Panel explores boundaries

The differences between the University and the "real world" were highlighted Tuesday in a panel discussion entitled "Building Bridges: The Academy in the Wider World." The discussion, sponsored by the Political Science Department, was part of a two-day symposium called "Boundaries and Connections: Situating Disciplines in the Order of Knowledge." Thomas Callaghy, Political Science Department chairperson, opened the discussion with his assessment of academia's relationship with the outside world. Setting the theme for the rest of the speakers, he described "the tension between scholarship and policy." He also described a conference dealing with Africa's unsettled political situation which he attended last month. Explaining how academics can skew facts to affect public policy, he noted that many professors try to portray Africa positively by referring to its growing economy. But Callaghy said the African countries are in reality suffering from civil wars and famine. Another panelist, Julie Parr, executive director of Prevention Point Philadelphia, explained how she deals with the tension between scholarship and policy on a daily basis through her work at the needle exchange program. She spoke of the strong opposition that her organization faces in trying to give clean needles to drug addicts, despite overwhelming evidence that such programs reduce the spread of AIDS. "Scholarship says that needle exchanges work, yet policy says that it is wrong," she noted. Parr also explained that scientific proof does not necessarily make a policy attractive to the public. Bioethics Professor Glenn McGee agreed with Parr's assessment. He described the public outcry that resulted from the recent cloning of a sheep as an example of the rift between academics and policy. "Scholarship is thought to be better if it can enter the mainstream," said McGee, who added that most Americans are uncomfortable with cloning and that governmental policy has reflected that feeling. Despite these examples of tension, the panelists noted that academia is not always at odds with the real world. "Scholarship has added validity to ideas," Parr said. Explaining that needle exchanges -- which heroin users actually discovered -- would never have gained acceptance without the support of the scientific community, Parr expressed her confidence in the influence that scholarship can have on the world. "Academia can change policy," she said. Monday's discussions, held at the History Department Lounge at 3401 Walnut, focused on the relationship the political science field has with other academic disciplines. The symposium's other panels -- which featured several professors as well as individuals from the community -- were held yesterday in Stiteler Hall's Undergraduate Lounge.