Urban expert talks justice, public policy

As a political science professor, social activist and keynote speaker for this year's three-day Steinberg Symposium, John DiIulio Jr. has been a busy man. On Wednesday, the nationally renowned expert on criminal justice and public policy took time to share lunch and conversation with a group of about 12 Penn students and professors in Stiteler Hall. Between bites of Caesar salad, he responded to students' questions and related anecdotes about his life. Raised in South Philadelphia, DiIulio -- on campus as part of the Steinberg Symposium on "Beyond Ideology: Discovering Hope for America's Cities in Leadership" -- fondly referred to his "pretty conventional working class, lunch pail background." He added that he was the first member of his family to go to college. "I had no notion of being an academic," DiIulio confessed. "I thought I was going to work for my cousin Jimmy." But Penn Political Science Professor Jack Nagel intervened and suggested DiIulio consider graduate school. DiIulio ended up at Harvard University, where he earned his doctorate. Calling his dissertation on prisons "a topic that a political scientist wouldn't write about," he explained that his career path never followed a stereotypical trajectory. Just two years out of Harvard, he was offered a teaching position at Princeton University. However, other schools had offered him tenured positions, and as he put it, "I needed a real job." DiIulio eventually accepted the Princeton job, held out for tenure and got it -- a fact which he said still amazes him. A tenured professorship was merely the jumping off point for his public career. "If you are a political scientist? there is a responsibility," he said. It was this sense of responsibility that prompted DiIulio's interest in public administration, social welfare and the criminal justice system. "I'm as far removed from the academic side of things as I can be and still credibly draw a paycheck," he admitted. Explaining that he finds real satisfaction in working with youth programs, DiIulio said, "I could give you anecdote after anecdote about how this has changed lives." Not that his work has been easy. "I've been involved in more controversies than any human being should," DiIulio remarked, referring to the number of controversial faith-based youth programs which he has supported. DiIulio said he is determined to continue his social activism. "I just decided? I was going to help directly with my own volunteer time, and my own resources." DiIulio related the story of how he helped raise money for an inner-city ministry whose building burned down. "That commitment is more important," he said of his hands-on efforts. "When this has come and gone," DiIulio added, referring to his academic career, "I still want to be there." DiIulio's anecdotes struck a chord with the students. College sophomore Nina Rubin said, "I think this is inspiring for political science students." College junior Beatrice Jauregui attended because of her interest in criminal justice. "It was a very informative talk," she said. "It was encouraging because that's what I would like to do? have a practical impact."