Editorial | This is Philadelphia’s year

The day you arrive at Penn, you find yourself enveloped in a strange mirage — one that reshapes Philadelphia into something smaller, tidier, and freshly named: “University City.” In this curated dystopia, the grass seems always trimmed, the buildings cost more than entire neighborhoods, and $10 coffees are shared over conversations about changing the world. The bubble is built to sound quaint. But the truth is that its very air rises from the city’s breath. It is born of streets, labor, and memory that we rarely stop to see. Without Philadelphia, there is no Penn. And if we truly do want to change the world, we should begin with the world closest to us.

This summer will mark the 250th anniversary of the independence of the United States. What better place to experience such a historic moment than in the very city where the Declaration of Independence was signed? Over the next year, we urge Penn students to take advantage of the plethora of opportunities this city offers and not keep themselves shuttered within the campus “bubble.” Next summer, multiple celebrations will be taking place — including Wawa Welcome America, which hosts festivities celebrating freedom from Juneteenth to Independence Day. Many museums and historic sites across the city have provided free admission for the duration of past events, giving students an ideal opportunity to explore everything Philadelphia has to offer. Such historic events make this upcoming summer in Philadelphia a once-in-a-lifetime experience — so if you have the chance to stay in Philadelphia, seize it. 

Philadelphia is also lucky to be home to major league teams in every major sport: the Eagles (NFL), the Phillies (MLB), the 76ers (NBA), and the Flyers (NHL). Few cities match the passion and loyalty of Philadelphia sports fans, who exemplify brotherhood, diversity, and pride. Attending a game isn’t just about the sport — it’s about the energy and the feeling that you are part of a wider community beyond Penn. As Penn students, we are lucky to be part of a school that is so embedded in such a vibrant culture, whether by going to club watch parties or taking advantage of the subsidized tickets Penn often offers. We are lucky to be able to experience firsthand what makes Philadelphia’s sports scene so unique and unforgettable.

There is urgency to this, too. We have a duty to support local businesses, show up at community events, advocate for transit equity, and see the city not as a backdrop to Penn, but as a key part of our education. With SEPTA returning to full service but hiking fares to historic highs, there’s never been a more important time for Penn students to actually look beyond Locust Walk. For thousands of working Philadelphians, higher fares aren’t merely an annoyance; they’re another cost piled onto the daily effort just to get to work. Public transit is what keeps this city running — and when it becomes harder to afford, the people who hold it together feel it first. So if we really mean all that talk about engaging with Philadelphia, it has to start with seeing — and standing with — the people who keep it moving. And we promise, the SEPTA fare is still cheaper than an Uber.

Penn also offers many ways for students to get involved with the Philadelphia community. Taking an Academically Based Community Service course offered by the Netter Center for Community Partnerships or walking through the doors of Civic House and learning about ways to engage our community is a great first step. Outside of community engagement outlets, there are also many student discounts that make enjoying Philadelphia all the more attainable — like discounted tickets to museums, performances, and shows. Your Penn experience will only be enriched by immersing yourself in the city’s culture, vibrancy, and charm. 

As comforting as bubbles might seem, they are just as fragile. It takes only one prick to break through. What waits on the other side may not be polished. There may be weeds in place of manicured fields, unfamiliar faces, and messy feelings you never had to experience before in the cocoon. But it is real. It is what the world really looks like. And the moment you finally leave? That is when your real college experience begins.

THE DAILY PENNSYLVANIAN EDITORIAL BOARD consists of senior staffers in the Opinion department led by the DP’s Editorial Board Chair Sangitha Aiyer. Currently, that team includes Ananya Shah, Diya Choksey, Harman Chahal, Mariana Martinez, Beatriz Báez, and Mia Vesely. Questions and comments should be directed to letters@thedp.com.