October 31, 2023 Volume 70 Issue 12

Rates of breast cancer survival continue to improve, thanks to advances in detection and treatment, but when breast cancer recurs—or returns after initial treatment—it is incurable. Currently, there is no way to predict who is most likely to experience a breast cancer recurrence, and for the 30 percent of women and men who do relapse, continuous and indefinite treatment is the only option for attempting to slow the cancer growth.

A research team from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania and the Abramson Cancer Center has received a $10 million grant from the Department of Defense (BC221382) to combat these challenges by finding and targeting dormant tumor cells before they can cause a recurrence of the disease. The team has also reported the results of a phase II clinical trial that showed for the first time that it is possible to detect and treat dormant tumor cells in breast cancer survivors, offering a proof-of-concept for the strategy of preventing breast cancer recurrence.

Dormant tumor cells were successfully cleared from more than 80 percent of patients across all three arms of the study, principal investigator Angela DeMichele, the Alan and Jill Miller Professor in Breast Cancer Excellence, reported on October 23 at the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Congress 2023. The new grant will support continued surveillance of patients who participated in the study, as well as several other studies led by the 2-PREVENT Breast Cancer Translational Center of Excellence, which Dr. DeMichele co-directs with Lewis Chodosh, chair of cancer biology and partnering PI on the grant, at Penn Medicine’s Abramson Cancer Center.

“Recurrence is a lifelong issue and problem for breast cancer survivors because it can happen decades after their initial treatment,” Dr. DeMichele said. “This grant will allow us to extend the research we’ve already started and continue to answer questions about what happens to people years down the line. We want to get away from ‘watchful waiting’ and move toward ‘active surveillance’ by learning how we can intervene to prevent relapse of breast cancer.”

After breast cancer treatment, dormant tumor cells continue to lay in wait in some patients. These so-called “sleeper cells,” also referred to as minimal residual disease (MRD), can reactivate years or even decades later. Once the cells begin to expand and circulate in the bloodstream, it can lead to the spread of metastatic breast cancer. Patients who have MRD are more likely to experience breast cancer recurrence and have decreased overall survival.

“The dormant/latency phase is an opportune window to intervene because we’ve found that these dormant cells are sensitive to drugs that don’t work against actively growing cancer cells,” Dr. Chodosh said. “Contrary to current thinking, drugs that are not effective against metastatic disease may be highly effective when used during the dormant phase of disease.”

Dr. Chodosh’s lab led previous work to identify the pathways that allow dormant tumor cells to survive in patients for decades and showed, in preclinical studies, that drugs targeting those pathways could eliminate dormant tumor cells. Dr. DeMichele’s team translated that research into the Phase II CLEVER study (NCT03032406), which tested several existing, FDA-approved drugs in patients who were previously treated for breast cancer and found to have MRD, but otherwise considered “cancer free.”

The breast cancer survivors in the study had all completed their cancer treatment within the last five years at the time of study enrollment and were randomized to receive one of three drug therapy regimens. Nearly half of the patients in the study had triple-negative breast cancer, which has a historic recurrence rate of 30 percent within the first five years. In the four years since the study was conducted, none of the triple-negative breast cancer patients who were treated on the study have had a breast cancer recurrence. Only two of 51 patients on the study have experienced a breast cancer recurrence to date.

The grant funding will support the continued monitoring of more than 200 patients who enrolled in CLEVER and three other studies. The research team hopes to evaluate a more sensitive test for dormant tumor cells and develop the optimal testing strategy for MRD, determine the long-term benefits of the study treatments, and learn more about how dormant cancer cells evade the immune system. In addition, the team will use patient-reported outcome (PRO) surveys to better understand patients’ perspectives on this type of active surveillance approach, including the psychological and emotional ramifications for survivors, as what some individuals find empowering may be anxiety-producing for others who want to move past their breast cancer diagnosis and treatment.

“We have a lot more work to do to prove that this approach can prevent breast cancer recurrence, but these results are encouraging and show that it’s feasible to safely detect and therapeutically target dormant disseminated tumor cells,” Dr. DeMichele said. “With the help of this grant funding, we want to be able to get to a point where we can effectively test patients for dormant cells after treatment and either reassure them that they’re likely cured, because they don’t have dormant cells, or if they do have dormant cells, provide them with an effective treatment to stop their cancer from returning.”

Penn Nursing’s Dalmacio Dennis Flores, an assistant professor of nursing in the department of family and community health, has been awarded a 2023 grant from the Hillman Innovations in Care (HIC) program. The $600,000 grant will be used to expand a Penn Nursing-led program that supports the well-being of LGBTQ+ adolescents and their families. This grant is awarded by the Rita and Alex Hillman Foundation.

At a time when LGBTQ+ youth experience disproportionately high rates of negative mental health outcomes and confront an increasingly hostile legislative environment that threatens their access to health services, it is imperative to equip families with the skills needed to effectively communicate support to their LGBTQ+ children. Many families are unable to benefit from vetted educational resources due to lack of availability, understanding, cultural taboos, and limited, if any, contact with a trusted healthcare provider.  

The HIC funding will expand Parents ASSIST (Advancing Supportive and Sexuality-Inclusive Sex Talks), a nurse-driven, community- informed, digitally accessible intervention that offers parents the practical knowledge they need to fully support LGBTQ+ children as they navigate adolescence amid a turbulent world. By breaking down longstanding hardships within LGBTQ+ science (e.g., separate programming for sexual minority vs. gender diverse youth) and recognizing the power that parents have to improve the lives of their LGBTQ+ children, this consolidated intervention is poised to make a significant impact on the health and well-being of all families with LGBTQ+ youth.

 “We are thrilled about receiving this grant as it not only stands to create solutions for overlooked parenting concerns, but also because it is a result of our sustained partnerships with diverse stakeholders in Pennsylvania, Delaware, and New Jersey,” said Dr. Flores.

The HIC program, one of the Hillman Foundation’s defining initiatives, was created to accelerate the spread of evidence-based interventions that address the health and social needs of communities that experience discrimination, oppression, and indifference. These populations include Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC), the economically disadvantaged, LGBTQ+ people, people experiencing homelessness, rural populations, refugees, and others. 

This is a summary of the annual report for UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA BASIC PLAN, EIN 23-1352685, Plan No. 028, for period January 1, 2022 through December 31, 2022. The annual report has been filed with the Employee Benefits Security Administration, as required under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA).

Basic Financial Statement

Benefits under the University of Pennsylvania Basic Plan (the plan) are provided by insurance and a trust fund. Plan expenses were $46,172,554. These expenses included $462,610 in administrative expenses and $45,709,944 in benefits paid to participants and beneficiaries. A total of 32,675 persons were participants in, or beneficiaries of, the plan at the end of the plan year, although not all of these persons had yet earned the right to receive benefits.

The value of plan assets, after subtracting liabilities of the plan, was $1,417,850,182 as of December 31, 2022, compared to $1,627,007,373 as of January 1, 2022. During the plan year, the plan experienced a decrease in its net assets of $209,157,191. This decrease includes unrealized appreciation and depreciation in the value of plan assets. The plan had total income of ($162,984,637), including employer contributions of $74,367,399, other contributions of $1,081,160, earnings from investments of ($234,438,272), and other income of ($3,994,924).

The total premiums paid for the plan year ending December 31,2022 were $0.

Your Rights To Additional Information

You have the right to receive a copy of the full annual report, or any part thereof, on request. The items listed below are included in that report:

• an accountant’s report;
• financial information;
• information on payments to service providers;
• assets held for investment;
• insurance information, including sales commissions paid by insurance carriers; and
• information regarding any common or collective trusts, pooled separate accounts, master trusts or 103-12 investment entities in which the plan participates.

To obtain a copy of the full annual report, or any part thereof, send a written request to:

Trustees of the University of PA
HR Retirement Plans
3451 Walnut St, 6th Floor
Philadelphia, PA 19104-6205

The charge to cover copying costs will be $0.00 for the full annual report, or $0.25 per page for any part thereof.

You also have the right to receive from the plan administrator, on request and at no charge, a statement of the assets and liabilities of the plan and accompanying notes, or a statement of income and expenses of the plan and accompanying notes, or both. If you request a copy of the full annual report from the plan administrator, these two statements and accompanying notes will be included as part of that report. The charge to cover copying costs given above does not include a charge for the copying of these portions of the report because these portions are provided without charge.

You also have the legally protected right to examine the annual report at the main office of the plan (TRUSTEES OF THE UNIVERSITY OF PA, 3451 WALNUT STREET 6TH FLOOR, PHILADELPHIA, PA 19104-6205) and at the U.S. Department of Labor in Washington, D.C., or to obtain a copy from the U.S. Department of Labor upon payment of copying costs. Requests to the department should be addressed to:

Public Disclosure Room, Room N-1513
Employee Benefits Security Administration
U.S. Department of Labor
200 Constitution Avenue, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20210

Paperwork Reduction Act Statement

According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13) (PRA), no persons are required to respond to a collection of information unless such collection displays a valid Office of Management and Budget (OMB) control number.  The department notes that a federal agency cannot conduct or sponsor a collection of information unless it is approved by OMB under the PRA, and displays a currently valid OMB control number, and the public is not required to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number. See 44 U.S.C. 3507.  Also, notwithstanding any other provisions of law, no person shall be subject to penalty for failing to comply with a collection of information if the collection of information does not display a currently valid OMB control number. See 44 U.S.C. 3512.

The public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average less than one minute per notice (approximately 3 hours and 11 minutes per plan).  Interested parties are encouraged to send comments regarding the burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden, to the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of the Chief Information Officer, Attention: Departmental Clearance Officer, 200 Constitution Avenue, N.W., Room N-1301, Washington, DC 20210 or email DOL_PRA_PUBLIC@dol.gov and reference the OMB Control Number 1210-0040. OMB Control Number 1210-0040 (expires 03/31/2026)

This is a summary of the annual report for THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA MATCHING PLAN, EIN 23-1352685, Plan No. 001, for period January 1,2022 through December 31, 2022. The annual report has been filed with the Employee Benefits Security Administration, as required under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA).

Basic Financial Statement

Benefits under the University of Pennsylvania Matching Plan (the plan) are provided by insurance and a trust fund. Plan expenses were $256,048,086. These expenses included $606,771 in administrative expenses and $255,441,315 in benefits paid to participants and beneficiaries. A total of 28,001 persons were participants in, or beneficiaries of, the plan at the end of the plan year, although not all of these persons had yet earned the right to receive benefits.

The value of plan assets, after subtracting liabilities of the plan, was $5,530,640,141 as of December 31, 2022, compared to $6,401,773,334 as of January 1, 2022. During the plan year, the plan experienced a decrease in its net assets of $871,133,193. This decrease includes unrealized appreciation and depreciation in the value of plan assets. The plan had total income of ($615,085,107), including employer contributions of $86,427,259, employee contributions of $97,277,175, other contributions of $12,862,662, earnings from investments of ($797,028,193), and other income of ($14,624,010).

The total premiums paid for the plan year ending December 31, 2022 were $0.

Your Rights To Additional Information

You have the right to receive a copy of the full annual report, or any part thereof, on request. The items listed below are included in that report:

• an accountant’s report;
• financial information;
• information on payments to service providers;
• assets held for investment;
• insurance information, including sales commissions paid by insurance carriers; and
• information regarding any common or collective trusts, pooled separate accounts, master trusts or 103-12 investment entities in which the plan participates.

To obtain a copy of the full annual report, or any part thereof, send a written request to:

Trustees of the University of PA
HR Retirement Plans
3451 Walnut St, 6th Floor
Philadelphia, PA 19104-6205

The charge to cover copying costs will be $0.00 for the full annual report, or $0.25 per page for any part thereof.

You also have the right to receive from the plan administrator, on request and at no charge, a statement of the assets and liabilities of the plan and accompanying notes, or a statement of income and expenses of the plan and accompanying notes, or both. If you request a copy of the full annual report from the plan administrator, these two statements and accompanying notes will be included as part of that report. The charge to cover copying costs given above does not include a charge for the copying of these portions of the report because these portions are provided without charge.

You also have the legally protected right to examine the annual report at the main office of the plan (TRUSTEES OF THE UNIVERSITY OF PA, 3451 WALNUT STREET 6TH FLOOR, PHILADELPHIA, PA 19104-6205) and at the U.S. Department of Labor in Washington, D.C., or to obtain a copy from the U.S. Department of Labor upon payment of copying costs. Requests to the Department should be addressed to:

Public Disclosure Room, Room N-1513
Employee Benefits Security Administration
U.S. Department of Labor
200 Constitution Avenue, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20210

Paperwork Reduction Act Statement

According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13) (PRA), no persons are required to respond to a collection of information unless such collection displays a valid Office of Management and Budget (OMB) control number.  The department notes that a federal agency cannot conduct or sponsor a collection of information unless it is approved by OMB under the PRA, and displays a currently valid OMB control number, and the public is not required to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number. See 44 U.S.C. 3507. Also, notwithstanding any other provisions of law, no person shall be subject to penalty for failing to comply with a collection of information if the collection of information does not display a currently valid OMB control number. See 44 U.S.C. 3512.

The public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average less than one minute per notice (approximately 3 hours and 11 minutes per plan).  Interested parties are encouraged to send comments regarding the burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden, to the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of the Chief Information Officer, Attention: Departmental Clearance Officer, 200 Constitution Avenue, N.W., Room N-1301, Washington, DC 20210 or email DOL_PRA_PUBLIC@dol.gov and reference the OMB Control Number 1210-0040. OMB Control Number 1210-0040 (expires 03/31/2026)

This is a summary of the annual report for SUPPLEMENTAL RETIREMENT ANNUITY PLAN OF THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA, EIN 23-1352685, Plan No. 002, for period January 1, 2022 through December 31, 2022. The annual report has been filed with the Employee Benefits Security Administration, as required under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA).

Basic Financial Statement

Benefits under the Supplemental Retirement Annuity Plan of the University of Pennsylvania (the plan) are provided by insurance and a trust fund. Plan expenses were $66,814,491. These expenses included $229,537 in administrative expenses, $66,527,614 in benefits paid to participants and beneficiaries, and $57,340 in other expenses. A total of 28,067 persons were participants in, or beneficiaries of, the plan at the end of the plan year, although not all of these persons had yet earned the right to receive benefits.

The value of plan assets, after subtracting liabilities of the plan, was $1,692,153,953 as of December 31, 2022, compared to $1,909,537,931 as of January 1, 2022. During the plan year, the plan experienced a decrease in its net assets of $217,383,978. This decrease includes unrealized appreciation and depreciation in the value of plan assets. The plan had total income of ($150,569,487), including employee contributions of $67,060,849, other contributions of $39,602,670, earnings from investments of ($252,067,493), and other income of ($5,165,513).

The total premiums paid for the plan year ending December 31, 2022 were $0.

Your Rights To Additional Information

You have the right to receive a copy of the full annual report, or any part thereof, on request. The items listed below are included in that report:

• an accountant’s report;
• financial information;
• information on payments to service providers;
• assets held for investment;
• insurance information, including sales commissions paid by insurance carriers; and
• information regarding any common or collective trusts, pooled separate accounts, master trusts or 103-12 investment entities in which the plan participates.

To obtain a copy of the full annual report, or any part thereof, send a written request to:

Trustees of the University of PA
HR Retirement Plans
3451 Walnut St, 6th Floor
Philadelphia, PA 19104-6205

The charge to cover copying costs will be $0.00 for the full annual report, or $0.25 per page for any part thereof.

You also have the right to receive from the plan administrator, on request and at no charge, a statement of the assets and liabilities of the plan and accompanying notes, or a statement of income and expenses of the plan and accompanying notes, or both. If you request a copy of the full annual report from the plan administrator, these two statements and accompanying notes will be included as part of that report. The charge to cover copying costs given above does not include a charge for the copying of these portions of the report because these portions are provided without charge.

You also have the legally protected right to examine the annual report at the main office of the plan (TRUSTEES OF THE UNIVERSITY OF PA, 3451 WALNUT STREET 6TH FLOOR, PHILADELPHIA, PA 19104-6205) and at the U.S. Department of Labor in Washington, D.C., or to obtain a copy from the U.S. Department of Labor upon payment of copying costs. Requests to the Department should be addressed to:

Public Disclosure Room, Room N-1513
Employee Benefits Security Administration
U.S. Department of Labor
200 Constitution Avenue, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20210

Paperwork Reduction Act Statement

According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13) (PRA), no persons are required to respond to a collection of information unless such collection displays a valid Office of Management and Budget (OMB) control number.  The department notes that a federal agency cannot conduct or sponsor a collection of information unless it is approved by OMB under the PRA, and displays a currently valid OMB control number, and the public is not required to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number. See 44 U.S.C. 3507.  Also, notwithstanding any other provisions of law, no person shall be subject to penalty for failing to comply with a collection of information if the collection of information does not display a currently valid OMB control number. See 44 U.S.C. 3512.

The public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average less than one minute per notice (approximately 3 hours and 11 minutes per plan).  Interested parties are encouraged to send comments regarding the burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden, to the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of the Chief Information Officer, Attention: Departmental Clearance Officer, 200 Constitution Avenue, N.W., Room N-1301, Washington, DC 20210 or email DOL_PRA_PUBLIC@dol.gov and reference the OMB Control Number 1210-0040. OMB Control Number 1210-0040 (expires 03/31/2026)

The University of Pennsylvania Libraries (Penn Libraries) has acquired two important collections that illuminate Sun Ra’s artistic output and his influence on American music and culture, including the research file of jazz historian John Szwed, author of the biography Space is the Place: The Lives and Times of Sun Ra.

As a composer, bandleader, piano and synthesizer player, Le Sony’r Ra—born Herman Poole Blount and better known as Sun Ra—produced more than one hundred full-length albums, making him one of the most prolific recording artists of the twentieth century. He was also an actor, poet, painter, philosopher, and a pioneer of Afrofuturism. His former living and workspace in the Germantown neighborhood of Philadelphia was added to the city’s Register of Historic Places in 2022.

“The Penn Libraries has made it a priority to build special collections in the performing and visual arts that reflect the Philadelphia community’s rich cultural heritage,” said Sean Quimby, associate university librarian, director of the Jay I. Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts, and director of the Schoenberg Institute for Manuscript Studies. “These collections open new vistas of opportunity to explore Sun Ra’s career, his ties to Philadelphia, and the creative roots of Afrofuturism.”

Mr. Szwed’s substantial research archive, much of which was compiled during his writing of Space is the Place, includes a number of unique and rare materials. Among them is a large paper file of letters from those who were close to Sun Ra or knew him from his earliest years; a run of 50 issues of the Sun Ra Quarterly and Sun Ra Research Magazine, containing band interviews, photos, and poetry; sheet music and lists of many compositions and arrangements that were never recorded; and 15 audio cassettes of Sun Ra’s radio programs, including those on WXPN.

“In addition to being unique, the archive is essential to understanding Sun Ra’s life and importance,” John Szwed said, also noting that many of the materials he assembled were never published or reprinted. Mr. Szwed discussed his collection in a virtual public talk on Friday, October 20.

A second collection, acquired from the Boo-Hooray gallery in New York City, focuses on visually compelling materials, with original album art, photography, performance flyers and posters, publications, press materials, and ephemera. Together, these items trace the career of Sun Ra and his band, the Arkestra, known for its revolving cast of dozens of musicians, including Marshall Allen, Don Cherry, John Gilmore, and June Tyson, among others.

“This collection underscores the visual culture of the overall scene, which would become what we think of as Afrofuturism,” said Mr. Quimby. “Whether it’s the album design work, the posters, the publications—it’s really all about building community around a multimedia aesthetic.”  

The work of Sun Ra’s many artistic and business collaborators is highlighted through materials connected with his record imprint and publishing venture, El Saturn Records, including ephemera and correspondence from his friend and business manager Alton Abraham. While the greatest concentration of materials spans the 1960s to the 1980s, the collection also includes items that date from the 1950s, 1990s, and 2000s.

Throughout the 1960s, Mr.  Ra lived and worked in Philadelphia, New York and Chicago. In 1968, he and some members of the Arkestra moved into a rowhouse at 5626 Morton Street in the Germantown neighborhood of Philadelphia. Mr. Ra periodically lived and rehearsed in the house—known alternately as the Arkestral Institute of Sun Ra, or the Sun Ra House—until his death in 1993. The City of Philadelphia officially added the house to its Register of Historic Places in May 2022.  

For the Penn Libraries, these acquisitions complement a growing number of collections focused on Philadelphia culture and community, including the archive of pioneering contralto Marian Anderson, the archives of the Philadelphia Orchestra and Academy of Music, and the papers of legendary conductors Leopold Stokowski and Eugene Ormandy.

“We are thrilled that the Penn Libraries has acquired these wonderful collections of correspondence, compositions, and ephemera,” said Timothy Rommen, chair of the department of music and Davidson Kennedy Professor in the College of Arts & Sciences departments of music and Africana studies. “That Penn faculty and students will be able to engage deeply with the artistic and cosmic worlds of Sun Ra who, along with his Arkestra, are central to the rich cultural history of Philadelphia, is truly exciting.”

The Penn Libraries’ collections contain a variety of examples of Afrofuturism, from sound recordings, film, and artwork to fiction, comic books, and graphic novels.

“Today’s undergraduates, who are often introduced to Afrofuturism through global franchises such as the Black Panther movies, frequently never learn of distinctively African American grass roots forerunners like Sun Ra,” said Nick Okrent, coordinator and librarian for humanities collections. “These unique collections will support pedagogy and public exhibits introducing Sun Ra to new audiences and will provide local African American intellectual context to a global phenomenon.”

A public exhibit on Sun Ra and Afrofuturism, to include complementary lectures, panels, and concerts, is tentatively scheduled for August 2026.

“These materials will undoubtedly spur new research, enable innovative curricular opportunities, and further our commitment to engaging with the sound worlds of Philadelphia,” said Jasmine Henry, an assistant professor of music. “We all look forward to the new insights into Sun Ra’s imaginative vision for social justice and pioneering creative practice that will emerge through explorations of these invaluable collections.” 

The November AT PENN 2023 calendar is online. To view a web version of the calendar, click here. To download a printable PDF of the calendar, click here. 

The October AT PENN 2023 calendar can still be viewed at almanac.upenn.edu/at-penn-calendar/october-at-penn-2023. 

Calling all kids and families: Have you ever wanted to explore the Penn Museum galleries after dark? Join Penn Museum on November 10 for Up Late with the Sphinx, an evening filled with games and gallery activities. Drop into a hands-on workshop and make something special to take home, then finish your evening with a flashlight tour through the museum. 

Each ticket includes a special Penn Museum patch. This program is best suited for children ages 6-12. The event takes place from 5-10 p.m. To buy tickets, visit https://www.penn.museum/calendar/28/up-late-with-the-sphinx. 

Division of Public Safety University of Pennsylvania Police Department Crime Report

About the Crime Report: Below are the Crimes Against Persons and/or Crimes Against Property from the campus report for October 16-22, 2023. The Crime Reports are available at: https://almanac.upenn.edu/sections/crimes. Prior weeks’ reports are also online. –Eds.

This summary is prepared by the Division of Public Safety (DPS) and contains all criminal incidents reported and made known to the Penn Police, including those reported to the Philadelphia Police Department (PPD) that occurred within our patrol zone, for the dates of October 16-22, 2023. The Penn Police actively patrol from Market Street to Baltimore Avenue and from 30^th Street to 43^rd Street in conjunction with the Philadelphia Police.

In this effort to provide you with a thorough and accurate report on public safety concerns, we hope that your increased awareness will lessen the opportunity for crime. For any concerns or suggestions regarding this report, please call DPS at (215) 898-7297. You may view the daily crime log on the DPS website.

Penn Police Patrol Zone
Market Street to Baltimore Avenue and from 30^th Street to 43^rd Street

Philadelphia Police 18th District
Schuylkill River to 49th Street & Market Street to Woodland Avenue

Below are the Crimes Against Persons from the 18th District: 5 incidents were reported for October 16-22, 2023 by the 18^th District, covering the Schuylkill River to 49th Street & Market Street to Woodland Avenue.

The Division of Public Safety offers resources and support to the Penn community. DPS developed a few helpful risk reduction strategies outlined below. Know that it is never the fault of the person impacted (victim/survivor) by crime.

• See something concerning? Connect with Penn Public Safety 24/7 at (215) 573-3333.
• Worried about a friend’s or colleague’s mental or physical health? Get 24/7 connection to appropriate resources at (215) 898-HELP (4357).
• Seeking support after experiencing a crime? Call Special Services (support and advocacy resources) at (215) 898-4481 or email an advocate at specialservices@publicsafety.upenn.edu.
• Use the Walking Escort and Riding services available to you free of charge.
• Take a moment to update your cellphone information for the UPennAlert Emergency Notification System.
• Download the Penn Guardian App which can help Police better find your location when you call in an emergency.
• Access free self-empowerment and defense courses through Penn DPS.
• Stay alert and reduce distractions. (Using cellphones, ear buds, etc. may limit your awareness.)
• Orient yourself to your surroundings. (Identify your location, nearby exits, etc.)
• Keep your valuables out of sight and only carry necessary documents.

Visit https://pennsway.upenn.edu for more information. Online participation must be completed by midnight on Sunday for inclusion in a given week’s drawing that Monday morning. Note: list subject to change.

Week Four–Drawing October 30

Benco Dental: Barnes & Noble Gift Card, $25 value: Andrea Juchniewicz-Lurie, Penn Medicine Corporate

Specialty Underwriters: JBL Harmon Flip5 Bluetooth Speaker, $90 value: Carla Crawford, Penn Dining

Neta Scientific: Amazon Gift Card, $25 value: Elizabeth Weir, Penn Medicine Corporate

Philadanco!: Dance Classes (10), $100 value: Michelle McGovern, HUP Cardiology ECHO Lab

Longwood Gardens: Admission Passes (2), $50 value: Chavonne Stratton, FRES Housekeeping

Adventure Aquarium: Admission Passes (two), $70 value: Kendra Moton, Penn Children’s Center

Maximum Graphics: Olive Garden Gift Card, $25 value: Nicole Cain, HUP Emergency Services

Week Five–Drawing November 6

PDC Graphics: Oyster House gift card, $50 value

Benco Dental: Barnes & Noble gift card, $25 value

12th Street Catering: Gift certificate for lunch, $100 value

Brandywine Conservancy & Museum of Art: Admission passes (four), $72 value

BalletX at the Mann: Admission passes (four) for April performances, $100 value

McKesson: Starbucks gift card, $25 value

Dear Penn Community,

We have begun our planning for the holiday season. We trust that you are all well and that you will once again be able to join us in this undertaking during the upcoming holiday season.  

The Penn community continues to have a major impact during the holiday season. Your generosity and concern are most valued.

Below is a list of current opportunities. These opportunities are special in that they are designed to bring joy during the holidays. I look forward to working with you as we make a difference in the lives of our beloved community. 

Thank you so very much for your continued generosity. Your contributions allow us to respond to various requests from local agencies and families for donations during the holiday season.  

Thank you for all you do! 

Holiday Food Drive
November 8-18

Let’s take a bite out of hunger! In this season of thanks and giving, please contribute to the Annual Food Drive coordinated by Penn VIPS. We are collecting non-perishable foods (cans and boxed foods) as well as turkeys.

Donations will restock the pantry at Salvation Army, Southwest Family Services, the People’s Emergency Center, and local schools, as well as helping many deserving families in the area.

Please contact one of the Dropsite Committee members listed below for more information: 

Holiday Giving With Penn Volunteers In Public Service: Gift/Toy Drive/Sneaker Drive to Benefit the Homeless
December 1-16

Please join us in the Annual Penn Volunteers in Public Service Holiday Drive. As you buy toys and presents for the holiday season, please consider spreading some cheer to deserving members of our community. All toys and gifts donated will support the efforts of the People’s Emergency Center, local schools, Potter’s Mission, Southwest Family Services, and many more organizations. New sneakers will benefit Otley House and other local shelters.

All items for the holiday drive must be new, not used and unwrapped.

Please contact one of the Dropsite Committee members listed below for more information: 

Penn Volunteers In Public Service: Adopt A Family for the Holidays Program. 

Several departments have adopted a deserving family for the holidays and will provide the family with toys, food, and gifts so that they too can have a joyous holiday.

During the holiday in December, departments from across the University “adopt” a deserving family. The adoption is usually done in lieu of departmental gift exchanges. The assigned family is treated to presents and sometimes a holiday dinner. Families participate in the program on a one-time basis. Families are assigned to departments based on request. Departments choose the size of the family they would like to adopt. Departments can also request the ages of the children they are interested in adopting.

Departments may request a “wish list” from the family or they may choose their own gifts for the family members. Departments choose the number and types of gifts they will provide. Departments are provided with the size of the family, names, ages, and sizes of each family member, and a wish list if requested.

Departments are encouraged to deliver gifts to the families, but they may also request to have gifts delivered. Also, if departments would like to use services like Amazon, gifts can be shipped directly to the family.

Eligibility: Families are selected from the Baring House Family Service Agency, local agencies, and shelters. A small number of referrals are also accepted.

Dates: Selection of families begins in November and assignments are made before and during mid-December. Contact Isabel Sampson-Mapp at (215) 898-2020 or send an email: sammapp@pobox.upenn.edu for additional information and/or to volunteer for this program.

Help CHOP Families Claim Their Tax Refunds

CHOP’s Medical Financial Partnership (MFP) offers high-quality financial services to help families build wealth and improve their health. MFP is seeking volunteers to support CHOP families in filing their tax returns. Tax credits can mean thousands of dollars in parents’ pockets to meet their children’s needs! 

Ever left a volunteer shift and wondered if you made a difference? Serve as a tax preparer and know that you are improving people’s financial well-being. To date, MFP has garnered over $1.1 million in refunds for community members. Not comfortable preparing someone’s taxes? Serve as a “greeter” to share information about the tax prep process, help families fill out paperwork, and support the tax preparers. Training for both roles is provided.

Self-guided online training and VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) certification required (approx. 8 hours for basic training). Volunteer shifts run January 16-April 13, 2024, Tuesday/Thursday 4:30-7:30 p.m., Saturday 8:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.

Location: Karabots Pediatric Care Center (4865 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19139)

Email Kate Morrow at morrowk2@chop.edu for more information on how to get started with training. Or, contact Isabel Sampson-Mapp at (215) 898-2020 or send an email to sammapp@pobox.upenn.edu for additional information and/or to volunteer for this program.

Become a Dropsite Volunteer

Participate in the five annual drives held by Penn Volunteers In Public Service (Penn VIPS) to benefit members of the surrounding community.

We need locations around the University that can serve as a drop-off point during our school, toy, and gift drives, as well as other events. Your role would be to help advertise the event and to collect and deliver the donated items to our central location.

March—Change Drive

August—School Supplies Drive

November—Food Drive

December—Toy and Gift Drive

December—New Sneaker Drive for the Homeless

Contact Isabel Sampson-Mapp at (215) 898-2020 or send an e-mail to sammapp@pobox.upenn.edu for additional information and/or to make a donation.

Create Your Own Volunteer Activity for Your Department

Would you and your colleagues or friends like to participate in a volunteer activity? Penn VIPS is happy to connect you to an activity or help you develop one of your own.

Contact Isabel Sampson-Mapp at (215) 898-2020 or send an e-mail to sammapp@pobox.upenn.edu for additional information and/or to make a donation.

Donate Unused Office Supplies

Remodeling the office? No longer need that file cabinet or desk? Want to do something useful with no longer needed items used by your department, but still in good condition?

Penn VIPS maintains an extensive list of local agencies, and non-profits in desperate need of your no-longer-needed items. We connect no longer needed items with members of the community who are happy to put donated items to good use. We can easily make arrangements for pickup. Don’t throw it out! Contact Penn VIPS.

Contact Isabel Sampson-Mapp at (215) 898-2020 or send an e-mail to sammapp@pobox.upenn.edu for additional information and/or to make a donation.

—Isabel Sampson-Mapp

The Center for Advanced Research in Global Communication (CARGC) at the Annenberg School for Communication at the University of Pennsylvania invites applications for a CARGC Postdoctoral Fellowship. This is a one-year position renewable for a second year based on successful performance.

Fellowship Details

CARGC postdoctoral fellows work on their own research while also participating in and leading ongoing research projects within CARGC. During the fellowship, they present their work as part of a postdoctoral colloquium and work closely with the senior research manager on a plan for publishing their research. There are limited opportunities for teaching that are decided in consultation with associate dean for undergraduate studies.

Fellows will receive a minimum stipend of $65,000, commensurate with previous postdoctoral experience. CARGC will also provide a research fund of $3,000, individual health insurance and dependent coverage, a workspace, a computer in CARGC’s office, and library access. In addition, CARGC will cover $1,000 in domestic relocation expenses and $2,000 if moving internationally. Please note that all postdoctoral fellows must submit documentation to demonstrate eligibility to work in the United States. Non-U.S. citizens selected for this position will be required to apply for an appropriate U.S. visa.

This is a residential fellowship.

Eligibility

We welcome applications from early career scholars with a PhD awarded by an institution other than the University of Pennsylvania. The chosen applicant must have successfully defended their dissertation by the fellowship start date. The appointment typically begins on August 15.

Submitting Your Application

A complete application consists of:

Cover Letter – Explain how your research aligns with CARGC’s mission and contributes to the field of global media and communication studies.

Research Statement – Explain your core research interests and how you plan to build on your dissertation research.

CV (not to exceed three pages) – List degrees, peer-reviewed publications, academic non-peer-reviewed publications, public scholarship, invited talks, conference papers, other relevant qualifications, and specific research and language skills.

References – Please provide names and contact information for three references (including that of your dissertation supervisor).

One peer-reviewed publication – Please include a published peer-reviewed journal article or a chapter published in an anthology/edited collection.

Timeline

All materials must be sent as a single PDF document to cargc@asc.upenn.edu by December 1, 2023. Because of the volume of applications, we are unable to read drafts of submissions. Incomplete or late applications will not be considered. We expect to contact finalists for Zoom interviews by the end of January and make final decisions shortly thereafter.

—CARGC

Rudra Sil

Teaching college students about any given topic can be a challenge. But things get significantly more complicated when the topic is suddenly in the news—and generating passionately held views and sharply divergent opinions (as is presently the case amid the intensifying violence and chaos in Israel/Gaza). I have been teaching a political science course on Russian politics here at Penn for about a quarter century. In the beginning, and indeed for a majority of the period over which I have taught the course, this has not been an especially problematic task. But, somewhere along the way, things started to get more difficult as Russia’s relations with the West started to go on a downward spiral. Presidential candidate Mitt Romney had declared in 2012 that Russia should be treated as “our number one geopolitical foe”—or, as the Kremlin put it, “enemy number one.” Well two years later, with the annexation of Crimea and Russia’s support for Donbas separatists, Russia was constantly in the news—frequently cast in the role of an implacable foreign adversary seeking to threaten its neighbors, disrupt world order, and re-start the Cold War. Now, with the Ukraine War well into its second year following Russia’s invasion in February 2022, most analysts see Russia’s relations with the West as being at its lowest point in at least four decades—since even before the fall of the Berlin Wall and the break-up of the Soviet Union. 

Needless to say, this state of affairs has made teaching about Russian politics far more complicated than when I first started teaching the course. More students are enrolling in the course than, say, ten or fifteen years ago. But, they are also entering the classroom while constantly bombarded by sharply worded op-eds condemning Russia, accompanied by deeply disturbing images and stories about a bloody and devastating war. In such an environment, any effort to articulate a nuanced view about Russian politics or society—even if it is about an earlier period of its history—can quickly become very loaded. So, to borrow the title of one of Lenin’s pamphlets, what is to be done? How is one to frame a course on “enemy number one” in the midst of a war so that students can comfortably learn something beyond what they see in the news or on social media posts? Below, I mention a few strategies that I have developed in my course on Russian politics, strategies that could potentially be adapted for any course that includes controversial issues or emotionally charged topics that are constantly in the news. 

First, given the constant stream of disturbing stories and images we have been encountering since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, I begin with a sort of generic “trigger warning” for the course as a whole. That is, I openly acknowledge how unsettling it might be to calmly delve into complicated issues and long-standing historical forces while simultaneously having intense emotional reactions to news reports and social media posts about the devastation of the Ukraine War. Even before the first class, I circulate a “welcome note” that acknowledges the discomfort some may feel in embarking on an open-ended scholarly inquiry and encountering divergent points of view at a time when millions are experiencing hardship and loss amid a bloody war. I also make it a point to recognize that such feelings may be stronger among students with ties to the region – perhaps because they or their parents were born in Russia, Ukraine, or other countries that were once part of the Soviet Bloc. For them, the topics we discuss may hit especially close to home, challenging or reinforcing certain images or beliefs they may have internalized even before they came to Penn. Such discomfort will not—and should not—disappear. Nonetheless, it is important for students to know that the feeling is natural and that it is also acknowledged (if not shared) by the professor.

Second, I seek to be crystal clear about the goals of the course right from the outset. This includes clarity not only on the course content, but also on our mutual expectations as teacher and student. Given that many students enroll in the course for the purpose of learning things that will be “useful” in some professional context, I emphasize that this particular course is not about identifying the best way to pursue a current policy objective, such as how to defeat Russia on the battlefield, weaken Putin’s hold on power, or promote democracy in Russia. It is not that the knowledge students acquire in this class is irrelevant for those intent on pursuing such objectives. However, students need to know from the start that I will be adopting the perspective of a scholar rather than a policymaker, which implies exposing and critically dissecting the assumptions informing typical foreign policy questions while launching a more open-ended inquiry into the various historical forces, external pressures, and complex dynamics that led to whatever situation policymakers are attempting to deal with at present. 

I make equally clear what I expect from the students. The students who get the most out of the class will be distinguished not by the positions they take on any given topic, but rather by the sophistication of their arguments. This implies thoughtful consideration of the logical and empirical bases for competing points of view, even if this ultimately leads a student to line up behind a policy or approach I have been critically evaluating. Knowing this, students feel empowered to embrace controversial arguments and challenge well-established theories or points I myself may have made in my lectures. In some cases, a student may embrace the prevalent narrative in the mainstream media or the dominant position in foreign policy circles. But the important thing in such cases is that students learn to articulate their views in a more complex manner, taking into account contending views and identifying their limits. 

Finally, and linked to all of the above, I try to make clear to the students who I am: a scholar at Penn who was born in India, who attended schools in six cities across three continents, and who attended college and graduate school in California, where he developed a deep-seated curiosity about the (former) Soviet Union even before the Cold War ended. I even point out the role that Model UN had in shaping my interest in international affairs and generating questions about what Ronald Reagan once called “the evil empire.” At Berkeley, what prompted me to switch my major from biochemistry and physics to political science was the desire to better understand the forces that enabled the USSR’s rise to superpower status and its subsequent break-up, all of which happened long before Vladimir Putin came to power. I share this mini-biography with students so that they can rest assured that what they are about to encounter is not tied to some hidden agenda associated with any part of my background but rather an organically emergent curiosity that has persisted over several decades. 

Of course, things may have been more complicated had I been teaching this class while being of Russian origin (as would be the case at present with someone from Israel or the Arabic-speaking Middle East teaching on the Arab-Israeli conflict). But, be that as it may, it is better to be open about how one’s background and personal experiences might shape their perceptions of the subject matter, not only as scholars grappling with challenging problems but also as human beings who may also be deeply affected by what’s going on. This type of transparency, I think, can make it easier for students to be more relaxed when approaching complex issues and divergent arguments that may not fit neatly with their preconceptions about controversial topics that are in the news every day.

Rudra Sil is a professor and director of graduate studies in the department of political science in the School of Arts & Sciences. In 2022, he was awarded the Ira H. Abrams Memorial Prize for Distinguished Teaching in the School of Arts and Sciences.

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This essay continues the series that began in the fall of 1994 as the joint creation of the College of Arts and Sciences, the Center for Teaching and Learning, and the Lindback Society for Distinguished Teaching. 

See https://almanac.upenn.edu/talk-about-teaching-and-learning-archive for previous essays.