The Daily Pennsylvanian met with University Trustee and NBC News correspondent Andrea Mitchell after she led the panel on "Creating and Communicating Knowledge in an Unequal World."
DP: As leader of the panel, what was your personal objective?
AM: My objective was to bring some of the best minds of Penn to the larger University and community audience, and create a dialogue about how the University can help foster democracy in a diverse society.
DP: How does the topic of the panel relate to President Gutmann's vision for the University?
AM: The topic of the panel fits beautifully with President Gutmann's vision, because she has spent a lifetime studying and analyzing the obstacles to democratization in diverse societies. ...
DP: What concrete steps can be taken by the administration to realize this vision?
AM: I think the administration can enhance the work of the Penn-Alexander School, which is part of President Gutmann's mission statement.
We are talking about a high school for West Philadelphia which would have great Penn involvement, which is another idea. Expanding the access to the University is part of her Penn compact to bring in more diverse students, to make Penn more accessible to people from different means. And I think to take the faculty's enthusiasm for interdisciplinary course work to the next level ... is a very exciting goal.
DP: How can University community members be proactive in addressing the issues presented in the panel?
AM: ... We can all look for ways to be engaged in the community ... and make a commitment -- whether it's through volunteer work, through endowing projects or just mentoring -- in ways that break down barriers and foster communication.
