Students and community members who are most impacted by policing know that care means more resources, not more cops. It is a deliberate choice by the administration to fund policing over initiatives that actually promote safety. We don’t want Penn’s co-responders. Our communities need housing, just compensation, and accessible, police-free mental healthcare.
Author Archives: penndisorientationguide
Defanging Radicals
Penn continuously undermines its own students and community members to preserve its institutional power. Here are some of their strategies, so you can name and successfully oppose them…
Say NO to the arena in Chinatown!
Chinatown faces an existential threat from the proposed development for the 76ers stadium. While the billionaire developers, all with strong ties to Penn, still try to charge full steam ahead, residents, business owners, and visitors alike are organizing fervently against the development.
A History of Displacement: Penn’s Broken Promises to the Black Residents of “University City”
As Penn’s endowment grows to over $20 billion and develops real estate across the city, tens of thousands of Philadelphians are struggling to find housing, turning to friends for shelter or living on the street. Penn is not just complicit in this violent inequity; it is one of its foremost perpetrators.
A Case of Institutional Failure: Penn’s Response to COVID-19
For many, the pandemic was a breaking point: watching those with power and wealth profit while everyday people lost their jobs and their lives spurred many into radical action. Had the people leading our institutions taken the right steps to save lives instead of protecting their reputations and profits, thousands of lives could have been saved. Penn is no exception, and activists and community members have had to fight fiercely to hold the University accountable.
Understaffed, Underfunded, Unsupported: Medical Services at Penn
Penn’s Student Health Services (SHS) is supposed to support students in both their physical and mental well-being However, changes in accessibility, insurance policies, and the quality of mental health services raise concerns regarding its commitment to student wellness.
A Brief and Violent History of Campus Policing
Universities in the U.S., like the police, have deep historical connections with two pillars of this country’s founding, stolen African labor and stolen indigenous land. Campus policing, while a newer development, aligns with and leads Penn’s legacy of violence.
Tying it All Together
We hope that, rather than being demoralized by Penn’s lengthy list of faults recorded in these articles, the DG inspires you to partake in collective action, and that the resources you can find at the end of this guide help you with your efforts. In the wise words of activist Mariame Kaba…“let this radicalize you rather than lead you to despair.”
The Reality of Mental Health Resources at Penn
by Anonymous Poor mental health is surging, especially among college students. Poor mental health seems to be a hallmark of the Penn experience as we’ve been ranked as one of the worst colleges in terms of mental health. Penn breeds a culture of toxic ambition and perfection, as a commonly held belief among Penn studentsContinue reading “The Reality of Mental Health Resources at Penn”
A Protestor’s Guide: How to Navigate Penn’s Administrators and Disciplinary System
Hidden in plain sight along Locust Walk is Penn’s very own Center for Community Standards and Accountability (CSA), right next to the Arts, Research, & Cultural House. Formerly known as the Office of Student Conduct (OSC), this office handles disciplinary cases at Penn, including multiple recent cases against peaceful protestors.
Penn Disorientation Guide 