,<\/a> expressing the hope that Philly could salvage the arts on S. Broad Street through alliances between higher education and others open to imaginative and practical planning. The idea was to re-establish first-rate instruction in the arts, along with affordable apartments for practicing artists.<\/p>\n Wishes don\u2019t often come true. But this time they did. Lindsey Scannapieco of Scout<\/a> outmaneuvered a New York City developer for iconic Hamilton Hall (320 S. Broad Street) and the Frank Furness-designed complex connected to it. Hamilton Hall will be used for artist studios, small offices, maker spaces, and artists\u2019 apartments, while the portion of Furness Hall that included dorms are also destined for artists\u2019 apartments.<\/p>\n Thanks during this holiday season for courage and integrity; imagination, commitment, and resilience; affordability; and landmark storytelling. May these qualities light the night during this darkest time of year and illuminate our pathways through the New Year and beyond.<\/p>\n Temple purchased Terra Hall (201-211 S. Broad Street, UArts\u2019 main academic building) to become Temple\u2019s Center City campus. The Inquirer reported<\/a> Temple president John Fry\u2019s vision \u201cto partner even more with the city\u2019s cultural organizations.\u201d Fry told The Inquirer, \u201cWe see ourselves moving into the position UArts occupied and occupied very well before their demise. But the way we want to go about it is through a network of partnerships.\u201d<\/p>\n Some say be careful what you wish for. But not this time. As an educator and supporter of the arts, I am personally grateful to John Fry<\/a> and Lindsey Scannapieco for making this delicious lemonade out of the UArts rotten lemons. In fact, I think they made limoncello.<\/p>\n College affordability and accessibility for Philadelphia citizens <\/p>\n Thanks to Temple University for making a college education affordable for Philadelphia students through the Temple Promise,<\/a> offering free tuition and fees to city families whose adjusted gross income is $65,000 or less.<\/p>\n Temple has also launched Temple Future Scholars,<\/a> an ambitious program to prepare students, starting in middle school, for this opportunity. In partnership with the School District of Philadelphia (SDP) and Heights Philadelphia, students will have early experiences to cultivate their curiosity and prepare them for the intellectual opportunities of higher education.<\/p>\n Penn has also cooperated with Heights and SDP to offer the College App Classroom, <\/a>available in six Philadelphia high schools. Students participate in 28 lessons during the regular school day to help them demystify college and the pathways for entrance, not only to Penn but to any college of the student\u2019s choice. For those admitted to Penn, students whose families earn up to $200,000 will receive full tuition scholarships under the Quaker Commitment program. Families that make under $75,000 will receive a financial aid package covering all billed expenses (tuition and fees, housing, and dining).<\/p>\n
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MORE FROM ELAINE MAIMON<\/p>\n