Nearly every student on this campus has — at one time or another — dealt with the frustration of a friend or acquaintance from home confusing Penn with a state school. There is potential for even more confusion in the future, as there are talks of establishing a fully funded public university in Philadelphia. But although there may be more blows to Quakers’ egos, a new state college could do a world of good for the city.
Currently, there are no completely public four-year universities within the city limits. As a result, Philadelphia high-school students who want to stay local for college and lack deep pockets are in a bind. A new state university in the city could give local high schoolers the opportunity to obtain a college education at a more affordable price. No one should be held back because they cannot afford to live away from home.
Plans for a state school in the city are very preliminary, and an official proposal has not yet been released. We encourage further exploration of this possibility, and hope University administration and Penn students become involved in the plans.
It is in these earliest stages that groups can make the biggest impact. And with extensive knowledge of and experience with college-city relations and the challenges faced by schools and students in Philadelphia, members of the Penn community have a unique perspective that could be a welcome addition to discussions about this major higher-education initiative.
