penndisorientationguide

Why Can’t Penn Talk About Palestine?

We believe that it is time to start talking about Penn’s complicity in the colonization of Palestine. Here’s what you should know about divestment from Israel, a popular movement in the fight for decolonization.

Save the People’s Townhomes: A Fight for Affordable Housing in Philadelphia

Students and community members gather in front of the Ben Franklin statue at College Hall to demand that Penn take action to stop the sale of the UC Townhomes. At the center of the image, two organizers hold a white banner with black text that reads: "SAVE THE UC TOWNHOMES!"

A couple blocks from campus, at 40th and Market, the Coalition to Save the University City (UC) Townhomes has been leading a fight for affordable housing and Black autonomy for the past two years. The goal: prevent 70 families from losing their homes and preserving low-income housing on the site.

Remembering the MOVE Bombing

The MOVE bombing killed 11 people, including 5 children, and leveled two blocks containing over 60 homes. This image shows the massive destruction in the following days.

In 1985, in what should be considered one of the greatest national tragedies in recent history, the Philadelphia government used military explosives over MOVE’s headquarters in the neighborhood of Cobbs Creek in West Philadelphia. Understanding both Philadelphia’s and Penn’s role in terrorizing the Black activists who were impacted by the bombing is crucial for any student who attends the University.

Mental Health Hotlines

A compiled list of mental health hotlines to call if you are in crisis.

Penn’s Treatment of Indigenous Peoples

In Pennsylvania, there are no federally recognized Native American tribes, even though more than 18,000 Native Americans live within the state. This context helps us understand Penn’s relationship with local Native communities and with Native students, which is a relationship characterized by exploitation and a lack of representation.

Resources for LGBTQIA+ students

We’ve compiled a list of resources for LGBTQIA+ students at Penn

Penn’s Pipeline to White Collar Crime

Huntsman Hall, the home of the Wharton School of Business.

While highlighting the accomplishments of its most notable entrepreneurs at every chance, the University seemingly overlooks the white collar crimes of graduates using a Penn education for selfish gain.

Penn and the Climate Crisis: A System of Destruction for Profit

Penn is a business first, and an educational institution distantly second. That means, however, that as a researcher, an investor, a pipeline of money and talent, and a power player in Philadelphia politics, Penn’s environmental impact is massive, and is more than just the carbon it burns.

Resources for FGLI Students: From Professional Connections to Textbook Access

We’ve compiled a set of resources that FGLI students can use to make their transition to Penn as seamless as possible.

Nurses as Cops: Penn Nursing Teaches Complicity, Not Care

We need the number one nursing program in the country to teach the truth about mandated reporting. Nurses and providers must resist demands to ensnare our patients in the criminal legal system for seeking healthcare. We cannot wash our hands of state violence when we hold the power to report.