penndisorientationguide

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.

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!"

On Dec. 14, 2021, the Coalition to Save UC Townhomes, comprised of residents, housing justice organizers, the Black Bottom Tribe, West Philadelphia community members, and Penn faculty and students, held their first action: a demonstration on campus calling on Penn to honor the Trustees’ 1969 commitment to a policy of accountability.

A History of Displacement: Penn’s Broken Promises to the Black Residents of “University City”

A mosaic of a map of West Philadelphia's Black Bottom neighborhood.

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

A white girl in a mask and a winter jacket stands at a table in one of the COVID testing tents on Penn's campus.

Over the past three years, the COVID-19 pandemic has ravaged the globe. So much loss could have been avoided if the people leading our institutions took the right steps to save lives instead of protecting their reputations and profits. Penn is no exception.

Sexual Violence at Penn

Unfortunately, like most universities, Penn has a poor record of supporting survivors of sexual assault. When individuals do try to hold perpetrators of harm accountable, they are often left retraumatized and unsatisfied.

How Frats Get Away with Shit: A History of Greek Life, Violence, and Impunity at Penn

Greek life commands university space and identity. In fact, a whopping 25% of students belong to Greek life at Penn. Not only are fraternities a physical force to be reckoned with on campus, they’re deeply embedded into University bureaucracy.

“Just trying not to get sued”: Student Experiences with Weingarten

Disabled students at the University of Pennsylvania describe Weingarten and the way they treat students saying, “It feels like they’re just trying not to get sued because of an ADA violation.” What a way to sum up a resource center supposedly meant to take care of hundreds of Penn students!

Physical Inaccessibility at Penn

A lone masked man with black short hair and a blue coat and sneakers walks down the steps outside the Weitzman School of Design toward 34th St.

Although Penn’s historical buildings are not exempt from adhering to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliance, they only need to be made accessible by the bare minimum of standards. This access often hinders students from engaging in social contexts as they cannot easily commute throughout the largest dormitory for Freshmen housing.

Understaffed, Underfunded, and Undersupported: Medical Services at Penn

Penn’s Student Health Services (SHS) claims to help students with both their physical and mental health, but their mission towards student wellness has come under much scrutiny due to accessibility issues, insurance policies, and poor mental health services.

The Reality of Mental Health Resources at Penn

Penn breeds a culture of toxic ambition and perfection, as a commonly held belief among Penn students is an expectation to succeed, manifesting from an endless list of LinkedIn brag posts to students’ failure to be candid about inevitable struggles with their academic, social, or personal lives.