penndisorientationguide

A Brief and Violent History of Campus Policing

Protesters gather outside of the Penn Police headquarters. A Black woman holds a microphone in front of a white banner with black text that reads: Pay PILOTs Now #PoliceFreeCampus.

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

Antiwar demonstrators following the Penn marching band during Hey Day in 1972. Students rallied to protest the U.S.'s involvement in the Vietnam War and Penn's role in funding the war effort. In a black and white photo, students with signs and a megaphone confront band members playing their instruments. Photo courtesy of Penn Archives.

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’s Problematic History of Union-busting

As workers across the country demand better treatment and stronger representation, Penn stands in the way of organizing workers on campus and acts as a bystander while companies across Philadelphia implement similar union-busting tactics. Corporations, like Penn, use common union-busting strategies to keep workers divided, demoralized, and controlled.

Penn Can do More to Support FGLI Students

Despite receiving varying degrees of financial aid, many FGLI students still struggle with their financial circumstances while attending Penn. Only 3.3 percent of students at Penn are from America’s bottom 20 percent of family income, while 71 percent are from the top 20 percent and 19 percent are from the top 1 percent.

The Undocumented Experience at Penn

Penn prides itself on its “commitment to inclusion,” but when it comes to students living on the cusp of legality, how much does Penn really live up to its promise?

A Fragmented Oneness: Investigating Penn Hillel, Pro-Israelism, and the Jewish Experience

Penn Hillel is an organization for the Jews that are in positions of authority, and one that is not for the Jews that question it. Penn Hillel fragments the oneness of the Jewish people by means of indoctrination and status.

Editors’ Letter

Penn students protest the construction of Meyerson Hall on campus. These protests were one of the many free speech cases that the University has dealt with in its history. Other instances include the “water buffalo” incident, race-based protests and, more recently, Occupy protests. Photo courtesy of The Daily Pennsylvanian.

The Disorientation Guide is an annual project that attempts to paint an honest picture of life at Penn.

A Recent History of Organizing at Penn

The Penn community rallies in response to injustice on- and off-campus. Among some of the most notable events that occurred in the past year were pushes for unionization from multiple groups, organizing against Penn’s role in gentrification, large protests regarding climate justice, and student protestors facing disciplinary actions and arrests from the University.