From Communication to Law: A First-Year Student’s Journey at Penn.

Sandra González-Bailón, a renowned professor at Penn, is known for her groundbreaking course “Communication in the Networked Age,” which sparked the interest of Anika Gururaj, a first-year student from Bangalore, India. Gururaj had no specific major in mind when she arrived at Penn but was drawn to this course due to its theoretical and practical implications.

Throughout her time at Penn, Gururaj developed an interest in law and its relationship with communication. Her fascination with legal cases, rhetoric, and literature led her to explore the topic further. Professor Carolyn Marvin’s course on the history and theory of freedom of expression was particularly influential in shaping her views on this subject matter.

In addition to her academic pursuits, Gururaj also took a class with Professor Jessa Lingel titled “Critical Approaches to Popular Culture,” which combined theoretical learning with practical implications. This course made it contemporary and relevant to real-world events. As a result of this experience, she decided to pursue more communication courses and eventually became a communication major.

For her independent study project, Gururaj chose to analyze the Digital Services Act (DSA) within the European Union. This legislation regulates privacy laws for social media platforms in the EU and allowed Gururaj to delve into its implications and delicate balance between free expression and privacy rights. According to Professor González-Bailón, attending law school is the next logical step for Gururaj as it will allow her to develop and expand on her ideas within current regulatory frameworks.

Overall, Anika Gururaj’s academic experiences at Penn have shaped her interests in law and communication studies while providing a foundation for future career opportunities within these fields.