2012 David and Lyn Silfen University Forum

March 19, 2012

At the 2012 David and Lyn Silfen University Forum, Penn President Amy Gutmann led a lively and far-reaching conversation with a panel of political experts that touched on unemployment, national healthcare policy, campaign finance reform, and the seemingly irreparable political polarization of American voters.

To frame the discussion, Gutmann asked the question: “Is America broken?” to Charles Blow, columnist for The New York Times; Penn alumnus Edward G. Rendell, former Pennsylvania governor and former mayor of Philadelphia; Peggy Noonan, columnist for The Wall Street Journal and television political commentator; former U.S. Senator Alan Simpson of Wyoming, co-chair of the Bowles-Simpson Commission; and John Lapinski, Penn associate professor of political science and political analyst for NBC News.

Photos by Stuart A. Watson